It started subtly.Harmless questions, statements and suggestions. Slowly it evolved to shooting down his own ideas. It was either unrealistic or destined to fail right from the start.The board meeting that held after Drew employed the interns Aiden sent, Fred had publicly called him out, demanding why he did so without informing the BOD.Another time, Fred and his cronies hadn't shown up for the meeting. When he reached out to them, they all claimed to have forgotten.The excuse was so improbable, it was obviously a lie.It was as though they were trying to mock his authority, disgrace him in a kind of twisted way. All in a bid to…do what? Express their displeasure at his refusal of Trofí's offer? Make him so discouraged that he allows them do whatever they willed? As though it was that easy to turn him away from the course he was on.Things to do in the company remain undone, what with Fred and his cohorts misbehaving. It was like a dance, him taking a step forward and them taking
Maddie wondered if this was how Cinderella felt when she walked into the ball and danced with the prince.A mix of wonder and disbelief. Wonder because never in her imaginations did she ever think this was possible; dining and dancing with royalty. Disbelief because somewhere in her heart, she was wondering if it would all disappear when she blinked.But unlike Cinderella that returned back to being a pauper when the clock struck midnight — until the prince came for her — this was her life. This was her new normal. Dining in a building that looked like it was built just to show off its magnificence and eating food that looked so beautiful to eat and was definitely too small to satisfy."Why do your kind do things like this?" She asked as the waiter refilled her glass.Drew cocked his brow. "My kind?"She bit her lip and that seemed to amuse him. "I know since I am married to you, I have become part of the said kind." His eyes danced with laughter. "What do our kind do?"She looked ar
Drew's heart was beating wild within his chest, thumping so loud it became the only thing he could hear.And one thing was responsible for it. Fear.Fear that he had scared her off.Aiden usually called him a man full of passion. He had always thought it a strength but perhaps it wasn't. Madeline eyes were freaking wide with stark fear. She looked like a deer caught before headlights.Even though every nerve in his body was screaming to kiss her, he could not but reverse into a safe territory. And so he leaned back on his chair and placed his hands on his laps. He put on a harmless smile and said, "tell me about your family."If anything, the 'deer caught in headlights' look intensified. "My…my family?" She stammered.What was with him and saying the wrong things tonight?"Yeah. You know so much — well, not so much but moderate knowledge about my family. I'd like to know about yours."Her eyes landed on everywhere but his face. Then she sighed and closed her eyes. "My family is not lik
"Madeline!" Drew called from somewhere in the corridor."I'll soon be down." Maddie shouted back."You said that the last time. And the time before that. And the time before that. And the time before that."She chuckled."I'm beginning to think the sun would set before we actually leave — or rather before you step out of that room.""Beach at sunset is not a bad idea. I think it's a better idea.""Come on, Madeline!"She chuckled and returned her gaze to the mirror where she had taken residence in front of since the sun rose and she stepped out of the bathroom.Last night at dinner, Aiden had suggested a trip to the beach. He claimed they all needed a break from the investigations — a time when they were simply Maddie, Drew and Aiden. No responsibility. No pressure. Just simply being and enjoying the good things of life.She had wanted to decline but she saw the excitement in Drew's eyes and realized that he did need this and so she agreed. And here she stood, dressed in a two-piece —
They tried so much not to be obvious but when they kept gumming themselves to her, there was no doubt that something was up."Alright, guys." Maddie looked from Aiden to Drew. "What is going on?""What do you mean by what is going on?" Drew glanced around. "We're just relaxing. At the beach. Like we said we would.""Don't play that game with me, Drew. The both of you haven't let me out of your sight since we got here. And don't you lie to me."Drew looked away, and instinctively she knew he was trying to come up with something that wasn't exactly the truth but was close to it."Drew!"His head turned and his eyes searched hers. His gaze dropped and he palmed the back of his neck. He exhaled slowly. "That snake didn't crawl into your bag, Madeline."Images of her meltdown few hours ago started to flash through her mind but she immediately shoved them down and forced her mind to focus on what Drew was saying. "You think someone planted it in there."His eyes holding hers, he nodded."Ho
Maddie had cool babysitters. No, scratch that, she had cool bodyguards.Bane, Anna, Marlowe and Ron were like four siblings. The banter, the teasing, the love and the obvious fact that they had one another's backs.The first day Anna and Ron showed up, they had been decked out in all blacks, complete to the sunglasses. She had taken one look at them and given a vehement no.Then Anna had asked her to unleash her inner child and see the fun in being followed by the live Men In Black. To which she had replied that all her childhood fantasies included castle and prince charming rather than heroes and villains exchanging bullets.Despite how weird it was to be followed around by two scary looking people, it has been fun, especially watching people's reaction when they notice her and her bodyguards. There was a certain way people interacted to her immediately they noticed that the menacing-looking men were with her and it was amusing to watch.That was the only time they dressed in such
Fear. Cold stark fear, that was all Drew could feel right there and then.He had always been able to take care of himself. Facing off an enemy had never been a problem for him.But having someone he loved get threatened? Especially when that threat was unseen and unpredictable? He hated it.And when he was the cause of such threat? Literally the pits.Suddenly unable to sit still, he jumped off the couch, his feet eating up the space between the couch and the door. Swiveling, he made the return journey and repeat until he was full out pacing."What do we know?" He asked Aiden."The delivery guy works for a flower shop located few feet away from where Maddie and the guys were seated." Aiden recounted. "Bane said that the guy claimed that a man wearing a hat and sunglasses walked into the shop and ordered a bouquet of chrysanthemums, handed him the envelope containing the threat and pointed Maddie out to him for delivery. Bane is checking out the authenticity of the story."His mind ra
Maddie woke up slowly. Her bones felt like liquid and it was all she could do not to go back to sleep right there and then.She turned on her side, her eyelids opening languidly, her eyes falling on a pair of baby blues."Hey." His voice was like warm honey.Memories of the last few hours flashed through her mind, flooding her with warmth. The way he was looking at her was not helping either."Slept well?"She tucked her hair shyly behind her ear. She bit her lip, curbing her smile. She couldn't believe how shy she was feeling. And of course, the dratted man knew what he was doing. "Probably the best sleep I've had."He cocked a brow. "Probably?"She cocked her brow back. "Mmm-hmm. What about you? Slept well?""I didn't sleep.""Why?""I got carried away with watching you sleep. I just couldn't bring myself to take my gaze away."She searched his eyes. "That is not all, is it?"He fiddled with a strand of her hair. "What do you mean?""Drew??" She didn't know why he thought playing d