MadisonI blinked, trying to process his words through my post-orgasmic haze. "What? Financial fraud?" "We don't have time for explanations," Alexander said, tossing his shirt over his head. His muscles flexed as he buttoned it with practiced efficiency. "Get dressed. Now." The urgency in his voice snapped me into action. I scrambled off the bed and headed to the closet, where some of my clothes hung alongside his designer suits. I quickly selected a charcoal pencil skirt and cream blouse, which were professional enough for whatever crisis awaited us. "Faster," he barked, already fully dressed and checking his phone again. His jaw clenched tighter with each swipe of his thumb. I hurried into the bathroom to fix my appearance, wincing at my reflection. My hair was a tangled mess, my lips swollen, and faint red marks dotted my neck where Alexander had gotten carried away. I quickly applied concealer to the most visible marks and pulled my hair into a tight bun. When I emerge
AlexanderI strode through the executive floor, Madison following close behind. The cacophony of ringing phones and urgent voices created a backdrop of chaos. My empire was under attack, and every second counted. The conference room door was already open, revealing a gathering of grim faces around the polished table. Our CFO was gesturing frantically at a laptop screen while our head of Legal paced by the windows, phone pressed to his ear. The PR director was furiously typing on her tablet, and two members of our crisis management team huddled over documents, speaking in hushed tones. "Everyone," I announced, not bothering with pleasantries. All heads snapped up, conversations halting mid-sentence. I took my place at the head of the table while Madison slipped into a chair beside me, tablet ready. "Give me the damage report," I demanded, loosening my tie slightly. Our CFO cleared his throat, his usual composed demeanor cracking under pressure. "Futures are indicating we'll open
MadisonI lifted my gaze from the computer screen as the elevator dinged. A woman in a red dress strutted toward me, her heels clicking against the marble floor like a timer counting down to chaos. "I'm here to see Alexander." She planted her manicured hands on my desk, leaning forward with a smile that didn't reach her eyes. "Do you have an appointment?" "I don't need one. We have... history. Just tell Shim Vanessa's here." "I'm sorry, but Mr. Knight only takes scheduled appointments. I can help you set one up for next week-" "Listen here, little secretary." She interrupted. "I'm Vanessa Caldwell. I spent the night with Alexander last weekend, and I'm not leaving until I see him." "As I mentioned, without an appointment or express permission from Mr. Knight-" "Who do you think you are? Just because you stand next to him all day, fetching his coffee and taking notes, you think you're special?" "Ma'am, I need to ask you to leave-" "You're pathetic. Playing gatekeeper, pretendi
MadisonHis presence was intoxicating. Alexander's cologne wrapped around me, lingering like dark spices and something earthy. My pulse quickened as he leaned in, our faces just inches apart. "You're here," he murmured. "Mr. Knight, what's going on?" My voice trembled. I placed a hand on his chest, meaning to push him back, but all I felt was the chiseled muscles under his shirt. He took my hand, interlacing his fingers with mine and pressing it back against the wall. The heat from his touch was electric, coursing straight to my core. My breathing turned shallow, and my heart thudded in my ears. His eyes were dark, pupils blown wide. "You're really here." He whispered huskily. His gaze swept my face, lingering on my lips as his breath warmed my cheek. "Are you... okay?" I stammered. His pupils seemed larger than normal, almost swallowing the blue of his irises. Something felt off. Was he on drugs? "I'm more than okay." He nuzzled against my neck, lips brushing my skin. "You're p
MadisonI woke up feeling like I'd been hit by a truck - a very sexy, Alexander Knight-shaped truck. My body ached in places I'd forgotten existed, and my inner thighs bore the telltale bruises of last night's activities. "Get it together, Madison," I muttered to my reflection as I applied concealer under my eyes. Despite my best makeup efforts, the woman staring back looked debauched. The subway ride to work was torture. Every bump and sway reminded me of how Alexander had moved inside me. How his hands had gripped my hips. How he'd called me Katherine. Katherine. The name bounced around my skull like an angry ping-pong ball. I'd spent half the night googling "Katherine Alexander Knight" with zero results. Not that I was jealous or anything. I mean, why would I be jealous of someone whose name my boss moaned while high on God-knows-what? The elevator ride up to the office felt longer than usual. I checked my phone seventeen times in thirty seconds, praying there wouldn't be a me
MadisonThe shrill ring pierced through our conversation like divine intervention. I almost wept with relief. Alexander raised an eyebrow. "That's your phone." Oh. Right. My phone. The one currently screaming from my pocket like a banshee with its vocal cords caught in a blender. "I'm so sorry, Mr. Knight." I fumbled my phone, almost dropping it before answering. "Hello?" "Is this Madison Harper?" A clinical voice cut through the line. "Speaking." "This is Metro General Hospital. Your mother, Sarah Harper, was brought to our emergency room-" The world tilted sideways. The pristine office, Alexander's expensive desk, the Manhattan skyline - everything blurred into meaningless shapes. "What happened? Is she-" "She's stable now, but we need you to come in immediately." I shot up from my chair. "I'll be right there." "Madison?" Alexander's voice snapped me back to reality. "What's wrong?" "My mom—she's in the ER. I have to go —" I gestured vaguely at the door. "John will take
