Chapter 42

Madison

I gently placed the photo face-down again.

This was just business—an arrangement. Whatever past relationships he had weren’t my concern. Still, the image of his tender expression lingered in my mind.

“Focus, Madison,” I whispered to my reflection. The woman staring back looked like a stranger—all smoky eyes and red lips. The dress left nothing to the imagination, exactly how Alexander liked it.

I took a deep breath and stepped out of the closet. The penthouse was eerily quiet except for the faint hum of the city below. My bare feet made no sound on the marble floors as I went to the balcony.

The cool evening air hit my exposed skin, raising goosebumps along my arms. The city lights sparkled below, a dazzling carpet of stars brought down to earth. Even after all these visits, the view still took my breath away.

Alexander stood at the railing, his back to me. The city wind ruffled his hair, his shirt pulled tight across his shoulders