Page 80 of One Eye Open (The BlackWater)

Maddie stood beside Cole, and he held her hand as if making a point to everyone else in the room. God, how many people are in his family? Maddie thought, hoping her face looked impassive, calm, serene almost.

“So this is the girl who’s caught our son’s attention?” Cole’s dad said taking his time to look her over and Maddie gave him a small smile, unsure how else to respond.

“Maddie, these are my parents.” Cole said as they approached the two figures nearest them. His dad was tall, almost as tall as Cole and he still had a presence, a strength despite his age. He clearly inherited his strong jawline and piercing eyes from him.

Cole’s mother scrutinized her through her glasses, without blinking, and Maddie fought the urge to stare her down.

“Nice to meet you both.” Maddie said holding her hand out and Cole’s dad took it.

“Call me Hugo.” He said shaking it warmly. “And it’s good to finally meet you. We’ve heard a lot about you from Charlotte.”

“Yes we have.” Cole’s mother added glancing at Cole before taking Maddie’s hand and giving her a purposefully firm shake of the hand as if to subliminally tell her not to underestimate her. “I’m Constance.”

Maddie smiled. “Nice to meet you.”

“These are my aunt and uncle on my mother’s side.” Cole said pointing them out. “George and Anna….” Maddie shook their hands too before Cole slowly introduced her to every other person there, who all smiled politely and made appropriate small talk.

“And these are my cousins Nicholas, Jenny, and Charles.”

Maddie smiled at them and they all smiled back.

“Drink?” Brandon said quietly beside her and she nodded.

“I’ll take anything.” She said quietly and he chuckled.

“Be right back.” He said.

“You work at BlackWater correct?” Nicholas asked Maddie as Brandon handed her a much needed gin and Cole a whiskey.

“Yes.” She said before taking a sip while secretly wishing she could down the entire thing.

“What department?” He asked.

“I’m joint lead for Major Crimes.” She said.

“Major Crimes?” Hugo repeated looking to Brandon.

“It’s a new department. Maddie helped us set it up a few months ago.” Brandon said before sipping his whiskey. He was sat between the four of them as if he was playing some sort of mediator.

“I see. And what’s the objectives for this department…” Hugo began but Constance cut across him.

“Really? You stopped managing the company fifteen years ago. Why do you still feel the need to have an input into it?” Constance said.

Hugo smirked. “If you’d ever built a company you’d understand my dear. It’s not something you just walk away from.”

“No apparently not. Even when you’re meant to be enjoying your retirement.” Constance stated.

“Who says I’m not enjoying my retirement? I spend every day with you.” He quipped and Maddie had to fight the urge to laugh. It was like watching two Cole’s in action.

Constance rolled her eyes and then started talking to her sister.

“So Brandon is your boss is he?” Jenny asked and Maddie nodded.

“Yes.” Maddie said.

“Is that how you two met?” She asked looking at Cole.

“You could say that.” Maddie replied thinking to how they had met. It wasn’t exactly the kind of story you could tell your mates.

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