Games 022

Games 022
Maddie POV

"What are you guys doing?" Maddox voice came ringing.

When had he arrived? When did he climb up the stairs without making any sound? "Are you a sloth? You walk without making any noise, I might think you are a ghost."

"Uhh, hi brother." Eva said awkwardly waving her hand smiling at him.

He rolled his eyes at her and made to drag me. "Get off me, you disappeared like a cheat and now you are back to take control again."

"Well, I'm here to talk about the job whatever."

Well, Maddox hasn't been home for the past days and I was already starting to think the job he proposed was a joke. I sighed taking my seat at the coach, I even got bored of staying home alone.

"Yes, what about the work?"

"About that..." Maddox started, taking a seat on the armchair across from me. He looked tired, shadows under his eyes from lack of sleep. "I've been busy with some business matters, which is why I couldn't get back to you sooner. But I'm ready to discuss it now if you are."

I nodded, straightening up in my seat. "Of course, I'm listening."

"As I mentioned before, I need a personal secretary. The role would entail organizing my schedule, managing my calendar, preparing documents and reports, corresponding with clients on my behalf...the usual administrative tasks."

"When did you get a company?" I was surprised he had one, I mean he looked like he was jobless from all this prank he had been playing.

"What?" He smirked, "Did you see me as a jobless person."

"To be sincere, I have a company that deals with sending bodyguards for clients like politicians and some other people."

Risky. I knew it was going to be some risky shit. "If it's a job whereby I'll need to handle a gun, count me out." I kept my expression neutral, not wanting to show how interested I was. This wasn't the exact kind of work I had been hoping for but I mean holding a gun is cool right?

He paused, gauging my reaction. "Think you can handle it?" Maddox asked,

I tilted my head, narrowing my eyes at him. “Handle what exactly, Maddox? Scheduling your meetings or dodging bullets for your clients?”

That lazy smirk curved across his mouth again — the kind that made you want to punch him and kiss him at the same time. “Maybe both. You’ll figure it out.”

I scoffed. “You’re kidding.”

“I don’t kid, Maddie.” His voice was low, smooth, but carried that weight he always had — the kind that made people listen even when they didn’t want to. “You said you wanted something real. This is it.”

I crossed my arms. “Real? Working for my bossy, control freak master or house owner who disappears for days without warning? That’s your idea of real?”

His eyes softened for a second, and then hardened again. “You’ll start tomorrow.”

I blinked. “Tomorrow? That’s basically now!”

He leaned back in his chair, watching me with that unreadable expression. “The world doesn’t wait. You’ll learn that soon enough.”

Something about the way he said it made my stomach twist —not in fear, but in that strange, electric way he always made me feel. I hated that he still had that power.

“Fine,” I muttered, grabbing a pillow and hugging it to my chest. “But if this turns out to be some shady spy thing, I’m quitting.”

He gave a quiet chuckle. “You won’t quit.”

“Wanna bet?”

His gaze slid up to meet mine, dark and steady. “You don’t back down, Maddie. That’s what I like about you.”

“Stop saying things like that,” I said quickly, looking away before he could see how much it got to me.

“Why? Because it’s true?”

I glared at him. “Because you make everything sound like a threat.”

His lips quirked. “Maybe it is.”

Before I could answer, a loud thud came from the doorway.

“Wow,” Eva said, standing there with a bag of chips in one hand. “You two arguing again or flirting? Because honestly, I can’t tell anymore.”

“Eva,” Maddox warned, voice sharp enough to make her freeze.

“Okay, okay!” she held up her hands. “Just saying.”
Then she grinned at me. “Careful Maddie, you’re gonna end up falling for him again.”

“Out,” Maddox said flatly.

Eva grumbled something under her breath and scampered off down the hall, still laughing.

When she was gone, I turned back to him. "Uhh. Don't take Eva words seriously, I haven't even crushed in you before."

"Oh, is that so?" He asked in a teasing voice.

I rolled my eyes, hugging the pillow tighter. "Don’t flatter yourself, Maddox. You aren't my type."

He raised a brow, leaning forward a little. “Not your type? Then what’s your type, Maddie?”

I hesitated. “Someone who doesn't talk in riddles, and definitely someone who doesn’t think sarcasm is a personality trait.”

His lips curved again, but this time, slower and deeper. “So basically, someone boring.”

“Stable,” I corrected sharply.

He hummed like he was thinking about it, his gaze never leaving mine. “Funny how I've caught you staring many times."

“That’s....” I stopped myself, realizing he wasn’t entirely wrong. “You’re twisting my words.”

“Am I?” His tone was low, soft, but it carried that same pull it always did, like he could bend people just by speaking.

“Whatever,” I muttered, getting up from the couch. “If I’m starting tomorrow, I might as well go to bed before you come up with more weird psychological tests.”

As I started walking past him, his hand caught my wrist firmly completely stilling me.

I turned, my pulse jumping. “What?”

"I hope you know when you work for me, you aren't allowed to leave it resign."

“What does that even mean?” I asked, trying to keep my voice steady.

“It means,” he said, letting go of my wrist slowly, “Once you start, you do anything I say. I just don’t want you walking into something you’ll regret.”

“That’s rich coming from you,” I shot back. “You’re the one offering me the job.”

He stood up, the movement smooth and almost too calm. “I’m offering you a place beside me, Maddie. Not everyone gets that.”

“I’m not sure that’s a privilege.”

His lips twitched. “You’ll find out soon enough.”