hapter 75


    <b>Chapter </b>75


    Harper


    73


    56 vouchers


    There was a huge ck box that was neatly ced on my doorstep and tied with a silk ribbon. The packaging made it seem like something from a luxury store.


    I took it inside, closed the door and dropped it on the couch.


    When I opened it, the first thing I saw was a $4,000 receipt. I rolled my eyes with a chuckle as it was typical of Maddox to do such a thing. He wanted to make sure I knew exactly how much he had spent.


    Putting the receipt aside, I trailed my fingers over the ck fabric in the box. I was so curious about what it was that I took it out and held it up. It was then I realized it was a dress.


    There was no way I was going to try it on in the living room as I wanted to check myself out in the mirror, so I rushed upstairs, took off my clothes and put on the dress. I stood right in front of the mirror, feeling a little seductive as my corbone and shoulders were exposed. The top half of the dress clung to my body while the lower half cinched at the waist, then loosened into a skirt. The dress was the right length to show off part of my legs while keeping it elegant.


    I grabbed my phone, texting Maddox quickly to tell him that the dress was a perfect fit.


    His reply was almost instant as he asked for a picture. I smiled, loving the idea of making him wait until he’de to pick me up just to see me in the dress.


    I was just about to put down the phone when he sent another text and this time, it had nothing to do with the dress.


    MADDOX:


    “It’s been confirmed. Tiffany and Grayson areing.”


    Even though seeing Tiffany’s name triggered me a little, I knew what the n was, so I stared at my reflection and leaned forward like I was actually looking at her. I couldn’t wait to y that game.


    A few hourster, I stood in front of the dressing mirror, curling thest strands of my hair into ce when my phone screen lit up with an iing call, Dean’s name shing on it.


    “Hey, you,” I said, cing the phone between my shoulder and ear.


    “What’s up?”


    “I’m just styling my hair.”


    “Getting ready to go out?” His voice was filled with thatid–back charm he always had.


    “Yup.”


    “Anything special?” He chuckled softly. “Let me guess, another date with Maddox?”


    <b>11:49 </b><b>Sat</b><b>, </b><b>Sep </b><b>27 </b>M


    Chapter <i>75 </i>


    27.45 vouchers


    “Something like that. For you to say another date, I’m guessing you saw what’s been trending sincest evening.”


    “Exactly. I’ve talked myself out of this so many times, but I can’t help it anymore. What did you do to him? The guy is supposed to be a heartbreaker, not someone who takes his official girl to art exhibitions.”


    I chuckled as I yed my part. “His heartbreaking days are over now that I’m around.”


    “I don’t believe that. I still feel that you need to be careful. You know what he did to my cousin. I’d hate <i>to </i>see him break your heart, too.”


    I smiled painfully. “That will never happen to me.”


    He sighed. “I know you’ve fallen deeply for him, but don’t forget who you’re dealing with. He might be your boyfriend, but he’s still Maddox.”


    “I know who he is,” I replied, my voice softer this time, “But trust me, I won’t get my heart broken.”


    I meant every word I said, because Maddox could never break my heart. The only one with that Grayson and he’d already done it.


    power was


    At the sound of an engine outside, I paused with the mascara wand in my hand. It didn’t sound like the usual sound I was used to.


    Curiosity got the better of me and I rushed to the window and peeked through the curtain, my jaw nearly dropping to the floor. There was a ck limousine right in my driveway.


    A chauffeur in a ck and white suit stepped out and opened the back door.


    Maddox stepped out in a beige suit, his hair styled just as it was the previous day but this time, he had some sunsses on and that made him look like he owned the entire city.


    My phone rang from the dressing mirror and I rushed over, his name shing on the screen. I pressed it against my ear, rushing back to the window just to stare at him.


    “A limousine?” That was the first thing that came out of my mouth.


    He smirked, his voice casual. “Yeah, I felt like doing something different today.”


