Authors: K Carr
“Louisa.” Grumps’s voice was harsh. “Look at what you’ve done.”
“It’s fine,” I repeated. It wasn’t fine. “It was an accident.”
Louisa kept babbling her apologies as I dumped the used napkins on the table. I raised my head to reassure her I was all right, that it was an unfortunate accident, to ask if her foot was okay, and, although her tone was sincere, I saw the glint of pure satisfaction in her eyes.
The low-down, no-good, evil witch.
People were coming over, curious about the commotion. Bella pushed her way past and gave Louisa a nasty look before standing next to me.
“What happened?” she exclaimed.
“I tripped,” Louisa explained, resting her now empty goblet on the table. “God. I feel terrible, Allison. Your lovely dress is ruined.”
I inhaled deeply, fighting the urge to rip her blonde hair out. “My name is Madison and, as I said before, it’s fine.” It so wasn’t.
“It’s not like you to be clumsy, Louisa.” Grumps’s tone was full of reproach as Bella patted me on the shoulder.
“Let’s go get you cleaned up,” she murmured.
I shook my head. “It’s red wine, it won’t come out. Look, I’m gonna go.” I was furious, but there was a small crowd and making a scene would be more embarrassing. I couldn’t stay, not with a large red stain down the front of my dress. People would think I was a blundering idiot incapable of putting a glass to my lips properly.
God.
I wanted to smack the bitch.
How clichéd spilling wine down my dress. Couldn’t she have thought of something more original? Like shoving me into the Thames, or running me over with a car. Wine down my dress…stupid, evil cow.
“What are you staring at?” Grumps fumed at the guests hovering around us. One by one they wandered away until only the four of us remained. Louisa kept apologizing, but I was past her pathetic attempts of acting remorseful.
“I’ll go find, Matt,” Bella said kindly. “Then we can leave.”
“He’s gone off with Adam,” Grumps advised, before glaring at us. “Help me up, Madison.”
I was so shocked over his use of my first name that I jumped into action and did as he ordered. When he stood on his own two feet, I started to pull away but his grip on my arm tightened.
“Tell Matthew I’ll be taking her home,” Grumps said. “It’s time I left anyway. Come on, my driver will be out front waiting.”
My eyes widened. I wanted to leave, but not with Grumps. I looked at Bella, then tried to ease away from Grumps. His grip didn’t let up. Damn. He was strong for someone his age.
“Uh, I think I should go with Matt, Mr Bradley,” I stammered, reaching for my clutch.
“Nonsense.” Grumps ignored my words. “He’ll most likely be talking business for the rest of the night and you can’t stay here looking like this with photographers lurking around. It’s unbecoming and the stench of alcohol on you is off-putting. My driver will take you home.”
Medusa. I was ditching the Aphrodite title. Matt’s ex was ugly on the inside and out. Medusa smiled sweetly at me.
I faced Bella. “Can you let Matt know I’ve left with his granddad? I didn’t bring my cell so I can’t call him now.”
“Of course, Madi,” she agreed, before pulling her phone out and walking off.
With a shake of my head in Louisa’s direction, I took a deep breath and smiled at Grumps. “Shall we?”
He nodded and we started walking out the marquee. What a way for my first date with Matt to go. At least my night was ending the way it started: on the arm of a Bradley. This one though did absolutely nothing for my libido.
I took four steps with Grumps, then stopped. “Excuse me, Mr Bradley. I need a moment.”
His left eyebrow shot up suspiciously as I flashed him a tight smile and turned on my heels. Louisa was still by the table, her back to me, probably cackling to herself. She must have heard my approach because she turned around with a smile on her face. It died when she saw it was me. I walked up to her, glancing around to confirm there were no photographers around.
“Listen here, you big-boobed Barbie bitch,” I started in a low voice filled with barely controlled rage. “I’m going let this go because I don’t want to cause a scene that would embarrass my boyfriend. But tonight was strike two, strike one being you putting your bloody hands on my man. Yeah, he told me—”
“How dare you speak to me like that?” she hissed.
