Chapter 65
I was freaking out. What the hell was wrong with him? What did he mean by keep bring his lady!
“Quinn, we’re divorced,” I said quietly, trying to keep my cont. “We only have a professional relationship now. Please respect that”
He had kicked hana out and sent her back to Nordia. Now that he was alone, he wanted me to move back in? What did he think I was, his backup
“So, who is it?” Quinn asked, his tone suddenly ice and. “Aiden or York?”
“You’re insane?” I snapped, the anger finally bubbling over. I stared at him, fed up. “Since we divorced, I don’t belong to you anymore. Do you dumping me that much!”
To him. I was just some “useless” person.
Thad given him everything in the past, and now, even after we split, he expected me to
u regret
It was like we were a tangled mess of strings that couldn’t be untangled. I finally cut the knot, and I wasn’t about to get tied up in it again.
Maybe 1 hit a nerve with what Tsaid. Quinn didn’t respond right away, just stared at me for a long moment before turning back to his desk.
Thanks for saving me that day,” said quietly, watching him by the window, I hesitated, then added, “You should really take care of that wound on your forehead. Till leave a scar?
Then, I turned and left his office. Later, as I was sorting through some paperwork, Raelynn came by with some coffee and asked. “My Hinton, are
you free after work!
“I’m free What’s up?” I asked.
Kaclynn’s face lit up. “Let’s go to a karaoke bar!”
I was a little shocked. I could count on one hand the number of times I had been to a karaoke bar
Tm tone–deal and not really into loud places. Forget it.” I said, smiling and turning her dopen.
Raclynn’s face fell, and I could tell she was holding something back, so I asked, “What’s going on?”
“The Dazzling Project’s team is doing a get–together today. We all agreed to go to the karaoke bar. Mr. Bird just texted us an invite,” she explained. After a beat, she added, “I want to go, but it feels weird going alone.”
Jamirked. “So you want to go to hang out, or are you more interested in Mr. Bird?”
Kalyan’s checks turned p
pink, and she didn’t try to hide it. “Why not both? Don’t you want to help me get out of singlehood!”
Ah, so she needed a wingman. “Alright, alright, I’ll go with you,” I said, giving in
1 had seen Jess around, and he seemed like a decent guy. He definitely had a thing for Harlynn. If they hit it off, they would be perfect for each
or that night, we headed to Majestic Karaoke Bar. In the private room, everyone was drinking and having fun.
Jess picked a song, but he struggled with the high notes Raelynn quickly grabbed the second me and jumped in to help.
by the end of the song, they both shared a sleepish grin, but anyone could tell they had a good connection
1 pulled them into a dice game to keep things going. A few drinks later, I started feeling a little off, so I headed to the washroom.
When I came bark, I realized I had walked into the wrong room. The song was still playing, but no one was singing. Instead, a couple of tattooed
H
There were two mittars on the table—one full of cath, the other with a box of medicine bottles. As soon as I stepped in, all their eyes turned to
“Who air your” one of the scar–faced inen asked, his tone sharp and suspicious. My head spin, and I caught a glimpse of a folded dagger in his
“Sorry” Wrong round” I blurted, slamning the door shut and backing away, my heart pounding like a drum.
Helt like I had stumdded into something shady, probably illegal. I didn’t stick around to find out. Practically jogging back to our private room, 1 kejt glanting over any shoulder.
“Mi Hinton, why are you out of huratır” Karlynn asked, nothing my shaky state.
1/2
12:08 PM c
Chapter 65
nothing happened and no one followed me, I finally let out a long sigh of
I stared at the door, half–expecting someone to burst through.
rough. When nothing h
relief.
“Nothing. I just had a little too much to drink, I lied with a shaky smile. I grabbed my bag, desperate to get out of there. “You guys keep having fun. I’m heading home to sleep”
I caught a cab back to my apartment, my nerves finally settling as the familiar streets blurred past the windows. By the time I stepped into the elevator, I felt safe again, or so I thought.
Inside my apartment, as I reached for the lights, my foot hit something hard, sending it flattering.
“Ah!” I yelped, jumping back in shock.
Before I could figure out what it was, a pair of arms wrapped around me from behind. I froze, every hair on my body standing on end, as a rough, familiar voice murmured, “Natalia ….”
Quinn!! I scrambled to turn on the light, twisting around to face him. There he was, completely drunk, leaning on me like a dead weight.
“What the hell Quinn!” I snapped. “Why are you in my house?”
His sudden appearance nearly gave me a heart attack
He was so drunk he couldn’t even stand properly, stumbling as he reached for me. I instinctively took a step back. His body leaned to one side, and it looked like he was about to fall
frame.
With no choice, I rushed forward to support him. Quinn collapsed against me, and I struggled to hold up his tall fr
Dragging him to the couch was like trying to carry a sack of bricks. “Come on, help me out here!” I muttered, struggling to keep him upright as we finally collapsed onto the sofa.
Looking at Quinn sprawled out on my couch, completely passed out, I let out a heavy sigh and grabbed my phone to dial Finn. “Hello? Mr. Madden is at my place, completely wasted. Can you come pick him up?”
“Ms. Hinton, I’m so sorry, but I’m out of town on business, Finn replied, sounding genuinely apologetic.
I groaned inwardly. “Then call one of the other assistants. Someone needs to handle this.”
There were at least ten assistants in Quinn’s office. Surely, one of them could come and get him.
Finn
paused, and I could almost hear him thinking. “That might not be the best idea. If word gets out that Mr. Madden was drunk at his ex–wife late at night, it could harm his image, and yours”
I blinked, caught off guard. He wasn’t wrong. The last thing I needed was some nosy reporter spinning this in
into a soap opera,
Finn cleared his throat. “I hate to trouble you, Ms. Hinton, but could you let Mr. Madden stay the night I’ll arrange for someone to pick him up first thing in the morning”
Before I could argue, the line went dead.
Fine. He could crash on the couch. With a huff, I grabbed a blanket from my bedroom and draped it over him.
He was fast asleep, his usually sharp, intimidating face looking soft. Almost innocent.
I caught myself staring “Cute doesn’t excuse drunk and dramatic, I mumbled, shaking my head. “You better be out of here by mening
Yawning. I turned and started toward my room, ready to collapse into bed
Just as I was about to leave, his hand shot out, gripping my wrist. Before I could react, I was pulled backward into the warmth of his chest, firm and unyielding
