“Madison!”
She turned at the sound of Riley calling her name. “Hi!” She hugged her friend, then pulled back to look her over. “You look fantastic. So much better than last time I saw you.”
Riley grinned. “That’s because I’m not nauseous anymore, so I’m not green around the gills. And the cravings have started, not to mention, I’m eating for two.” She laughed. “My curves are back and then some.”
“But you’re happy and I’m so glad.”
“I really am. Are you?”
Before Madison could answer, Ian strode into the room, and the atmosphere changed from people chattering to silence. The man commanded respect, that was for sure.
Except from his wife, who rolled her eyes and pinned Madison with an intense stare. “I’m waiting for an answer.”
“I’m fine.” She gripped her folders tighter in her hand. “I should go sit,” she murmured.
Alex hadn’t arrived, and she chose a chair in the conference room next to Derek Fine, the head of the Fine PR Firm, with whom she’d had dinner last night. Riley sat beside her, obviously intending to continue her inquisition.
The room began to fill up. Alex walked in last, wearing black slacks and a white button-down shirt. Unlike Ian, he eschewed a tie, but he was every inch professional—except he looked as if he hadn’t slept, his eyes bloodshot and his mouth drawn tight. Something was wrong. She just had no idea what. And her gut told her things were about to get even dicier.
“Madison, are you ready to begin?” Ian asked from the head of the table.
She nodded. Hands folded in front of her, she spoke. “In addition to the program we intend to institute, Ian has spoken of taking this campaign nationwide. With the right angle, we can protect the players and institute more safety measures than exist so far. We can also encourage all teams in all contact sports to educate their players for the future. To further this endeavor, the Fine PR Firm has a presentation for us to consider. I’ve seen the concept, and it’s brave and edgy,” she said, not meeting Alex’s steady gaze, although she felt his focus as if it were a tangible touch.
Whatever had triggered his mood last night, she needed to be at her best right now. Her personal life would have to wait.
* * *
Alex watched Madison with pride as she addressed the people in the room. She was masterful, holding everyone’s attention. And he was such an ass, to have ignored her in favor of whiskey last night and a hangover this morning.
At the time, he’d thought he’d had his reasons for needing time alone. This morning, he regretted his selfish actions. He was well aware that Madison was still waiting for him to screw up in some way. And he had. Royally.
She wouldn’t look at him, not that he blamed her. And though he’d gotten here early enough to talk to her in their office, it had never dawned on him that she’d avoid him there and come straight to the conference room instead. He had to give her credit, she was impressive in anything she did, and as she primed the room for whatever was to come, he couldn’t tear his gaze away.
A cream-colored suit with a deep vee and matching camisole drew his attention to her full br**sts. Though they were well covered, he knew exactly what those mounds looked like, how her ni**les puckered when aroused, and the jacket molded perfectly to her curves. Her blue eyes flashed with passion as she spoke. Because he’d been the recipient of that fire firsthand, watching her now aroused his baser instincts, making him itch to haul her into their private office and grovel. On his knees, hands sliding beneath her skirt and begging her forgiveness in the one way he knew she couldn’t resist.
“And so I’d like to introduce Derek Fine,” Madison said, and applause broke out around the table, drawing Alex’s attention to more appropriate subjects. But that didn’t stop his body from pulsing with need.
The man she’d introduced rose and walked to the front of the room. One of his associates dimmed the lights, and Fine gestured to the wall on which now flashed a PowerPoint presentation. With his mouth like cotton and his head pounding, Alex knew he wasn’t paying nearly enough attention, but he’d just have to catch up later. He covered a yawn and tried harder to focus.
“The idea is to bring focus and attention to the problem, and who better than the man who is spearheading the effort? We suggest a national campaign at football stadiums, bus stops, and television spots. Like this.”
Alex stared in shock as his prone body flashed across the wall seconds after his career-ending hit. Each successive screen, in time to the sound of a camera shutter click, showed the succession of what had happened next, from coaches bending over him to paramedics arriving to the ultimate humiliation, his body on the stretcher, neck stabilizer holding his head in place as he was carried off the field for the final time. The words PROTECT, EDUCATE, and SUCCEED flashed beneath, ending with Alex in a suit and tie, the Thunder Dome superimposed behind him.
“What the f**k?” He swung his head away from the presentation to Madison, who thankfully had decided to look his way.
She stared back at him, unwavering. “It’s brilliant, Alex. Overcoming tragedy with triumph. You’d be showing all players what’s possible.”
“No way. I took this as a behind-the-scenes job. I’m not going to be the goddamned poster boy for the campaign so the rest of the league can view me as weak.”
“That’s not the plan,” Madison said patiently.
As if he were the freaking idiot they’d just showed on the screen. “I said no. It’s not happening.” He rose to his feet, the mild headache he’d nursed all morning suddenly full-blown. “I should’ve been consulted before this shit was presented,” he muttered and started for the door.
“Alex—” Ian rose to block his way.
“Step aside,” he warned his half brother.
Ian met his gaze. He must have seen something in Alex’s expression that had him moving away from the door. “This discussion isn’t over,” he said under his breath.
“The hell it isn’t.” Alex stormed out of the room and headed for his office, where he could grab his car keys and get the hell out of here.
* * *
Madison watched Alex storm out of the room in complete and utter shock. When she’d gauged his reaction ahead of time, she’d thought maybe he’d balk. Argue. Offer resistance until they explained why this was such a good idea. Instead, he’d marched out without discussion.