A Secretive Deal with My Billionaire Boss novel Chapter 79

hapter 79

Madison

I watched Alexander disappear into the suite. The phone continued buzzing in my hand as I walked down the hallway, putting some distance between me and the room. The Vegas afternoon sun streamed through the windows, making the gold–trimmed walls gleam.

“Hello?”

“Hey, is this Madison?” A familiar voice came through the line.

“Jackson? Yeah, it’s me.” I leaned against the wall, grateful for the cool surface against my heated skin.

“Thank god. I was wondering if this was still your number. It’s been forever.”

“Where did you disappear to? You basically dropped off the face of the earth.”

“Just got back from the UK yesterday, actually. Been there for work.”

“Three years without a single text or call?” I raised an eyebrow, even though he couldn’t see it. “What, they don’t have phones across the pond?”

He laughed. “Come on, Mads. You know how it is. Work was insane. Barely had time to breathe, let alone socialize.”

“Right, because hitting the ‘send‘ button on a text message takes hours.”

“Fair point. I was a terrible friend.”

“More than terrible. You were a ghost, Jackson. Completely vanished.” I traced patterns on the ornate wallpaper, the Vegas heat seeping through the hallway windows.

“Let me make it up to you. Where are you right now? We could grab a coffee and catch up properly. It’s been three years?”

“Actually, I’m in Las Vegas.”

“Vegas? Damn, you got upgraded in life! Working there now?”

I snorted. “No, just here on a business trip with my boss.”

“Your boss, huh?” His tone held a hint of curiosity that I chose to ignore. “Well, give me a call when you’re back in New York. We’ll do that coffee,”

“Sure thing.”

I ended the call, shaking my head at the bizarre timing of Jackson’s reappearance. Three years of radio silence, and he picks now to resurface? The universe had a twisted sense of humor.

The hallway stretched empty before me, golden afternoon light painting patterns across the plush carpet. I checked my phone; five minutes had passed. I needed to head back before Alexander came looking for me.

Thurried back to our suite, my heels clicking against the marble floor. The sound echoed through the empty hallway, matching my racing heartbeat. Why was I rushing? It wasn’t as if he owned my time. Well, technically, he did, at least for the next year. 1

I paused at the door, my hand hovering over the handle. When had I started organizing my thoughts around Alexander Knight? Lately, everything seemed to revolve around him: what he wanted, what he expected, and how he would react. This morning, I’d caught myself wondering if he’d like the color of my underwear. Seriously? Since when did I care about a man’s opinion on my lingerie choices?

This was just business. A mutually beneficial arrangement. Nothing more. I needed to get my head straight and stop

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Chapter 70

+25 BONUS

overthinking every little detail about him.

Maybe I should focus on other things, such as finally finishing that stack of novels collecting dust on my nightstand. When was the last time I’d actually read for pleasure? These days, my reading consists of contracts and emails. I missed losing myself in a good story, curled up with a glass of wine and zero thoughts about certain demanding bosses with wandering hands.

Or I could take up meditation. God knows I needed something to calm my racing mind. Those wellness apps kept filling my inbox; perhaps they were onto something. Though knowing my luck, I’d probably fall asleep mid–meditation and dream about…. No. Stop it, Madison.

I shook my head, forcing my thoughts away from dangerous territory. The hallway suddenly felt too quiet, too empty. The door loomed before me like some kind of threshold between sanity and whatever waited on the other side.

Taking a deep breath, I swiped the keycard and pushed open the door. The suite was eerily silent.

“Mr. Knight?”

No response. Great. He was probably lurking somewhere, ready to pounce like some designer–suited predator. That man had a talent for appearing out of nowhere at the most unexpected moments.

I kicked off my heels by the door, padding across the plush carpet. The living room was empty, sunlight streaming through floor -to–ceiling windows that showcased the Vegas skyline. The coffee table held an open laptop and scattered papers; work never stopped for Alexander Knight, even in Sin City.

“You’re late.” His voice came from behind me, making me jump.

I spun around to find him leaning against the bedroom doorframe, his eyes dark with intent. My heart skipped; that look never meant anything innocent.

“Just checking in with my mother,” I said, keeping my voice steady despite the lie.

“Is she recovering well?”

“Yes, the facility is amazing. She keeps raving about the food.” I shifted my weight, hyper–aware of the distance between us.” The nurses are taking excellent care of her.”

He pushed off from the doorframe with fluid grace. “Pack up everything.”

“We’re leaving now?” I glanced at the scattered papers on the coffee table, my mind jumping to the project details we still needed to review.

A smile played at the corners of his mouth. “I have a surprise.”

That smile spelled trouble. The good kind of trouble that usually left me unable to walk straight the next day. My pulse quickened.

“Alright. Should I pack anything specific?”

His only response was that infuriating smirk as he disappeared back into the bedroom, leaving me to wonder what exactly he had planned. With Alexander Knight, surprises could mean anything from a helicopter ride to being tied to the bed for hours.

I grabbed my suitcase and started packing, mind racing with possibilities. Alexander’s surprises felt like Russian roulette; they were thrilling yet potentially dangerous to my sanity.

“Ready?” He emerged from the bedroom, jacket slung over his shoulder.

“Just about.” I zipped up my bag, scanning the room for a final time. “Are you going to tell me where we’re going?”

“Patience, Miss Harper.” His hand found the small of my back as he guided me toward the door.

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Chapter 79

+25 BONUS

The resort’s private exit led us straight to a waiting helicopter, of course. Normal transportation was too pedestrian for Alexander.

“Seriously?” Leyed the sleek black machine. “You know normal people just take cars, right?”

“Do I strike you as normal?” His fingers traced my spine, making me shiver.

“No, Mr. Knight. Normal isn’t a word I’d use to describe you.” I climbed into the helicopter, adjusting my skirt to maintain some dignity.

He followed, settling beside me with casual grace. The pilot fired up the engine, and my stomach lurched as we lifted off. The Vegas strip stretched below us like a glittering snake in the afternoon sun.

“First helicopter ride?” Alexander’s hand found my thigh, squeezing lightly.

“That obvious?” I gripped the seat tighter as we banked left.

“Your knuckles are white.” He pried my fingers loose, threading them through his. “Relax. The view is worth it.”

He wasn’t wrong. The desert sprawled endlessly, meeting the horizon in a hazy blur. The mountains rose majestically in the distance, their peaks catching the sunlight. Below, the famous fountains of the Bellagio danced, tiny jets of water creating patterns visible even from our height.

“It’s beautiful,” I admitted, slightly loosening my death grip on his hand.

“Wait until you see where we’re going.” His thumb traced circles on my palm, a gesture that somehow felt more intimate than

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