Chapter 46
Chapter 48
Madison
+25 BONUS
“Oh, before I forget!” I straightened up, remembering my upcoming trip. “I’ll be heading to Las Vegas for work. But don’t worry – Hazel’s promised to check on you regularly while I’m gone p>
“Las Vegas?” Mom’s eyes sparkled with interest. “Now that’s what I’m talking about! Finally, some excitement in your life p>
“Mom, it’s a business trip p>
“Business in the day, pleasure at night.” She waggled her eyebrows. “What happens in Vegas p>
“Don’t you dare finish that sentence?” I shot her a warning look. “And please, for the love of everything holy, stop trying to set me up with every breathing male within a ten–mile radius p>
Hazel snorted. “Including her boss p>
“Especially my boss p>
“Oh, come on.” Mom adjusted her pillow, grinning like a teenager with gossip. “A girl can dream, can’t she? Besides, what else am I supposed to do all day p>
“Read a book? Do your physical therapy exercises? Actually, rest and recover p>
“Boring!” She waved dismissively. “Matchmaking keeps me young. Speaking of which, that doctor who came in yesterday- ”
“Mom!” I groaned. “The good news is you’ll be discharged soon. Then you can terrorize the entire neighborhood with your matchmaking schemes instead of just the hospital staff p>
“Promise?” Her face lit up.
I sighed, feeling the weight of her eager anticipation. “Promise p>
She beamed like a kid in a candy store. “That’s my girl! Now, about that nurse p>
“Mom, seriously!” I laughed despite myself. “Do you have to hit on every male staff member here p>
“Absolutely. Keeps things interesting around here.” She winked, then shifted in her bed. “But in all seriousness, Maddie, I’m glad you’re looking out for me. And Hazel, thank you for helping out while Madison is off gallivanting in Vegas p>
“Gallivanting?” I raised an eyebrow. “You do realize it’s a work trip, right p>
“Work trip, schmerk trip.” Mom waved a hand dismissively. “You better have some fun while you’re
there p>
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Chapter 48
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“Trust me, I’ll try,” I said dryly.
Hazel leaned forward. “You know what they say: ‘What happens in Vegas p>
“Oh God, not you, too!” I groaned.
Hazel laughed so hard she nearly fell off her chair. “Hey, I’m just saying! Maybe you’ll meet a hot bartender or something p>
I shot her a look that could curdle milk. “Highly unlikely p>
“You never know.” Mom’s eyes twinkled with mischief. “Maybe Mr. Knight will sweep you off your feet p>
I felt my cheeks flush at the thought. The truth was far more complicated than they knew. If only they could understand the mess I’d gotten myself into.
“I doubt it,” I muttered.
Hazel patted my knee reassuringly. “Well, if he does, make sure to get it on camera for us p>
“Yeah, sure.” I rolled my eyes but couldn’t help but laugh.
If they only knew the truth. They were joking about Mr. Knight sweeping me off my feet while I sat on probably the biggest secret of my life. My mother would have a field day if she discovered I was actually in an “arrangement” with him – though definitely not the romantic fairy tale she was imagining.
I shifted in my chair, remembering how his hands had felt on my body in the car. God, just thinking about it made my cheeks burn. The way he’d touched me, the things he’d whispered… No, Madison.
Focus.
This was temporary–just a business arrangement that would last exactly one year. Then I’d go back to being his PA, fetching coffee and scheduling meetings like nothing ever happened. It was simple, clean, and professional.
Except nothing felt simple or clean or professional anymore. Not when he kept looking at me like he wanted to devour me whole. Not when he insisted on buying me expensive clothes. And definitely not when he kept finding new ways to touch me in the office when no one was looking.
My fingers traced the edge of my sleeve, remembering how he’d pushed me against his office wall yesterday. The memory alone made my breath catch. For someone who claimed this was just business, Mr. Knight certainly seemed to enjoy making me squirm.
But that was just who he was, wasn’t it? The infamous playboy CEO who could charm anyone into his bed. I was just another conquest, albeit one with a contract and an expiration date.
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Chapter 48
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The thought should have bothered me more than it did.
Mom and Hazel’s voices faded into background noise as my mind wandered to the upcoming Vegas trip. A whole weekend in close quarters with Mr. Knight, pretending to be just his assistant in public while behind closed doors…
I shook my head, clearing away the thoughts. This wasn’t some romance novel where the billionaire falls for his secretary. This was real life, with real consequences and real deadlines.
The sky had darkened by the time we reached the private airstrip. Alexander’s hand rested on my lower back as we climbed the steps to his jet. The familiar leather seats and polished wood interior greeted us.
“Drink?” His eyes tracked me as he loosened his tie, and I took my seat.
“Just water.” I smoothed my dress, hyper–aware of his presence, as he poured himself what looked like whiskey.
“Always so proper.” He slid into the seat across from me, legs spread in that casual way that screamed authority. “You can relax, you know. No one’s watching here p>
Heat crept up my neck. “I am relaxed p>
His laugh was low and rich. “Your white knuckles on that armrest suggest otherwise p>
I forced my fingers to unclench, earning another chuckle from him. The plane took off smoothly, but my stomach did flips that had nothing to do with altitude.
His phone buzzed. He glanced at it, then set it face–down. “Come here p>
“What p>
He patted his lap. “You heard me.
“We’re on a plane p>
“My plane.” His eyes darkened. “And you’re my girlfriend, remember p>
My cheeks burned at his words. The way he said ‘girlfriend‘ made my skin tingle – like it was both a promise and a threat.
I glanced toward the cockpit.
“The door’s closed, and they know better than to interrupt.” He set his empty glass on the side table with a soft clink. “Now, come here before I have to get up and fetch you myself p>
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Chapter 48
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I held his gaze for a moment, heart pounding in my chest. With shaky legs, I rose from my seat and crossed the small space between us. His hands found my hips as I straddled his lap, my dress riding up my thighs.
“Good girl.” His breath tickled my neck as his fingers dug into my flesh. “See? Not so difficult to follow instructions, is it p>
I squirmed in his lap, feeling his growing hardness beneath me.
His teeth grazed my earlobe. “Have you been to Las Vegas before p>
“No.” I gasped as his hands slid under my dress, tracing patterns on my inner thighs.
“Never?” His fingers hooked into my panties. “Not even for spring break? Bachelor parties? Drunken weekend getaways p>
I shook my head, biting my lip as his touch wandered higher. “I’ve never had the chance p>
“Mmm.” He pulled back just enough to look at me, his eyes dark with desire. “Then I’m going to enjoy showing you exactly what Sin City has to offer p>
I bit my lip, trying to steady my breath. “You seem very confident, Mr. Knight p>
His smile was pure mischief. “I always am. Now, tell me, Madison. Are you comfortable here, or would you prefer the bed p>
“The bed sounds comfortable p>
Sara Lili
Sara Lili is a daring romance writer who turns icy landscapes into scenes of fiery passion. She loves crafting hot love stories while embracing the chill of Iceland’s breathtaking cold.