Page 47 of Lovers' Dance: Vol. 2

“Of course they do. Just because we don’t carry guns and wear balaclavas doesn’t mean we aren’t capable of doing highly suspect things. We tend to do it via deals with stocks and shares worth millions. Fine print, poppet, you can get away with a lot in the fine print.” he drawled.

She pulled back, eyes narrowed into brown slits. “Have you ever done anything like that?”

Matt smiled sweetly at her. “Would you report me to the relevant authorities if I have?”

Madi chewed her lower lip, gaze returning to the painting. “Have you forgotten what I said the night of that auction? You’re damned straight I would, buster. I’m not getting done. There’s such a thing called guilt by association and I told you before, I’m too short to go to jail. They’ll pass me around like toilet paper.”

Matt choked on his breath at her flippant words. “God! You do make me laugh.”

“You haven’t answered the question though.” she reminded him.

Matt also stared at the painting, a reflective air surrounding him. “You know, growing up we always felt their possessions meant more to them than we ever did.” He smiled when she snuggled closer to him, leaning up to press a soft kiss against his cheek. Matt tightenedhis hold on her, moving them away from the painting. “Let’s go watch the fireworks.”

“Mum, Dad,” Matt came up behind his parents. “A private word in the study please.” He turned on his heels and headed out the grand salon. He had left Madi in the capable hands of his sister after the fireworks display, although he’d caught a glimpse of her resigned expression when Hannah started discussing their spa day. She had mouthed ‘bastard’ to him as he walked away and a wink in her direction was his only response. Hewasa bastard, no doubt about that, but she would never see that side of him. He wanted to forever remain her knight and right now he had some knightly duties to attend to. It was quarter of an hour before his parents entered the private study.

His mother avoided his eyes, while his father clapped him on the back before heading towards the drinks cabinet. “A spot of whiskey, Matthew?”

“No thank you.” Matt observed his mother as his father poured a drink for himself. She was still a beautiful woman and he could never understand why the relationship between his parents had gotten to this stage. Who had caused the first hurt? Who had broken the foundation of their marriage? He had seen countless pictures in the family albums of them before Hannah’s birth. They used to be in love, it was clear to see, but something had changed. He was angry with her, of course, but she was his mother and he loved her dearly.

“Mum,” Matt called to her, his tone was gentle. Portia sighed and raised blue eyes towards him. She plastered a bright smile on her face and smoothed a manicured hand over her coifed blonde hair.

“Are you enjoying the party, darling?” she asked. He nodded, holding her gaze.

“Have you had a chance to speak to Roger, son?” William queried as he sipped his whiskey. “I want you and Adam to remind him we got him to where he is and we can certainly return him to the lowly position we found him in. The fool thinks he’s beyond our reach due to his government contracts, contracts he wouldn’t have gottenwithout my intercession.”

Matt ignored his father and asked, “Why, Mum?”

“Why what?” William glanced at his wife and son, suddenly aware of the unspoken tension between them. He took another sip of his whiskey before shooting a hard stare at his wife. “What have you done now, Portia? I hope it has nothing to do with Madi not conforming to tonight’s dress code. It’s just a bloody dress.”

Portia turned cold eyes towards him, her face quickly filled with something quite close to hatred. That shocked Matt, he’d never seen his mother look at his father in such a manner. Then she turned back to Matt and her features softened.

“You’re my son and I did what I felt was necessary.” she answered.

Matt reached inside his tuxedo jacket and pulled out the papers.

“What’s that?” his father asked, striding over to him.

Matt kept his eyes on his mother. “She signed them, you know. I didn’t want her to but she begged me to let her sign them.”

“Sign what?” William was getting irritated. He hated being left out of the loop and sent another hard look in his wife’s direction. What had she done now?

“Madi loves me, Mum,” Matt declared. “And I love her. More than anything. She doesn’t care about my wealth, in fact, sometimes I think she’s actually disgusted by it. She doesn’t care that I’m a Bradley-”

“What in God’s name are you two talking about?” William slammed his drink down and held his hand out to Matt. “What are those papers?”

“Did you agree with this too, Dad?”

“Agree with what, son?”

It was obvious his mother had done this on her own. Matt brushed past his father and walked up to her with the signed papers held out for her to take. “All she wants is acceptance, Mum,” Matt explained. “She signed these so you wouldn’t worry what her intentions are. Shedefendedyou, defended the reasoning behind your demand that she sign this agreement.”

Portia held her chin up defiantly. “She’s a smart girl, Matthew. I’m sure she knew what your reaction would be. If she truly wanted me to believe she has no designs on your wealth then she would havesigned them when I gave them to her, the moment I asked her to. Not go running to you-”

“Madi is like a little girl desperately seeking approval from a mother figure,” Matt cut her off curtly. “But she came to me first because she knows if I had found out, and trust me, I would have found out; that I would be livid! How dare you ask this of her? If you’re worried about my inheritance, don’t be. I have my own damned money. I don’t need or want a penny from you. All that I have, she’s welcomed to it. I am 37 bloody years old, not a child. You have a choice, Mother,” Matt knew she hated when they referred to her as such. “I am giving you a choice right now. Support me, or stay out of my life. I will not tolerate any more of this. Madi is going to be my wife and if you find the thought of that unbearable, stay away from us.”

Portia opened her mouth.

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