Chapter Twelve

**Greyson**

After the events in the car, I’m determined to keep a close eye on Gen. As we step out of the car into the flashing light is feel her body tense, so I place a hand on her lower back in an attempt to make her feel more relaxed I’m not sure why, but I hope it does.

We walk up both of us smiling the picture of happiness with each camera flash, the difference in her now from 10 minutes ago in the car is astounding when we get the stairs, I remove my hand from her back and extend my arm for her to link so we can walk up the stairs.

To the world we couldn’t be more in love, I can hear some of the press shouting questions like how you met, and how long have you been together. I’m conscious of Gen’s earlier episode so I don’t answer, and we head inside.

As soon as we enter, I feel the eyes of the room on us, my ego would like to think it is because I’m a big deal but it’s not. All eyes are on Genevieve, I must admit she looks amazing in that dress I’m not sure if she thought I was joking when I told her back at the apartment, but I was being deadly serious.

The deep V at the front showing just enough of her caramel skin to be seductive but not slutty and she paired it with a stunning necklace that draws all your attention to the right places, the dress hugs her curvy figure accentuating her ass and breasts. She is the picture of perfection tonight and if I wasn’t hell-bent on disliking her, I could have fooled myself in thinking I was attracted to her.

We make our way around the room, Greeting people one by one. Those who I have done business with before compliment Gen and she silently woos their partner as they hand me their business cards and Gen acts like she has done this kind of networking before expertly laughing at jokes and wooing the partners.

Dad was right settling down with someone is good for business and I must remember that’s what this is a business deal. Gen and I are stood by the edge of the bar waiting for drinks when I hear the voice of someone I had hoped to avoid.

“Greyson, what an unpleasant surprise “

Gen gives me a look and we both turn around.

“Max, dad said you weren’t in town, what brings you here tonight”.

He looks, Genevieve up and down.

“Well, when I heard my brother had fallen madly in love suddenly, I had to come and see for myself “

He glares at me accusation rife in his voice. Choosing to ignore him I take Gens hand in mine and bring her a few steps forward.

“Max, this is Genevieve Hudson. Genevieve this is my brother Max, and the lady to his right is his wife, Lily”.

“Nice to meet you both”.

Gen extends her hand but neither of them bothers to take it and Lily just says a short and snippy charmed.

We exchange a few more pleasantries before the wonder of the mingle with people, In the pit of my stomach I know he cany be here for a good reason, I also feel bad for the way Gen was treated I make a mental note to apologise to her for that.

The rest of the night continues, and Maddox Inc makes some hefty donations smaller charities that could use the money with each check Gen seems more shocked that I would rather donate to these smaller functions that the larger corporations.

We again find a quiet corner to stop and take a breather I am still very aware she’s not comfortable in this situation and if I’m being honest, I could do with leaving.

“Gen, are you doing okay?”

I ask the question but try to seem like I am not bothered either way.

“I’m okay, but why are you asking Greyson am I not playing the loving girlfriend enough”.

As soon as she speaks, I can tell she is back to normal she responds like I’m the most annoying human in the world and I wonder to myself why I bothered.

“Are we staying around much longer?”

She is asking me, but her eyes are fixated on a guy in a suit across the room, he’s not looking at her but if looks could kill he would for sure be dead.

“Yeah, we have one more person to speak to Steven the CEO of CVH global, this guy is the whole reason we are locked into this thing with one another “

“Okay but after that, we are going”.

Her eyes are still on that guy and its starting to annoy me.

“Yes, Gen after that we are going, although if you are going to have to stop undressing the guy in the suit it doesn’t exactly scream in love with Greyson to the rest of the room”.

Her head snaps back to me her face like thunder.

“Greyson if you knew anything about me, you’d know what it would look like when I was interested in someone, you have no right to make those assumptions of me”.

She storms off in the direction of the bathroom and I am left to wonder why the hell she just exploded the way she did.

I head towards to bar near the lady’s bathroom and wait for her ordering a large whisky in the process.

“Evening Mr Maddox”

I turn around to see Gens roommate smiling at me a slight girl with long dark her on his arm.

“Good Evening, Alex isn’t it, and who is this lovely lady on your arm?”

The way that girl is looking at me if she weren’t with him, I would be halfway back to my apartment by now ball’s deep in her.

“This is my girlfriend Mia”.

