A Secretive Deal with My Billionaire Boss (by Gregory Ellington) novel Chapter 443

Alexander

My fingers itched to touch her.

"Madison."

"Don't." She stood abruptly. "Don't say whatever you're about to say."

"I was just going to ask if you were thirsty."

Her cheeks flushed pink. "Oh."

"There's a vendor over there. Water? Lemonade?"

"Water's fine."

I stood, heading toward the cart while Madison returned her attention to Ethan. The vendor handed over two bottles of water, and I paid him.

When I returned, Madison accepted hers gratefully, twisting off the cap and taking a long drink.

"Thanks."

"You're welcome."

Ethan ran over, his face flushed and sweaty. "Can I have water too?"

Madison handed him her bottle. He drank half of it in one go, then wiped his mouth with the back of his hand.

"I made three friends! Their names are Sam, Lily, and Max!" He bounced on his toes. "Can I play more?"

"Ten more minutes," Madison said. "Then we need to start heading back."

"Okay!" He raced off again, the bottle forgotten on the bench beside her.

I watched him go, something warm expanding in my chest. This kid. My kid. Running around Central Park, making friends and catching invisible magic sharks.

"He's incredible," I said.

"He is." Madison's voice carried pride and exhaustion in equal measure. "Best thing I ever did."

"You raised him well. You gave him a good childhood."

She looked at me then, really looked, like she was searching for something. "You mean that."

"Every word."

Her expression softened slightly. "He talks about you constantly. You made an impression."

"Good impression?"

"The best kind. He thinks you hung the moon."

The weight of that responsibility settled over me. Ethan looked at me like I was someone worth admiring, someone who could do no wrong. I couldn't mess this up. Couldn't disappoint him.

"I won't let him down," I said quietly.

"You better not." Madison's voice went firm. "Because if you hurt him, I'll make what Katherine could do look like child's play."

The threat should have been absurd coming from someone of Madison's size. Instead, it was terrifying in its sincerity.

"Noted."

Ethan ran back over, this time actually tired. His steps had slowed, his face was flushed, and his eyes had that glazed look kids get when they're running on fumes.

"Ready to go, baby?" Madison asked.

"Can we stay five more minutes?"

"Time to go."

"But Mom!" The whine started.

"No buts. We're leaving." She stood, grabbing the water bottles and her purse. "Say goodbye to your new friends."

Ethan trudged over to the group of kids, waving dramatically. "Bye, Sam! Bye, Lily! Bye, Max! I'll miss you forever!"

"You met them twenty minutes ago," Madison pointed out.

"That's still forever in kid time!"

We started walking toward the park exit. Ethan dragged his feet, clearly trying to prolong the inevitable.

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