Chapter 4
Pane
“I need you to strip, sir.”
I blink. “Sorry? What was that?”
My mother’s assistant takes hold of a slick black suitcase and rolls it toward me over the jet’s carpeted floor.
When he speaks next, his voice is slow, deliberate, as if he’s explaining to a child why it’snotokay to play with matches. “Mrs. Maddox has requested that you change out of your suit and put on the clothes that you will find in here.”
I frown so hard that my brows pinch together. “Why?”
He purses thin lips that match his even thinner face. “She didn’t say why, Mr. Maddox.”
“What’s this?” Stone says, entering the plane.
I point to the case. “Mom wants me to change clothes.”
My brother snorts. “She must’ve heard you smell like a pig.”
The assistant produces a matching case and wheels it toward my brother. “Sir, your mother has requested that you, too, change out of your clothes and into the ones provided in here.”
Stone scoffs. “This can’t be real.”
“Oh, it’s real,” I counter. “What was all that about her having to leave in ten minutes?”
The assistant shrugs. “I believe she’s extended her trip.”
Great. Mom’s decided to make us play dress-up instead.
The assistant gestures to the lavatory. “It’s free for you, Mr. Maddox.” To my brother, he points to the rear of the plane. “The other lavatory is also free. Mrs. Maddox will see you both in her office after you’ve changed.”
So I guess there’s no getting out of this, though I don’t mind changing out of my mud-smeared suit. Since I’m about to become the next president of the Maddox Group, it’s best not to accept the position looking like a farmhand.
I take the suitcase and enter the lavatory. Unzipping it reveals a few pairs of jeans, some casual shirts, underwear, socks, and a toiletry bag. Why are there so many articles of clothing if I’m only changing into one of each?
But I simply do as instructed, leaving my suit on the hangers provided.
When I exit, the assistant is waiting for me. “One last thing, sir. Your accessories.”
“Accessories?”
His gaze falls to my Rolex.
“You want my watch?”
He nods, and a bitter laugh escapes my throat. This is too much. What is Mom playing at? But whatever. I hand it over. I’m about to pass by when the assistant blocks my path.
“Your wallet and phone, too.”
“I’m not going to record anything. Why am I handing over my phone?”
“You will receive a new one, Mr. Maddox, as well as a new wallet.”
This whole thing is beginning to feel like some sort of setup. After a pause, I sigh. “Fine.”
I slip both from my pockets, and the assistant hands me a new phone. I open it and find that there are no contacts.
