As they walked to the car, Selena's hand remained wrapped around Alex's arm, a gentle pressure that seemed almost automatic. Selena family's car had left leaving her behind,Alex's eyes scanned the surroundings, his mind elsewhere, aware that this was all part of both of the families' plan to get them close. He didn't fancy the idea, but he played along, his expression neutral.
Selena turned to him, her voice barely above a whisper.
"Thanks for offering to take me home. I wasn't looking forward to being stuck here."
Her eyes sparkled with gratitude, and for a moment, Alex felt a pang of annoyance.
He glanced at her briefly, his expression indifferent. "No problem, Miss Selena...I mean, Selena." His tone was polite, but lacked warmth.
Selena's cheeks flushed, and she looked away, her eyes drifting to the ground. Alex opened the car door for her, and she slid in, her dress rustling against the leather seat. "What a gentleman," she thought, a small smile playing on her lips.
As Alex walked around to the driver's side, he frowned, his mind still preoccupied with the setup. He got in,put on his seat belt,started the engine, and turned to Selena, who was admiring him. Their eyes met, and Selena flinched, realizing she had been caught staring.
Alex reached towards her, and Selena's heart skipped a beat. She felt a rush of anticipation, her mind racing with possibilities. Was he going to...? She closed her eyes, her face burning with expectation.
Then she heard a click, and opened her eyes to find Alex had buckled her seatbelt. Embarrassed, she looked down, her face still flushed. "Thanks," she muttered, facing the window.
Alex's eyes flicked to her, a hint of amusement dancing in their depths, but his expression remained neutral. He put the car in gear and drove, his eyes fixed on the road ahead.
****************************************
Maddie arrived home just as Jane was about to leave. "Thanks again for today," Maddie said, her voice filled with gratitude.
Jane smiled. "No problem, Maddie. He's asleep now. We had a lot of fun today, that must have tired him out."
Maddie smiled, then hesitated just before Jane reached for the door. "I know I said you'd take care of Jake for a week," she began. Jane turned, her eyes questioning.
"Yes?"
Maddie waved her hands. "You've been doing a great job, don't get me wrong. It's just...my work is done. The event I was working. on was held today. I know you're supposed to take care of Jake for a week, and it's only been four days, but now that I'm done...would you mind if I said you're free to go?"
Jane smiled and laughed. "Seriously, Maddie, you don't have to be nervous. It's okay. Would you need a refund for the days without service?"
Maddie replied, "No, thank you, Jane."
Jane winked. "If you need me again, just call me."
Maddie smiled. "Will do. Good night."
With that, the nanny left, leaving Maddie to unwind after a long day.
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The rest of the week was eventful. The project launch had been a resounding success, with hundreds of books sold and widespread acclaim. The social justice project had become another feather in TMG's cap, and the Safe Space app was being widely used, providing a platform for people to voice their concerns and complaints through various podcasts.
As a result, TMG's sales skyrocketed, and the CEO, Alex, was in high demand, fielding numerous interview requests and podcast invitations. He was all over the news, basking in the glory of the project's success.
Meanwhile, Maddie settled back into her routine, dropping Jake off at school before heading to work. With the project wrapped up, she wondered if she'd be relegated to smaller, less impactful tasks, a far cry from the excitement and challenge of the project.
Sighing, she walked into the company's building, the familiar surroundings a stark contrast to the fast-paced project environment she'd grown accustomed to. As she settled into her desk, she was greeted by the usual stack of books and files she'd been putting off while focusing on the project.
Shaking her head, she took a deep breath, cracked her neck, and stretched her fingers. She pulled out her laptop and began working on one of the files, diving headfirst into the monotony of her daily tasks.
Maddie was finishing up the last stack of files when Sarah approached her, poised and frowning, with a stack of files in hand. Maddie looked down, sighed, and thought, *They're sure working me hard*.She reached out for the files, expecting to add them to her workload.
