Valentine's Day

Chapter 3

The next couple of hours passed quickly filing contracts and Maddie didn't give Avenged Sevenfold another thought even though the rest of the office was buzzing. 

She ignored them and locked herself in her small office, a perk of being the the boss' daughter, and answered emails. She was lost in her own thoughts as she mechanically answered correspondence. She still couldn't shake the blow her self esteem suffered in the Bellagio bar. A scene that she couldn't help from replaying over and over at the moment. She mused that her only consolation was that she'd never have to lay eyes on the guy again. She was shaken from her thoughts after hearing men's voices down the hallway and Liza's light laughter laced with a tinge of nervousness. Sounds like a party she thought, when all of a sudden Liza called her name "Maddie, come here, we're in the conference room!"

She stood quickly,smoothed her pencil skirt and walked out to see what the commotion was. She saw Liza and her dad, talking to four men who had not turned so Maddie could see their faces yet. One of the men was on the shorter side with a friendly smile planted on his face, another with dark hair and brilliant green eyes.  The third one was taller and even better looking if that was possible..shortly sheared brown hair with honey colored eyes. Maddie's heart literally skipped a beat when he laughed at whatever the shorter man said and dimples the size of moon craters appeared. Next to him, she saw the fourth man was wearing  an army green henley shirt. His dark brown hair was brushed back and he wore assorted necklaces. He had tipped his head back and laughed at whatever the shorter man said and then he turned and the laughter died. Across the short distance, his deep brown gaze met hers. His brows lowered and lips parted just before smirk took over his face.

Maddie's footsteps faltered and then just stopped. Everything within her stopped. Her brain, her heart, her breathing. Her chest got tight just like the first time she saw him. Only this time, there were no warm tingles. No urge to flip her hair. No Maddie puddles. Just that funny feeling in her head that she might faint. 

Liza noticed her paleness and was by her side in an instant "Mads, are you ok?"

Maddie wanted to faint dead away and wake up somewhere else, but she wasn't that lucky. "Yeah sure I'm fine. Tired" she said managing a weak smile. And while she stood there trying not to puke, she was sure that he was remembering every detail of the night she offered himself to her. The night he made it look like rejecting her was the easiest thing he'd ever done. Oh God she thought. He probably told all of these men too and they know and will tell everyone. 

"You don't look so good" Dimples said grabbing a chair from an empty table "Here have a seat."

"Johnny, Zacky, Matt, Bri, this is my step daughter Maddie," Larry introduced.

"Oh wow," Dimples said extending his hand. "It's nice to meet you. We've heard a lot about you. I'm Matt Sanders."

Shit, Maddie thought, what the hell had he heard? "It's nice to meet you Matt."

"So you're the prodigal daughter that took off after graduation" the shorter man asked laughing coming close to give Maddie a surprise hug. "I'm Johnny."

"Nice to meet you, Johnny," Maddie said giving the stranger an awkward pat.

When Johnny let go, Green Eyes smiled and extended his hand. "I'm Zacky," he said a bit shyly and Maddie couldn't help but feel a glimmer of attraction to that.

"It's nice to meet you too, Zacky," she said sincerely.

"Ahem" the fourth man cleared his throat. 

"Oh man, sorry, Maddie this sorry ass motherfucker is Brian...Brian Haner Jr. Also known as Synyster Gates...aka the pain in the ass of the group," Larry joked and everyone laughed.

"It's nice to meet you Maddie" Brian said with a crooked smile extending his hand.

Maddie stared blankly at his hand and then at his face before her brain finally caught up and shook it "Nice to meet you too"

Maddie looked at the group as they continued their conversation about drummers just as Liza predicted, but the only thing that she could hear clearly was "Don't take it personal but I don't sleep with women I meet in bars anymore."  The words played through her head over and over like a broken record. She tried to shrink into the chair unnoticed but she suddenly realized Brian was staring at her. Ok Maddie. Snap out of it. Maybe he was drunk that night and doesn't remember her offer. Yes that's it. He's a raging alcoholic and doesn't remember a thing. Just make nice and get away as soon as you can, her brain reasoned. 

"How long have you been in town?" he asked, his voice as deep and smooth as she remembered. He knew how long she'd been in town. What was he up to?

"A couple of weeks" she answered.

"Then we just missed each other. We had a few show dates up in the midwest and Vegas so we haven't been in the office for a bit," he said.

She knew that too. And of course, he knew that she knew that. But if he wanted to pretend they'd never met, that was more than fine with her.

"I'm glad Larry has got some real help in here. I know he likes to hire the interns for experience but sometimes it's like he's still juggling all the work," he said.

She stared into his brown eyes. Nothing. Not a hint of sarcasm, not a flicker of recognition. At first he looked surprised and now nothing. 

"It's about time Liza got some real company in here" he continued and Liza grinned appreciatively.

Maddie's brain finally unfroze and said "Well I'm just glad to be able to help my dad out."

"Oh yes" Larry gushed "She's been a big help. I've always been able to count on her. She's such a good girl"

Brian glanced from Maddie to Larry and back again.

Maddie waited for him to crack a smile. When he didn't, she relaxed a fraction. Maybe he really didn't remember her. Could she be that lucky? Suddenly the completely irrational part of her brain was pissed that she was so forgettable. Oh God Maddie, she thought, what the hell is wrong with you?