"No. It never was. Even though, after a few weeks, I've almost gotten used to wearing so little clothing, and dancing is something I love to do, I don't like the way men look at me."
My instinct is to pressure her into deciding now, but I know that wouldn't be fair. Madison is an adult and can choose her own future.
"I can't leave the club all of a sudden. I'll talk to Ares tomorrow and see how many more days I need to work before I can stop."
"The suggestion to come work for me was his. I don't think it'll be a problem."
"Fine, but my commitment isn't just to your brother but also to Adriel. I think it will take at least a week to find someone to replace me."
"I don't want to force you," I begin but then stop myself because even to my own ears, it sounds fake. "Or rather, Ido, because that's who I am, but I won't. I'm giving you an alternative for your future. If you accept, you'll be my girlfriend and also my employee. Can you handle that?"
She locks her legs around my waist. "Will we work overtime?"
"You can bet on it."
Days later
"I think the best thing to do is meet with the guardian in person," Ares says, sitting in the armchair in my office.
"Stubborn son of a bitch! What else could he want?"
"Assurances. But talking on the phone isn't working. I suggest we go there together."
"New Orleans?"
"Yes. When would be a good date?"
"As soon as possible. I want to sort this out."
"Have you talked to Madison about it?"
The day before yesterday, she informed him that in a few days she wouldn't be working for him anymore, and tomorrow will be her first day as my assistant. She'll keep both jobs for now.
"Not yet. I'd rather have everything resolved by the time I talk to her."
"Where are you going with this, Zeus? You’re not the same since you met her."
"I want her. Madison is the best thing that has ever happened to me. We fight all the time because we're combative and distrustful, but she's worth every second."
"If that's true, we need to settle the matter with GordonBank as soon as possible. I'll arrange the trip to Louisiana."
"Do it. Even if I have to pay ten times the value of the shares, I'll only come back once we've acquired what we need to become majority shareholders of GordonBank."
"I just talked to the neurosurgeon," she tells me on the phone.
"And what did you think?"
"He seems to know what he's doing."
"He's the country's top authority on long-term coma patients."
"He said he'd like to try an alternative treatment to wake her up, and that my sister's brain function seems normal."
"Do we agree to that?"
"We do, right? Is the decision yours too?"
"Brooklyn is part of your life, so she's also part of mine."