Page 86 of Seduced By Contract

"What's wrong?" I ask.

"I love you, Madison. I didn't even know I was capable of love until I met you. I love you, and this will not pass. I don't want it to pass."

Zeus

CHAPTER FORTY-THREE

I didn't planto say any of that.

I sure as hell didn't plan to tell my girl I love her for the first time in my life in the middle of a children's party, in the presence of three small children and her mother. However, now that the words are out, it's such a fucking relief to finally understand what an emotional rollercoaster I've been on since I got back from New Orleans.

In my peripheral vision, I notice Eleanor walk away with Joseph, leaving the twins with us.

"You don't need to say that to get me back."

It’s not what I expected to hear.

Does she really believe I would do that? That to have her in my bed, I would fake feelings?

Maybe, despite all our time together, she still thinks I'm a scoundrel?

I get up without looking at her anymore, and hand-in-hand with the twins, I walk away.

My phone rings, and I know it's Dionysus. He’s going to meet me here because, besides my nephew not being very sociable, asMadison rightly pointed out, his enthusiasm for playing has an expiration date.

"What time do you want me to come by and pick him up?" he asks when I answer.

"You don't need to come. I'll just let him play for a little while, and then I'll bring him to you."

"Is everything okay?"

"Yes," I lie. I hang up and follow the twins, who’ve already let go of my hands.

Soraya, very excited about her achievement of taking her first steps, now no longer stays still.

I look at the surrounding environment—mothers, nannies, and children—and I imagine myself in a few years, celebrating my children's birthdays.

The image of Madison comes to my mind, even though I don't want to think about her or the future. Yes, I was fucking wrong to hide my situation with Gordon, but it's not only up to me to try to fix things. She is a grown woman and will have to find the courage to take a risk.

An hour later, after they sing “Happy Birthday,” I get ready to leave.

Joseph is sleeping on my lap, and after nodding to some of the people present and talking to Eleanor, I get up, holding him, and go look for Madison.

She's sitting between two mothers, with Silas in her arms, also asleep.

"I'm leaving," I mouth.

She looks at me as if she wants to say something, but then she just nods her head in agreement. Her lack of attitude, of not even getting up to come with me to the door, eats me up inside. I leave without looking back.

Maybe I'm mistaken. The passion she claimed to feel for me was just that:passion. A cuter name for physical attraction.

After leaving my nephew with his father, I head straight home. Before I met her, I would normally be working—even on the weekend—but today I just want to forget.

Ornot think. That's a better term.

So as soon as I arrive at my apartment, I take off my shoes, socks and shirt, and after pouring myself a generous dose of whiskey, I sit down to watch the storm that has started to break from my penthouse living room.

Whenever she's here, Madison goes outside because she says she loves the view.

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