Being A Michelson

Chapter 2: Meeting Again

Xander’s Point of View

Turning the corner, I barely registered the cup in my hand before it slipped, spilling ice-cold coffee over my fingers. Just my luck. And the culprit? A stunning girl, too lost in her own world to notice me coming. But damn, she was beautiful. An angel with messy, windswept hair and piercing hazel eyes that could spark a fire. “What the hell?” were the first words that came from her lips, full and pink and utterly tempting.

I couldn’t stop arguing—I was already late for a meeting. But something about the way she looked at me, annoyed and undeniably captivating, made me want to fix the mess I’d caused. Without a second thought, I grabbed her wrist, gently but firmly, and pulled her into the nearest restroom.

Stripping off my suit jacket, I mentally thanked my own habit of always wearing a T-shirt under my dress shirt. As I undid the buttons, I caught her gaze dropping over me, her hazel eyes trailing from my arms, inked in intricate patterns, down to my abs. She blushed, quickly darting into the stall with my shirt, leaving me with a smirk. A few minutes later, she stepped out, looking utterly sinful in my T-shirt. It hugged her curves just right, clinging to her in ways that sparked every wicked thought I could muster.

We stood there, locked in a stare that held way too much heat for a public restroom. But her phone rang, snapping us out of it. Before I could even catch my breath or think about asking her name, she was gone, leaving behind only a memory of that smirk, those eyes, and the way my shirt looked on her.

Two hours earlier…

“Dad, I’m here,” I announced as I walked into his office, half-rolling my eyes. I could already guess where this conversation was headed.

“Good to see you, Xan. You’re looking well.” His smile didn’t reach his eyes. My father had always been about business first. “How’s life, son? Still dating half the city?”

“You know me. Why’d you call me here today, though? I’m in a rush,” I replied, dodging his attempt to needle me about my social life.

“Rush to get to another date? Let me guess…” he grinned, “the brunette from last night? Or was it the blonde from last weekend?”

“Neither. It’s the redhead from last Friday.” I smirked.

He sighed, leaning back in his chair, his expression sharpening. “Xander, you need to settle down. You’re twenty-four. It’s time to think about the future—and the company.”

I opened my mouth to argue, but he raised a hand to stop me. “You know we’re looking to merge with the Michelsons.”

“Yes, but—”

“And the Michelsons have a sister, Maddison.”

I froze. “No way. Over my dead body.”

“Then say goodbye to becoming CEO. And your inheritance.” His words were steel, unyielding.

“You… You can’t be serious.”

“Oh, I am. It’s my company. My terms. We’re meeting with the Michelsons today at 3 PM, and you will be there. End of discussion.”

Before I could protest, he turned his chair away, dismissing me. I walked out of his office, trying to ignore the bitter taste in my mouth. I wanted the CEO position more than anything, and if marrying some girl I’d never met was my only option… well, maybe I could work my way around it.

After the tense exchange, I needed a distraction, so I headed to the mall, hoping to find the perfect gift for my little sister’s birthday. But that wasn’t what I was thinking about. Instead, I kept seeing the face of the girl I’d just bumped into—the one who’d stormed into my day like she owned it. That spark in her hazel eyes, those lips I couldn’t stop imagining… If only this damn meeting would hurry up so I could get back to what I really wanted to do.

Maddie’s Point of View

Rushing through traffic, I couldn’t stop thinking about the guy from the mall. His strong arms inked with dark, mesmerizing tattoos, his sharp jawline, the dark green eyes that felt like they were seeing through me. He had this air of effortless confidence, like he knew exactly the effect he had. And that dimple. God, that dimple was enough to make me—

No, Maddie, snap out of it. You can’t go there. You’re not ready. I’d barely left behind the mess with Max. My mind drifted, despite my efforts to shake the memory.

Flashback

It was just last year. Max had texted, saying he was too sick to hang out. So, like the doting girlfriend I thought I was, I’d made him soup, pack his favorite snacks, and go to surprise him.

Letting myself into his place, I saw it before I could even comprehend it: Jackie, my best friend, sprawled across him on the couch, her lips whispering his name. The shock froze me, and the glass container fell from my hands, shattering on the floor. They looked up, guilt written across their faces, and at that moment, I felt my heart splinter.

“Babe, it’s not what it looks like,” Max stammered.

“Really? So, you’re not sleeping with my best friend?” I managed, my voice barely holding together.

“Oh, spare me, Maddison,” Jackie sneered. “You’ve always had everything. I was always just stuck in your shadow.”

“If you felt that way, you could’ve talked to me,” I whispered. “You didn’t have to do this.”

I turned to Max, my voice barely a whisper. “How long?”

He hesitated. “Six months.”

I felt the sting of betrayal, followed by the slap I delivered to his face. Then I was done. I left, and a week later, Jackie and Max were the school’s new couple. The last months of high school were hell, but I pushed through, making my escape to New York and Columbia University. That’s where I needed to focus. No more distractions.

I parked my car, darting toward the office building and the impending “meeting” Elijah had demanded. Hopefully, he wouldn’t kill me for being late. I dashed inside, pushing my way to the elevator.

“Sorry, I’m late. Hope I didn’t miss anything.”

The response was smooth, with a voice I’d know anywhere, deep and teasing. “Of course not, principessa.”

I looked up, and my breath caught. That voice…