Chapter 18 Maddox : " What are you doing here ? " I asked Kate , too stunned to soften my tone . She chuckled . " Tiffany invited me ." I glanced to the side for a moment . Of course it was Tiffany . " I thought this was a family gathering , " I said bluntly . 77 55 vouchers She placed her fingertips over her red lips as she came closer to me . " You say the funniest things . Tiffany said it would be nice to have close friends around since they're considered family . Anyway , you haven't been picking my calls or replying to my texts ." She placed her hand on my shoulder and I began to look around just to see if anyone was watching , but it was just the two of us . " Relax . " Her tone was low and flirtatious . I'm not trying to stir anything , at least not for now . You and I have all the time in the world and we need to ... catch up . " She ran her hand halfway down my chest , then took a few steps back and made her way to the garden to join everyone else . Just as I processed that moment , I heard a familiar voice behind me . " You made it ." I turned and looked at my father . He was always dressed like he just came from a board meeting even when he was home . " Dad ." I kept it brief . My tone wasn't cold , but it wasn't warm either . He took a few steps forward like he wanted to do more , maybe place his hand on my shoulder or something but instead , he just nodded . " I saw the company's report . Good job ," he said with a blank expression . I only gave a light nod . Most of our chats usually involved business , but a moment for something different had presented itself . " I didn't know Kate was on the guest list , " I said . " Me neither , but your mother was so excited when she arrived ." I balled my hand into a fist at how he addressed her . " Your mother has been planning this all week ." He gestured towards the other direction . " We'll be having lunch in the garden ." 7:25 Tue , Sep 16 Chapter 18 Just when I was about to tell him that I already knew that , Margot's voice interrupted . 77 E55 vouchers " It's a shame Grayson's parents couldn't make it even though they were looking forward to this . Well , there's always a next time . Now that everyone's here , why don't we take our seats in the garden ? Come along , boys . " She smiled at me as she wrapped her arm around him without hesitation , like it was some happy family gathering . I followed behind the two of them , already counting down to when it would come to an end . Even though I was home , I didn't want to be there . When I made it to the long dining table and took my seat , Kate , who was having a chat with Tiffany , took her seat right next to mine on my left , Grayson settling down on my right . Under the table , she slid her hand on my thigh and my breath hitched a little as I looked over at her . I played this game with her once but I was the one in control . That was the fun part for me , not that . So I looked away from her and pushed her hand off of me . She didn't back down , slowly teasing me with her hand again on my thigh , but this time , I didn't even look at her and focused on the food . Eventually , she withdrew , dropping her hand with a flicker of annoyance . Across the table , Margot sipped her wine and looked over at me with a polished smile . " So , Maddox , " she began , her tone pleasant but that didn't reflect in her eyes , " how's the company doing under your management ? " " It's doing well . " My voice was smooth and I didn't stop eating . " The quarterly growth is up and it's about to get better with the recent two major deals ." She hummed , like she was unimpressed . " That's nice to hear . Though I keep wondering how much more progress you'd be making if you let people help you . And that's someone like Tiffany or even ... myself . " There it was , the bitterness masked as friendly advice . I paused with the fork in my hand , looking up at her . If only I could see Tiffany's face . I was certain she would have been in agreement with her mother . " The board made their choice ," I said . Margot smiled , her eyes getting narrower . " Our son is right , honey , " my father chimed in . " Let him do his job . He still has a long way to go , but he's thriving ." She took another sip , tilting her head like she wasn't convinced . " It's just that I believe he can do better with- " " And I believe ," I said calmly , meeting her cold gaze , " that I know how to run my company . " She chuckled bitterly , " Fine ." 7:25 Tue , Sep 16 Chapter 18 I glanced at my father and he gave me a nod . It wasn't affectionate but approving . 77 55 vouchers Everyone focused on their food in silence but soon , her annoying voice cut through the air after she put down her wine glass and looked towards Tiffany with a smile . " I saw the post you made , sweetie . That was clever . Harper needed to be humbled after what she did to you . I actually thought you were just too calm about it but when you told me you were waiting for the right moment , I should have known it was going to be this good . " My father's eyes lifted from his plate with a sharp look at Margot . " Are you listening to yourself ? " He shook his head in disbelief . She raised a hand , unbothered by how my father wasn't in agreement with her . " I'm just saying that Harper should have thought twice before laying her filthy hand on my daughter . Come on , everyone here knows that actions have consequences . " I thought about it and paused with the food in my mouth . I still had the expectation that she would handle it and I wondered when and how . She hadn't done anything so far . " Tiffany , " my father said , his expression unreadable . " Did you really think this was the best way to deal with this ? " She blinked rapidly . " Well ... yeah ." He sighed with an effort . " This was foolish of you ." Margot gasped . " Honey- " " Not a word from you , " he warned her . " You obviously wanted to humiliate Harper , but everyone has seen that by now and that includes potential business clients and partners for you . Do you think they'll want to work with you after this ? " " Honey , " Margot chimed in , " our daughter's private life has nothing to do with- " " And that's where you're getting it wrong ," he cut her off with a glance . " It's just like you said , actions have consequences . Tiffany , as your father , I'm extremely disappointed in you . " Tiffany didn't even get the chance to speak as Kate beat her to it after leaning forward to look around the table . " You're all pointing fingers , but maybe the one person you should be mad at is Maddox . He's the one who started this when he couldn't keep it in his pants . Harper's cheap and she knew what she was doing when she threw herself at him . " " Watch your mouth . " Grayson said beside me , his tone sharp . Kate scoffed . " What ? I'm just being honest . " " Grayson , dear ," Margot said to him , her eyes narrowed just enough to show her real feelings . " I can tell that 7:25 Tue , Sep 16 Chapter 18 : 77 E55 vouchers you still have a soft spot for Harper , but how dare you sit at this table and defend her ? She ruined so many of dates with Tiffany . Now she's coming after my son like he's the next gold mine and we're supposed to say nothing about it ? She's just like her slutty sister ! " your My grip on the wine glass tightened a little the moment Margot referred to me as her son . The cutlery on the table clanked rapidly and my gaze shifted to it . It was actually Grayson's hand , holding a fork so tightly that his knuckles turned white . I looked up at his side profile and spotted how clenched his jaw was . Tiffany was the one who had done more than just mention Anna , but he seemed more upset with Margot . " I know I keep saying this , but this time , I mean it . That's enough , " my father said , his tone now commanding . " We didn't come here to talk about any of this nonsense ." He turned to Tiffany and smiled . " Why don't you and Grayson tell us about the honeymoon ? How was Greece ? " Tiffany's eyes lit up like she had been waiting for that moment . She went on and on about the expensive dinners , spa treatments and the hotel they stayed in . I barely looked in her direction , too focused on subtly watching Grayson next to me . He forced a smile , nodded a few times and added a few words here and there , but it was all just for show . Not once did his eyes light up . His posture was now stiff and he barely touched his food . I couldn't help but wonder if it was still because of Harper . My thoughts were interrupted when Kate slid her hand on my thigh again . I glanced at her as I pushed it off and she pouted at the rejection , but I didn't care . I looked back at Grayson , wishing I could get inside his head . Grayson I needed a damn minute to breathe without anyone around me . I was able to get away from everyone else and found myself by the corner near the garden . I leaned against the wall and let my head fall back with my eyes shut but no matter how hard I tried , I couldn't stop thinking about it . Hearing my mother - in - law and Kate rip Harper apart like that left my heart pounding and I didn't know if I was more mad at them or myself about the way I felt . They weren't the first , but that was why I just wanted to be alone . The thought of Harper even seeing my reaction in such a situation made me want to punch the wall in front of me . Had I been back at my residence , maybe I would have done it . I sensed movement in my peripheral vision and turned my head slightly and spotted Tiffany and Kate , as if they wanted to be as far away from everyone as possible while they had a moment alone . They were whispering like teenagers . Tiffany looked beautiful , she always did . She had the kind of beauty that made heads turn when she walked into a room . But for a few seconds , my eyes drifted to Kate . Her dress clung to her body like a second skin . She looked 7:25 Tue , Sep 16 Chapter 18 sexier that day compared to most days and it was for one purpose only . 77 55 vouchers They both spotted me and Tiffany came over for a second , her heels clicking softly against the tile as she approached me . " Babe , " she said , smoothing the sides of her dress . " I'll be right back . " My forehead creased . " Where are you going ? " She came closer and lowered her voice , her gaze shifting towards Kate , who was pretending not to look our way . " I'm just encouraging Kate to get to work ." " Work ? " I raised an eyebrow . She smiled with satisfaction . " She needs to win over Maddox and grab his full attention . She hasn't succeeded so far , at least not in the way we want . " I was a little amused but shook my head . " You do realize that there are other girls in his life , right ? " She shrugged like it wasn't a big deal . " That doesn't change anything . Kate and Maddox are actually a good fit . She knows how to play the game and he needs someone like that . The others won't stand a chance when my best friend wins him over completely . " I didn't even say much but nodded in agreement with her . Kate had known Maddox for years and knew exactly how to handle him , but in the end , it didn't matter if it was going to be her or someone else who would end up with him , as long as it wasn't Harper . If Tiffany wanted to play matchmaker , she was only doing me a favor . My hope was that by the time we were leaving the Aldridge estate , Kate would have him wrapped around her finger . C Discover our latest featured short drama reel. Watch now and enjoy the story!