Chapter 5

MADDISON'S POV

I slid into the backseat of Aldric's car, keeping a careful distance from him, my laps tightly clenched together and my sweaty palms clamped together on my laps.

I sat upright, scared to relax back into the seat.

"Relax." His deep baritone voice cut through the silence of the car as it moved, "It won't bite." He didn't bother to look at me.

I gradually relaxed my back into the seat and finally summoned the courage to talk.

"Th..thank you." I stuttered, "For helping me back there and for helping me last night too."

I realized that I hadn't thanked him for protecting me last night and paying for the hotel room instead I accused him of taking advantage of me.

I was still very sure that I didn't imagine it. It felt too real to be an imagination.

Why would I even imagine something like that?

But I didn't want to push it any further and risk getting him angry again. I finally got a chance to plead my case again, I shouldn't ruin it.

He didn't respond.

I swallowed.

Okay, That was embarrassing. He could have acknowledged my appreciation.

I didn't say anything more and the car was quiet except for the sound of the engine

The car kept moving and I stared out the window, realizing that I didn't recognize any of the roads anymore.

My heart began to race.

"Sir..." I hesitated, then forced the words out. "Where are we going?"

He finally turned to look at me. "Do you have anywhere to go?" he asked flatly like he already knew the answer.

The question landed like a punch; I opened my mouth in protest and closed it again, realizing that I really had nowhere to go.

I dropped my gaze to my lap and quietly mumbled, “No.”

Just as the car began to slow down shortly after we approached a massive black gate that loomed ahead of us. The gates slowly swung open, and the vehicle rolled forward into an estate so vast and elegant that it felt almost intimidating in its perfection, with a mansion coming into view that made me instinctively fall silent.

My mouth parted in astonishment before I could stop myself as I whispered, “This is… this is your house?” barely registering my own words, while he simply stepped out of the car without offering any answer at all, as if my reaction didn’t require one.

I hurriedly followed after him, quickly opening my door and stepping out, then grabbing my bags in a rush before running to catch up as he walked ahead without once slowing down or waiting for me, his figure moving with an ease that made the place feel even larger and more overwhelming.

The moment I stepped into the living room, my jaw practically went slack, because it felt less like entering a home and more like crossing into another world entirely, one defined by quiet luxury and impossible scale, where expensive interiors gleamed under the soft light of towering chandeliers and the polished floor shone so brightly that I could almost see my reflection staring back at me.

Even the ceilings seemed to stretch endlessly upward, making me feel smaller with every breath, as though I didn’t quite belong in a place that resembled a castle more than a house, and standing there, I couldn’t help but feel as if I was the one thing that looked out of place.

I tried to imagine how much money he had, to have a house like this but every amount that came to my mind felt like a crime to fortune before my eyes.

Maids rushed forward immediately.

"Welcome back, sir." One of them took his briefcase.

He pointed to one of them, "Take the lady's bag and prepare a room for her." he ordered calmly

"A room?" I repeated to confirm if I heard him right, the maids were already taking my bags from me. "Wait...Mr..."

But he was already walking away. "Follow me," he ordered.

I hurried after him and left my bags with the maids. "Mr. Hwathorne, what's going on?"

He didn't respond. He just kept walking up the stairs and led me into a bedroom.

His bedroom. The smell of his cologne was everywhere, sparking my memories of last night and waking up some nerves in me.

My heart slammed against my ribs as I walked in. Panic rose in me as many scenarios played in my head.

"Sit," he said.

I glanced around and realized the only chair in the room was at the other end and he was probably asking me to sit in the giant king-sized bed.

Fear crawled up my spine and instincts screamed at me to run, but my legs refused to move.

"Sit," he repeated, firmer this time.

I obeyed and sat on the edge of the bed. Putting all my defense up.

My pulse spiked as he loosened his tie and pulled it off, then shrugged out of his suit jacket.

My legs began to tremble. Did he bring me here to... Oh my God.

I swallowed hard and shifted on the bed.

"Wha...What's going on?" I stuttered, even though I tried to sound tough and confident. "Why did you bring me here?"

He gradually unbuttoned his shirt without turning to look at me. "You have an ungrateful habit."

"What?" I frowned.

"You should thank me for bringing you to my house after Christian kicked you out of your apartment." he said calmly as he took off his shirt and I looked away, instinctively. "But here you are acting like I kidnapped you."

My head snapped up. "How did you know that?" The mention on Christian's name caught my attention. "You knew about Christian and I?"

He let out a short laugh. "I know everything about my employees."

He knew the truth? Something in me snapped instantly and I stood up in anger.

"Then if you know everything, you should know I didn't seduce him! Then why did you fire me?" I felt so wronged.

He turned toward me; shirtless.

My breath caught painfully in my throat.

"And you should know," I continued, forcing the words out, "that Christian and I were dating. For two years. I'm the victim here."

"That doesn't change the fact that you knowingly dated a man arranged to marry someone else." he said calmly, stepping closer.

My words caught in my throat, not just because he was right but...

My eyes betrayed me, trailing down his chest, his abs, the faint line disappearing beneath his trousers.

Then the memories of last night hit me. The muscular body pressed against mine, the strong firm hands that worked magic on my body and his mouth on my skin.

I swallowed hard, trying to shake the thoughts away.

"Are you done sexually harassing me with your eyes?" he asked dryly.

I flinched and my face flushed instantly.

I dropped my head. "You shouldn't stand half-naked in front of a lady."

He smirked. "This is my room. I can do whatever I want."

"Please," I said, changing the subject desperately. "I need my job back. I didn't do anything wrong. Christian did. He should be punished, not me."

"Zara is my sister," he replied. "And Christian is now family."

"So that's it?" My voice cracked. "I should take the fall because they are your family? It doesn't matter if I was the wronged one."

His silence gave me the answers I didn't want to hear.

I sank back onto the bed in defeat. My chest tightened and my eyes filled up with tears.

"I really need a job," I whispered. "My grandmother needs surgery and my loan was denied because I lost my job."

Tears flowed down my face before I could stop it. "Please, I beg you." I dropped my head and let the tears fall on my laps.

"How much do you need?"

I looked up slowly. "...What?"

"How much is the surgery?" he asked again, already looming over me.

I told him the amount, stumbling over the numbers.

"I'll pay it," he said. "All of it. Including the outstanding bills."

My heart leapt and my eyes widened in shock. "You...you'll pay for it?" I wiped my tears off.

His eyes softened for the first time and he nodded.

Then the realization hit me. Of course, how could I forget that? Christian did the same thing too.

He frowned at my expression. "You don't look happy about it."

I laughed bitterly. "And what do you want in return?"

He scrunched his brows. "What?"

I lifted my gaze, deliberately scanning his body.

"What do I have to do?" I asked in a firm tone. "I know you're not just going to give me that amount of money for free."

He chuckled. "What do I want in return?"

Then suddenly he leaned in, trapping me between his arms and the bed.

His eyes dropped down from my face and scanned me down to my laps.

My breath hitched at the closeness and I tilted my head to the side to avoid eye contact with him.

His warm breath hit my neck, sending shivers down my spine as he whispered softly;

"What do you think you can do for me?"