MadisonThe walk to his office felt like crossing a minefield in stilettos. Each step brought me closer to potential disaster. What if he'd noticed the wedding planning tabs I'd accidentally left open during our morning meeting? What if he remembered calling me Katherine? Standing outside his door, I took a deep breath. Whatever happened, I'd handle it with grace and professionalism. Or at least try not to cry on his expensive furniture. I pushed open the door, half expecting to find Alexander surrounded by printouts of my secret virtual assistant activities. Instead, he sat at his desk, looking annoyingly put together while I felt like a house plant that hadn't been watered in weeks. "Miss Harper." He gestured to the chair across from him. "Have a seat." I perched on the edge like it might bite me. "Is something wrong?" "That's what I wanted to ask you." His blue eyes fixed on me with laser focus. "You've seemed distracted lately. More than usual." Was he keeping a log of my di
AlexanderMy head felt like someone had used it as a piñata at a particularly aggressive children's party. I groaned, rolling over in bed to escape the sunlight streaming through the floor-to-ceiling windows. Bad move. The room spun like a carnival ride. "Good morning, Mr. Knight." Dr. Peterson's voice cut through my fog. "How's the head?" I cracked one eye open. "What are you doing in my bedroom?" "Miss Harper called me last night. Found you in quite a state." Fragments of last night floated through my mind like confetti in a windstorm. The business event. That insufferable board member droning on about golf. The sweating, the walls closing in... "What exactly happened?" I pressed my palms against my temples. "Your guess is as good as mine." Dr. Peterson pulled out his penlight. "Follow the light, please." I batted his hand away. "Skip the doctor routine. Just give me something for this headache." "Already ahead of you." He placed two pills and a glass of water on my nightsta
AlexanderI strode through the executive floor, Madison following close behind. The cacophony of ringing phones and urgent voices created a backdrop of chaos. My empire was under attack, and every second counted. The conference room door was already open, revealing a gathering of grim faces around the polished table. Our CFO was gesturing frantically at a laptop screen while our head of Legal paced by the windows, phone pressed to his ear. The PR director was furiously typing on her tablet, and two members of our crisis management team huddled over documents, speaking in hushed tones. "Everyone," I announced, not bothering with pleasantries. All heads snapped up, conversations halting mid-sentence. I took my place at the head of the table while Madison slipped into a chair beside me, tablet ready. "Give me the damage report," I demanded, loosening my tie slightly. Our CFO cleared his throat, his usual composed demeanor cracking under pressure. "Futures are indicating we'll open
MadisonI blinked, trying to process his words through my post-orgasmic haze. "What? Financial fraud?" "We don't have time for explanations," Alexander said, tossing his shirt over his head. His muscles flexed as he buttoned it with practiced efficiency. "Get dressed. Now." The urgency in his voice snapped me into action. I scrambled off the bed and headed to the closet, where some of my clothes hung alongside his designer suits. I quickly selected a charcoal pencil skirt and cream blouse, which were professional enough for whatever crisis awaited us. "Faster," he barked, already fully dressed and checking his phone again. His jaw clenched tighter with each swipe of his thumb. I hurried into the bathroom to fix my appearance, wincing at my reflection. My hair was a tangled mess, my lips swollen, and faint red marks dotted my neck where Alexander had gotten carried away. I quickly applied concealer to the most visible marks and pulled my hair into a tight bun. When I emerge
MadisonAlexander reached into his discarded pants and pulled out a condom. He tore the wrapper with his teeth, his eyes never leaving mine as he rolled it over his impressive length. "Fuck, I can't wait to be inside you," he growled, positioning himself between my spread legs. He rubbed the head of his cock against my entrance, coating himself in my wetness. "You're dripping for me." "Please," I begged, beyond caring how desperate I sounded. "I need you inside me." "What do you need inside you?" he teased, continuing to slide his length along my folds without entering me. "Be specific, Madison." I swallowed hard, forcing myself to say the words he wanted to hear. "I need your cock inside me, Mr. Knight. Please fuck me." His eyes darkened at my words. "Good girl." Without further warning, he slammed into me, burying himself to the hilt in one powerful thrust. The sudden fullness made me cry out, my back arching off the marble counter. "Fuck," he hissed, gripping my hips hard en
