Chapter 261

Madison

The weight of Alexander’s gaze felt almost physical as he held my eyes with his. “Good,” he said, the single word carrying more meaning than it should have.

I broke eye contact first, taking another sip of whiskey to hide my sudden nervousness. The amber liquid burned pleasantly down my throat, warming me from the inside.

“So, what now?” I asked, setting my glass down on the coffee table.

Alexander leaned back in his chair, loosening his tie further. “Now we get some sleep. It’s been a long day, and tomorrow we head back to New York.”

“To deal with Vanessa,” I added.

“To deal with Vanessa,” he confirmed, his voice hardening slightly at her name.

I stood up, stretching my arms above my head. “I’m exhausted. Between the sightseeing and international conspiracies, London has really taken it out of me.”

Alexander’s lips quirked up. “Not exactly the relaxing getaway I promised.”

“I don’t know,” I shrugged, moving toward