AllFreeNovel
Share Us
My strides fall into place, and by the time I get to the end, I’m able to pose and turn, swirling the skirt of my gown. Somehow, I feel like I belong.
When I’m off the runway, I step down from the stage, and Maddox pulls me into a big hug, twirling me around as he says, “You rocked it up there. Great job, baby.”
He brings his lips to mine, as if it’s the most natural thing in the world. I’m not sure if the electricity shooting through my body is from shock, the excitement of the runway, or Maddox himself, but all my atoms are vibrating at high speed as I kiss him back.
I expect him to pull away—it’s only a short congratulatory kiss, after all. But he doesn’t. And neither do I. My pulse races as my lips part, ever so slightly, as his tongue slips inside. Maddox’s hands find their way to my waist as he pulls me closer, deepening our kiss. His lips are soft, and I don’t want this moment to end.
The crowd around us fades away—it’s just Maddox and me in our own world as we explore each other’s mouths. His warmth radiates through my body, and all my nerve endings fire all at once. His hands move up to my face, touching my cheek, which leaves a trail of sparks across my skin. I feel almost weightless, like I’m floating.
The room shrinks, and the flurry of camera flashes dim as I let my hands drift up his chest, until they’re locked behind his neck.
He pulls away with a satisfied smile on his face, and I can’t help but grin back. We stand, lost in each other’s gaze before we hear someone clear their throat.
We look to see the next woman wearing a toilet paper gown at the side of the stage with an indignant expression on her face. “Excuse me. I need to get through.”
“Sorry,” we both say at once, and then scurry out of the way.
Maddox Winter just kissed the bejesus out of me.
I’m feeling drunk with euphoria, about what just happened, but about my performance, too. And there’s something about sharing this moment with Maddox that’s made it even sweeter.
When Billy and Skye approach and give me hugs, others congregate around me, patting my back and telling me they hope I win. My confidence soars.
Skye leans in and whispers, “So much for having to fake it.”
I pull away, denial etched on my face. “It was just for show.”
Skye laughs. “Honey, that was no fake kiss.”
I give her a firm head shake, but she bats a hand at me and walks away.
Just because we shared a good…okay,amazingkiss doesn’t mean we’re meant for each other. It’s purely physical, plain and simple.
When Skye goes up to the podium, the room falls silent.
She puts her arms in the air when she says, “And the winner of the gown competition, selected byVoguesenior editor, Samuel Carey, is…“ she trails off, building suspense with a million-watt smile. “Riley Glenn!”
Clapping, I jump in the air, and Maddox wraps his arms around me and squeezes tight.
Skye glows when she says, “Life Light—the organization rescuing the homeless animals of Atlanta—will receive the funds from the generous donors of today’s event. Thank you so much, everyone!”
I’m brimming with pride for myself and Sophie. And, yes, Maddox too.
6
Willing and Dealing
It’s finally time for the reading of my grandmother’s will, which is much overdue after her estate spent three long months in probate. She had a bloody fortune, so, of course, my greedy family was disputing parts of the will, which dragged things on longer. I don’t know any of the specifics because I stayed clean out of it. I loved my grandmother dearly, and sadly, it seems I’m the only one who accepted her for her. Which is why I couldn’t bear to get involved in a cat fight over her valuables. The only thing I want is her set of royal costume jewelry, which has no monetary value, luckily for me. It’s sentimental because of the memories it brings back. It’s from the days when Grams and I used to dress up and pretend we were attending official royal tea parties. She cherished her roots growing up in Scotland, and she loved dressing me up in gowns to have fine tea in real china with scones, finger sandwiches, and an array of delicate desserts.
As long as I get that jewelry, I’m good. Then my parents and my mother’s brother and his latest wife can beat each other bloody over everything else, if that’s how they wish to play it.
It’s beyond awkward because I haven’t seen my parents much since I accepted my role inUrban Dawn. My relationship with them has been all over the place the last year and a half. They kicked me out of their home after I embarrassed myself on live TV crashing a televised wedding.Long, loong story.But then, when my parents lost everything, I stepped in and used my savings so they could purchase a small home. We were really close for a while, but afterUrban Dawn,they distanced themselves again.
I’m their only child, and they’re so stubborn they couldn’t at least offer me congratulations that my dream was finally coming true? They never wanted me to be an actor, which is why I pursued accounting—to take my proper place at their real estate firm. Accounting seemed okay, but it didn’t fulfill me. Now, I’m so grateful I’m living my life for me.
I enter the law offices of Gellar and Sloan, smoothing my jeans. My heels tap as I walk down the marbled corridor until I reach the large conference room in the back. Before I even enter, I inhale my father’s cologne, which I swear smells like leather and old money. Sure enough, I see my parents sitting there dressed to the nines in designer suits. Thanks to me, they got to keep them. My mother’s brother, Uncle Patrick, and wife number three, who’s expecting, are at the opposite side of the long table, sitting silently.
As frustrated as I am with my parents, I’m disgusted with Uncle Patrick and his current wife. He took over my grandfather’s law firm, Glenn & Glenn Legal because my mom didn’t want to go into law. But when Gramps died, he left Mom the building he’d purchased for the business. Mom and Dad used the massive leasing money they earned to grow their commercial real-estate business and made a fortune. However, when Covid hit, my uncle and the other businesses vacated all my parents’ commercial buildings, leaving them with no leaseesand no income. They had to sell all their properties just to pay outstanding debts and break even.
