When they reached the rest of the guests, the three girls quickly went to the parents who were still standing together while Nick trailed behind. He could hear Michael greeting Madison and Heidi, his mood visibly lifted which made Nick slightly upset at the change.
"So, Madison, I heard something about business school," Michael asked her, still smiling but this one was a lot more genuine, Nick observed.
A small smile appeared on her lips as she shook her head in denial, "I've decided to take a gap year."
"Really? Any particular reason for that?" Michael tried and failed at hiding his shock. Nick couldn't blame him, it was quite surprising that Madison would put off her education. She had been valedictorian of her class and he had no doubt that her grades were enough to get her into any college of her choice. Her parents were loaded and more than willing to pay for it so it didn't make sense that she would want to hold it off.
Cheryl quickly interrupted at that, answering the question for Madison. "She's still not sure about it," she said, exaggeratedly rolling her eyes, "Says she needs time to make a decision."
"I just want to be sure of a decision that will shape my whole life or at least four to five years of it," Madison seemed to mutter the words out, keeping her gaze averted from her parents.
"I don't see the point of it," Thomas began, "You've been preparing your whole life for this. It's what you're meant to do."
Nick noticed that Madison was unrelenting yet still respectful as she tried to appeal to her father, "I just want to explore some options. After a year, if I still feel the same way about business school, I'll apply but I need to be sure of it."
"I think that's a good idea, Madison. You're being careful about one of the biggest decisions of your life," Michael complimented her making her smile before he side-glanced at his son, a slight edge to his voice, "It's always better to be sure of things rather than waste other people's time and your own."
Nick gulped, looking down at his shoes to avoid his fathers' gaze. Samantha, Sarah, and Heidi had long gone over to Stacie and had left him and Madison with the three adults, and he was confronted again with the bitter reminder that he did not have the privilege of simply walking away so he stayed. He could feel Madison's warm brown eyes on him but he refused to look up at her and just waited for someone else to start talking. He sighed in relief as Cheryl broke the small silence.
"We just want the best for her," she said, "She needs to take over the business in the future and her education will play a big role in it."
"Just like we did when we were younger," Thomas referred to himself and Michael, "You don't even have to work to make something like Michael and me, you're getting your future in the palm of your hand."
"If your future was so unpredictable, how did you know that business school would lead to all this?" Madison did not back down, but instead of looking at her father she turned to Michael with questioning eyes, "How were you sure?"
"We weren't. We took a risk," Michael admitted.
"See, I just don't want to risk it."
"Risk what? A company that is ready to be run by you?" Cheryl asked, bitterly.
"No, a future that wouldn't bring me any personal satisfaction," Madison snapped back, a distinct fire in her eyes that Nick had only seen glimpses of before. The fire was gone as quick as it had appeared, a momentary lapse of disobedience, a small instance of the golden girl speaking out of line.
"Personal satisfaction, my- "
Michael quickly cut him off before Thomas could finish his vulgar sentence, "You know what, I'm completely understanding the point you're trying to make, Madison and I've got an idea for your little exploration."
"You can work with me and your father for the coming year. Come to the office with us, see how things work there, try your hand at different things and see if anything works out. Getting an idea of the real thing would probably help you make up your mind."
A deep pit began to form in Nick's stomach as he ran his father's idea in his head and the ramifications it could do to Nick. If Madison started working with Michael, it would give him even more reasons to taunt Nick for not being as hard-working as his diligent apprentice. He seemed to hold his breath as he looked at the three Pierces' as they thought over the idea and internally prayed that they would find a reason to reject the idea.
Thomas was the first to speak, "I like this idea."
Cheryl shrugged, sipping her drink, "Anything to bring you back to your senses."
"What do you say, Madison?" Michael turned to her, his blue eyes alight with hope.
A small smile appeared on her face, "When can we get started?"
And just like that, Nick began to inwardly curse everyone around him for making his life more difficult than it needed to be.
Michael seemed to be on cloud nine with the idea of an apprentice working under him and his excitement was easily noticeable, "That's what I'm talking about. See, there are other ways to deal with things," he looked at Thomas at this.
Thomas simply chuckled, admitting defeat, "You got me there, old man."
"How about I start introducing you to some people that you're gonna be seeing at work?" Michael offered his arm to Madison.
As the two of them walked away, Thomas and Cheryl went over to the tables to talk with some partners of the company leaving Nick alone. Stopping a waiter who was passing by with a tray of champagne glasses, he quickly grabbed two, downing one and holding on to the other one.
He looked at his father stood with Madison on his arm as they chatted with some people whom Nick couldn't recognize. The two were wearing bright grins as they talked but Nick was more focused on Madison's. She seemed to be at ease with the conversation, a trait that he was quite envious of. It was evident that whatever the world they were thrust into was, Madison was quite adept at facing it.
But as he continued to stare at her, he startingly realized what exactly it had been that irked Nick about that girl. Her smile, though almost identical to the one she had when she was posing with Sarah with pictures, seemed to be forced, an empty look in her usually lively brown eyes that was barely noticeable. But Nick noticed it. With her back taught like a wire and her free arm stiff at her side, she was almost in a defensive posture. And that's when he came to the conclusion that the golden girl, Madison Pierce, was posing. She was posing for the people who looked at her, letting them see only what she wanted to see which made him wonder what it could be that the golden girl didn't want people to see.