Chapter 19

MADDIE

"Can you drop me off at the hospital? I know the doctors will only allow visitors this evening, but I wanted to check on my mom. She's alone in the hospital," I explained, my voice tinged with concern.

Hades looked at me with meaningful eyes. I couldn't read what was going on inside his head, but he seemed surprised by what I said.

"I'll just need to finish a few things in the office, then we'll go visit your mother," he replied.

I was taken aback by his response. "You don't have to come with me. I can go there myself," I insisted. I don't want to be an inconvenience to him.

"It's fine. I also intend to meet my in-laws," he replied, his tone firm yet gentle.

His willingness to accompany me to the hospital caught me off guard. I don't exactly know what to expect with this contract marriage, but somehow, it made me think that this deal wasn't that bad at all.

"Let's just do that after my father got out of the hospital. I hadn't told my parents about our deal, and I have to plan on doing so. I need time to think of some reason before I tell them about us."

He frowned, clearly not liking the idea. "Why don't you just tell them that we got married?"

"It's not that simple! I was supposed to marry Wyatt. I can't just tell them that I suddenly married his uncle!"

"Why not?" he asked, his tone matter-of-fact.

"Are you serious?" I scoffed, disbelief coloring my voice.

"Do I look like I'm kidding?" He shot back, his expression unyielding. "Stop complicating things, Maddie. It is what it is. You don't need to explain it in detail."

I stared at him, frustration bubbling up inside me. "God! You're infuriating!" I complained, my voice rising.

He sneered, his eyes narrowing. "I could say the same about you," he shot back, his tone equally sharp.

"Tss. I don't want to argue anymore," I said, throwing my hands up in exasperation. "It seems like that's all we do whenever we're together."

A ghost of a smile spread across his lips, and his eyes sparkled with amusement. "I'm afraid that's not entirely true," he said, a smirk tugging at the corners of his mouth. "I can clearly remember us doing a lot of things other than fighting."

His words hung in the air, their implication clear. My cheeks flushed as memories of our recent encounters flooded my mind. Despite my frustration, I couldn't deny the truth in his statement. The intensity between us wasn't just limited to our arguments.

"Argh! You're hopeless," I muttered, trying to maintain my composure. The frustration in my voice was evident.

He responded with a playful grin, his eyes sparkling with mischief. "Well, you've got a year to get used to it," he teased, clearly enjoying my exasperation.

Before I could retort, he leaned forward and instructed the driver, "Take us to the office."

I sighed, knowing he had once again managed to get his way. Despite my best efforts, he always seemed to come out on top. It was infuriating and, in some strange way, oddly comforting.

As the car pulled away, I settled back into the seat, stealing a glance at him. He was already focused on his phone; his expression was serious as he typed away. It was hard to reconcile this composed, business-like man with the one who had just been teasing me moments ago.

"We need to talk about this. I don't like you ordering me around. I may be your wife on paper, but I don't work with you," I said.

He looked up from his phone, his grin widening. "I paid for your father's surgery; I gave you ten million dollars, and I'm saving you from further humiliation; technically, you're under my payroll now."

I opened my mouth to argue, but the words wouldn't come. He was right, in a way. He practically paid me to pretend to be his wife. I may not know his reason for doing so, but he got the point.

As we continued the drive to his office, my mind raced with thoughts about our complicated relationship. The cityscape blurred outside the window as I pondered what lay ahead.

Once we arrived at the towering office building, I couldn't help but notice the prying eyes pointed at us as we walked inside. Employees and visitors alike seemed to stop and stare, their curiosity palpable. Whispers and hushed conversations followed us as we made our way through the lobby.

I tried to ignore the murmurs and focus on keeping my head held high. Hades, on the other hand, appeared completely unbothered by the attention, his confident stride never faltering. He walked beside me with an air of authority, his presence commanding respect and admiration.

As we stepped into the elevator, I could feel the weight of their gazes even through the closing doors. The silence inside the lift was almost suffocating, and I found myself glancing at Hades, who simply pressed the button for his floor with a calm demeanor.

The ride up was brief, but it felt like an eternity. When the elevator finally dinged and the doors slid open, we were greeted by a spacious, modern office floor bustling with activity. More curious eyes turned our way, but Hades didn't miss a beat. He guided me towards his office, his hand gently resting on the small of my back.

Once we were inside his private office, the door closed behind us, and the noise from outside faded into a distant hum. I let out a breath I hadn't realized I was holding, feeling a mix of relief and anxiety.

"Why do I get the feeling everyone's talking about us?" I asked, trying to keep my voice steady.

Hades smirked, leaning against his desk. "They probably are. It's not every day I bring someone here."

His words hung in the air, and I couldn't help but feel the weight of what he implied. This was more than just a casual visit. It was a statement, one that everyone in the building would notice and talk about.

"Great," I muttered, rolling my eyes. "More attention is exactly what I need."

He chuckled softly, pushing off the desk and walking over to me. "You'll get used to it," he said, his tone reassuring. "Besides, I have a feeling you'll handle it just fine."

I looked up at him, searching his eyes for any hint of uncertainty. But all I saw was confidence and an unwavering determination. For a moment, I allowed myself to believe him. Maybe, just maybe, I could handle this whirlwind of a relationship and everything that came with it.

We hadn't been inside his office for more than ten minutes when someone knocked on the door.

"Come in," Hades answered.

The door slowly opened, and his secretary stepped in. "Mr. Grant, your ten o'clock meeting is waiting for you in the conference room," he informed him, his voice professional and steady.

Hades nodded, glancing at his watch. "Okay, I'll be there in a minute," he replied, his tone calm and controlled.

As the secretary exited, Hades turned to me. "Stay here and make yourself comfortable. This won't take long," he said, his eyes meeting mine with a reassuring gaze.

I nodded, watching him as he gathered a few files from his desk and straightened his tie. The shift from our personal tension to his professional demeanor was almost seamless, a reminder of the dual roles he played so effortlessly.

"Don't hesitate to use anything you need," he added, gesturing towards the plush seating area and the coffee machine in the corner of the room. "I'll be back shortly."

With that, he left the office, closing the door behind him. The sudden silence was almost jarring, and I found myself taking a deep breath to steady my nerves. The office felt vast and slightly intimidating, filled with elegant furniture and an air of authority.

I wandered over to the seating area, sinking into one of the comfortable chairs. My eyes roamed the room, taking in the details—the meticulously organized desk, the impressive bookshelves lined with volumes of legal texts, and the large windows that offered a breathtaking view of the city skyline.

Despite the initial anxiety, there was something oddly calming about being in his space. It felt like a glimpse into another side of him, one that was powerful and in control. I reached for a magazine on the coffee table, flipping through the pages absentmindedly as I tried to keep my mind occupied.

I was inside Hades office, sitting on his couch, when I heard some noise coming from outside.

"I'm sorry, sir, but you can't get inside Mr. Grant's office without his approval," Hades' secretary said.

I wondered who she was talking to. It didn't take long before I got my answer when I heard a familiar, agitated voice.

"Don't you know who I am? I'm your boss's nephew! Do you want to get fired?" Wyatt's loud voice echoed through the hallway. "Step aside! We're coming in."

I didn't have enough time to hide, but then again, why would I? It wasn't like I was hiding anything. Besides, I had every right to be here.

Suddenly, the door burst open, and Wyatt stormed in with Lizzie clinging to his arm. His presence filled the room with a tense energy, and Lizzie's smirk only added to the discomfort.

"Well, well, look who we have here?" Wyatt sneered, his eyes locking on mine with a mix of surprise and disdain.


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