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 52 Hospital Demands Sophia
"Of course, Lex. I'll let Mr. Vallero know you'd like to set up a meeting," I said, already blocking it off in the calendar. Although... would Maddox even be taking it? He kind of quit this morning.
I didn't mention that to Lex—no need to stir up unnecessary panic—but the thought lingered like static in the back of my mind.
Was I shocked by his announcement? Yes. And no.
On one hand, he walked away from a massive position—one with power, responsibility, prestige. Most people would kill for it. But deep down, I always knew it didn't suit him. From the start, it felt like he was wearing someone else's clothes, sleeves too long and collar too tight. I used to wonder why he took the job at all. Even Kirsan, for all his cold logic and sharp tongue, might've been better suited. Maddox... he was never that guy. He's not the boardroom type. He doesn't thrive in stiff suits or client dinners or dragging himself through endless phone calls. He could do it. He could do anything. But it drained him. Quietly. Consistently.
But in the IT department? In development? That's where he lives. That's where the spark in his eyes finally makes sense. As CTO, he'll not only be allowed to create—but to lead in a language he actually speaks. He'll get to build things instead of babysitting them. And I'll be right there beside him, watching him bloom into the man he was always meant to be. He doesn't even see it yet, not fully. But I do. I see every piece of him, and I believe—no, I know—he's going to be extraordinary.
Yeah, I was surprised by how he announced it—shouting it down the hall like a teenager quitting his first job—but that's him. Impulsive, bold, driven by passion. When he explained why, I got it. I felt it.
We all deserve to love our everyday lives—not just pieces of them.
Finishing the call with Lex, I leaned back in my chair and stretched my shoulders, a soft ache settling in. I hated that I missed Jax's visit this afternoon, but the photos from his first boxing class made me smile. Jonny sent a few—videos too. Watching them stirred something in me I hadn't expected: relief. Comfort. I never thought I'd rely on anyone, let alone feel okay about it. But here I was.
Still, it had been a long day, and I needed to check on Maddox. His Zoom meeting should've ended nearly thirty minutes ago. In fact, I was half-expecting him to barge out and dramatically complain about how mind-numbing it was.
I grabbed a bag of M&Ms from my drawer and made my way to his office. It's ridiculous how just the idea of seeing him made my stomach flutter. But the moment I stepped in, my smile faltered.
He wasn't at his desk.
My eyes swept the room once. Then again. Confused, I took another step inside. He hadn't left—I was sure of it. I replayed our last conversation, every second before his meeting, searching for a clue. Nothing.
