CHAPTER 33
Maddox had taken a detour–alone–to Milan while he was on another business trip in Europe. He didn’t want anyone to know because he was aware it was pathetic.
He told himself that he was only going there to see that Mila was okay for himself. She wasn’t near family or close friends. And despite assurances that she was settling in all right, Maddox still needed confirmation.
He waited on her street, watching where she lived. She was in a nice apartment, which made him feel somewhat better.
As he waited, a man and a woman came out of the building. The woman was definitely Mila. And the man…was Jackson Burke.
Jealousy and rage coursed through him. She was already dating someone else? And of all the men on the planet, she had to choose him? Jackson had lied to her and got her sacked from her old job. Not to mention, he readily chose his fiancée because of her wealth over Mila.
With his blood boiling, Maddox followed them and got a table in the same restaurant, asking to be seated in a different section. He knew spying on his former fiancée was probably beneath him, but he didn’t care.
As he watched, his phone rang. It was Jalen. “Where are you?” his brother demanded. “Your assistant said you just took off and wouldn’t tell him where you were going. I canceled important things to be here for that meeting you insisted I had to attend.”
“Your big, important things usually amount to dinner reservations. So stop whining. I’ll be there.” He kept his voice low in case it carried, and Mila heard him.
“That still doesn’t answer where you are right now. And why are you whispering?”
“It’s none of your business,” Maddox hissed.
After a moment, Jalen said, “You’re in Milan, aren’t you? Oh, brother. Why don’t you just admit you were wrong and fix things already?”
Maddox pressed his lips together. “Nothing’s that simple, Jalen, and you know it.”
“I’m going to argue that it is. You have resources.”
“What does that matter?” As he watched Mila laugh as she sat across from Jackson, he knew Jackson could offer the same things. Houses, jewelry, designer clothes…. And Jackson and Mila had been friends once.
“You can hunt down who’s responsible for the photos,” Jalen said.
Maddox sighed. “I think we all know it was Jeff and Tiffany.”
“Maybe. But you could at least prove that Mila was telling the truth. You know you’re not being fair.”
Maddox did know. Even if it took him a while to admit it. “She’s with Jackson.” He sounded more defeated than he thought he would. Mila and Jackson had history, even if it wasn’t all good.
“Huh…you know, I’m not sure that Danny’s children are the only ones who would benefit from setting Mila up like that.”
“If you’re talking about Jackson, he’s lost out on a very wealthy fiancée because of those photos.” Maddox had gotten confirmation that they’d broken up.
“And he’s one step closer now to a relationship with Mila–and Danny Shaw,” Jalen told him significantly. “If you ask me, it’s a win-win for Jackson. He gets a potentially lucrative business relationship and the woman he wants. If I were you, I’d investigate and squeeze that Parker twerp for information. Someone paid him to do all that.”
Maddox’s gears turned. Maybe his brother was right. But he still didn’t know how to handle it right now. He needed time to think.
He wasn’t sure Mila was innocent. But he didn’t want her to end up in a relationship of convenience either. He just had no idea how to prevent it.
Mila wasn’t sure going out with Jackson would work out. She thought–or maybe hoped–he would drive Maddox from her mind and heart.
But every time they talked or went out or even while she got ready to go out, Maddox flooded her thoughts.
Whenever she voiced these concerns, at least vaguely, Jackson repeated that there was no rush or pressure. Though he was obviously trying to persuade her.
After staying in Milan for weeks straight, Jackson was forced to leave to take care of business at home. She felt down about it but also relieved. However, he kept in touch, which didn’t give her time to forget about him.
After some time passed, Jackson finally convinced her to visit him in New York. He promised it wouldn’t be public and they would keep it low-key. She figured she should visit her mother anyway. So, Jackson arranged her flight and set her up in a fancy hotel.
As she entered the lobby after Jackson called and said he was waiting outside, she glimpsed Maddox coming inside.
Her breath caught in her lungs. He was in a suit and shook hands with someone who seemed to be waiting for him. Before Mila could slip out unnoticed, Maddox locked eyes with her.
Panic-stricken, Mila spun around and jogged back to where she came from. She’d make up some excuse to Jackson, but she had to get out of that lobby.
She repeatedly pressed the elevator button, hoping to make it appear faster. “Come on, come on,” she whispered as she bounced on her toes.
As the elevator finally arrived, Maddox appeared around the corner. The last thing she expected was for him to follow her.
Maddox stopped a few feet away and dug his hands in his pockets. “You don’t have to fear crossing paths,” he said casually. After taking a breath, he added, “I guess you’re here to see Jackson.”
Mila’s eyes went wide. But then she knew it wasn’t a surprise. Maddox made it his business to know these things.