MAD

~ Chapter 13 ~

 Maddeline threw her head back as she laughed, hitting Joel on the chest.

"Stop that, I'm trying to eat!" she said in-between laughs, tears rolling down her cheeks.

Larkin barked at the man, getting in between them so Joel couldn't get close to Maddeline.

"Smarties, your thing won't let me get close to you!" Joel whined, pouting and and letting himself fall down on a chair on the other side of the table.

"Leave my baby out of this. At least he let's me eat in peace." she shrugged with a sly smile, one hand caressing Larkin's fur as she brought her mug to her mouth with the other one. "Now eat 'cause we both have work to get to, we already missed yesterday and the day before." she raised her eyebrow, defying him to contradict her.

"Fine, but remember that, tonight, you are my date to that boring thing." he threw back, smirking as he took a bite of food.

After eating and grabbed their things, Maddeline and Joel were off for the day with a quick goodbye kiss and a promise to meet at her place to go to the ball.

The ball they were attending was an anual event hosted by Joel's father, who invited important business owners and some other important people, like the mayor and famous people.

For the first time, Maddeline was going to attend the ball, wich meant she was finally coming out as the face of her restaurants and discotheque, and she couldn't help but be scared of the consequences.

She had her day planed down to the second because of the ball. From the moment she had to finish eating lunch, to the time she had to be ready to leave the house.

Maddeline finished eating her lunch in her office and was getting ready to leave for the hair saloon when Josh barged in as if he owned the place.

"Hello gorgeous!" he exclaimed, hugging her tightly.

"Hello Josh. What do I owe the pleasure of this unannounced visit?" she asked, as she stepped out of his hug and kept putting her things into her purse to leave.

"Oh, I just missed you." he lied, poorly. "What are you doing? Are you leaving already?" he asked, blocking her way to the door.

"Actually yes. I have plans for today." Madeline shrugged, trying to side stepping him.

"But I need your help!" Josh whined, grabbing Maddeline by the shoulders.

"Josh, I'm kind of in a schedule today, can you come back tomorrow and we'll talk?" she asked, trying to free herself from his hold.

"Maddeline, listen to me! I need your help. Today." he said, grabbing her hands so she would stop hitting him.

"Josh, you have exactly two minutes to talk or I'll be late and I'll be in deep shit." she breathed. "Talk." she commanded.

"I need you to be my date to the Dawson ball." he said in one sitting, looking at her hopefully.

"I can't." she said, firmly.

"Maddeline, I am begging you to be my date for the most important event of the year! You can't abandon me!" he pleaded, pulling her closer to him and looking at her with crying eyes.

"Josh, breathed." Maddeline said calmly. "I'm going with Joel."

Josh stared at her in shock, unable to speak for a few seconds, he just stood there, holding Maddeline and opening and closing his mouth.

"Joel Dawson?" he asked.

"Yes."

"Maddeline, are you crazy?" he raised his voice, shacking her slowly.

"No." she breathed out, getting out of his hold. "I'm dating him." she admitted.

"You're dating fucking Joel Dawson. Son of Kyle Dawson. Heir of Dawson Hotels and Resorts?" he rambled. "That man hates you guts!"

Maddeline laughed, full heartily, making Josh look at her as if she had just grew another head.

"I'm aware of that, but I don't really care about Kyle." she shrugged. "I like Joel, like I haven't liked anyone in a long time."

Josh looked down at her, seeing the small smile that appeared on her lips and the light blush on her cheeks.

"Holy fuck, you like someone, you finally like someone!" she exclaimed, shock and happiness clearly coming across.

"Yes, I do, and we're going together to the ball." her smile grew even bigger. "That is, if you ever let me go to the hair saloon."

Josh laughed and let go of her, stepping aside and opening the door for her.

"You better look like a fucking queen, now that you're not going to have me by your side to blind them peasants." he said, pushing out the door, feeling truly happy that Maddeline had finally found someone she liked enough to dare and have a relationship with.

Maddeline thanked him and kissed his cheek before skipping away towards the back of the building, going to her car.

After getting her hair done, she quickly drove herself home and took a quick shower before doing her makeup.

By the time Joel knocked on her door, Maddeline had her gown on, dragging behind her as she still held her heels on one hand and her phone on the other one.

"Don't you look absolutely stunning..." Joel trailed, pulling her close by the wrist and reaching down to kiss her, making Madeline turn her face and having his lips crash on her cheek.

"No kissing until after the event." she mumbled. "Now help me get these shoes on so we can go."

"Oh come on Smarties, one kiss!" he whined as he got down on one knee and helped her put her shoes on.

After getting back on his feet he pulled her close to him again, running his hand up her arm until he reached her neck and let it rest there, tilting her head back slightly so she was looking directly at him.

"One kiss, and that's it." she mumbled, lips touching his as she spoke.

Joel leaned down, closing the distance between their lips, kissing her with all emotion he could muster.

"Fuck I missed you." he said against her lips.

"I missed you too." she sighed, resting her head on his chest. "Now we need to get going or your father will hate me even more." she said, pulling him out of her apartment behind her and going straight to his car.

"My dad doesn't hate you." he said, opening her door.

"Yeah, and my purple hair was natural." she snorted as he closed the door, going around the car and entered to the drivers seat.

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Author's Note: Hope you all have a good week! 

Besitos,

Jessy.