Contracted To The Beast novel Chapter 63

Chapter 63

Chapter 63

The flight home was painfully awkward.

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I spent most of it locked away in the bedroom, emerging only when the pilot announced our descent into Toronto.

The moment the wheels touched the runway, I released a breath I hadn’t realized I’d been holding.

Home.

I focused on gathering my things, deliberately avoiding Maddox’s side of the cabin.

“Drop Dr. Page off at home,” Maddox instructed as soon as we stepped off the jet.

The security team moved immediately, transferring my luggage into the SUV waiting nearby.

“Take my luggage home,” Maddox said to another guard before climbing into his truck without a second glance.

The deep rumble of the engine filled the air as he drove away. I stared after the truck for a moment before shaking myself out of it.

Good.

Space was exactly what I needed.

Maddox had arranged for both our vehicles to be brought to the airport before we landed.

“Take me to the condo first,” I told the driver as I slid into the back seat.

“Of course, ma’am,” he replied, starting the engine.

I leaned my head against the window as the city blurred past.

Mykonos already felt unreal.

The yachts.

The whitewashed streets.

The designer stores. The late-night arguments.

The stolen moments I still wasn’t ready to think about.

I squeezed my eyes shut.

I just wanted to go home.

I had packed Zara’s and Mom’s gifts into my carry-on before leaving Greece. It was easier that way. There was no chance of the airline losing the things that mattered most.

By the time we pulled into the condo driveway, exhaustion had settled deep into my bones.

I stepped out of the car and popped open the trunk, transferring the carry-on into my own vehicle.

The security guards carried the remaining luggage upstairs while I followed behind them.

Once everything was inside, I thanked them and slipped each of them a tip.

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After they left, I stood alone in the quiet apartment.

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Suitcases lined the hallway. Shopping bags sat stacked against the wall. Proof that the trip had actually happened.

I glanced at my reflection in the entryway mirror.

Tired eyes and tanned skin.

A woman who had left for Greece certain she hated Maddox Kane.

I looked away first.

Grabbing my car keys, I headed home.

It was currently 5 p.m. on Sunday, Canadian time. It would probably be around midnight in Mykonos. I pulled over in the driveway exhausted. I was in dire need of a shower and a long nap.

“Mamaa!” Zara ran excitedly to me as I opened the door.

I put down the carry-on and picked Zara up, spinning her around dramatically. “I missed you so much, my baby.”

“I missed you so much, Mama,” she said, giggling. “How was your trip?”

“It was great.” I replied, placing her on my hip and grabbing my bags.

I halted in my tracks as I saw Mom. I didn’t know what to say to her.

“Welcome back, Nia,” she said casually.

“Thanks,” I replied, walking up the stairs to my room. I wasn’t really in the mood to deal with her right now.

“Are you mad at Gigi?” Zara asked innocently.

Damn, she really does see everything.

“No, baby.”

“Okay,” she said, smiling. “You promised to get me gifts from your trip.”

“Were you good?” I asked, tickling her.

“Yes, I was,” she squealed amidst laughter. “I promise you I was good.”

“Okay, okay. I believe you,” I said, smiling back.

I opened the carry-on and brought out the goodies I got for her. The dresses fit like a glove, and she loved them. I was really glad she did.

Zara waited for me as I took a shower and got dressed in my pajamas. We played and talked until it was finally her bedume. It’s crazy how quickly time passed.

I tucked Zara in bed and headed downstairs to get myself a glass of water.

“You’re not going to tell me about your trip?” Mom asked as soon as I got down.

“It was okay.” I said simply and headed to the kitchen.

“That’s all?” she asked.

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“Nothing else happened. We only met during the scheduled time for shoots and that’s all,” I replied.

“Are you angry at me about something?” she asked.

“No. I’m just tired,” I stated.

My mom is fond of doing shit like this. She’ll do something to piss me off and then act like I’m the problem.

“I don’t like your association with that boy,” she said, shaking her head. “That’s why I’m complaining.”

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“Mom, please,” I said, pinching the bridge of my nose. “I’m not hanging out with him by choice. We both signed a six-month exclusive contract, remember? I have a copy upstairs that I can show you.”

