Page 19 of Ruin Me
She took in my appearance, which contrasted with her pink velour sweatpants with white piping along the seams. “Aren’t you a little overdressed for a conversation?”
“Nikita, what I have to discuss affects her work. Do you really want to stand in her way?”
Nikita narrowed her eyes and stepped back into her house. “Wait here,” she said before slamming the door.
In seconds, an angry Madison faced me wearing a matching set of sweatpants, except hers was white with pink piping. She reminded me of a little bunny, adorable and soft. She was at once different from the vixen in my office, but still the same. Not even the anger radiating from her could prevent the urgebuilding inside me to wrap my arms around her and inhale her jasmine scent.
“What do you think you’re doing here?” Her words were a bracing wake-up call from my disturbing thoughts.
“You forgot your presence is required somewhere else.” I shoved the bags at her.
“Mr. Luxe?—”
“Kent!”
—“I made myself perfectly clear to you and Omar. Now, never show up at my home without a written invitation from me.”
I grabbed the door before she could slam it like her mother had. “Madison, I’m not in the mood for your tantrum. You have two choices: you can put on this gown, or I’ll dress you myself. And that dragon lady you call a mother won’t be able to stop me.” When she opened her mouth as if to protest, I said, “Try me.”
She slammed her lips together and grabbed the bags.
“You have ten minutes before I come to find you.”
Her response was to slam the door. Like mother, like daughter. Now that I had seen her, the tension riding me all afternoon into the evening dissipated and I breathed my first free breath in hours.
Exactly at the ten-minute mark, the door swung open, and my heart stopped. Madison stepped out and the sconces bracketing the entrance glimmered off her body. My imagination paled compared to reality, and words stuck in my throat. Unable to free the compliment burning on my lips, I grunted.
“I truly can’t believe you left the event to come get me,” she grumbled as she stomped toward the car. “After all the work I put in to give you an opening to woo the people we needed to help you with your image, this is how you act?”
I opened the door for her, still speechless, and let her rant. What could I say? She was right, and I let my grievance with her overshadow the opportunity she made for me.
“I hope Hayden will still talk to you after this. Do you know how many people swarm him at events? And you had Elsie, the epitome of his weakness.” She continued, half lamenting and half reprimanding until we pulled up to the function.
Instantly, her persona changed to one of an agreeable companion. When we stepped into the ballroom, the emcee announced it was time for the meal.
Madison grabbed my arm and hauled me toward a group milling by the open bar. For some reason, she had yet to realize that I hadn’t said a word since leaving her house. “Look out for Elsie. If you can signal to her to meet us, I’m going to get you a seat at Hayden’s table. Please, don’t squander this chance.”
Elsie was easy to find, though I had no intention of gaining her attention. She and Omar had their heads bent together, sharing an intimate moment. At least I wouldn’t have to feel guilty for leaving her alone, now that I had Madison on my arm. Later tonight, I would take the time to reflect on the sense of rightness having her here gave me. But I’d neglected my purpose long enough.
“Hayden Mills, why is it at every event I find you causing trouble?” Madison pulled away, leaving a noticeable void beside me.
Hayden swung around to face her. “Madison Montgomery?” He dragged her into a hug that raised the hair along my nape. “Had I known you were here, I would have sniffed you out earlier.”
“Funny story about that. You have my associate to thank for me being here. Hayden Mills, meet Mr. Kent Luxe.”
“Mr.?” Hayden arched his brow, then placed a proprietary hand on her hip.
Between her insistence on formality and his hand where it didn’t belong, I’d had enough. Channeling a little of Valentino’s possessiveness, I hauled her to my side, ignoring the shocked gasp escaping from her mouth. With her beside me, I executed our plan to charm Hayden and gain the coveted invite to his table.
During dinner, his surreptitious glances at Madison told me she’d miscalculated. Although Elsie might have been his weakness, like me, he’d found a new one in Madison.
“How long will you be in Douglas?” he asked Madison during the brief lull in conversation.
“I’m here for work. If all goes well, I’ll have the major pieces in place within a month. Then I’ll head back to D.C.”
“Great, let’s make time for dinner. There’s a new Greek restaurant I’ve been dying to try.”
Madison laughed and playfully punched his shoulder. “You think you’re slick. I don’t have time for you to fly me to Greece for dinner when I’m on assignment.”