Page 49 of Quarantined with the Billionaire

Chapter Fourteen

When I awoke to the sun streaming through Maddox’s bedroom windows, I wasn’t at all surprised to find he wasn’t there. He was probably working out again.

I still didn’t know how I felt about what happened last night, but I decided I was okay with it. Did I seem slutty now?

Did I even care?

As I stood under the warm pummeling shower in my own bathroom, I decided it didn’t matter. Having sex with Maddox was causing me to rethink my entire life. If things were totally awkward between us (and that would be coming from him, not me, because I was going to act like everything was normal), then I’d leave his company and find something else. He’d assured me last night that I was “brilliant,” so why not find a company that would treat me that way, nurturing my intelligence? Finding ways to help me grow?

After putting on a little makeup and getting dressed, I decided to get a little coffee before calling my mom. As much as I loved the woman, I’d have to be in the proper frame of mind to deal with her.

When I got to the kitchen, not only did I spy a large pot of coffee already brewed, but Maddox was at the stove, playing Chef Ramsay again.

“Good morning. Do you like waffles?”

As I got closer, I saw he was frying sausage links in a skillet. “I guess.” Other than the giant grin on his face, he seemed to be doing the same thing I was—acting as normally as possible.

“Then have a seat and relax.”

“I’m going to call my mom. I’ll be back soon.” I forced half a smile before pouring coffee in a mug and then walking quickly into the breakfast nook. I didn’t need him hearing a dysfunctional conversation between my mother and me.

She answered the phone after the first ring. “Bailey, how are you?”

“I’m doing all right. I’m not sick or anything. What about you guys? How are you?”

“I’m okay—but Tod’s not doing so well.”

“What’s wrong?”

“He’s been sick.”

I placed my hand on the table as if to hold myself up. “Sick how? How long has this been going on?”

“It’s been a few days. He’s having trouble breathing.”

“Are you going to take him to the ER—or urgent care?”

“Honey, you know we can’t. We don’t have health insurance—and we’re not working right now. We couldn’t afford anything like that.”

“Mom, listen to me. If he can’t breathe, he’ll die. I’ll help you with—”

I could hear her sobbing. “He won’t listen to me.”

The next voice I heard was behind me, so I turned to look. “I can pay whatever medical costs your parents incur.”

My voice must have carried to the kitchen—and I wasn’t sure if I should thank him for his generosity or feel angry that he’d been eavesdropping.

But my mom’s crying was growing louder, so I latched on to his words. “Mom, my boss—uh, the owner of the company I work for—offered to pay all your medical costs.”

“What?”

“He said he’d pay your medical bills.”

“We can’t take that kind of help.” Now I knew where I got my sense of misguided pride. She didn’t even know Maddox, though, so I found it additionally irritating that she was refusing his money. Looking down, I spoke into my cell phone. “Mom, he has more money than he knows what to do with. Just, please, let him help you guys.”

She was silent for a few moments. “I suppose we could maybe do that. And pay him back when we have the money.”

“Sure. Just get Tod to the hospital and keep me posted.”

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