Valentine's Day

Chapter 24

"Do you have the paperwork for the Aesbus company?" Liza asked but Maddie's head was in the clouds. "Maddie...woohoo...Maddie...MADISON."

The sound of her full caught her attention "What?"

Liza shook her head. "Are you listening to me?"

"No," Maddie answered honestly. "What?

"Aesbus...their paperwork...they are coming in for their passes and itineraries within the hour," Liza said sorting through envelopes.

"Sorry," Maddie said clearing her thoughts of a certain handsome guitar player. She sorted through the large white envelopes in front of her and pulled the one Liza needed "Here."

Liza took it from her and shook her head. "What's up with you? You've been a space cadet all day."

"What can I say?" Maddie shrugged knowing full well that she was going to give Liza details of her time with Brian. "I'm a total mess."

"I'll say..." Liza agreed sorting through Maddie's work. "Albertson's paperwork is in the wrong place...what the hell Mads?"

"I'm sorry," Maddie sighed and lowered her voice looking around for her stepfather. "I had sex with Brian."

Liza's eyes widened and she dropped the papers she was holding. "You did what?" she hissed in a low hoarse voice. "You slept with him?"

"Well sort of," Maddie replied. "I mean I couldn't really go...all the way but I went...halfway...sorta."

"That explains A LOT about you today," Liza replied with a slight grin crossing her face. "But I'm guessing since we're whispering that Larry doesn't even know that you two are seeing each other." She took two more folders from the stack and began looking at the paper work.

"Not exactly," Maddie admitted "My mom does though. She caught Brian sneaking out like a thief in the night this morning."

Liza's eyes widened before she started laughing. "I'm sure Christine already picked out the grandkids names too."

"Exactly," Maddie said. "And it will only be a matter of time till she tells Larry."

"Why don't you just tell Larry?" came the logical question.

"Because he warned me about getting involved with Brian. He's afraid Brian's baggage is way too much for me to handle. And what if it doesn't work out? Then Larry and Brian's relationship gets messed up," Maddie frowned. "It'll be all my fault."

"But what if it works out?" Liza asked. "You said he liked you."

"Likes being the opportune word," Maddie pointed out. "A lot of women like him. He's like a babe magnet."

"You're more than a babe," Liza said firmly.

"I appreciate that but it'll just be a matter of time before he gets bored and moves on."

"Wow," Liza shook her head "Mason really did a number on you, didn't he? You're being so negative."

"I'm not being negative, I'm being a realist," Maddie said. "So I'm just going to enjoy it while it lasts, before you ask."

"Does that mean that you'll enjoy the golf tournament this weekend where you'll both happen to be at?" Liza said waggling her eyebrows.

"Oh yeah..I'm sure I'll have plenty of time while I'm helping set up and he's playing golf with his buddies," Maddie said. 

"You never know," Liza replied.

"I guess so...we'll see," Maddie replied turning her attention back to her stacks of paper.

"Liza!" Tes stormed into the office breathlessly "Valary Sanders is here to pick up her husband's packet for the tournament. She's supposed to pick up Gates and Vengeance's info too."

"Geez Tes, chill out," Liza said taking the packets from the stack in front of her. "I've got it right here."

"I'll take it," Maddie offered grabbing the envelopes from her friend's hand and standing. "I need to stretch my legs anyway."

"She's in the reception area," Tes said as she followed behind Maddie.

"Cool," Maddie said hoping to make some positive headway with the icy blond. But when she made it to the front of the office, she noticed the two identical women standing in front of her. One was the platinum blond Valary Sanders and the other was none other than her twin, the former Mrs. Michelle Haner.

Both were dressed stylishly and in heels that would make Maddie have shin splints after only an hour. Val's hair was pulled into a french twist at her neck but her sister's blondish pink hair was pulled beautifully into a high ponytail. Both women made Maddie feel like a potato sack.

If Brian cheated on this divine, elegant creature, then Maddie knew right then, she didn't stand a chance. 

"Hey...Val," Maddie said feigning happiness "It's good to see you."

Val lifted a perfectly groomed eyebrow. "I forgot you worked here," she replied. "Michelle, this is Maddie. I told you about her...she was Brian's date the other night." Then she settled on a tiny grin that let Maddie knew that she'd arranged for this exact scenario to take place.

Michelle for her part seemed confused but recovered with a genuine smile. She held her hand out and Maddie shook it. "I'm Michelle Dibenedetto. It's nice to meet you."

"I'm Madison Parker," Maddie said more confidently than she felt. "It's nice to meet you too. I've heard so much about you."

Michelle frowned, feigning horror. "Eek...I can only imagine what Brian has said about me."

"Oh no," Maddie shook her head as she took a side glance at Val who was enjoying the scene. "All good things. Brian is very fond of you."

"Brian is fond of every female he comes in contact with," Michelle laughed and then caught herself. "But I'm sure...I mean...who knows...maybe after everything he's been through..maybe it was shock value enough to change."

"Doubtful," Val scoffed.

Maddie turned her smirk toward her "Weren't you just trying to set him up with a friend of yours? Seems to me like you wouldn't do that if you thought that he was a bad bet."

Michelle's eyes widened at the information and an Oh really look settled on her face. 

"Well I didn't get the chance, did I because he was already dating you," Val scoffed as her dark eyes narrowed.

"Chill out, Val," Michelle said dismissively "I don't care either way. Brian is a free man. I'm a free woman. He can date whoever he wants." She turned to Maddie. "I'm serious. I shouldn't have said what I said about him. I don't know if he's changed. I didn't stay around long enough to find out. We just couldn't make it work."

"I understand," Maddie said evenly. "We're really just friends anyway." She took a deep breath before continuing. "All the paper work and check in times for the tournament and villa are there. We set them up in one of the bigger ones based on Matt's guest list. If they have any questions, they can give us a call here at the office." She held the envelope out to Val who continued to sneer but her sister kindly accepted it. 

"Thank you," Michelle replied. "We'll have them call you if they need anything."

Maddie watched as Michelle grabbed her sister's hand and coaxed her out of the office.  She knew next time she saw Val it wouldn't be pretty. And what if Michelle was right. What if Brian's affection was all a well scripted act...one he'd used on any number of females.

Maybe Larry was right.

Maybe it wasn't worth the baggage.