A Secretive Deal with My Billionaire Boss (by Gregory Ellington) novel Chapter 436

Alexander

"Why don't we table this discussion for when you're older?" Madison suggested. "Like thirty."

"Thirty?" Ethan's eyes went wide. "That's forever away!"

"Exactly." She held out her hand. "Come on. We should probably start thinking about heading back to Connecticut soon."

"Already?" Ethan's face fell, his excitement deflating like a popped balloon. "But I just got the dinosaurs! And we didn't even finish setting up the habitat yet!"

"I know, baby. But we need to get back."

"Can't we stay one more day? Please? Just one more day?"

"Ethan."

"Pleeeease?"

I opened my mouth to tell them they should stay. That I'd book them rooms at The Plaza, or they could stay at my penthouse. That Connecticut could wait another day or two. That Ethan needed more time with his dinosaurs, and I needed more time with both of them.

My phone buzzed in my pocket.

The words died on my tongue as I pulled it out, glancing at the screen. Josephine Miller. My PA.

I swiped to answer. "Yes?"

"Mr. Knight." Josephine's crisp, professional voice came through clearly. "Katherine Sinclair just returned from Milan. She's requesting to move Monday's meeting to today if possible."

"What time?" I asked.

"She suggested four o'clock. I can have everything prepared if you confirm."

I glanced at Madison, who was still trying to negotiate with Ethan about leaving. The kid had his arms crossed, his lower lip jutting out in a pout that looked disturbingly familiar. Had I made that exact face as a child?

"I'll call you back about the meeting," I said into the phone. "Give me thirty minutes."

"Of course, Mr. Knight."

I hung up, shoving the phone back into my pocket.

"Dad?" Ethan looked up at me, hope written all over his small face. "Can you tell Mom we should stay? Please?"

I met Madison's eyes over Ethan's head. She shook her head slightly, her expression firm. But I could see the exhaustion underneath. The weight she'd been carrying alone for so long.

"You should stay," I said, keeping my voice casual. "Both of you. I need to handle something, but I'll be back soon."

Madison straightened. "Alexander, we really should get back to Connecticut."

"One more day won't hurt. Let Ethan enjoy his dinosaurs. Let yourself rest instead of driving three hours."

"I'm not tired."

"You look tired."

"Wow. Thanks." She crossed her arms, but there was no real heat in it.

"I didn't mean it as an insult." I stood, moving toward the door. "Stay. I'll be back in a few hours, and we can figure out dinner or whatever Ethan wants to do."

"YES!" Ethan pumped his fist in the air. "We're staying! Did you hear that, Mom? We're STAYING!"

Madison sighed, but her lips curved slightly. "Fine. One more day. But we're leaving first thing tomorrow."

"Deal. I'll text you when I'm on my way back."

"Where are you going?" Ethan asked, bouncing on his toes.

"Boring adult stuff. Nothing exciting."

"Can I come?"

"Mmm?" She pressed closer, her body molding against mine. Her perfume was cloying, suffocating. "I've missed you, Alexander. Milan was absolutely dreadful. Nothing but work and more work."

She tried to free her wrists, but I held tight.

"We need to talk."

"Talk?" Her laugh was breathy, practiced. She tilted her head, exposing the line of her throat. "We can talk later. Right now, I'm in a very different mood."

Her fingers found the buttons of my shirt despite my grip, sliding one free before I could stop her.

"Katherine." My voice sharpened. "I said we need to talk."

"And I said later." She rose on her toes, her lips aiming for mine.

I turned my head, her mouth landing on my cheek instead. "Stop."

She pulled back, confusion flickering across her perfect features. "What's wrong?"

"I told you. We need to talk."

"Why do you want to talk instead of..." She gestured vaguely toward the bedroom, her robe slipping further down her shoulder. "This?"

I released her wrists, stepping back to put distance between us. Space to breathe. Space to think clearly.

Katherine's eyes narrowed. "Something's different. You're different."

"I'm ending this."

The words landed like stones in still water. Katherine's expression froze, her practiced seduction evaporating.

"Ending what, exactly?"

"The engagement. Us. All of it."