The Judge's Daughter

Chapter One-Life or Death

“Madeline, could you stop by the cleaners and pick up my suite? I won’t get out of here until 6:30,” Judge Stephen Matthews said to his secretary “Your mother will be upset if I am a minute late to our anniversary dinner, she will skin me alive.”

Madeline laughed at her father as she shut down her computer and picked up her Kathy van Zeeland purse. “Sure thing. Do you need me to pick something up for dinner tomorrow night?” she asked as she took the few steps separating her desk and the office door. She stood in the doorway, arms crossed, watching her father shuffle through papers for his cases the following day.

She always loved watching her father work ever since she was little. He has put away the most criminals in the state of Pennsylvania than any other judge around. Stephen loves his job and he does it fairly and to the book. He has had his share of bribes but he is too much of an honest man to accept.

“No, your mother has something planned. Go on home and get some rest,” he said sternly. “Don’t you think I did not notice you running off to the bathroom, looking a little green.”

Madeline looked away from her father’s questioning gaze. She couldn’t tell him; she couldn’t tell anyone. With a clear of her throat, she said bye to her father and made her way out to her new car. After Derek left in her car, she walked to the edge of town when a state trooper pulled over and asked her what happened. She told everyone that her car was stolen, but her family knew there was more to the story. But she would never tell. She thought things would have only gotten worse after he left her, but she hasn’t seen nor heard from since that day and she wouldn’t want it any other way.

“Maddie,” a familiar voice called from behind her as she reached the main entrance doors. She turned around and she couldn’t help but smile at her two best friends.

Zachariah and Alexander have been best friends since they were born. Their mothers were college roommates and have stayed near each other through everything. Zach and Alex are both bailiffs for the court house. Zach has sandy blonde hair that every girl dreams to run their hands through. His brown eyes resembled the essence of milk chocolate. Zach is one of the most responsible and serious guys Madeline has ever met.

Alex, on the other hand, is the opposite. He takes very little responsibility and he is hardly ever serious. His brown hair somehow managed to match Zach’s milk chocolate eyes. Alex’s grey eyes were the one thing that stood out the most about him. When he was cracking jokes and laughing, his eyes brightened to smooth silver.

Madeline’s smile grew as the guys got closer. “Are you headed out to your car?” asked Zach. She nodded and Alex threw his arm over her shoulder, walking outside. She couldn’t help how her heart always skipped a beat when they touched her. But she always pushed her feelings away. She was too damaged for them. Plus what would they say if they found out that she loved them both? She’d be a laughing stock.

“What are you doing tonight, Maddie?” asked Alex. He knew the affect that they had on her. And he laughed inwardly every time. But she doesn’t know that and she definitely doesn’t know the affect that she has on him and Zach. She had the most beautiful dark brown, curly hair that barley reached the middle of her back. When she laughed, her smile would make any bad day turn for the better. Her hazel eyes betrayed every emotion that she has ever felt. And her body…damn. Her body was the second thing they loved about her. She is average height, but her legs still ran for miles. She wasn’t big, but she wasn’t model skinny either. Her chest was the perfect size, a C-cup.

When the first discovered their feelings for Maddie, they were more than willing to share. They have shared only a couple of women in the past, but it never lasted. Zach and Alex’s relationship is a little more difficult than normal best friends. Some people would call them gay or confused, but they stay away from those titles. They are simply lovers. In high school they discovered that their connection was more than just friends, and their mother’s were more than accepting. The rest of their family took some time to get used to the idea.