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I intended to keep that promise.
Chapter 10
Madison
The morning after our passionate night together, I was filled with a mix of emotions while I sat at my desk, eagerly awaiting his arrival. Despite my lingering hesitation, I had allowed myself to let my walls down. Instead of the solid, impenetrable fortress I had built to protect myself, my walls had become a pile of bricks, providing only a slight buffer between us. Although I wasn't sure if it was wise to be so trusting, I couldn't deny the change I felt inside. Things felt different.
Just being at work, I was overwhelmed with a feeling of euphoria. My heart raced and my hands grew clammy as I watched my boss enter the office. I felt a strong pull to be closer to him, to engage in conversation and to bask in his presence. The thought of being around him gave me a thrill, like anything could happen between us, separated only by two desks. I felt a giddy joy that was hard to describe, unable to contain the excitement that consumed me.
The fear that ate away at me was the knowledge that it had all been caught on camera. But I had to trust Randy when he said that he had taken care of it. As a woman who cherished her own body and saw it every single day, the thought of that intimate moment being spread outside of that room would be catastrophic. It would be like Randy had ruined my life twice. I tried not to dwell on that thought, but it was hard to not be pessimistic in such a situation.
Randy's sudden interruption jarred me from my daydreaming, as he peered into the office with a mischievous glint in his eye. "Let's play hooky today," he proposed. "No one has to know—just you and me. A date of sorts. We'll say that you're accompanying me to a business meeting. How does that sound?"
The tenderness of the man's sentiment made my heart race and my cheeks flush. It was only nine-thirty in the morning, but his spontaneous gesture filled me with warmth and admiration. His willingness to follow through with his passionate promise left me in awe, and I felt my lips curl into a smile as I replied, "I would love that."
"Well then, leave your desk and follow me."
As I followed closely behind Randy, my CEO, I couldn't help but take note of the astonished stares that were thrown our way. After all, it wasn't every day that the head of the company was trailed by his assistant as we walked through the office halls like a celebrity and their bodyguard. I was aware of the envy that was radiating from the cubicles, but I couldn't bring myself to care too much. I had earned my spot in the company and I was determined to make the most of it. The moment we stepped into the elevator, I was thrown headfirst into a cloud of spicy cologne. I closed my eyes and inhaled the aroma for a few seconds before I was brought back to the present. I knew it was going to be a day to remember.
"Ever think you’d be skipping work to go on a date with the CEO?" He asked me after pressing the down button.
Once the door was closed I said, "No, for two reasons. One, because ‘the CEO’ as of a few days ago was a 60-year-old woman named Paula. Two, because I had no intentions on talking to you before— well, you know,” she blushed. “When it comes to you, Randy, there's a lot I didn’t expect to happen, but I'm glad that they all did. If I ever had a comfort zone, that thing was blown to bits alongtime ago."
I noticed his eyes start to drift down to my lips as he moved closer to me. A wave of anticipation and excitement rushed through me and I felt my heart beat pick up. But then, he abruptly stopped and his gaze shifted to the elevator camera in the corner. I felt a pang of disappointment, but I was also relieved. He spoke, his voice soft and gentle. "I know you saw what I just did. I'm trying to be respectful and not ruin your reputation by being with me. Just don't ever take it that I don't want to be seen with you or something. Because that's not the case. I just don't want you getting treated differently, you know what I mean?" I nodded, feeling my cheeks flush. I appreciated his consideration and I knew that he was trying to do the right thing.
I stood there, silently, my eyes shut tight as I searched for the perfect words to express my gratitude. After a few moments of thought, I opened my eyes and looked into his. "You know, this is the kind of thing that really makes me trust you. It's one of the most thoughtful things anyone has done for me and it really shows how much you care."
He chuckled, a deep and throaty sound that made my heart flutter. I couldn't understand why he was amused, until he said, "If that's the nicest thing anyone's done for you, you've lived an awfully terrible life. " His words were kind, but there was an edge of sadness beneath them. His expression softened, and I could see the genuine concern in his eyes.
Chapter 11
Randy
Madison's reaction to being in a limousine for the first time was unforgettable. Her eyes had grown wide, and she nervously glanced around the car, almost as if she was trying to pretend she was used to this kind of luxury. Her cheeks were flushed and her hands were shaking, yet her excitement was obvious. It was like a child in a candy store—overwhelmed, yet determined to take it all in.
My own wealth and opulence seemed insignificant in comparison to the moment. Even my immense bank account and sprawling mansion couldn't replace the pure bliss radiating from Madison's face. Money couldn't buy the joy of experiencing something for the first time, and I was more than happy to be able to witness it. It was a moment of innocence, unadulterated by the influence of wealth and power.
"I take it you've never been in a limousine before," which caused her cheeks to immediately turn a bright shade of pink. I couldn't help but chuckle at the sight, but I quickly tried to cover it up with a polite smile.
"How could you tell?"
"You have a tell," I said. “Your cheeks blush when you’re nervous. It’s quite cute, actually.”
Her cheeks were still flushed a deep shade of red as she questioned, "Oh, is that so? What else do you notice about me that I don't notice myself?"
"When you get quiet, I can tell that you're taking everything in," I said. "You're good at that, even though you didn't recognize me under the mask. You bite your lip when you're thinking, and you look at the ground when you're bashful. And when you get turned on, you get really shy."
"Alright, I think that's enough. We're in a limo with a driver up front, and I don't want him hearing all this. But I'm really flattered that you picked up so much about me. You're certainly different from the guy who laughed at me during my first interview with the other company."
I nodded, feeling like it was the perfect time to clear the air. "I know I gave you a brief about what happened, but I owe you more than that. Back then, I had a really bad drinking problem. I had hit the peak of success but I wasn't happy, and so I started drinking in the morning, at work, when I came home. I felt invincible, getting away with it, and you caught the tail end of that. It took an intervention at work and rehab for me to get my act together, and I'm so grateful that I did. I wouldn't risk it for the world now that I have you. I'm so sorry for what I did in that interview. You didn't deserve it, and neither did anyone else. I was a dick. The only good thing that came from it was me helping the mayor get clean, too, before he won office."
She looked at me with sympathetic eyes, perhaps even with a hint of pity. I knew I deserved it; my story was a pathetic one, but I was glad I had told her. That much was out in the open now.
"I know this may sound strange, but I don't resent you for what happened," she said. "It still stings when I think of it, a terrible memory I wish I didn't have to associate with you. But at the same time, I can separate those two men: him and the one currently sitting across from me. Drunk Randy is not the Randy I know. We're still new to each other, still learning about one another. I always want to trust you, but if I ever sense the old Randy coming back, then I won't be here any longer."
I actually kind of enjoyed her stern warning. Usually, I wasn't someone that enjoyed being told what to do or following rules. But she was so alluring when she said what she said that I wanted to obey her. I knew I had to be better, I had to be the man she needed me to be. I didn't want Drunk Randy to come back, I despised that version of myself. No amount of money could ever measure up to the beauty and innocence that Madison radiated.
"Madison, I give you my word that I won't betray or hurt you. I know that it's hard to believe, but I hope I've given you enough reasons to trust me by now. I understand the importance of our relationship and I value it more than any stock in my portfolio. I wouldn't be taking you in this limo if I didn't care about you. I wouldn’t have bought Umbrella Enterprises if I didn’t care about you. Hell, I certainly wouldn’t have opened up about my dark past if I didn’t care about you."