MadisonHe withdrew his fingers suddenly, leaving me empty and aching. "Turn around." I did as he ordered, my ass stinging pleasantly where he'd spanked me. He looked me over, his eyes lingering on the diamond necklace at my throat, then lower to my breasts and between my legs. "On your knees," he commanded. I sank down, the plush carpet cushioning my knees. He stood over me, still in his boxer briefs, the outline of his cock straining against the fabric. "Take it out," he said. I hooked my fingers in the waistband of his underwear and pulled them down. His cock sprang free, thick and hard, already leaking at the tip. My mouth watered at the sight. "Open," he said, his hand tangling in my hair. I parted my lips, and he guided himself into my mouth. The taste of him was intoxicating. I took him as deep as I could, relaxing my throat to accommodate his size. "Fuck," he groaned, his grip tightening in my hair. "Your mouth feels amazing." I hollowed my cheeks, sucking harder, usi
MadisonAs we stepped into the penthouse, the silence wrapped around us like a blanket. The lights of Manhattan twinkled beyond the floor-to-ceiling windows, creating a backdrop that belonged in a movie, not my real life. Alexander locked the door behind us with a definitive click that sent a shiver down my spine. I stood in the vast living room, still clutching the boutique bag with the diamond necklace. Its weight seemed to grow heavier as Alexander's eyes remained fixed on me. "Take it out," he commanded, shrugging off his jacket and tossing it onto the nearest chair. I carefully removed the velvet box from the bag, holding it in my palm as if it might bite me. The diamonds inside were worth more than my entire year's salary, likely several years' worth. "Put it on," Alexander said, loosening his tie completely and pulling it free from his collar with a soft hiss of fabric. I opened the box, staring at the necklace. "Right now?" "Yes, right now. I want to see it on you." I
MadisonAs she sashayed away, I couldn't help myself. "'I'll be in touch,'" I mimicked under my breath, pitching my voice higher. "'We should catch up properly. I'll text you.'" I rolled my eyes. Alexander raised an eyebrow. "Jealousy looks good on you, Ms. Harper." "I'm not jealous," I replied automatically, heat rising to my cheeks. He chuckled, then held out the small boutique bag to me. "For you." I took it hesitantly, feeling the weight of the box inside. "The necklace?" "What were you two discussing?" he asked instead of answering, his eyes scanning my face. I sighed, clutching the bag tighter. "Your friend or ex-girlfriend or whatever she is took my number. She wants me to update her on your whereabouts so she can 'accidentally' run into you. Like I'm supposed to be her personal Alexander-tracking device." "Caroline does this with all my personal assistants. She's harmless." "Harmless?" I repeated incredulously. "She practically threatened me." "She's dramatic," he sai
MadisonI felt a small, petty surge of satisfaction watching her forced to engage in small talk when she clearly wanted to be elsewhere, specifically with Alexander. Alexander seemed oblivious to her predicament, his attention still focused on the diamond necklace and, more disturbingly, on my neck. I resisted the urge to cover my throat with my hand. "Shall we look at the other items?" I suggested, desperate to move away before she managed to extricate herself from the silver-haired man. "No need," Alexander replied, his eyes still on the necklace. "I've found what interests me." I glanced back at the mystery woman, who was now nodding politely at whatever the older gentleman was saying while her eyes repeatedly darted in our direction. The tension in her shoulders was visible even from across the room. "Ladies and gentlemen," the announcer's voice boomed through the speakers, startling me. "The silent auction is now closed. Please make your way to the payment area if you've bee
Madison"Something on your mind, Ms. Harper?" Alexander's voice cut through my thoughts. I looked up to find him studying me, his expression unreadable. "No, Mr. Knight." "Liar," he said softly. "You've been fidgeting for the past ten minutes." "I wasn't aware my comfort level was of interest to you in public settings," I replied, surprising myself with my boldness. A flicker of amusement crossed his face. "Everything about you interests me, Ms. Harper. Even your discomfort." "How kind," I muttered. Alexander's eyes narrowed slightly, his lips curving into that infuriating half-smile that meant he was enjoying my discomfort. "You want to know who she is." It wasn't a question. I lifted my chin, meeting his gaze directly. "No, I don't." "Really?" He raised an eyebrow, clearly not believing me. "I was about to tell you, but if you're not interested..." He shrugged one shoulder, the movement elegant beneath his perfectly tailored tuxedo. "Then I don't need to explain." I bit th
MadisonAlexander removed his hands from her waist, but his eyes remained locked on her face. His smile wasn't the polite business smile he gave investors or the professional one I'd seen during meetings. This was something different, something genuine that reached his eyes and made them crinkle at the corners. Who was she? My mind raced through possibilities. Was this the mysterious Katherine he'd called me that night when he was drugged? She didn't even match the blonde woman from the photograph I'd spotted in his penthouse – the one that disappeared so quickly after I noticed it. This woman had chestnut hair that cascaded in perfect waves down her back, not blonde locks. A friend or relative, perhaps? Or, more likely, another ex-girlfriend or hookup from Alexander's extensive past. She carried herself with the confidence of someone who knew exactly what she wanted and had probably gotten Alexander at some point. I shifted my weight, trying not to feel invisible as they continu