Page 77 of Karma's Kiss

He exchanges a glance with his wife, a look of confirmation that they’re laying out their plan flawlessly. It’s Matthew who’s yet to say a word. He sits on the far end of the couch, studying his shoes.

“Matthew?” I prod.

“Hmm?” He looks up almost dazed.

“Are you okay?”

I’m actually concerned to see him like this. It’s all so…weird.

He looks hurriedly at his father then sits up and fixes his posture. “I’m fine, Madison. Just feel bad for all the trouble I’ve caused.”

He looks at Mr. Mason again, and I wonder if it’s approval he’s searching for. Or maybe just his next cue?

Mrs. Mason clears her throat delicately, recapturing my attention as she smiles kindly. “Maybe we haven’t been clear enough, and I apologize for how overwhelming this might seem, but we’re eager to bring you home, Madison. We want you back in Alabama. We want you to take the lead at Evermore Events, change it however you see fit,with our backing of course.” She laughs lightly, obviously trying to ease the tension.

“With the understanding that you and Matthew remain a couple,” Mr. Mason adds succinctly.

“Remain?”

I say the word harshly, emphasizing it so they all have to endure its awkwardness.

Matthew leans forward, his eyes full of contrition. “Madison, these last few weeks…” He shakes his head. “I was wrong. I should have never considered an end to our relationship, and I’ll do whatever it takes to make it right. This is yours. It belongs to you—” He reaches into his suit pants pocket and extracts a black velvet box. My old engagement ring, the one I hid in the back of the toilet, is nestled in soft velvet, more sparkly than ever. Turns out, he was able to clean it just fine.

Seeing it, I can’t help but laugh. The sound of it pierces the silence, and three Masons stare at me as if I’ve just grown a second head. The sentiment behind their shock is clear: No one laughs at this many carats.

I shake my head at the ring. “No thank you.”

Mr. Mason grits his teeth and elbows Matthew, who leaps off the couch and comes to me, clasping my hands as best he can while keeping hold of the ring box.

“You’re the love of my life. I was such a fool.” His tone has taken on a desperate edge. “Forgive me, Madison,”he begs imploringly.

“What are you talking about? You’re marrying Emma!” I exclaim, wrenching my hands away from his. “This weekend! Or…”

“No. He isnot,” Mr. Mason states firmly and impatiently. “That was all a ridiculous mix-up.”

Matthew winces, squeezing his eyes closed for a moment. When he blinks them open again, our gazes meet, and I feel a mixture of pity and disgust for this adult-boy cowering on his knees in front of me, at the beck and call of his parents, too spineless to stand on his own two feet and decide what he wants for himself. I can imagine what happened behind the scenes when he told his parents about our breakup. How easily did he bend to their will? How quickly did he agree to go through with this apology?

“Do you love her?” I ask him gently, lowering my voice. “Emma?”

I wish she were here, this woman I no longer hate. Seeing her would help shake him out of this spell his parents have him under.

He looks down, not answering.

I sigh and lower my voice. “Matthew, you should be with her.”

“Enough!” Mr. Mason explodes.

I reach for Matthew’s hands again and bend forward so we’re eye to eye. Now I’m the one looking desperate. “If you love her,be with her! Don’t listen to them.”

His mother snorts in disgust and shoots to her feet, sending me a venomous look. “This is ridiculous. It’s clear you can’t comprehend our offer, so we’ll give you a few days to consider it.”

Oh no. No way, lady. This ends here and now.

I stand just as confident and sure of myself as she is. “No. My answer is no.”

I fullycomprehendwhat they’re offering me. My old job, my old fiancé, my old picture-perfect life—it’s all there for the taking, but I don’t want it. I don’t want Evermore Events, the neat office, the experienced employees, the helpful accounting department. Somewhere deep inside me, I’m crying at the loss of how easy it would be to take over a company run so seamlessly. Instead, I’m agreeing to stay here, among the piles of boxes, the lost invoices, the absolute chaos.

I don’t care. My future is suddenly crystal clear.

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