Chapter Four
923 Words
“What’s wrong?” Clara asked as Madison walked back into the lounge with an angry expression. Madison slumped onto the sofa, dropping her book and pen on the table.
“I just met a foolish guy who asked me to follow him home.”
“And what did you say?” Clara asked. Madison turned her head sharply toward her.
“What was I supposed to say? Agree to go home with him?” Madison retorted.
Clara laughed, placing a hand on Madison’s shoulder.
“You had two options, Madison, either follow him home or disagree with him. It’s as simple as that.”
Madison sneered. “Whatever.” She grabbed her pen and book, ready to resume questioning.
“You still want to ask questions?” Clara asked in surprise.
“What else did I come here for?” Madison replied.
Clara kept quiet, watching as Madison walked over to a man, smiling as she held her book and pen.
“Hi.” She waved at him.
The man turned and she frowned.
It was the same pervert she had met earlier.
“You finally decided to follow me home?” he asked with a proud smirk.
“Damn you!” Madison snapped and stormed away in anger.
“Let’s get out of here.” She grabbed her bag and walked toward the exit.
“What happened?” Clara inquired once they were outside.
“I ran into that fool again.”
They flagged a taxi back home.
“Goodnight, Clara.” Madison waved before entering her apartment.
She was too tired to eat and decided to sleep. Without changing into her pajamas, she jumped onto her bed and passed out.
---
The Next Morning
Stirring in her sleep, Madison hugged her teddy bear, mumbling some sleepy words.
Suddenly, her eyes shot open.
Morning already?!
She sprang out of bed.
“What the hell? I didn’t even change into my pajamas.” She slapped her forehead before checking the time.
Past seven.
She screamed.
Rushing into the bathroom, she took a quick shower, threw on a gray shirt and black skirt, and tied her hair into a ponytail before dashing out of her apartment.
She flagged a taxi to work.
The moment she arrived, Clara was already laughing at her.
Sam and Amanda, as usual, came over to greet her.
“Why are you late today, Madison?” Amanda asked, holding Madison’s arm.
“I overslept.”
“It’s your turn to come late today, isn’t it?” Clara teased, making both of them burst out laughing.
“I was so tired that I couldn’t even change into my pajamas.” Madison groaned between laughs.
“The boss asked for you.”
Madison’s eyes widened. She gasped.
“Are you serious? What did you tell him?”
“Oh, I told him you hadn’t arrived yet,” Clara replied nonchalantly.
Madison felt her soul leave her body.
“Although… I covered for you. I told him you worked late yesterday.”
Madison exhaled in relief. “Okay.”
“That’s all you have to say?” Clara raised a brow.
“Whatever.” Madison rolled her eyes and headed toward the boss’s office.
She knocked and was ushered in.
“Good morning, sir.”
“Oh! It’s you, Madison.” The boss adjusted his spectacles.
“Yes, sir. It’s me, sir.”
“Since you’re here…” He drawled, opening a drawer and searching for something.
He pulled out an invitation letter.
“Take this.”
Madison collected it and examined the contents.
“An invitation letter?” She looked at the boss suspiciously. What was he up to this time?
This man was never up to any good.
She sneered inwardly, resisting the urge to tear the letter into pieces.
“Yes. It’s for a charity event. I thought you could use the opportunity to gather some information on the Mafia drug lord, Ethan.”
Madison’s irritation vanished.
Finally, something useful.
She smiled. “Thank you, sir.”
“All the best.”
Madison left the office, feeling excited.
The moment she returned to her desk, her co-workers gawked at her.
“Were you promoted?” someone asked.
No one ever left the boss’s office smiling.
Everyone knew how frustrating the man was.
“No. But I will be soon.”
She kept giving the same response as more people asked.
Clara rolled her eyes. “Then why are you smiling?”
“Nothing much. The boss gave me an invitation letter.”
“Now that I’ve told you, you can leave my desk.”
“Whatever.” Clara huffed and walked away.
Madison carefully read the letter.
When she finished, she shut her eyes, took a deep breath, and then opened them again, her lips curling into a mischievous smile.
---
Two Days Later
Madison stared at herself in the mirror, satisfied with how she looked.
She wore a long red dress, and instead of her usual ponytail, she had let her hair down.
After all, she wasn’t going to work, she was going to an event.
She took one last glance at herself, smiled, and then left the house.
Flagging a taxi, she headed to the venue.
Upon arrival, she showed the security officers her invitation letter, bearing her boss’s name.
They let her in.
Madison stepped inside, awed by the luxurious decorations.
“Here’s a drink for you, ma’am.”
A waiter’s voice interrupted her thoughts.
She turned to him, smiled, and accepted a glass of wine.
- Writer
