Chapter 9: New Flames and Old Flames

The next morning, an executive came knocking at Madison's door.

There she stood, smiling. "Madison, Grayson asked me to take you in for a check-up."

"Sure, thank you for the trouble."

At the hospital, Madison breathed a sigh of relief when she saw Amelia at the blood draw station.

After her blood was taken, the executive took Madison out for a bite. "Grayson said you could take the day off today."

"Sounds good." Madison didn't object. She had other plans.

After parting with the executive, Madison headed straight for the diner, where she had agreed to meet Nathan.

"What can I get you?" Madison had barely sat down when Nathan asked.

"Just water is fine."

Nathan ordered her a glass of water.

After taking a sip, Madison got straight to the point. "You mentioned needing my help with something last time. What was it?"

She chuckled. "I didn't ask for details then, but I've been thinking. It's not like you're asking me to go jewelry shopping, right?"

Nathan shook his head with a smile. "I do have a serious request."

He pulled out a document and laid it in front of Madison. "Could you translate these papers for me?"

Madison paused, surprised. Then, she took the documents from Nathan's hands. They were legal texts in Italian. "What's this about?"

Nathan didn't hide the truth. "We've recently taken on an international economic dispute case. The other party uses Italian, and we've been struggling to find a professional translator. Then, you called."

Madison fell silent for a moment. "How did you know I speak Italian?"

Nathan's smile remained. "I saw one of your speeches once."

Madison, a sensation in her days at Berkeley, was fluent in ten languages and had even served as a personal interpreter for leaders during her college years. Nobody expected that she would end up at Grayson's company.

Madison was genuinely surprised. "You've seen my speeches?"

Nathan nodded. "Madison, your elegance is unmatched."

A hint of nostalgia flickered across her face. "Well, that was all in the past."

She then picked up the legal text and started to read.

Nathan said little upon noticing Madison's swift progress.

It took Madison no time at all to flip through the legalese with practiced ease. Nathan's eyes sparkled with a new light.

"I knew you'd have no trouble with this," he said. "I hope it's not too bold to ask, but would you consider being our court interpreter? We're dealing with Italian, which is a real challenge for us. We'd be fine if it were in English."

Madison paused to think. "I'll need to check my schedule."

"No problem," Nathan replied. "Once we have the court date, I'll let you know. If you're available, great. If not, we'll figure something else out."

"All right."

They chatted for a while, and Nathan noticed something strange. "You look a little off. Is it about your stepfather?"

Madison offered a wan smile. "Something like that."

She didn't want to delve into her personal life with Nathan, nor did she want to discuss her issues with Grayson with anyone else. While Nathan had indeed been a help, he wasn't the same as Amelia.

Madison quickly redirected the conversation.

By almost noon, their conversation was still going strong when Nathan glanced at the clock.

"Let's grab some lunch," he suggested, reserving a table at a nearby Western-style restaurant.

As they pushed through the restaurant's doors, Madison halted abruptly. Seeing Grayson here was the last thing she expected. But there he was, today, of all days. With him was the manager from yesterday—likely Grayson's latest flame.

After all, Grayson never allowed women he wasn't interested in to get close. This was the third time Madison saw this woman.

Madison froze at the entrance, prompting Nathan to raise an eyebrow questioningly.

"How about we eat somewhere else?" Madison suggested just as someone called out.

"Madison, you're here for lunch too?" The manager's tone was almost boastful as she addressed Madison.

Madison's lips paled slightly.

Turning, she locked eyes with Grayson. His eyes were deep and unreadable. Swallowing the tension, Madison managed to mutter, "Grayson."

Grayson nodded nonchalantly in response and then turned his attention to Nathan, who was already sizing him up.

Grayson Mellon was a legend in Horizon City, a man whose reputation towered like a colossus. Tales of his feats coursed through the city's social fabric, weaving a tapestry of near-mythical proportions.

Legend has it that at the tender age of nineteen, Grayson toppled his father to claim the helm of the prestigious Mellon dynasty. Yet, after a handful of years at the pinnacle, perhaps out of boredom, he set the family business aside to forge his path, launching a company that was now flourishing remarkably four years on.

Grayson was more than just the city's preeminent young mogul. He was its titan, a man hailed for having carved his empire, no longer merely a princely heir but rather the kingpin. He was the epitome of unreachable, an elusive figure of power and prestige.

Nathan had long harbored thoughts of meeting Grayson, but the opportunity had evaded him despite knowing that Madison worked at Grayson's firm. Nathan was reluctant to exploit her for personal gain. Yet, as fate would have it, an unexpected chance to encounter Grayson had arisen today.

"Good to see you, Grayson," Nathan said, locking eyes with the man and greeting him with due respect. "I'm Nathan, a partner at Vanguard Legal Group and a friend of Madison's. It's a pleasure to meet you."

Grayson acknowledged Nathan with a nod, his expression cool as his gaze shifted to Madison. "Friend?" He mused, tasting the word. "You two seem quite close."

Madison's brow twitched, but before she could utter a word, Nathan had already responded, "Yes, quite."

Grayson's soft chuckle filled the air. "In that case, I wonder if you might be interested in some form of collaboration, Nathan."

"Oh?" Nathan raised an eyebrow. "Doesn't a man like you have your legal team, Grayson?"

"I occasionally seek outside counsel." Grayson’s steady gaze remained fixed on Madison. "For example, dealing with an employee breach of contract."

Madison paled, attempting to clarify. "Grayson, I invited Nathan here today for business discussions."

Grayson spared her a dispassionate glance. "Madison & Associates seems to cover a broad array of services," he remarked dryly.

Madison caught the barb hidden within his words all too well. His mention of 'services' was a veiled reference to the more unsavory aspects of business, harking back to her quip the previous day about finding a new benefactor. Her comment had evidently struck a nerve, and now he was making it painfully clear that he had no intention of letting her off easy.

Without further comment, Madison remained silent. In public, she was reluctant to discuss such matters with him. Especially since this involved Nathan.

She didn't want to drag Nathan into her problems inadvertently.

Nathan, sharp as a tack, glanced at Grayson and then at Madison, his eyes flickering briefly before he decided not to join the conversation.

As Nathan kept silent, someone else couldn't resist chiming in. The manager, seemingly out to get Madison today, had taken every opportunity to be at odds with her.

"Madison, since we're all here, why don't we dine together? It's awfully boring just Grayson and me. He hardly talks during meals," she said, arching an eyebrow at Madison.

Madison was about to refuse when Grayson jumped in."Sit down."