Chapter 9
730 Words
“It's nice to meet you” Nathan greeted her. His usual cold mask sliding over his face once again.
She reached out to Nathan for a hug.
He stood rooted in his position.
I caught the look of embarrassment on her face as she lowered her arm and chuckled dryly.
“What are you doing with this gentleman Madeline”
“We came together” Nathan beat me to it.
“Together?” Mrs. Ruby's eyes danced suspiciously between us.
“Yes”
“Does Ethan know you're here?”
At this point, I felt a surge of annoyance.
“I believe I'm allowed to go wherever I please, whenever I please. Ethan is not my owner, so I don't need permission from him.”
Mrs Ruby gaped at me in shock. Judging from the fact that I'd always been the obedient little lamb, my bold act of rebellion stunned her.
“What a foolish thing to say, Madeline. Ethan is your husband. You cannot go anywhere without his permission—”
“Have a good evening, Mrs Ruby.”
She let out a small gasp as I turned away.
“Don’t you dare walk away! I'm not done talking.”
“But we are,” Nathan said over his shoulder. He took my hand and linked our fingers as he followed closely beside me.
A strange feeling of triumph bubbled in my chest as we walked away.
“You handled that well Madeline.”
“Thank you…you too.”
“I barely said anything.”
“Exactly. Thank you for letting me speak for myself.”
Nathan assessed me with a perplexed look.
“That's not something you thank someone for.”
“Of course it is.”
He looked like he wanted to say something but decided not to.
“Are you cold?”
“No…do I look cold?”
“Your fingers are cold”
“Oh, don't worry about me. My fingers are always cold”
Suddenly I remembered that we were holding hands. Once again the warmth of his hand surprised me.
“Let me help”
Nathan shrugged out of his blazer and placed it on my shoulders.
“You don't have to do this Nathan—”
“Shh”
My lips parted in surprise.
Did he just shush me?!
“Are you actually admiring me or is it all part of our show?” Nathan stepped back and smirked at me.
“What?”
“I'm standing right in front of you, of course I can see you gaping at me”
My cheeks flushed at his words. Had I been staring?
“I wasn't gaping at you. There are much prettier art works here to gape at” I turned away from him with a pout.
He chuckled
“Of course there are. I think you look prettier than the art though.”
Stunned, I turned to see if he had that sarcastic look on his face again.
But he was smiling.
I was utterly confused.
“You're staring again” Nathan smiled wider, showing off his pearly white teeth.
“I am not!”
He took my hand in his again. I tried to pull away, but he held on tight.
“Be a good girl Madeline, and play along,” he whispered in my ear. His warm breath fanning my face.
My entire face flushed at his words. I looked away quickly and stopped trying to pull my hand out of his.
But the sound of his low chuckle meant he already caught me blushing like a damn teenager.
A head of blonde hair near the large entrance doors caught my attention. As soon as the lady turned around my mood dropped.
Annie Hills.
If she was here, then that meant one thing.
As if on cue, Ethan stepped in after her.
My mood dropped even more.
I watched him wrap his arm around her waist as they proceeded into the hall.
In a matter of seconds, Mrs. Ruby was by his side. I knew what she was about to do.
I watched Ethan's smile fade slowly as Ruby ran her mouth. Then his eyes began darting frantically around the hall.
“I'm guessing that is your husband,” Nathan said, leaning close.
I held his hand tighter.
“Yes. Ethan Grey”
Ethan's eyes landed on me.
- Writer
