Page 9 of Madden

Chapter Three

Brielle

I didn’t have high expectations going into the interview yesterday. Madden played right into what I expected them to be like.

Being someone who sticks to a schedule and likes a routine, the last-minute changes throwing off our plans are driving me crazy.

The photos for the article are important, but I’m annoyed it delays our trip home until tomorrow. The fact we started off late because they weren’t ready, then couldn’t get the photos we needed grinds on my nerves.

No matter my disdain for A Rebels Havoc, I won’t let them ruin my chance at making a good impression with my new boss, Sawyer. She’s put a lot of trust and faith in me, and I wouldn’t let her or my peers at Limelight down.

Sawyer is the only person who knows the truth about who I am. When it comes to my job, I didn’t want any connection to the Granite family name or Granite Industries.

Although my father has tried to convince me otherwise, I have no interest in working for him or following in his footsteps.

Becoming Brielle Silvers was a big step for me in distancing myself from that world. Up until this point in my life, I’ve managed to fly under the radar when it came to the media talking about my family.

They seem to care more about my father and two older brothers anyway. He’s positioned them to take over his role, and it’s been all about them from the day they were off the tit.

I guess there were benefits to being the only daughter. It played into their belief I wasn’t being looked at as their equal. As much as it would bother me any other day, it helped me separate myself and focus on my passions.

Sooner or later, my identity is bound to come out, but for now, I’m keeping it this way.

“All right, you ready to go? Maybe if we wrap up early, we can head out of here and find something to do with our Friday night.” Davis wags his brows and adjusts his camera bag under his arm, nodding toward Madden’s house.

I release a heavy sigh and turn toward the sidewalk when the front door opens. I fully anticipate Kyla to welcome us or maybe his assistant, but not this time.

I’m once again forced to face Madden and his sinfully sexy smile.

He’s barefoot, wearing a black T-shirt and denim jeans. He folds his arms over his chest and leans against the doorframe, tilting his head to us in way of a greeting.

I don’t miss the way his eyes linger on mine. I grit my teeth and flare my nostrils, trying and failing to control my body’s reaction to him. Maybe if I keep telling myself the butterflies in my stomach are from new job nerves and not the sight of his dimpled cheek, I’ll be able to get today over without any further incidents.

It doesn’t look like he’s going to make it easy on me, though.

“Someone’s lookin’ a little happy to see you this morning,” Davis whispers.

My eyes snap to Madden, whose gaze burns into me. I press my tongue into the inside of my cheek and attempt to breathe slowly through my nose.

My face flames when he catches me staring, and the edge of his mouth curls. I try to disguise the hitch in my breath with a cough.

Davis chuckles next to me, and I resist telling him to shut up.

“It’s nice to see you both again,” Madden says, never taking his eyes off me.

What’s with the change in demeanor from yesterday? Gone is the snide, arrogant man I met.

He’s trying to smooth over what happened, Brielle, using his charming smile and sexy dimple to swindle you. Don’t fall for it.

Madden steps back and holds his hand out, welcoming us inside.

“I don’t know what you have in mind for today, but we have a few places I thought would be good for the shoot. We can use the sitting room we were in yesterday or change it up and go outside. It looks like the weather will cooperate too.”

He watches me but, this time, makes an effort to glance at Davis.

“Outside sounds perfect,” Davis says. “If Tysin and Trey want to hold their guitars and maybe you could have your drumsticks, we can snap a few photos of you guys as a group. I also took some pictures during the interview we can use.”

Madden smiles and nods, turning to lead us through the double staircase toward the large doors surrounded by floor-to-ceiling windows overlooking the small courtyard outside.

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