Page 61 of One Eye Open (The BlackWater)

Maddie shook her head before pushing the door open and walking through. It was like another reception area beyond. Fancy chairs overlooking the incredible view across the Thames with Tower Bridge literally spitting distance across it. Maddie looked around surprised at the brightness and the contrast to all the dark, hidden world of BlackWater.

“Can I help you?” A woman asked with her eyes narrowed right in on her. She must have been mid-forties, with thick dark glasses, a shirt buttoned all the way up to the collar and a string of pearls hanging neatly below it. She literally looked like the walking definition of no nonsense.

“I’m Maddie Cooper. I’m here to see Cole and Brandon.”

“Oh.” She said, her expression softening somewhat. “In that case head in. And please tell Mr.Black I’ll bring some more refreshments in ten minutes.”

“Thank you.” Maddie said smiling. Something about this woman made her instantly like her. Sure Charlotte had called her a bitch, and she could totally see that she took no shit but if anything she found it reassuring. You could instantly tell where you stood, what she was thinking. There was no game playing there.

She walked past the desk and tapped lightly on the door before opening it.

She felt her eyes widen as she saw a blonde woman, with her skirt so tight it emphasised every curve of her body, bent over the side of a desk, and Cole sat right behind it as she pointed something out on the paper in front of him.

“Maddie.” Cole said loudly and the woman turned, narrowing her bright blue eyes as if she’d interrupted them, straightening up and throwing her a look that pretty much said it all.

“How about we follow up on this later?” The woman said, her voice sounding just as seductive as the rest of her as she focused back on Cole as if Maddie didn’t exist.

“That won’t be necessary.” He said narrowing his eyes at her.

“Really Cole, as impressive as you are, even you cannot get this done without my help.” She said leaning forward to touch his arm as Maddie just stood there, half in the doorway not sure whether to turn and walk back out or flip the fuck out at the pair of them.

“Maddie?” Brandon said behind her and she turned seeing him frowning at her before he looked into the room beyond.

“Fuck.” He said and she felt her eyebrows raising at his reaction. Because if anything that surprised her even more.

“Fuck indeed.” She said and Brandon shook his head before yanking her out the way and she grimaced as her god damn leg protested painfully at it.

“Sort your shit out.” He snapped behind him into the room as the lady on reception gasped.

“Maddie, whatever you think you just saw...” He began and she shook her head.

“Look Brandon, I mean this in the nicest possible way but stay the fuck out of my life.” Maddie said quietly because the last thing she wanted to do right now was cause a scene. Not when she was still processing whatever the hell that what was.

“That was not what you thought it was.” Brandon said.

“Really?” She said before letting out a deep breath. “Look I have work to do and you asked me to come here so what did you want?” She said.

“Sit down, I’ll get some coffee.” He said and she saw as the blonde woman sauntered through the reception area throwing her another look before disappearing through the double doors as her heels echoed loudly with every step.

“Maddie.” Cole said suddenly right there and she glared at him. He shook his head, yanking her into his office.

“That was…” He began.

“What?” She snapped suddenly furious. But not just that, she felt stupid too, naïve, the fucking idiot of the century because here she was literally making a deal with the devil for him and all the while…

“That was Brandon’s ex.” He said and she scoffed.

“His ex? Really? Because she looked pretty chummy with you.” She said.

“Yeah well she’s unfortunately part of a government run project Black Industries is involved in.” He stated.

“Sure she is.” Maddie said folding her arms. “Looks like she’s intimately involved with Black Industries to me.”

“Are you jealous?” He asked smirking and she almost punched him then.

“Do I have reason to be?” She asked coldly.

“No Maddie. That woman, Jennifer, is nothing to me.” He stated.

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