“Shut the fuck up, I’m not done talking.” I narrowed my eyes until they were brown slits of fury. “Two strikes. You’re on borrowed time now because, I swear to you, if you do anything, anything at all, to piss me off, I’ll—”
“You’ll what?” she challenged, smirking at me.
I smirked right back. “I’ll lay you the fuck out, and if that expression is too American for you to understand, let me break it down for you: I. Will. Kick. Your. Ass.”
She snorted in disdain. I said I would let it go, but she snorted. A response was needed.
I smiled sweetly, closing the distance between us. My nearness made her uneasy but, before she could step back, I planted my palm against her shoulder while hooking a leg behind her knee. She hit the ground with a shriek.
“Oh my gosh!” I said loudly, jumping back. “Are you all right?”
Louisa glared up at me. People were noticing her on the ground, turning and coming over.
“You poor thing,” I continued in a loud voice and holding a hand out. “Let me help you up. You’re clumsy on those heels tonight, aren’t you? Spilling drinks on me, now this.” I chuckled lightly, exchanging friendly looks with the couple closest to us. She glowered at me for a split second before taking my outstretched hand. I helped her up and we both plastered fake smiles on our faces. Appearances needed to be maintained. I was a lady.
“Thank you,” she said, waving away the concerned bystanders. She really meant ‘Fuck you.’
“You’re welcome,” I replied, tightening my grip on my clutch. I really meant ‘Fuck you, too.’
“I’ll tell Matt you said goodbye,” she called coyly after I’d turned to take my leave. I paused for a second taking a deep calming breath, then continued to walk over to where Grumps stood. He’d seen it all and that eyebrow of his was arched. He held his arm out. I took it.
“Feel better now?” he asked.
“Yes, actually I do.”
We didn’t look at each other as we walked out the marquee. Shit. Grumps would think I was a crazy ass.
“You and I need to talk, Madison,” he said quietly.
I sighed, mentally reloading my pistol and wondering who would survive the upcoming showdown. If Matt’s behaviour was something he’d learnt from his grandfather, I was screwed…
<><><>
Matt let out a low laugh at a joke Adam made and glanced at his wristwatch. He’d been socializing for the past forty five minutes and was anxious to get back to his woman. She was breathtakingly stunning tonight. When he’d picked her up earlier, it was all he could do to stop himself from having his way with her on those stairs. That dress was made for her body. Hell, it was made to be torn off her body. He didn’t know how he was going to pull off ‘dating’ her. It had been far too long since he’d drowned himself in her sweetness. A little over a week was definitely too long to be without the feel of her naked body against his.
“I’m going to head back, Adam,” Matt said abruptly. “I’ve left Madi alone for too long.”
“Bella’s looking after her,” Nathan said from behind him. Matt turned around, nodding at his friend’s words.
“Yes, I know, but I left her with Grumps,” he said dryly. “I want to make sure they haven’t killed each other yet.”
Adam chuckled under his breath. “She sure knows how to rile the old man up.”
“Serves him right,” Matt grumbled. “He started it.”
“Let’s all go back,” Nathan agreed, acknowledging one of their mutual friends a few yards away with a shake of head. “I’m in need of a fresh drink anyway.”
The three men moved away from the outskirt of the group of people and started heading back the way they’d come.
“I’ve got to say, Matt,” Adam fell into step with him, “Madison’s got one hell of a body.”
“Shut the fuck up, Adam,” Matt growled in a low, hard voice.
“Touchy,” his brother teased. “You’ve never had a problem before with me complimenting your girlfriends.”
“Don’t be an arse,” Matt hissed as they walked past people coming from the opposite direction. “I won’t tolerate your usual behaviour when it comes to Madi.”
Nathan laughed at the two of them, close on their heels. “He’s like a bulldog with her, Adam. You should’ve seen him outside with the press.”
