I looked up at him, keeping an even expression. “He offered me a job at his company,” I replied. It still sounded crazy when I said it aloud. It just showed how wicked Brandon could be. He would go through any lengths to weaken Tyler, even offering me a bunch of money and a job.
“He what?” Tyler hissed, his jaw tightening to its max.
“He’s just trying to piss you off. Don’t let him,” I said. It wasn’t worth getting angry over. Brandon had found a soft spot to hit, but Tyler couldn’t show how much it affected him.
Tyler scoffed and shook his head, obviously trying not to explode right then and there. If he cared slightly less about the people all around him, he would’ve given in to his anger.
“He actually approached you and offered you a job,” he muttered beneath his breath. He breathed in deeply through his nose before placing his hand on my back and leaning close to my ear. “Follow me.”
With wide eyes, I watched Tyler turn and head out of the ballroom. He didn’t even wait to see if I was following him or not. I didn’t know what was going on, but I felt like it was in my best interest to follow his order without question.
Chapter 16
Tyler
It took everything in me not to hunt Brandon down and knock him out for even approaching Madison. Just thinking about him sidling up to her with that charming grin of his made my fists automatically tighten. The only thing that was keeping me from not turning around was Madison and my reputation. I couldn’t beat Brandon down in the middle of a business conference. Questions would be asked. Connections would be made once people figured out what Brandon did right before I knocked him into the ground.
Madison was a gifted student and a hard worker. Any company would be lucky to have her. I was lucky to have her as an intern for my own company. The last place that I wanted her to work was at my competitor’s company. Ashland Consulting would be even worse off than it already was.
Maybe I was being selfish. Hell, I was being selfish. I didn’t want the girl that made my heart race to be anywhere near Brandon Krouse. He was sneaky and manipulative. He actually dangled a job opportunity over her head just to piss me off. It showed how little he cared about her and her talents, which made me want to punch his teeth down his throat even more.
“Tyler! Where are we going?” Madison whispered shrilly from behind me as she followed me out of the ballroom and down a quiet hallway that led deeper into the hotel.
I didn’t slow my pace. She would catch up. It took everything in me not to grab her hand and drag her along faster. All I knew was that I needed to get us in an empty room away from everyone else. When a conference room showed up ahead, I shoved the door open and strode into the dark room.
“I don’t think we’re supposed to be in here,” Madison said once she walked inside.
I reached past her head to push the door closed, cloaking us in darkness. I didn’t care, though. I didn’t need my sight. I just wanted to feel her. Without hesitance, I grabbed her hips and pushed her up against the door, muffling her surprised gasp with my lips. Her shocked sounds soon turned into pleased ones.
Madison wrapped her arms around my neck, leaning her perfect body against me as I caressed it in my hands. Her lips felt pillowy soft, gliding, and drifting against mine. Her fingers danced up the back of my neck, teasing at my hair.
I dug my fingertips into her waist, holding tighter than usual. I didn’t want to take my hands off her, especially since Brandon was lurking around and acting like he had any right to come within a hundred feet of Madison. The thought of him even coming close to her made my jaw tighten as I pushed my hands up her shirt.
“Ty…” Madison gasped into my mouth as she arched her back up into my hands, letting me caress her breasts through the lace material of her red bra. “What’s wrong?”
I pushed my hand into her hair, twisting the soft strands around my fingertips. My frustration with Brandon still boiled under my skin. I supposed that I was showing how I felt in my actions.
“Brandon’s fucking nerve,” I replied. It was normal for Brandon to get under my skin since he was trying to steal all of my clients. However, when it came to Madison, Brandon’s actions pissed me off even more.
“He just wanted a reaction from you,” Madison said.
“Yeah, he’ll get one,” I told her before grabbing the back of her thighs and hoisting her up. When her legs wrapped around my waist, I stepped through the darkness until one of my hands felt the smooth surface of a conference table. I placed her on the edge, slipping between her legs and never wanting to leave that position.