by RH Tucker
“We’ll see,” she says with a leery smirk. “Let’s see how this party goes tonight. You sure you don’t want to ditch the restaurant and come out with us?”
I shake my head. “I’m so busy with Luxe, and Maddox with his band. Not to mention, when we see one another at the club, it’s not like it’s free time or anything like that. I want these little moments with him.”
“Uh-oh,” she says, poking my shoulder with a giggle. “Is someone falling for the rock star?”
“I didn’t think so,” I reply, looking away. Staring at myself in the mirror in front of us, I try to think of a good reason to give her that I’m not falling for him. But there are none. “He’s Maddox Barkley, you know?”
“And you’re Cece Mavin.”
I laugh off her comment. “You know what I mean. The weird thing is he’s been nothing but genuine and kind and …” I bite my lip. “I think I am falling for him. Am I crazy?”
“No,” she immediately tells me. “He may be the King of Bad, but he’s a guy who looks like he’s falling for you, too.”
“Really?”
“Totally.”
Getting to the restaurant, I find Maddox already seated, and the host takes me to our table. There are a couple of glasses of water at the table, and as I take my seat, I look up at the host.
“Oh, can we get one more chair, please?”
He nods and hurries away to get one.
Maddox smirks. “Are we getting a third wheel tonight? Or a new double date you’re surprising me with?”
I try to match his humor, but I have to shake my head. With a slight frown, I let out a small sigh. “No, sorry. Um … my father is joining us?”
“Seriously?”
“He called me an hour ago and said he wanted to apologize.”
“He did,” Maddox says, but it’s not really a question. There’s more apprehension to his voice.
“I told him we were going out tonight and that maybe we could meet up for lunch or something tomorrow, but he insisted on meeting with us tonight. I’m sorry. He seemed really interested in offering an apology.”
I fight off the apprehension because as awkward as it will be to have my father with us on this date, I am touched that he’s putting forth this effort. I’ve gone out with guys, and he’s never taken an interest in them. Granted, he’s incredibly busy, but my words must’ve gotten through to him at the pool party.
Maddox seems more hesitant than I expected him to be. I know there’s that whole Daddy’s little girl and the boyfriend thing that I’m sure other guys deal with, but Maddox seems more than affected than that. He takes a drink of his glass of water, and scans the small restaurant, seeming to look around in nervousness.
“Maddox, it’s gonna be okay.” I reach over the table, taking his hand. “I know you guys probably won’t be best friends or anything like that. Can you imagine my father at one of your concerts?” A giggle floats out, but he doesn’t react the same. “I really want him to know we’re …” Glancing down at the table, I gather the courage to say what I was feeling and thinking during my talk with Stephanie. “I mean, we’re serious, right?”
My words seem to break through his apprehension. Taking my hand, he gives it a squeeze. “Of course. And I’m not nervous about this, it’s just …” Pausing, he pulls his hand back and examines the table between us. The white tablecloth, the lone peony flower in a crystal vase, and the set of silverware. He scans them all, apparently searching for words. “Cece, I think there’s something—”
“Ah, good evening, you two,” my father says, breaking up whatever Maddox’s thought was. “Sorry I’m late.”
Standing up from the table, I lean over and give him a hug and kiss on the cheek. “Hi, Daddy.”
Maddox gets to his feet, and my father extends his hand toward him. “Mr. Barkley.”
Before taking his hand, Maddox eyes it carefully. Then his gaze floats back up, meeting my father’s eye line. “Yeah,” he says, but it sounds funny. He almost elongates the word. I quirk an eyebrow, smirking at the peculiar exchange.
“Please, let’s sit.” My father motions to the table. Maddox lingers on his feet, still watching my father with suspicion. I know Daddy was completely rude to him at the meeting and hardly said anything to him at Sebastian’s party, but I don’t understand why he’s so on guard.
“Maddox?” I whisper to him. He looks over at me, then nods as if he finally realizes what he’s doing.
A waiter comes over to the table, standing between my father and me. “Would you like to start off your visit tonight with—”
“Actually, the filet mignon with the brandy peppercorn sauce on the side would be perfect,” Daddy says, looking over at us. “If you two don’t mind?”
I nod in agreement, but Maddox lifts his shoulders, still staring at my father in what I can only describe as distrust. When the waiter leaves the table, my father takes a drink of his water. “Maddox … Can I call you Maddox? I understand you’re in a band, is that correct?”
Maddox’s eyes dart over toward me. I know they aren’t going to suddenly find much in common with one another, but I’m happy my father’s making this effort. Maddox, on the other hand, almost rolls his eyes.
“Yes,” he replies in the same tone and demeanor that he had earlier. Only this time, there’s a small smirk.
“The Kings of Karmichael have had some of the biggest hits the last couple of years, Daddy,” I offer the brag, grinning at Maddox. “They’re terrific and have fans all over the world.”
Maddox’s mood seems to shift finally, and he gives me a small smile.
“Terrific. My apologies for not taking the time to speak with you at Sebastian’s party. The children had fun, but business never sleeps. Or waits for your children to blow out their birthday candles.” He laughs. “Do you have any siblings?”
