Page 26 of Defending Madison

Ella glares at me. I haven’t figured out how she became a co-owner after Maxim Petrov and Banner Campbell created CPSP, but she acts like she’s the boss. Her stare lets me know she’s pissed about something. I’ve worked here for six months, and her mood has gotten worse as her pregnancy moves along.

She raises her voice to talk over the employees in the room. “I created an algorithm to collect the data from the Dauntless staff and team members. We’ll be able to run any calls through our system to determine the severity of the security issue.” She cocks her head. “It was a great suggestion you offered to the team, but calling and telling us after you offered it to the team doesn’t work for us.”

I’m surprised. Banner and Maxim, fellow SEALS, nod as the little waif puts me in my place. “I guess I should have run it by you first.”

Her forehead crinkles. “It’s an intriguing suggestion, but not all suggestions are workable. Time, money, and resources are commodities we manage to create the most feasible solutions. Next time run it by the group before you offer it.”

The hair peaks on the back of my neck at the scolding. I speak before I think it all out. “Who’s running this show, anyway?”

Banner and Maxim stare at me like my hair is on fire until amusement creeps across their faces. The dark-haired waif stands and glowers. “We run this show. The resources you offer fall under my purview for the company, therefore I’m the one to let you know you missed the mark.” She crosses her arms as Maxim chuckles to my right. “Anytime you want to remove yourself from CPSP because you can’t handle being told how it is by a woman,” she points at the glass door, “there’s the door.”

The full realization that I have shoved my foot all the way down my own throat and made an enemy of a CPSP owner rings the stupid bell in my head. I bow my head and look back up at Ella. “I apologize. I’m out of line. I’m not used to having to run security ideas up the chain of command. I realize this was my fault, and I’m sorry.”

“Okay.” She blows out her breath and tips her head to her cousins. “I’m heading upstairs to the condo.” She puts her hand on her swollen belly. “This one needs a nap. Graham will be at poker tonight. Please remember we’ve got an early meeting in the morning.” She steps out of the room as Banner leans back in his rolling chair.

“What the fuck was that, Dix?”

I run my hand through my hair. “I’m sorry. I was pissed about a woman and took it out on Ella. She’s going to tell her husband, huh?” Graham is a tier-one operator like the rest of us, but he has an edge to him that even scares me. His nickname, Ghost, was given to him because everyone that goes against him becomes one. He’ll waste no time in pounding me if his wife’s unhappy.

Maxim chuckles. “She probably won’t share with him. She fights her own battles.”

I watch the woman step into her office and scoff. “If she doesn’t tell her husband to kill me, what can that little woman do to me?”

Banner breaks out into a deep laugh. “She can make your life a living hell. You don’t realize but she’s the best hacker I’ve ever met. She knows everything about everyone, and she’s mean when she’s pissed.”

I shake my head. “I seem to make mistakes that piss off all the women around me.”

Maxim gets up from his chair and sets his hand on my shoulder. “You should figure out how not to do that. And be prepared for scut work until you get out of her doghouse.”

I raise my head up to his smiling eyes. “Really?”

“Oh yeah. You’re new enough she can’t make you re-qualify for everything, but she’ll send you on the crappiest jobs she can find.”

“I deserve it for being stupid.”

Banner motions for us both to leave the room. “If this is the way you handle women in the rest of your life, you might want to consider an attitude adjustment.”

Don’t I know it. “I apologize. I was wrong. I will apologize to her the next time I see her.”

He nods. “You used to be so charming with the women.”

Before Madison. “I was. I’ve let circumstances change the way I look at things. I realized that when I saw Madison today. I’ll do better.”

Five hours later, I’m sitting at the poker game with guys from my office as my phone beeps. I pick it up to see an alert from one of the Dauntless stadium security personnel. Ryan didn’t make it from the stadium. He was bogged down in work. I wonder if he’s dealing with whatever mess is pulling me from the game. I tossmy cards and nod to Banner, Maxim and the other five guys at the table. “There’s an issue at the stadium.”

Banner stands. “I’ll come with you. Maxim just dealt me my last crap hand for the night.” We walk out of the entertainment room in the residence section of the Quad where Banner and Maxim, along with tons of their cousins and employees, live. It’s above the CPSP office and was more convenient for everyone tonight rather than going next door to the bar we usually play at. We take the elevator down to the garage and get into Banner’s SUV. “Tell me about this woman.”

I sigh. “Madison Bennett.”

Banner smirks as a light of recognition shines on his face. “She’s hot and one damn fine soccer player.”

I shake my head. “Yeah.”

“What did you do to piss her off?”

“I played a stupid game of ‘let’s not tell the woman I want, that I was married’.”

He laughs his big laugh as we pull out of the parking garage. “That was dumb.”

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