But Sarah smacked her hands away. "What are you doing?" she asked, her tone irritated. Maddie was taken aback. "Huh? I thought those files..."
Sarah cut her off. "They're not yours. I only came here to tell you that Rachel wants to see you." With that, she turned and left, still grumbling.
Maddie got up, rubbing her hand and smiling wryly. *That was a hard smack*, she thought, feeling a slight sting. She made her way to her boss's office, wondering what Rachel wanted to discuss.
----------
Maddie knocked on the glass door, and Rachel's voice called out, "Come in." Maddie entered, took a seat, and asked, "You called for me?"
Rachel smiled, her eyes radiating excitement. "So," she began, "I've received an invitation." She pulled out a white, gold-decorated card from under her desk. "To the event's after-party," she said, her voice filled with enthusiasm.
Maddie smiled politely. "That's great."
Rachel continued, "Apparently, the event turned out to be a huge success – the app launch, book sales, everything. To celebrate this great achievement in TMG, they'll be hosting an exclusive after-party, invited guests only."
Maddie nodded, though she seemed uninterested. Rachel stopped talking, still smiling. "I don't know how close you and the CEO of TMG are, but that's not my business. You've been invited too."
Maddie's expression changed, and she perked up. "Me?" Rachel leaned forward, resting her chin on her palm. "Yes, you. You've been specifically invited." She reached under her desk and handed Maddie another invitation card.
Maddie took the card, surprised. "Me? Invited to an elite's party?" she thought, wondering if this was some kind of dream. Rachel watched Maddie studying the card and said, "Dress pretty; you've got to look your best."
With a clap of her hands, Rachel chirped, "That would be all."
Maddie exited the office, invitation card in hand. She caressed the gold inscriptions, her fingers tracing the elegant design, as she walked back to her seat. Sarah glanced at her, one eyebrow raised in curiosity. "What's that?" she asked.
Maddie flinched slightly, looking up at Sarah. "Oh, it's an invitation card." Sarah's interest was piqued, and she got up from her seat, walking towards Maddie. "A card? To where?" She leaned against Maddie's desk, arms folded across her chest.
Maddie smiled, holding out the card. "To the event's after-party." Sarah's eyes widened in surprise as she grabbed the invitation card from Maddie's hand. She scanned the card, her eyes scanning the details, and then her gaze landed on Maddie's name, specifically mentioned as an invited guest.
Sarah's expression darkened, her jaw clenched in apparent frustration. She looked up at Maddie, her voice rising. "So, you mean to tell me you've been specifically invited to an elite's party – an invited-guests-only party – and from Alex?"
Her voice grew louder, drawing the attention of their colleagues, who looked over, curious about the commotion. Maddie took the card back, smiling nervously. Sarah's face twisted in a scowl, and she turned, storming off without another word.
--------------
Maddie continued typing, her mind preoccupied with worry about Sarah's behavior. She hadn't expected Sarah to react that way. Reclining in her seat, she sighed, thinking maybe she had spoken too much, giving the impression she was bragging. *I should go talk to her later*, she thought, trying to focus on her work.
Meanwhile, Sarah stormed into the ladies' restroom, biting nervously at her fingernails. She paced around the room, her mind racing with frustration. *How can this be? An invitation?* she thought, still biting her nails. "It's not fair. It's not fair!" she screamed angrily, running a hand through her hair.
As she paced, her anger intensified. "Who does she think she is, bragging about a stupid invitation? I'll wipe that stupid smile from her face!" she muttered to herself. *What do I do...what do I do...* She continued pacing, her mind spinning with thoughts.
Suddenly, she stopped, a sly smile spreading across her face. She turned to the mirror, adjusted her hair, and applied a fresh coat of lipstick. With a newfound confidence, she walked out of the restroom, a wicked glint in her eyes.
After Sarah left, Emily emerged from one of the stalls, having witnessed Sarah's outburst. Shivering slightly, she washed her hands, thinking, *What a lunatic.*