“A sister,” Maddox answers.
“She’s a musician, too,” I add. “She’s also a member of the Kings.”
“Wonderful,” my father says.
He continues on asking about Maddox’s upbringing, why he chose to be a musician, and what his future plans are. Thankfully, the question of the future plans is about his life and business, and not about me. It’s a lot of questions, but he’s friendly through them all, listening to Maddox’s answers and offering advice on business dealings with negotiation with record companies. He even tells Maddox if he ever wants to look into property or real estate to not hesitate to contact him.
For his part, Maddox mostly just listens. I definitely didn’t expect him to have in-depth conversations with my father. After all, if the age difference wasn’t enough, they come from entirely different worlds. Still, I’m surprised at how quiet Maddox is. If it’s a yes or no question, that’s all he offers. If he’s asked about something that involves a more detailed answer, Maddox keeps it incredibly brief. He doesn’t look intimidated by my father, so I don’t understand why he’s not a little more open. But then again, maybe it’s just one of those boyfriend/dad things. Perhaps there is always an invisible barrier between those two camps that makes conversations awkward.
After we’ve eaten, and my father has discussed more dealings on the business side of Mavin International, we finally come to the end of dinner. When the waiter offers the check, my father is quick to take it. “Please, allow me.”
For the first time tonight, Maddox’s leery expression morphs into something akin to annoyance. When the waiter brings the credit card back, we all get up from the table, making our way out of the restaurant. I take Maddox’s hand while we trail behind. I didn’t find the dinner as awkward as I thought it might be, though Maddox might be feeling different. However, I’m still thankful that he put up with it and smile at him. He offers one back, but something is missing.
The valet heads off to get our vehicles, bringing mine around first. Walking over to my father, I give him a hug. “Thank you, Daddy.”
“Of course, sweetheart. Drive safely.” He gives me a kiss
on the cheek.
Before getting into my car, I go back to Maddox. Giving him a light kiss, I wrap my arms around his neck. “Thank you, Maddox,” I whisper to him. “Don’t let him intimidate you when I leave. He loves his power suits, but he’s a teddy bear.”
Maddox lets out a low chuckle, and for the first time tonight, I see a genuine smile from him. He doesn’t respond but gives me a slight nod, and I head toward my car and get it, the valet shutting the door behind me.
Offering one last wave to them, they each wave back, and I drive away.
23
Maddox
I let out a deep breath, watching Cece’s Lexus drive away. Spinning around, I can finally spit out what I’ve been holding back this entire time.
“What the hell is this?” His only reaction is an arrogant smirk. “I already told you, you can’t buy me. Not with thousands of dollars, and you damn sure can’t buy me off with a sixty-dollar steak.”
The smirk stays in place, and now it’s joined by a chuckle. “No, I realized that after you left the office. That’s why I’m here tonight.”
My eyes narrow, unsure what I’m hearing. “Seriously? You really wanted to get to know me tonight?”
The valet drives a gray Mercedes up to us, and the runner gets out, hurrying over to Chester. He waves him off, keeping his eyes on me. “I’m here for the good of my daughter. I’ll always do what’s best for her. When she was younger, I bailed her out of situations time and time again. Back then I knew it was just immature happenings.”
He looks me up and down, then adjusts his tie.
“But this? No, this is something I cannot let pass. I looked you up after you left.” His words catch me off guard that he’s actually learned a little about me. “Your little band pulled in an estimated three hundred million last year, correct?”
I shake my head, growing more annoyed by the second. “You can’t buy me. If you got that info, then you can’t be conceited enough to think you have anything—”
“You’re right, I can’t buy you. There’s nothing I can offer you to get you out of my daughter’s life.”
“Good. Look, I don’t care if you want to put on these little shows every once in a while, but if you’re cool with us, then I won’t tell her how big of a douchebag you are.” Another stoic response from him, except for a self-righteous smile. “What?”
“I cannot and will not stand by and watch my daughter fall in love with someone like you.”
For the first time tonight, I let out a pleasant chuckle. “That’s too bad because you don’t get to control things like that.”
“Oh, I do. You’re going to break up with her.”
My eyes widen, unsure I heard him correctly. “I’m sorry, I’m going to what?”
“You’ll end your relationship with her. I obviously can’t buy you out of our lives, and I already know I can’t order her to do something she doesn’t want to do. I learned that a long time ago. So, the only option left is for you to do it. And the more I thought about it, the more I realized it’s the perfect resolution.”
With my jaw open, my head swivels back and forth, still perplexed by what I’m hearing. I never thought I’d feel like I do, especially for a girl who seems to be completely different from me. So there’s no way in hell I’m letting her dad come between us now.
“You are crazy. Your daughter’s amazing, and I can’t believe an asshole like you is her father, but I’ll even put up with your insane self to be with her. Give me one good reason why I would ever do what you’re asking. Why would I even consider it?”
“What are you, eighteen? Nineteen? You don’t know what real responsibility means when it comes to family. I’m Chester Mavin.” He adjusts the cufflinks on his shirt, staring out into the night sky. “The Mavin empire, what my daughter will eventually inherit, is worth billions.”
