Chapter 33 City Interlude
I woke to the soft chime of the elevator doors and the faint scent of fresh coffee drifting through the penthouse. The bed was still warm on Alexander’s side, but he was already gone—dressed in a crisp black suit, white shirt open at the collar, tie loose around his neck as he leaned against the bedroom doorway watching me.
“You’re up,” he said quietly, voice rough from lack of sleep. His eyes traced my face, softening. “I have to go. Too many things to handle, estate cleanup, pack coordination, damage control. I’ll be back by noon. We’ll go shopping then. You need clothes, toiletries, everything.”
I pushed myself up on one elbow, robe slipping off one shoulder. “You’re sure it’s safe?”
“For now.” He crossed to me in three strides, cupping my cheek and pressing a slow kiss to my lips. “I left breakfast on the island. Eat. Rest. I’ll call when I’m on my way.”
One more kiss, deeper, lingering, then he was gone, the elevator doors closing with a soft hiss behind him.
The penthouse felt huge without him. I padded out barefoot, robe cinched tight, hair a tangled mess. The kitchen island held a simple spread: black coffee in a white mug, scrambled eggs on a black plate, fresh berries, and a stack of buttered toast. A single note lay beside it in his sharp handwriting:
Stay inside.
I’ll be back soon.
A
I ate slowly, the food grounding me after the chaos of the night before. The city sprawled beyond the windows, snow-dusted rooftops, distant traffic, life moving on as if nothing had happened. It felt surreal.
After breakfast I wandered the penthouse, curious. The living room stretched wide, black leather sectional facing the view, white rug beneath, a single low table with a black vase holding white orchids. The hallway led to a sleek guest bathroom black marble, white towels, a small gym mirrored walls, black equipment, and a study lined with dark shelves. Everything was clean, minimal, deliberate, his taste distilled into every detail.
I showered in the master bath again, hot water easing the last aches from the fight. I wrapped myself in one of his oversized black robes afterward, the fabric carrying his scent, and curled up on the sectional with a blanket to wait.
Noon came fast. My phone buzzed exactly at twelve:
Downstairs. Black SUV.
I dressed in yesterday’s clothes, the only ones I had and took the elevator down. Alexander waited in the garage, leaning against the same SUV from last night, now spotless. He pulled me into a quick, hard kiss the moment I reached him.
“Let’s get you out of those rags,” he said, opening the passenger door.
Shopping was efficient and fast. He drove us to a discreet boutique in a quiet part of the city, high-end, private, the kind of place that didn’t advertise. A single saleswoman greeted us at the door, already prepared. Alexander stayed close, approving or vetoing items with a glance, soft cashmere sweaters in black and cream, tailored jeans, silk blouses, underwear, a warm coat, boots, a few dresses. I tried things on quickly; he leaned against the wall outside the fitting room, arms crossed, eyes darkening every time I stepped out.
He paid without hesitation, bags already packed by the time we left. “Enough for a few days,” he said. “We’ll get more later if needed.”
I glanced at him as we walked back to the car. “You’re good at this.”
He smirked. “I’ve had practice keeping people safe.”
Hunger hit us both hard after the adrenaline crash. He drove a few blocks to a quiet restaurant tucked between office buildings, dark wood, low lighting, white tablecloths. A corner booth waited for us, private, shielded from the rest of the room.
We ordered quickly, steak for him, pasta for me, and wine. The food arrived fast; we ate in comfortable silence at first, the bond humming with shared relief. I felt his gaze on me, warm, possessive, still edged with last night’s intensity.
Halfway through the meal, a familiar voice cut through the quiet.
“Maddie?”
I looked up. Ben stood at the edge of our booth, dressed in a sharp gray suit, arm around a tall brunette in a red dress. She looked polished, expensive, vaguely familiar, someone from his “contacts” circle, maybe.
Ben’s eyes flicked from me to Alexander, surprise flashing before he masked it with a smile. “Well, this is unexpected. Out shopping, are we?”
Alexander’s hand tightened on his fork, but his expression stayed cool. “Business brought us into the city. I needed a break.”
Ben’s gaze lingered on the shopping bags stacked beside the table. “Looks like quite the break. New wardrobe?”
I forced a neutral smile. “Just essentials. The estate is… under renovation.”
The woman beside Ben shifted, offering a polite nod. Ben squeezed her waist. “This is Vanessa. We were just grabbing lunch before our next meeting.”
Alexander’s voice was smooth ice. “Enjoy your meal.”
Ben’s smile tightened. “We will. Enjoy yours.”
He turned, guiding Vanessa toward a table across the room. I watched them go, stomach knotting.
Alexander’s hand found mine under the table, warm and steady. “He’s testing us,” he said quietly. “Seeing how close we are.”
I exhaled slowly. “He knows something’s off.”
“He suspects. That’s all.” Alexander’s thumb stroked my knuckles. “Let him suspect. It changes nothing.”
We finished eating in tense silence, the air heavier now. Ben and Vanessa sat too far to overhear, but I felt his occasional glance like a prick on the back of my neck.
When we stood to leave, Alexander draped his arm around my shoulders, deliberate, possessive. We passed Ben’s table without a word.
Outside, the cold hit like a slap. Alexander pulled me close against his side as we walked to the car. “Back to the penthouse,” he said. “We stay there until the estate is secure.”
I nodded, leaning into him. The city buzzed around us, horns, footsteps, life moving on, but the encounter lingered like a shadow.
Ben was watching.
And he wouldn’t stop.