Fated Series. Book #2
"Be possessive of me, own me, keep me, because if you do then nothing and no one else can." - Maddox.
My name is Maddox Vallero, and I'm dead.
Well, that's not quite true. I'm alive in the breathing, walking, talking sense-but...
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Chapter 14 Drugs? Yes Maddox
I sat across the conference table from her, drumming my fingers on the armrest of this uncomfortable chair, forcing myself to focus on the presentation. Or rather, trying to keep my attention off her, which was its own challenge. Mateo sat beside me, actually paying attention, his cheek pressed into his fist like he was made for these meetings. I leaned back, adjusting in my seat, crossing one leg over my knee to ease the ache in my back. The movement must have caught their attention, because both Mateo and Sophia glanced my way before their eyes slid back to the screen.
Out of the corner of my eye, I could see Sophia sitting there, perfectly put together as usual. Today she wore a washed-blue button-up blouse, unbuttoned just enough at the top to reveal the sharp lines of her collarbone and that warm olive skin that drove me crazy. Her legs were crossed, clad in black, high-waisted leather pants that hugged her figure. And of course, those heels—those damn heels that had me needing to remind myself to breathe. She looked like a walking temptation, straight out of every twisted fantasy I'd ever had, and all I wanted was to pull her closer and lose myself in her.
A sharp kick to my shin snapped me out of my thoughts, and I jerked, shooting a glare at Mateo. He pulled his foot back, looking as calm and unimpressed as ever. I smirked, leaning over to mutter, "Kick me again, honey, and I might start karate-chopping you back."
His mouth twitched into a grin as he leaned closer. "Don't stare. It's rude. Didn't Uncle ever teach you that?"
Was I staring? Here I was, thinking I was being subtle. I shrugged, leaning back in my chair and showing my hands in mock surrender. "Better view than..." I nodded toward the finance manager droning on about this quarter's numbers. Profits were up, projections were good, and apparently, we'd be hitting the billion mark by year's end. A whole lot of good news. It's almost funny—I'd spent years doing the darkest, dirtiest work imaginable, and now I was here, listening to profit margins and PowerPoints. Compared to the screams of torture victims and the aftermath of threats made real, this life was simple, almost absurdly easy. I never expected to have a life like this. A chance to leave all that behind. So yeah, I'll take this and hold onto it as long as I can.
Mateo raised an eyebrow, cutting into my thoughts. "Need a reminder of company policy?"
Sophia was just out of earshot, but the curious look she threw our way told me she'd noticed our whispers. I shrugged, keeping my voice low. "Ew, no, don't bore me. I read the three-hundred-page manual, thank you very much."
Mateo gave me a look that would probably intimidate anyone else. "No, you didn't."
"Just because you didn't put in the effort to memorize every rule and regulation of this company doesn't mean I didn't," I replied, lying through my damn teeth, which only made him chuckle.
"It's six hundred and forty-three pages, Madds. And you didn't read a single one of them."
I rolled my eyes. Of course, he'd know the exact page count. "Pay attention, then, and quit screwing around. It's rude. Didn't Uncle ever teach you that?" I shot back, mocking his earlier scolding. He let out a low laugh, and I knew I'd scored one.
