"What is it?" I ask gently.
"Did you enjoy it? Was I...good?"
The unusual note of shyness in her voice makes me haul her close.
"You were magnificent," I whisper into her ear, and her cheeks are flushed with pleasure when I let her go.
We hear her phone buzz just as we're about to enter the elevator, and her lips curve in a rueful smile. "Can I go to the powder room and answer this? It might be Grandpa."
"Of course." I take my own phone out, and my forehead creases with a frown.
"What is it?" Madeleine asks.
"It seems I have my own calls to make," I answer in chagrin.
"Then stay here and do that," she says cheekily, "and make sure you let everyone know you can't be disturbed for the next three hours."
"Are you ordering me around?" I ask silkily.
Madeleine pouts up at me. "Do you have a problem with it?"
I let my lips tighten, and it's only when Madeleine starts to squirm that I allow her to see the gleam of amusement in my eyes.
"Of course not, my sweet."
Her alarmed expression turns to one of open adoration, and I suddenly feel like someone's walked over my grave.
Fuck.
Our people strongly believe in omens, and I know the time has come to tell her about our betrothal. "Madeleine—-"
But her phone starts ringing again, and Madeleine looks at me apologetically. "I really have to take this..."
I force myself to smile. "Of course."
But the feeling of evil foreboding only becomes more ominous as I watch her walk away.
As soon as she's back, I vow to myself, I'll tell her the truth.
I'll make her understand that she's what matters most to me, and if I have to cancel my purchase of her grandfather's island, then so be it.
Madeleine disappears in a corner, and I force myself to focus on making my own calls. A few minutes turn into a half hour, and my worst fears are realized when I charge into the powder room and find it empty.
I try calling her, but she's already blocked my number.
Fuck. Fuck. Fuck.
I call her grandfather, and that's when I find out the truth.
"It's the young man she met earlier," Paco says painfully. "He thought you were familiar, and he texted Maddy as soon as he remembered where he saw you. Where he saw us."
"He only saw us," I bite out. "How would he know—-"
"It's where he saw us," Paco cuts me off grimly. "Maddy knows I have this...this lucky ritual if you will. I only shop for tobacco to add to my collection...when I've just closed a deal."
FUCK.
"She wasn't crying when she came here, but..." Paco's voice breaks. "We broke her heart, Rashad. Badly."