“I know, Nia,” she said, removing her glasses. “I’m afraid you’ll start catching feelings from being around him so much.”

As if feelings were the biggest problem.

Maddox had no idea Zara existed.

And every day I spent around him felt like walking deeper into a mess I didn’t know how to clean up.

“Me?” I scoffed. “You think I will catch feelings for Maddox?”

“Yes, Nia. That’s my greatest fear. Remember, men like him…”

“Have no business with women like us,” I interrupted. “I remember, Mom. You never fail to make it stick in my memory.”

“I want the best for you, Nia. That’s exactly why I’m constantly reminding you,” she said, putting her glasses back on and fishing for the remote control.

“Okay, Mom.” I turned to take the stairs. “Mom?”

“Yes?” She turned around to face me.

“I got you a couple of things. I’ve placed them in your room.”

“Really?” She asked excitedly.

“Yeah,” I said, smiling.

“Thank you very much,” she said, turning off the TV and heading upstairs.

Mom loved the gifts so much. She wore one of the outfits to work today. Zara also did the same for school. I was home alone. I had just finished deep cleaning.

I heard the doorbell ring and rushed to answer. Natalie was coming over, which was great. We had a lot of things to catch up

“You look so tanned, girl,” Natalie said first as she stepped in.

“It’s the sun. Mykonos was hot,” I replied, fanning myself for emphasis before pulling her into a hug.

“I missed you so much,” she said, sniffling dramatically.

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“I missed you more. Come,” I gestured for her to take a seat.

“So…” she smiled mischievously. “How was your trip?”

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“It was great,” I said, blushing. Then I proceeded to tell her all about the trip, like I wasn’t telling her in real time. All the places I visited, the food, and the people.

“Wow,” she said in awe. “You really had fun. I still can’t believe Maddox gave you his card.”

“Me neither,” I said, munching on snacks I bought on the trip.

“As he should. He’s a billionaire girl. His father is too. He probably didn’t see it as anything,” she said, fiddling with the friendship bracelet I gifted her.

I picked at the label on my water bottle.

“Natalie?”

“Hmm?”

“Maddox and I crossed a line.”

Her eyes widened. “What kind of line?”

Heat crept up my neck. “The kind you can’t uncross.”

I watched as a stray chip fell from her mouth. “What?”

“He warned me not to speak to a certain guy. If not, he’ll spank me. I disobeyed and he did,” I answered, looking down.

Natalie blinked at me. “He did what?”

I buried my burning face in one of the throw pillows. “He spanked me.”

The room went silent. Natalie slowly placed the chip she had been holding back into the bowl.

“I’m sorry,” she said carefully. “I think I heard you wrong.”

I groaned.

“You didn’t.”

Her mouth dropped open. “Maddox Kane spanked you?”

I nodded against the pillow.

Natalie stared at me for a long moment before narrowing her eyes.

“Are we talking about sexy spanking or call-the-police spanking?”

I lifted my head just enough to glare at her. “NATALIE.”

“What? I’m trying to assess the situation.”

I dropped the pillow onto my face. “I hate you.”

“No, you don’t.” She yanked the pillow away. “What happened after?”

Heat rushed to my cheeks. I suddenly found the friendship bracelet on her wrist very interesting.

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“Nia.”

I refused to look at her.

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“Nia.”

I let out a dramatic sigh.

“We… crossed another line.”

Natalie’s eyes widened.

“Oh my God.”

I covered my face with both hands. “Please don’t make this weird.”

“Nia.”

I peeked at her through my fingers.

“You slept with Maddox?”

“No.” I paused. “Not exactly.”

Her eyebrows nearly disappeared into her hairline.

“What does not exactly’ mean?”

I groaned loud enough to startle us both.

“Natalie.”

“Nia.”

I squeezed my eyes shut.

“He’s very talented.”

There was a beat of silence. Then another.

Natalie’s jaw dropped. “Oh.”

I nodded miserably. “Yeah.”

‘Oh.

“Can you stop saying ‘oh’?”

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“I’m trying to process the fact that you hooked up with the man you’ve spent years threatening to run over with your car.”

“We didn’t hook up.”

Natalie gave me a look.

“You know what? Never mind.”

I dropped back against the couch cushions with a dramatic sigh.

“We still hate him.”

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