Love and War with the Billionaire

CHAPTER 8

When Maddox kissed her, he had no game plan whatsoever. Mila wasn’t someone he could romance or charm, so there really was no point to it. So, he wasn’t sure what possessed him to go for it. But like he said, it was worth a shot.

He hadn’t seen Mila’s kiss coming though. Not in his wildest dreams. So either she lied about her feelings for Jackson or reacted for the same unclear reason that he did.

Not that he was complaining. Even if he did earn another slap. He wasn’t one to avoid risk.

He didn’t see Mila again before he left New York and that was probably just as well. He had a feeling she would make herself scarce now that the wedding was over. Though truthfully, she could handle her own in this environment.

So, Maddox returned home to San Francisco. The next morning, he paid his brother, Jalen, a visit. Juliet waved from her spot at the kitchen island in front of her laptop as he wandered inside.

Sometimes when he saw Juliet, he had sharp memories of hitting on her when she worked for Sunny Hotels. And memories of feeling more than happy to do so at the time. He was trying to block it out.

Jalen meandered out from the connecting hallway in a sweatshirt and pajama pants and bypassed Maddox for the coffee pot. “How was the wedding?” Jalen asked through a massive yawn.

Maddox shrugged, his mind flipping to the part where he kissed Mila. And then when she kissed him back. “It was a wedding. Danny is thrilled. His new wife even more so.” Danny’s children put on a good show of being happy for him. But other than for Savannah, he rather doubted it was sincere.

“And the daughter?” Jalen held up the coffee pot and Maddox nodded. He could always use caffeine.

“You were right. I don’t think she cares.” Maddox still noted the way Mila carried herself compared to the gala where they first met. She had adapted to society life pretty quickly.

Jalen smiled as he poured. “Should I tell him, Juliet?”

Juliet didn’t even glance up. “It’s only a rumor, love.”

“I know.” Jalen leaned back on the counter.

“What is it now?” They’d already heard Mila slapped him in Hawaii, so it couldn’t be that.

“I guess some people think you two are in a secret relationship. There’s a rumor going around that someone saw you two together during the wedding. Kissing nonetheless.” Jalen said it as if it was ludicrous.

Maddox blinked. “How have you heard rumors about the wedding already?”

“I’m well-connected.” Jalen made a face. “Besides, a rumor like that will travel fast. I know it must be garbage. But I was curious who would say something like that.”

Maddox pursed his lips. He could think of someone. Though what Jackson would gain from starting a petty rumor, he didn’t know.

“It’s just a rumor,” Maddox said finally. “I’m sure it’ll die out as fast as it started.”

Jalen nodded. But Juliet said as she typed, “Or it will get worse.”

“I’m going with die out,” Maddox told her with emphasis and Juliet smirked. “Anyway, Mila’s unlikely to make any appearances any time soon. So, I’m sure everyone will move on.”

“Mila?” Jalen said suspiciously.

“That is her name.” Maddox sipped his coffee.

Jalen quirked an eyebrow. “Yeah…but you just dropped it so…easily…”

Juliet glanced up for the first time and she and Jalen watched him curiously.

Finally, Maddox rolled his eyes. “Please. You’re well aware I’m not a romantic like you.” He aimed his cup at Jalen, who wandered over to his wife and wrapped his arms around her from behind and kissed the top of her head.

“You never know,” Jalen said. “You might get sick of the games.”

Maddox held his stare thoughtfully. But his father’s voice echoed in his mind: real relationships were a distraction. And that was Maddox’s observation too.

Even if Mila’s kiss did come back to mind, it didn’t matter.

He left them to gaze into each other’s eyes. On his way to the office, he realized he had a message from Danny. He knew they were on their honeymoon, but Danny wanted to know if the rumors about Maddox and Mila were true.

“How did this get around so fast?” he muttered. Maddox sighed, staring out the window. He would have to shut that rumor down soon.

Or did he?

He sat up straighter. This could work to his advantage. After all, they had kissed at the wedding. Mila may have wanted to thwart him, but she may have accidentally played into his hands.

A smile tugged on his lips as he stared at the phone. Maybe it wasn’t time to let this die out after all.