Page 16 of Mad Love

“Everything but my personal belongings.”

“How come?”

Maddox isn’t aware of my grandfather’s death or the terms of the will, but by tonight, he will. Before I left my grandfather’s place, Arthur informed me he would deliver a statement to the news media later tonight, giving me time to get my affairs in order.

“My grandfather bought these items and would want the pieces to go to his charities. They can do with them as they wish.”

My grandfather was a charitable man, and I’ll continue his legacy though he left me vulnerable to the world. I understand why he did it, though. His intentions that I not rely on his money to get me through life comes from the right place—the heart.

By the time Maddox’s personal driver picks us up at the airport in Oakland, it’s after nine. Back at the building he owns, we take the elevator to his penthouse in silence. I can get used to the quiet and will like the arrangement just fine if he continues to not speak a word to me.

“I’ll show you to your room.”

“Thank you.”

I follow Maddox across the spacious living area, my heels clicking on the stone floor. I’m beat and in need of solitude. There’s also a lot of thinking to do, including how I’ll pay respects to my grandfather while having no contact with my family.

Inside what is my new bedroom, Maddox sets my suitcases on the floor.

“With everything that was in your place, you left with only two suitcases of belongings?”

“It’s all I’ll need until our arrangement ends.” I’m not planning on leaving his penthouse until my kidnapper is found.

The doorbell rings. He leaves and then returns with a medium-sized package in his hands.

“This has your name on it.”

“From Collins,” I say, having this insane urge for making small talk. I’m certain this isn’t how Maddox pictured his wedding day. “She’s always thinking of my comfort.”

“She’s a good friend.”

“My friends have big hearts.”

I take the box from him, being careful our fingers don’t graze. I’m not careful enough, and I chalk my carelessness to my grief, the ache in my chest unbearable.

Our fingers brush, my satin glove over his warm flesh, and a zing of awareness zips up and down my body as this electric current that heats me from head to toe.

I clear my throat, avoiding looking him in the eye. “Again, thank you. I’m tired and will turn in for the night.”

There’s no need to make our arrangement about attraction. It’s one-sided, anyway. What he says next confirms my suspicion that it was right of me to put in the clause.

“I’m going out. Don’t wait up. If you call in for food delivery or a delivery of any kind, notify the front desk. One of my guys will deliver it personally.”

“Visitors?” I ask.

“Again, notify the front desk and your visitor will be escorted up here. Hand me your phone.”

I must have a confused expression.

“I’ll add the front desk’s number.”

“Oh, of course.” I pull my cell from my bag, unlock the screen, and hand it over, holding it from the top end so that he’s forced to grab the phone by the bottom end.

Believing he’s good to go, I change out the bedding with the satin ones that came in the box, in record time. I’m dead on my feet, and I don’t want to keep him from his date.

There’s silence behind me. Is Maddox in the same camp as everyone else, that I’m strange? Or is he holding on to his own belief that I’m a spoiled brat? I turn around, ready to unpack my clothes before they become a wrinkled mess.

On Maddox’s face is a look of disgust. He tosses my phone on the bed.

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