“What is wrong with you? It’s ten in the morning.”
I frost my glass walls so nosy workers won’t watch us. Luckily, it’s soundproof, so they will have no clue what we’re talking about.
“There is no conversation needed. I’ve told you twenty times I will handle it from here on out. He wants the damn ring back? I’ll have Lizzy fly out there and hand it to him. I want to move on with our lives and not have anything lingering over us.” I chug back my drink.
She walks over and massages my shoulders. “You need to take a breath. You’re going to give yourself a heart attack.” She takes my drink and pushes it aside.
“Aw, Mom and Dad are fighting.” Leo steps into my office, frowning at my scotch.
“We’re not fighting,” we answer in unison.
“Nate’s stressed,” Maddie informs him. “He ran into Caroline last night on his run.”
I glare at her. I wasn’t planning on sharing that information with anyone.
“He needed to know if you’re working together all day. You’re like a ticking bomb ready to explode.”
She’s right, and I know it.
After all these years, I hate that the woman who gave birth to me still affects me this way.
Why the fuck does it bother me that she didn’t even recognize me until one of her little minions called out my name as I turned to run in the other direction?
And what the hell was she even doing in the West Village?
Caroline Davenport has almost never ventured below 42nd Street, and even that’s a stretch.
Galas at Cipriani’s is the only reason she even goes that low, so you can imagine my shock when I crossed paths with her on Christopher Street.
Of course, I didn’t stop or say one word to her.
I know better than to waste my breath, but when I got home and my mind quieted, it really fucked with me.
Since exposing my truths to Maddie, I opened an old wound, and my childhood has been on my mind constantly. Maddie doesn’t know it, but last night, I fell asleep to the thoughts of my past until I was woken up from a nightmare.
It wasn’t me trapped. It was Claudina in my bedroom, screaming for help.
I woke up hot, sweating, and near having a panic attack.
To say I’m on edge would be an understatement.
Leo’s phone rings, so he steps out, reminding Maddie that she’s running a meeting for him today. Maddie uses this chance to turn me around and push me against my desk.
“Anyone ever tell you you’re strong as hell?”
“Nate,” she sighs, ignoring me as she cups my cheeks.
My fingers run through her long, dark hair, twirling the ends, avoiding all eye contact.
“You have me now,” she whispers, lifting my head and tapping lightly against my forehead. “Whatever’s burning you from the inside out, you share with me. That’s how we work. No more hiding your pain. I’m not your young, naïve girlfriend anymore. I’m an adult who wants to be an equal partner.”
I drop my head. “I don’t want to talk about it right now.”
She kisses my forehead. “I know you think your job is to take care of everyone, but let me be the one who takes care of you. Okay?” I nod, and she wraps her arms around me for a hug. “I’m going to make you spaghetti Bolognese tonight.”
I lean back, my lips stretching wide. “Really?” She nods, a soft, loving expression on her face. When we were in college, and I had a bad day, especially if we lost a match race, she would always make her famous Bolognese to cheer me up. “And chocolate cherry cake?”
“Anything you want. I have another surprise for you later, too.” She waggles her brows.
