Games 025
Maddie POV
The day had been hectic.
Six hours with Maddox at work felt like six years in hell. My brain was fried, my feet hurt, and my soul needed therapy.
So when he dismissed me for a “short break,” I practically ran out of the office like a survivor escaping captivity. I was just starting to enjoy the rare silence of the hallway when a sharp female voice cut through the air.
“Where is Maddox’s office?”
Excuse me?
Who in this entire world had the right to call him by his name? I turned toward the voice, ready to witness either bravery or stupidity in human form.
Oh, wow. She looked like she stepped out of a luxury magazine —all perfect curls, diamond earrings, heels that screamed “I’ve never walked on normal ground.”
Definitely not one of the staff. Definitely someone who thought the world owed her a red carpet.
I forced my best customer service smile. “Good day, ma’am. I’m Maddie, I'll be happy to take you to my boss. May I know your name, so I can confirm your appointment?”
That sounded professional, right? I had seen receptionists do this in movies all the time.
She looked me up and down like I had just crawled out of a trash bin. “Are you in your right senses?” she said, tone laced with disgust.
Okay, ouch. So much for customer service.
I blinked, still trying to be polite. “Sorry, ma’am. I’ll take you to him right now.”
She hummed or maybe that was a scoff before strutting past me, her perfume tainting the air like an expensive air spray.
– Rude, arrogant, and definitely dangerous.
I hated her already.
I trailed after her, trying to keep up with her impossible pace on those deathtrap heels. “If I may ask, ma’am, do you have an appointment?”
“I don’t need one,” she replied.
Oh. Of course, she looks royalty. My bad.
I sighed internally. The guards didn’t even stop her, they just nodded like she was a regular which meant she was someone important.
Which meant I was about to walk into a scene I didn’t want to be in.
We reached Maddox’s door, and before I could even knock, she pushed it open like she owned the place.
I nearly choked.
Oh, this was going to be good.
She sauntered in. “Maddox!”
The way she said his name was soft, familiar, sugary sweet and that made my stomach twist for reasons I refused to identify. I had never even called him that way before.
He was behind his desk, going through papers, and for a second, I thought he wasn’t going to react. Then he lifted his gaze, expression unreadable.
“Winnie.”
Winnie? Whoosh, good name but bad expressions and attitude. I stood awkwardly by the door, suddenly feeling like an unpaid extra in a mafia drama.
She smiled a confident, practiced kind of smile. “Miss me?”
His voice came out flat. “You said you would be here tomorrow.”
“I changed my mind,” she said lightly, walking closer. “You don’t mind surprises, do you?”
I swear, if I rolled my eyes any harder, they’d get stuck.
Maddox leaned back in his chair, completely unfazed. “Depends on the kind of surprise.”
I tried to disappear into the wall. The tension between them was foul and unromantic. It was sharp, almost predatory. She was testing him, and he was letting her.
Winnie’s gaze flicked toward me then.
“And who’s this?”
Crap.
I straightened up quickly. “Maddie, ma’am. I'm Maddox. . Sorry his assistant.”
Her brow arched, like she’d just discovered a fly in her champagne.
“Assistant?” she repeated, her voice quickly switching and filled of disdain. “Cute.”
Excuse me? Cute? What does that even mean?!
Maddox’s gaze shifted briefly to me, then back to her. “She works with me now.”
Winnie smiled again— a fake, syrupy kind of smile. “How professional of you, Maddox.”
He didn’t respond. I had noticed that he never respond when it wasn’t worth his time.
I, however, stood there fighting the urge to scream into the nearest pillow.
This woman was beautiful, rich, and clearly used to getting whatever she wanted and I'm sure as heck that she wanted Maddox.
That looks, that attitude she was displaying. It definitely because she wanted Maddox. Tsk, she was no way better than me. I flipped my hair behind waiting for Maddox to ask me to take her back.
"Maddie." Maddox called and I smiled waiting for him to say it. "Leave us." My smile broke and I hugged turning back to the door.
"His friend." Ryan said beside me as I walked through the corridors.
“More like a girlfriend,” I muttered harshly.
Ryan chuckled low. “Relax. She’s not his girlfriend.”
I blinked. “She’s not?”
He shook his head, still grinning. “Winnie Alcott, a friend to Boss in those days. Daughter of Senator Alcott, one of the firm’s biggest clients. She came last week demanding a personal protection team.”
“Demanding?”
“Oh yeah. You missed the show, she basically treated the place like a fashion runway and told Maddox she’d personally choose who gets assigned to her.”
I frowned. “Wait, personally?"
“Exactly.”
I rolled my eyes so hard it hurt. “Unbelievable. I feel like beating her.”
Ryan laughed quietly. “You’ll get used to it. Maddox wasn’t thrilled either, but her old man pays well, and keeping a senator happy keeps the peace.”
“So he’s being… diplomatic.”
“Yeah,” Ryan said, smirking. “That’s his polite word for tolerating her existence.”
I groaned. “Great.”
“Apparently she was coming tomorrow, but I guessed she changed her mind or maybe she’s testing his patience.”
“Testing Maddox’s patience? Is she suicidal?”
Ryan’s grin widened. “Wouldn’t be the first time someone tried.”
We both laughed quietly.
“Anyway,” Ryan said, pushing off the wall. “Don’t take her seriously. She gets under everyone’s skin. Maddox can handle her.”
I snorted. “I’m not worried about Maddox. I’m worried about me if she keeps acting like that. My mouth doesn’t come with a safety filter.”
He grinned. “Then I’d suggest learning to install one fast. You work for Maddox now and trouble finds him before breakfast.”
“Perfect,” I said dryly. “Maybe I’ll get a raise after surviving my first week.”
He chuckled. “You might earn a medal instead.”
Before I could respond, the office door opened down the hallway. Winnie stepped out with her chin high, lips curved into that same smug smile.
“Miss Assistant,” she said smoothly, eyes sweeping over me. “Tell your boss I expect my assigned guards by tomorrow and make sure you keep him on track.”
I forced my sweetest professional tone. “Of course, ma’am, we'll make the arrangements for tomorrow.”
She gave a hum of approval, the kind that sounded more like dismissal and strutted past us, her heels echoing against the floor like gunfire.
When she finally disappeared around the corner, I muttered under my breath, “What a nightmare in designer heels.”
Ryan barely held back a laugh. “Careful, walls have ears here.”
“Then they better hear this too, I need a raise and a vacation from your boss, I don't want to be locked here.”