Love's Redemption (Chris and Maddie)

"Maddie, Mr. Gildon would like to speak for you." Kara Spraggins, who had come with me, held out the phone.

I had underestimated Chris' persistence. In this situation, I had no choice but to take the phone. I spoke very formally. "Mr. Gildon, what can I do for you?"

"Maddie." Chris' hoarse voice was filled with guilt. "Why did you leave so early today? I came home but couldn't give you a lift."

Realizing he wasn't talking about work, I walked a bit further away. "I went out for breakfast."

"I'm sorry. I couldn't leave last night. That's why I didn't come home."

My heart grew cold, a sarcastic smirk on my lips. "Why couldn't you leave?"

When he didn't answer me, I held my breath and gave him an out. "Couldn't find a nurse?"

He said hesitantly, "Yes."

I didn't say anything more.

Chris continued, "Maddie, when will you be done? I'll come pick you up, and we can have lunch together."

We hadn't had lunch together in a long time.

According to what Yerick said last night, Chris had been spending his time with Jewel.

Was he suddenly asking me out of guilt for leaving me halfway last night, or did he suddenly have a conscience?

I didn't know, and I didn't want to tire my brain cells guessing. I replied indifferently, "I'm not sure. It might not even be finished by noon. Besides, don't you have something to do every day at noon now?" "Maddie." Chris must have caught my sarcasm. He called out my name sternly, only to pause for two seconds before he said, "Don't overthink it."

He left me in bed when we were in the middle of doing it last night. What else could I be overthinking about?

Not wanting to discuss personal matters during working hours, I told him, "I'm busy right now. I'm hanging up if there's nothing else."

He didn't say anything, so I hung up the phone.

discussions between partners and on-site inspections. After finishing

projects. Now, 80% of it was complete. I had to check on-site to see if there were any discrepancies between the finished work and

problems were slim since the partners followed the drawings closely, it was still

my rounds, my feet were swollen, and my toes

noticed something was off. "Maddie, are

I admitted. If I weren't on site, I would have taken off

looked at my face. "Maddie,

Kara pointed at her face. "Maddie, your complexion

would be weirder if I looked well after barely sleeping last night. Besides, no matter how well a woman put on makeup, it was no use if she was

soon." I gave her a random excuse and took

was a chatty girl. I was afraid I wouldn't be able to keep

pay much attention until I felt warmth

foot on his knee, and started massaging it. "Are

anything;

at me. "Are you still mad?"

replied, trying to pull

continued to massage my foot. "It won't

was dressed in a navy blue suit with a white shirt. The custom cufflinks on his shirt sparkled in the sunlight, much

my left foot and then moved on to my right, paying no attention to the people walking by. Some girls passing by showed envious looks,

was touched. The resentment from last

lucky!" Kara mouthed to me

incident, it would make me seem petty, as if I were overly eager for what

want for lunch?" Chris asked

an appetite

pan-seared foie gras; it's really

he leaned in, his soapy scent wafting past my nose, making my breath hitch. Sensing my reaction, he smiled, buckled my seatbelt for me, and then kissed my cheek lightly as he straightened up. "Maddie, you look

I couldn't answer him.

fleeting, it lifted my spirits completely. I always felt so pathetic-Chris just had

asked, "How

fine. She's already been