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And is there a way to fix it? There must be—and I will find it. Things with Madison are a lot more complicated than this traffic incident, but if I could pull myself out of a tight spot here, I’m sure I can do it with her, too.
I have to get back to the office and make some calls.
Chapter 44
Madison
“What the hell are you doing at the office on a Saturday?”
The underlying tone of indignation in Max’s voice makes me smile. He’s right to reprimand me, but he shouldn’t be surprised either. It’s not the first time he’s caught me working on a weekend—and not the first time he's scolded me for it.
“I have things to do,” I tell him. “I need to find a way to get Mr. Johnson back on board, without my uncle knowing, and I have to prepare for my meeting with the lawyer, so we can—”
“Yes, yes, that is all very important,” Max agrees. “But not as important as your health. You’ve danced at the edge of burnout before, do you really want to risk that again? And especially now?”
I bite my lip, twirling a pen in my hand as I stare out the window. It’s sunny outside, the first kiss of fall already palpable in the soft breeze that casts away the hot summer air. And Max is right. After Dad was diagnosed with cancer my whole world crumbled, and I not only had to deal with the emotional turmoil that comes with losing a parent, but with getting myself ready to take over the company. I hardly slept, forgot to eat, and even skipped my much-needed Jiu-Jitsu lessons, until I passed out in the office. It was embarrassing to say the least—and it played into the hands of those who didn’t have faith in me to begin with.
But still, how could I possibly take a day of rest with everything that’s been going on?
“The clock is ticking, Max,” I tell him. “Every minute counts. I have to be quicker than them, and better prepared.”
“You can still do that on Monday,” he claims. “Take a day of rest, just like everybody else. Do you really think they’re working today?”
“I’m sure he is,” I murmur, trying to ignore the sting in my heart. I wish I could just forget about Chase, and about everything that happened between us. I hate how much space he’s still occupying in my head, how his face appears before my eyes, and his voice echoes in my ears, and the sensation of his touch…
Don’t go there.
I clear my throat, before I ask: “Did you just call to check on me and scold me for not being a good girl and chill?”
“Not exactly,” Max says. “I wanted to ask you out for lunch. I’ve got something to show you.”
“Something to show me?”
“Yes, but I want to do it in person!” he insists. “I want to see your face when you see it.”
“When I see what?” I probe, suspicion lacing my voice.
“Trust me, Madison, this is worth it. Plus, I’m sure your work will still be here when you get back.”
I glance at the stack of paperwork on my desk, my eyes tracing the lines of numbers and statistics that seem to blur together. The weight of the workload bears down on me and I sigh heavily. I hesitate, my fingers drumming on the edge of my desk. The thought of leaving the office gnaws at my conscience, but curiosity gets the better of me.
I sigh, resignation settling in. “Alright. You win. I could use a break. Where did you want to go?”
“How about Harborview Grill? We haven’t been there in ages.” Max suggests.
A smile tugs at the corners of my lips. “Alright, I’ll meet you there in a bit.”
With the call ended, I gather my things and leave the office behind. The warm California sun greets me as I step outside, and I actually feel a glimmer of excitement.
When I arrive at Harborview Grill, Max is already waiting for me, his grin infectious. He points to the empty seat across from him and says, “I already ordered your favorite—California Turkey Club, right?”
He gets up from his seat to welcome me with a strong hug, and just as I sink down in my seat, a waiter materializes next to our table and brings us two homemade citrus and mint lemonades.
“Another favorite, you’re really pampering me,” I say, before we clink glasses and I bring the straw to my lips for a first sip. “Now, why am I here? What did you want to show me?”
Max’s grin widens, and he reaches for his phone that’s been lying on the table in front of him.
“Okay, let’s cut right to the chase,” he says—and the wink he adds to his words is more than unsettling.
