MAD

~ Chapter 3 ~

Maddeline was in her office, dealing with the orders she needed for the following day. As always, she was working during lunch hour so she could avoid all the unpleasant and curious people who wanted to meet her, find out who she was. After opening her first restaurant a couple of years back, people had not got a glimpse from her as they desired so much.

Oddly enough, she wasn't insecure, she did not hate people and she did not have any kind of disorder or deformity, as some kind news reporter had said on air. The truth, was that she just wanted to keep her life simple and out of the spotlight, but then, by some joke of faith, she met Josh, who quickly won his way into her heart.

Josh Walker was a very well known and respected man. At the age of twenty-eight he was head in charge of one of the most successful and well-known record labels in the country, Running Records. He was a very friendly and out going guy, who avoided as he could being the center of attention.

Surprisingly, they met in an oddly simple way, as in a night out, at a karaoke bar. Josh had been dragged there by some friends. Maddeline was a regular (an a very loved) participant of karaoke nights. Josh, being his charming self, could not resist the beautiful, crazy looking, girl. On the other hand, Maddeline had found Josh a breath of fresh hair from all the guys trying to get it on with her and all the people trying to figure out her identity. Ever since that night, they had grown closer and closer, as Josh fought to convince her to pursue a career in music and Maddeline tried to teach how to use a kitchen without burning the building down.

As every other day, they had planned to have lunch together, so she worked as she waited for him, knowing he would arrive late as usual.

When a knock was heard, the clock already showed it was way past three in the afternoon making her chuckle in amusement at the mans antics.

"Come in" she called.

In walked Josh, wearing dark jeans and a dark green blazer, looking good as always. For once, they decided to eat in the restaurant, ordering good to Maddeline's office so they could eat without interruptions, especially because they had a contract to discuss. When they finished, Josh asked her to go with him to his office so she could sign the temporary contract.

As they reached building, long gone was the business talk and they had ventured into more intimate themes, joking about Josh having to introduce Nate formally to Maddeline, as if it were an introduction to the family.

Stepping outside the elevator, the two of them kept talking, too engrossed in the conversation to notice the group of people waiting standing in front of Josh's office door.

A loud scream and a pair of arms going around Maddeline's body made both of them finally pay attention to their surroundings.

"Pinkie! My pinkie! I missed you so much!" the screaming one said.

Nate stumbled against Maddeline, mumbling in her ear and smiling at Josh, blowing him a kiss with a mischievous look on his eyes.

"What are you doing here?" she asked as he let go of her and moved next to Josh.

"We have a meeting scheduled." He shrugged his shoulders, leaning against Josh's body.

Maddeline looked between the two men, pure terror showing on her face as she realized what that meant.

"Holy hell, I completely forgot." Josh groaned "I'm so sorry, I would have not brought you along if I had remembered." He pleaded his innocence as she started do breathe harder.

Two pairs of arms were thrown at her, giving her somewhat of a peaceful feeling at the awkward group hug, knowing exactly who was holding her close.

Gabe and Michael had not seen Maddeline in a very long time, and telling the truth, they missed he, she was like a crazy sister to them. Hugging her, after so long, felt, somehow, like being home.

"We missed you so, so much shortie." Michael was the one to break the silence as Gabe really didn't feel prepared to let go of her so soon.

"I missed you too" she admitted, pulling Gabe closer, wrapping her arms around his body in a bone crushing hug.

The constricting pain in her chest started to slowly fade away as the conversation with the boys picked p, Gabe never letting go completely of her, asking her how had she met Josh, what had she been doing lately, what happened to her hair...

New voices were heard behind them, moving closer by the second, and all of them could see the instantaneous change in Maddeline, they could visibly see how her body tensed and her breathing got harder, shallow even and she could not mutter a full sentence as an overwhelming feeling engulfed all of her, making her body and mind hostages.

The couple reached the group, who had gravitated towards Maddeline, creating somewhat of a human wall around her as they tried to break her off whatever trance she had lost herself into.

"Everything alright boys?" they heard Rebecca's overly sweet voice, as she tried to squeeze herself in between them so she could have a better look at Maddeline, but the boys were too worried to even answer, let alone let her pass.

As they kept calling and lightly tapping her to get some reaction, she regained some ability to talk and grabbed onto Josh's hand as her breathing eased enough for her to speak.

"Office. Now." She said, pulling him beside her as she turned her back to everyone and moved towards the room, ignoring the shocked look she received from Zach and the surprised one coming form Rebecca, too nervous to even spare a glance at any of them.

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Author's Note: I want to apologize for the delay, I got sick and couldn't even eat, let alone stare at a computer screen... Hope everyone had a great Christmas time and made the best out of it. 

If you liked it, don't forget to vote and comment and all that jazz, opinions are always welcomed.

Besitos,

Jessy.