Chapter 3

Madison

To say I am not impressed is the understatement of the century. And the next century whilst I’m in one. Like seriously, Alex Stone. God. I have my hand to my head as I stand in the glass elevator that runs from the top floor where my office is, down to the reception.

The smoked elevator doors open, and I step out onto the marble reception area. It never ceases to take my breath away; we have one of the most stunning businesses in Austin. Yeah, maybe I’m biased but I love where I work, I love my boss and his family, and I love all my colleagues.

The floor is the color of a cappuccino, light and breezy. In the centre is a round reception area where Monique works and has done even before I arrived here on the scene. She’s around forty something with long auburn hair that is in a different style every day. How this woman gets time when she’s got a couple of teenagers to herd in the morning and deal with is beyond me, but she is always immaculately turned out.

“Hey sweetie.” She calls out and waves as my heels click clack on the marble beneath them.

“Hey Monique. How has your day been?” I stop by the reception wrap around and lean my elbows on the top placing my head on my hands. I’m drained, seriously drained the news of having to go to Colorado for six months is not what I want right now. I’ve got so much to do and organize even though Ruben has managed a new apartment for me to live in.

I’ve still got to tie up bills here, services, post redirection, cancel my subscriptions, let my nail salon know to cancel my foreseeable bookings and my salon. I groan.

“You, okay?” She asks me. “What’s up, Madi?”

“Oh, nothing.” I sigh. “I have to go to Colorado.”

“Oo, how lovely. I used to go skiing in Aspen. Will you be going close to there? Is it a holiday or visiting some friends or work?”

“Work and it’s for six months. Can you believe it?” I see has Monique raises her eyebrows and furrows them.

“Wow, that’s kind of a long time. What is going on there that you need to cover? And what about that kid you’re following the promising basketball player.” She places her pen on a notebook she has open in front of her, I glance down it looks like some kind of journal unless our org has upgraded to lilac lined notebooks.

“I have to go do a 24/7 cover on Alex Stone.” I say glumly.

“Oh. My. God. The Alex Stone? What a dream, honestly, I wish I could trade places with you. I’m sure Donald wouldn’t mind getting rid of me for six months.” By the way, Donald is her husband and I bet he’d miss her before she even left. Those two are what marriage should be all about, and of course my folks.

“Trust me you would not want to spend all day every day with that man. This isn’t what I signed up for to be with some man whore who can’t keep it in his pants. I am a serious sports journalist, and he is just a, a…” I can’t finish the sentence because my mouth is in serious danger of shooting out a whole string of obscenities that really, I shouldn’t inflict on Monique.

“Honey, you are kidding me, right? Have you seen that man? Honestly, he is the hottest thing on the ice right now and in the country. Those ice blue eyes, that dirty blonde hair. I’d love to run my hands through that not to mention that strong, broad chest of his.” Is Monique actually getting flushed? Fuck me, she is.

“I get that he’s good looking, there’s no denying that. Sure, he is a pretty boy but that doesn’t mean he has to behave like a jerk and the biggest dick out there. He’s getting known more for his outlandish parties and orgies than he is for goals he scores.” I humph.

“Hey ladies, don’t stay too long. It’s a Friday night.” Ruben says as he passes us. We both wave at him as he passes us with his laptop bag slung over one shoulder, and his jacket in his hand. He’s whistling, someone is a happy chappy. Must be because he’s about to get the big story on exactly what goes on behind the scenes with Alex Stone.

I just wish it didn’t have to be me. Why couldn’t he have given it to someone else. Let me give you some options he could have gone with. Okay, so first he could have selected Leanne, she is mad for hockey players and is a bit of a secret puck bunny, the number of guys she’s dated in hockey is unbelievable. Then there is Brian, he could have gone instead of me. He’s single, no family commitments, loves hockey players, is obsessed with them. Me, I love all sports, basketball, hockey, football, baseball you name it, if it’s sport related, I’m your girl. But this assignment, it’s not strictly covering the sport, is it? It’s following some guy around who loves himself so much it’s scary and has some kind of desire to get a degree in fucking as many women as possible.

“Listen, there could be worse things than having to trail Alex Stone.” Monique says bring me out of my slump.

“I don’t know of anything else right now that could be worse. Sorry, Monique, I have to say it’s the worst assignment of my career so far.”

“Ah but look how it will put you on the map. Your name is going to be everywhere. Like, I mean everywhere and your face. So, you never know what amazing things could happen from this. Just don’t go falling for him, I hear that he’s a real guy deep down.”

I laugh, “You have got to be kidding me. He’s no real guy deep down. He’s superficial. But you are right, it’ll get my name out there and raise my profile a lot. Still, six months. Oh my god, it’s just so long. I don’t want to be away from home for that amount of time.”

“It’ll go quick, you wait and see.” She says. I’m not totally convinced. I say my goodbyes to Monique and click clack across the marble to the large glass doors that lead out onto the wide sidewalk. The evening sun hits my face but there is a chill in the air. It’s fast approaching six in the evening and now that we’re in the Fall, the change in the morning and evening is more noticeable.

I’m glad I have my dark green pea coat on, it’s my favorite. I tie the belt a little tighter around my waist and decide to go grab some takeaway on my way home. I don’t fancy cooking. It’s a Friday night. What I want to do is eat Chinese, curl up on the sofa with a good N*****x movie on and a nice bottle of wine beside me and chill out. Then, tomorrow being Saturday I can go visit my folks and let them know that I’ll be moving to Aspen for six months.

Oh, such joy. Not.