Madison"This sea bass is transcendent," Hazel moaned, closing her eyes as she savored another bite. "I might need a moment alone with it." Alexander chuckled, swirling the wine in his glass. "The chef has a particular talent with seafood. He sources it directly from fishermen he's worked with for decades." "Of course he does," Hazel said, shooting me a look that clearly said 'Is this man for real?' "Let me guess, they call him personally when they catch something exceptional?" "Actually, yes," Alexander replied without a hint of irony. "Last month, he flew to Japan for a particularly rare bluefin tuna." I nearly choked on my wine. "You're making that up." "I never joke about food, Madison." His eyes sparkled with amusement. "Ask him yourself if you don't believe me." "I believe you," I said. "That's what makes it ridiculous." Hazel pointed her fork at me. "This from the woman who once ate ramen for breakfast, lunch, and dinner for an entire week." Alexander raised an eyebrow.
Madison"Fair enough," Hazel conceded. "But as her best friend, I reserve the right to be nosy.""And as her boyfriend, I reserve the right to keep some things between us." His thumb traced circles on my knee.The lights dimmed before Hazel could press further, saving me from what was sure to be an uncomfortable interrogation. The orchestra began to play, and the curtain rose on the elaborate opening scene.I tried to focus on the show, but Alexander's hand remained on my knee, his touch both comforting and distracting. Occasionally, he would lean close to whisper commentary in my ear, his breath warm against my skin.Hazel was completely engrossed in the performance, occasionally dabbing at her eyes during emotional scenes. During intermission, she turned to us with shining eyes."This is even better than I imagined," she gushed. "The set design alone is worth the ticket price."Alexander refilled our champagne glasses. "I'm glad you're enjoying it.""Enjoying it? I'm having a religi
MadisonI checked my reflection in the mirror one last time, smoothing down the emerald green dress I'd chosen for the evening. The cut was modest enough for a Broadway show but still accentuated my curves in a way I knew Alexander would appreciate. My hair fell in loose waves around my shoulders, and I'd taken extra care with my makeup. My phone buzzed with a text from Alexander. Alexander: Car arriving in 5. Wear the emerald earrings I left for you. I glanced at the velvet box on my dresser, which I'd been deliberately ignoring. Opening it revealed a pair of teardrop emerald earrings, likely very expensive. I hesitated before putting them on, admiring how they caught the light. "Mom, I'm heading out!" I called, grabbing my clutch. She appeared in the doorway, eyes widening at my appearance. "Well, don't you look stunning! Those earrings are gorgeous." "Alexander got them for me," I admitted, touching one self-consciously. "That man has excellent taste." She winked. "In jewelr
MadisonAlexander shrugged, looking out the window. "Consider it a thank you for the gossip articles collection." "A thank you that costs several hundred dollars per ticket?" "Would you prefer I send her a fruit basket?" His tone was dry. I laughed despite myself. "No, she'd hate that. But she'll think this is weird." "Then make up something convincing." His fingers drummed on his thigh. "Tell her I'm trying to impress you with my generosity to your friends." "That actually might work," I admitted, tucking the tickets into my purse. "She'll be thrilled. It's her favorite show." "I know." At my questioning look, he added, "You mentioned it once." "I'll text her now," I said, pulling out my phone and quickly typing a message to Hazel. Alexander leaned back against the leather seat. "Alright. Let her know the car will pick her up at six." "The car?" I raised an eyebrow. "She can meet us there." "It's easier this way," he replied dismissively. "Less chance of her being late." I
MadisonA woman in her forties stepped forward, introducing herself as Diane Peters, the lead architect. "Mr. Knight, we've revised the atrium design as requested." She unrolled a large blueprint across the table. "The central skylight has been expanded by thirty percent, allowing more natural light throughout the main concourse." I positioned myself slightly behind Alexander, tablet poised to capture key points. His presence filled the small space, commanding attention without effort. As Diane explained the modifications, I noticed how everyone leaned forward when Alexander spoke, hanging on his every word. "The cost implications?" Alexander asked, his finger tracing the outline of the atrium. A thin man with wire-rimmed glasses cleared his throat. "We've run the numbers, Mr. Knight. The additional glass work adds approximately $1.2 million to the budget, but we believe the energy savings and increased foot traffic will offset this within three years." Alexander's eyes narrowed.
MadisonI swallowed hard. "Just tired. Someone kept me up rather late last night." "And early this morning," he added with a smirk. His fingers inched higher on my thigh. "Perhaps you need more coffee to stay alert." "What I need is for my boss to keep his hands to himself so I can focus on work." Instead of withdrawing, his hand slid higher, disappearing under my skirt. "Are you sure about that, Ms. Harper?" My breath hitched as his fingers traced the edge of my panties. "Alexander, we're almost at the site." His eyes darkened with desire, but he didn't remove his hand. Instead, he leaned closer, his breath warm against my ear. "Change of plans. We're stopping for coffee first." "Coffee?" I squeaked as his finger dipped beneath the elastic, teasing me. "Yes, coffee." His voice was low, controlled. "I find myself needing the... stimulation." I bit my lip to suppress a moan as he withdrew his hand, adjusting my skirt with infuriating casualness. "You're terrible." "So I've bee