The Day I Stopped Waiting Was the Day He Started Begging novel Chapter 52

It was her assistant from the magazine.

"Madeline, the location we booked for Mr. Holt's photoshoot got snatched up by another studio."

"He's coming in tomorrow morning. It's too late to find a new spot now, what should we do?"

The assistant sounded close to tears. A high-profile executive like Hunter Holt was incredibly busy; if they missed this window, there was no telling when they could reschedule.

Not to mention, the teasers were already out. They couldn't exactly pull the plug on the exclusive interview now, could they?

"Don't panic. We'll head over together in the morning to check it out. Get some rest tonight."

"But..."

Madeline cut her off without hesitation.

"No buts. If the sky falls, I'm the Editor-in-Chief. I'll handle it."

Hearing her boss's firm reassurance, the assistant hesitantly hung up.

York wasn't far away and heard every word clearly.

His gaze darkened.

Madeline put her phone down.

"York, this isn't The Yates Manor. We don't need to play the happy couple here. As you can see, I'm swamped, and I need to sleep."

With that, she headed into the en-suite bathroom to wash up.

Half an hour later, when she emerged, York was lying on the other side of the bed, already changed into his pajamas.

She frowned. "Why are you still here?"

"Ms. Monroe," York said, reaching out with a long arm to pull her right onto the mattress, wrapping her in a back hug. "Your eviction notices are always so abrupt."

"In this world, unless someone has committed an unforgivable crime, they have the right to defend themselves and seek a pardon."

He folded her hands over her chest and held them tight, refusing to let her pull away.

"You just handed down my sentence. Shouldn't I at least get to beg for probation?"

Madeline threw an elbow backward, pushing against him.

He waved the screen at her, a wicked gleam in his eyes.

"Are you sure you want to kick me out like this?"

He pointed at his unbuttoned shirt, exposing the faint lines of his chest in an effortlessly seductive display.

"The elders are keeping a close eye on our marriage, Ms. Monroe."

Madeline frowned. In her brief moment of hesitation, York dragged her back into his arms, trapping her against him while answering the call with one hand.

"Dad, checking up on me this late? Your son is almost twenty-eight."

York's tone was as casual as ever, while Arthur Yates chuckled and threw a scolding remark through the speaker.

The two men fell into a long conversation about business.

Madeline felt awkward at first, but her eyelids grew heavy, and she unexpectedly drifted off to sleep.

By the time York hung up, she was fast asleep. Her radiant complexion looked peaceful under the soft lighting, her head resting comfortably against his chest.

York reached out, his fingertips grazing her cheek. After a long moment, he leaned in and pressed a tender kiss to her forehead.