Matt ignored their good-natured ribbing and quickened his pace. It seemed people couldn’t see he was in a hurry. Every few metres, someone would stop him, or Adam, or Nathan. They would spend a couple of minutes making small talk, before resuming their journey to the moat. It was another forty five minutes before they finally entered the marquee. Matt’s eyes restlessly searched the throng of guest milling about after seeing the empty seats at their table.
“There’s Bella,” Nathan said, moving off towards his girlfriend. When she turned and spotted them, she practically pushed her way through the bodies surrounding her and hurried over.
“Matt, I’ve been trying to call your mobile for the last hour,” she said.
Nathan wrapped one arm around her waist. “Bella, darling, what’s wrong?”
She turned to him with a frown on her face. “Madi’s left with William—”
“What?” Both Matt and Adam asked with equal measures of surprise and alarm.
“What do you mean she’s left?” Matt asked in confusion, his eyes searching the crowds for his poppet.
“Your grandfather said he would take her home after Louisa spilt red wine all over her,” Bella explained quickly. “Madi’s dress was ruined and Louisa said it was an accident—”
“The little bitch,” Matt hissed. “I’m certain it was no accident.”
Adam rested a hand on his shoulder. “Calm down, Matt. I’m sure it was an accident.”
Matt shot his brother an annoyed look.
Adam shrugged before saying, “But we all know what Louisa is like. Call Grumps to check she’s okay.”
“He never answers his bloody mobile,” Matt said. “You know he rarely turns it on. Look, I’ve got to go. Madi doesn’t have her keys. Nathan, are you guys staying? I’m sure Adam can give you a lift home.”
“No, we’ll go with you,” Nathan said immediately. “Bella, do you have your bag?”
She nodded, holding her purse up. Matt was furious. When next he saw Louisa Gilliford he would…smack the bitch. Madi’s voice echoed in his head. He wouldn’t do that, but he would remind her exactly who she was dealing with.
“Adam.” Matt turned to his brother. “Sorry to have to leave you holding down the fort but I need to go. See you at the office tomorrow. I’ll be coming in late.”
Adam gave him a brotherly half-hug, muttering in his ear, “I’ll deal with Louisa, just make sure Madi is okay.”
Matt gave him a small smile as Adam stepped back. “Leave it, Adam. I’ll sort it out myself. I need to go.”
They said their goodbyes and within fifteen minutes, Matt, Nathan and Bella were in the back of the limousine.
“Oh, I just remembered, Matt. She doesn’t have her mobile on her,” Bella said as Matt called Madi for the second time.
Matt sighed in frustration as he hung up and slipped his phone in his pocket. She really was absentminded sometimes. His sweet poppet. God. Her beautiful dress, ruined by his jealous ex. Bloody Louisa Gilliford. Why couldn’t she understand it was over between them?
“The driver is dropping me off first,” Matt warned. “Madi’s probably arrived home by now.”
“I’m sure your grandfather will wait. Why don’t you try calling him just in case?” Nathan asked.
Matt, praying that for once Grumps had turned on his mobile, dialled the number. It went straight to voicemail.
Another frustrated sigh left his lips as Nathan and Bella peered at him.
“I never liked her,” Bella said suddenly. Nathan hushed her, glancing nervously at Matt’s stormy face. Bella didn’t stop. “Honestly, Matt. What did you ever see in Louisa? She’s a horrible person.”
Matt didn’t answer. He had no answer. The glaring differences between his relationship with Madi and the one with Louisa made him uncomfortable. He had grown used to the thought of Louisa, had accepted over the years that he would eventually end up with her, or someone exactly like her. Then Madi had entered his life, turning everything upside down, making him realize how truly empty his prior existence was. She completed him. As ridiculous as it sounded in his head, it was the truth. He hadn’t known what he was lacking until he met her. Seated in the backseat of the limo, an image of his poppet coming down those stairs floated before his eyes. White suited her. Matt could imagine her making some funny comment about their different races if he’d said that. He could picture her in another white dress, one that symbolized a lot more: a lifetime commitment, a lifetime of love.
He could also see himself waiting eagerly for her to take those steps which would—
He looked up at Nathan and spoke quietly. “I’m going to marry her.”