“What the hell Alex, your back with her “

The sounds of Gen’s voice make his eyes flash wide open. Alex seems to twist his whole body to face her his eyes have gone glassy with anger.

“Yes, Gen Mia and I are back together, not that it’s any of your business”.

Mia walks forward and leans down into Gen whispering something in her ear. Gen’s face contorts with rage before she turns and walks away.

“You might want to catch your lady Mr Maddox she’s font of finding her way into the bed of other men”.

I do not say anything back just simply walk away following after Genevieve, inside I’m kind of pissed is that what she is so close with Alex because she slept with him. When I find her, she is stood on a balcony?

“Gen we need to go and meet Steven”.

I extend my hand and she take it not saying a word as soon as we go over the threshold back into the room, she plasters a smile on her face as nothing happened, I appreciate it as we make our way over to him.

**Genevieve**

This night has just gone from bad to worse and I have honestly had enough, but I’m stood here smiling like a crazy person falling on every word Greyson says as he butters up this Steven guy.

Eventually, the talking stops and Greyson and I agree to have dinner with them soon and it is time to leave thank god.

I still do not know what’s going on with Alex and I want nothing more than to find him to call him out on it, but I can’t exactly leave the love of my life here. So, we head silently to the car, Greyson has not said a word to me since he found me on the balcony, I cannot say I’m not mildly happy about it I’m not sure I could deal with his shit.

As soon as we are inside the apartment, I want nothing more than to take this shitty dress off and head to my room, but it seems Greyson has other ideas.

“Genevieve, we need to talk”.

“And what is it you think we need to talk about Greyson”.

“Well first what was with the panic attack. Secondly, who was the guy you couldn’t keep your eyes off the whole night and thirdly what the fuck is the deal with Alex “

Internally I am raging how dare he delve into my private life.

“I don’t have to answer any of these questions Greyson I’m going to bed “

I grab my arm as I turn away.

“Actually, Gen you do if any of these things are a threat to our arrangement “

“Well, I’m telling you none of these things is a threat to our arrangement”.

“Not even what Mia said about you sleeping around?”

Mia that scheming little bitch she causes chaos wherever she goes.

“Look Mia just doesn’t like me like I’m the one that told Alex that she shouldn’t get back with her after she cheated on him”.

“And then let me guess you slept with Alex”.

Fury rages inside me this guy is so full of assumptions but also what the hell did he care who I slept with his track record.

“How dare you accuse me of that you know nothing about me but if you want to know then take a fucking seat and I’ll answer your questions one by one “

I yank my arm from his hand and head to the front room kicking my shoes off and chucking my bag on the floor.

He follows the taking off his jacket still angry at nothing and slumps onto the sofa.

“Go ahead Gen I’m listening”.

I let rip at him answering all his assumptions.

“ I’ve had panic attacks since my parents died and I dropped out of uni because my brother was hell bend on ruining me, He told our companies entire board I was not fit to take over even though it was my dad’s wish when that ceased to be working he fabricated rumours that were sleeping with a bunch of them it caused me to spiral into a binge of drinking and partying in the hope it would numb everything that I’ve been through, It fucking didn’t and that’s when Alex offered me a place to stay in new York so I packed my whole life in one suitcase and moved here leaving my brother and Hudson hotels behind.”

He seems to have stiffened in his seat as I continue to speak but I don’t let him cut in.

“So that guy I was staring at all night, was my brother and I was praying to God that he didn’t come over and talk to me, the last time I saw him was the night I spilt my drink on you, and as for Alex we are nothing more than friends. Alex offered me a place to escape and I’ll be forever grateful because my brother won’t rest until I’m dead”.

He doesn’t say anything a first as my breathing starts to slow as the weight of all this crap seems a little lighter.

“So, your that missing heiress?”

“No Greyson I was that missing heiress, now I’m Genevieve Hudson a nobody waitress from New York when I left London my brother made sure to remove me from the digital a picture so I could never prove who I really am without a whole heap of money to fight back”.

I go to leave as I don’t want to hear anything this asshole has to say to me, but I have to get this last bit out.

“One last thing, I haven’t slept around with Alex or anyone at all for that matter. I’m not like you Greyson sleeping around isn’t a hobby of mine “

With that I head to my room sweeping my bag off the floor on the way, as soon as I get inside, I lock the door and slip down onto the floor unable to stem the flow of tears.