Chapter 5: Office Heat and Dangerous Games

The office was lined with awards and family photos—sunlight pouring in through floor-to-ceiling windows, stripes of gold on the carpet.

His business partner, Lucas, was inside talking about a project. I sorted documents at the side, trying to ignore their banter.

When I finished and was about to slip out, Lucas grinned and asked:

"Madison, do you have a boyfriend?"

I shook my head. He leaned in, all charm.

"Can we exchange numbers? I’d like to take you out sometime—"

Alex cut in, voice low and almost possessive:

"She has a boyfriend. Don’t hit on her."

Lucas raised an eyebrow, lips quirking:

"But Madison just shook her head. If you say she has one, then she does?"

He snorted, pulled out his phone, and made a show of adding me—winking like we shared a secret.

Alex had enough. He started shooing people out.

"Lucas, if you don’t leave, I’m skipping tomorrow night’s dinner. You handle it."

"Don’t, don’t." Lucas grabbed the documents. "I’m leaving."

He ducked out, still grinning.

Now it was just us. The silence thickened, heavy with everything unsaid.

I clutched the file, talking fast:

"Mr. Harper, I’ll go prep for the meeting. Let me know if you need anything."

I turned to go, practically speed-walking.

I could feel his eyes on me, each step like walking a tightrope.

But he called out:

"Maddie—wait."

I turned, eyes shifting:

"What is it?"

Alex crossed the room in an instant, shoes nearly silent.

He frowned, voice deep:

"Didn’t you say you had something to explain? It’s just us now. So, spill."

He leaned against the desk, arms crossed, like he had all the time in the world.

My mouth went dry. I wanted a script. Anything.

Explain what? Isn’t it all on my resume?

I forced a wobbly smile:

"Didn’t you just read it?"

He looked down at me:

"But I want to hear it from you. I want to hear you say it yourself."

His gaze was steady, searching for the truth beneath my words.