I honestly can’t believe what I’m hearing. Not only the arrogance but the full-blown apathy of me. Not that I’m some lowly musician who’s grasping on to the strings of fame I have right now. No, he’s dismissing my entire existence as a human, believing I shouldn’t even breathe the same air as him.
“You two can be together,” he continues. “Have your little story-book romance you think you’re having. And I hope it’ll be enough because it’s all she’ll ever have.”
“I don’t care if you cut her off. You already know how much money I earn. I have more than enough to take care of her.”
He chuckles. “Oh, I don’t mean money.” His glare stays in place while he grins. “She’ll be cut off from everything else. Me, her mother, her little brother. Money will be the least of her concerns. I won’t have some irresponsible, drunken musician known for making headlines in gossip magazines, dirtying my family’s name. You might be at the top right now, but fame is fleeting. What happens when your star burns out? You want her? I hope you’re enough because if you stay with her, she’ll have nothing from us. Money, cars, clothes, family. It’s all gone.”
I can’t believe what I’m hearing. He’d cut her out of his life completely? But not only his, out of the lives of her brother and mom? I can’t imagine how he’d do that, but then again, he’s gone on and on almost like a comic book villain about how great he is. Maybe he is possible of doing that, but how could he?
“You …” I try to respond, but I’m still aghast. “You’d do that to your own daughter?”
I’m unable to hide the shock while his grin grows wider. “To keep our family name free from the likes of you? To make sure my daughter marries into the right family and is eventually where I am? Or make certain she isn’t linked to a washed-up drummer, who after your few years of notoriety, that’s all you’ll be? Absolutely yes.”
If you’d asked me only a few months ago, I’d say girls come and go. I would’ve told EJ to never get too attached because you can always find another one. But after Cece, I can’t say that. I want her. More than that, I want her to have the best life imaginable. If I stay with her, this bastard will cut her out of her own family. How can I do that to her?
“I see I finally have your attention.”
That smug smirk is still in place. It’s enough to make me want to punch him. I glance around, knowing we’re still outside with a few valets standing near, as both of our cars are ready to be taken away.
“You’re … you’re garbage, you know that?”
“I’m a Mavin. I get what I want, and what I want is you out of my daughter’s life.”
He stands in front of me, never breaking eye contact, daring me to respond. I can’t. I have nothing to counter his threat. Maybe if it was just him, I might be enough. I might be able to explain it to her and convince her he’s the lowest piece of scum on earth. But her mother? Her brother? Staying with her would take them away from her. I can’t do that.
“Do we have a deal?” he asks.
I feel my heart drop into my stomach. I’ve heard the lyrics we’ve put in our records about heartbreak and longing, but I never really gave those feelings much thought. And I damn sure didn’t think I’d feel them with Cece. I finally got my head out of my ass, she gave me a chance, and somehow, we got together. I never thought in a million years that I’d lose her as soon as I got her. But if it’s between her happiness or mine, I’ll choose hers. Always.
I nod, and it feels like I have five hundred pounds sitting on top of me. “Fine.”
“I expect it to be taken care of by the end of this weekend.”
Through the pain and anger, I stare at him in confusion. “How the hell am I supposed to do that? You want me to end our relationship and do it within four days?”
“That’s none of my concern. All I care about is that you end it.” He finally walks away toward the driver’s side of his car. Before getting in, he glances back at me, waiting for my response.
“What … what do I even say? I can’t—”
“You can and you will,” he tells me over the top of his car. “I don’t care what you say as long as she belie
ves you.”
My hands clench. I don’t know if the expression on my face conveys the amount of disgust that’s bubbling up inside. “I hate you,” a low growl comes out.
“I don’t care whether you hate me or not. All I care about is what’s best for my daughter.”
After getting into his car, the valet shuts the door for him, and he drives away, looking like he doesn’t have a care in the world. I, on the other hand, wrap my fingers around the steering wheel as soon as I get in my car, letting out a guttural scream.
Driving home, the hatred and abhorrence over everything finally overflows. As soon as I enter the apartment, I grab the small end table next to the door, flinging it across the room. It crashes into a wall, breaking, and I let out another scornful scream.
“Whoa, whoa!” Adam calls out, stepping out from the hallway. “What the hell is wrong with you?”
My chest heaves. I look around, unsure what to even do with myself. Leaning against the wall the table was at, I start to slide down to the floor. I try to control my breathing, and all of the hate begins to be replaced with pain. Bringing my elbows to my knees, my hands hold my face.
“Maddox, what the hell is going on?”
Looking over my fingers, I stare up at Adam. The pain is being mixed with guilt now, knowing what I have to do. My voice cracks as I whisper, “It’s over.”
24
Cece
The bass-filled music drifts through Luxe while I talk to the bartenders, making sure they have everything they need. Heading up to the second floor, I glance over at Maddox while he’s on stage. We’ll usually exchange looks and smiles, but since the dinner, something’s felt off. He’s focused behind his table, as expected, but the few times I’ve looked over, he hasn’t looked up at all. I’ll make it a point to try and talk to him during his break between his sets. I really do appreciate him taking everything in stride with my father showing up for dinner.