    I had to remind myself that all that was normal for someone like him. It shouldn’t even have surprised me as much as it did as I’d been on his private jet before.


    Putting the mascara away, I made my way downstairs and opened the front door for him.


    His eyes scanned me from head to toe, slowly and deliberately.


    “Well? How do I look?” I asked.


    He didn’t answer right away. Instead, he lowered his shades and spoke in a quiet voice that was enough to


    <b>11:50 </b><b>Sat</b><b>, </b><b>Sep </b>27 M


    make me press my thighs together.


    “Turn around.”


    <b>73 </b>


    55 vouchers


    Fuck. I’d missed hearing him talk to me like that, which was why I immediately did as I was told. I gave him a whole 360 to show him the dress he’d chosen for me from all angles.


    When I turned back to face him, his lower lip was stuck between his teeth, his eyes lustfully darkening.


    He then closed the distance between us, pulling me closer by the waist. My breath hitched as my hand rested on his chest. He didn’t have to say, but I could feel the possessiveness radiating off of him.


    “Let’s go.” His tone was more of amand than it was an invitation.


    The previous evening had been different. He’d been too restrained when he’d dropped me off, but the guy taking me to the limousine was the Maddox I knew.


    The chauffeur held the door open and I stepped inside first, a gasp escaping my lips at the interior. There were cream leather seats, subtle golden lighting, a ceiling that glittered like stars and a minibar filled with a variety of liquor and champagne.


    I gotfortable in my seat, my fingers tracing the leather as I said, “This is…” I trailed off as words failed me.


    Maddox took the seat right next to mine, stretching one arm across the backrest. The sleeve of his jacket brushed against my shoulder and he smirked at my reaction.


    “Wait until you see the other ones.”


    Other ones? As if that one wasn’t enough to blow my mind.


    As the ride to the Aldridge Estate began, he poured champagne into two sses and handed one ss to me.


    I wasn’t even able to sip in peace as he wouldn’t stop staring at me, especially my thighs. I didn’t even have to wonder what was going through his head. I knew it all too well.


    Trying to shift the tension, I said, “So, how did it feel being back in your San Francisco home and sleeping in your previous bed?”


    “It was awesome.” He set down his ss to pull out his phone. “I missed that bed. You’re the only one who was missing from it.”


    I rolled my eyes. He was definitely back.


    “I spoke to Aunt Patricia a few minutes before you arrived,” I said, watching the bubbles rise and pop in my ss. “She’s not happy about this at all. I’m guessing you know why.”


    Hezily tilted his head as he scrolled on his phone and said, “Tiffany.”


    I nodded in agreement. “She says I should be staying far away from you, not getting closer. She’ll never forgive Tiffany for what she did to me in London. That’s why she can’t stand that I’m dating you, even though I’m not.”


    <b>11:50 </b>Sat, Sep 27 M<b>… </b>


    For just a second, he paused with his thumb on his phone screen.


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    55 vouchers


    “Yup,” he said, his stone casual at first as he continued scrolling through some work emails, then his voice turned quieter. “Good thing this isn’t real.”


    After that, he took his arm off the backrest, stared out the window and the conversation just died. I tried a few times to pull him back in with small things about the art exhibit, the dress<b>, </b>even ament about how unreal the limousine felt, but his replies were just short, like he wasn’t interested.


    His phone was still in his hand even though he wasn’t using it and it was then that I assumed it must have been because of those emails. He must’ve had so much pending work but chose to be with me so he could convince Tiffany that I was his girlfriend and get her off my back.


    With that in mind, I gave him some space, making myself busy on my phone by reading thements on his most recent post about me. Not one girl gave me apliment on how gorgeous I looked and left it at that. They just had to add some subtle negativity.


    I stole nces at Maddox every now and then, but not once did he stop staring out the window with a nk expression.


    Finally, he broke the silence, his voice back to his usual self. “We’re almost there.”


    I immediately put my phone away, smoothing the fabric of my dress and ready to put on a show.


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