Things at Dalton Corp were progressing under Maddy's management. More contracts for software were coming in. She authorized HR to hire temporary staff to fluctuate between jobs. She revamped the entire flow of the company to reflect positive movement. Philip was proud. The end of her trial period was approaching, he was nervous. When they were working, she treated him like her boss. When they were alone, he was the focal point of her affections. He decided he would approach the topic of her family and go from there.
Maddy was Chairing a meeting with potential clients. Her voice was calm, confident and sexy. She didn't realize she sounded that way because it was her natural voice.
Philip listened but he kept his eyes on the men in the room. He was getting annoyed, the testosterone in the room was rising and he felt he would jeopardize the contracts if he didn't get a handle on his jealousy. Maddy glanced at Philip every chance she got, and she could see he was getting angry.
"Ladies and gentlemen, we have concluded the first part of this morning's meeting, refreshments are available in the reception area. We will convene in 45 mins."
Everyone got up and left their folders on the table and headed out of the board room. Maddy looked at Philip and left. Philip quickly followed. He could see she was upset. He couldn't help how he felt. She was his woman!
Maddy went to her own office, sat at her desk and waited.
Philip rolled in, closed and locked the door. When he turned to face Maddy, he knew he was going to get it.
"I'm sorry."
"I know you are but my question is, why be sorry for who you are?"
"As of today, I will no longer take the meetings with you, you are capable of handling them on your own."
"Fine."
"You don't see men the way I do Maddy, they get ideas without provocation." "I know men Philip; I have a brother and cousins and I have you. I know how to handle men, it's your reaction to them I can't handle. Do I growl at women when they blatantly stare at you? Do I bark at them when they lust visibly at you?" "No." "Then stop it."
A few hours later, Maddy was wrapping up the meeting. She had secured contracts with four of the six and she was pleased. The other two needed a bit more time. She left the board room and was standing in the reception area, mingling with some of the guests.
One man in particular, came over and spoke softly. "Can I take you out to dinner Maddy?"
"Thank you for the invitation but I'm involved."
"With that cripple? I've seen the way you two look at each other. Pity you want to waste yourself with someone as useless as him. I can do things to you he wouldn't even dream of."
Maddy gasped and moved away.
"Mr. Stones, I would appreciate it if you kept those thoughts to yourself, it is definitely not appropriate."
"I've seen you at the club dancing."
Maddy gasped. She was afraid of this day.
"What you think you could hide forever? Philip wants our money; I am willing to buy the software if you spend a night with me." Jude Stones reached out and attempted to run his finger down her arm.
"Sir, please do not touch me, I am not interested in you." Maddy tried to move farther away without arousing suspicion.
"That cripple can't satisfy you, I can." Maddy sighed.
"If you don't spend the night with me bitch, I will make sure you regret it." Jude's voice was demonic, and it made Maddy's skin crawl.
She began to get a little afraid, to the others in the room, it looked like she was simply having a conversation with a potential client. What she did not know was that the man in her life, was listening to the conversation from his office.
"Andre." "Sir."
"I need the file on Jude Stones."
Andre walked over to the filing cabinet and pulled the file. She handed it to Philip and stepped back. The look on his face meant someone would either die, lose their job or have so many broken bones there would be no recovery. "Call Broos, tell him leak any dirt we have on Stones."
"Sir."
Back in Reception
"I'm tired of this Mr. Stones, I won't be sleeping with you, please leave me alone."
"Don't be shy all of a sudden, I see how you spread your legs on stage, inviting men to do things to you. I won't hurt you but I bet I'm bigger than the cripple, you will feel me for a week. Give it a try."
Maddy turned to walk away. Stones grabbed her hand and yanked it. Maddy tried not to let out a sound, but her hand hurt.
"Let go!"
In the next moment, Jude Stones was flat on his back, sporting a busted lip. Andre propped up on a wall as if nothing happened. Philip wheeled slowly over to Maddy.
"Honey, are you okay?" Normally he would not use terms of endearment at work but he needed to let people know she was his. Whispers and murmurs could be heard but he didn't care. "My hand hurts, other than that I'm fine."
Philip reached for her hand and realized she was holding it in a funny way.
"Andre, get Matthew." Maddy's hand was bruised where Jude had pulled it. Andre pulled out her cell and made the call.
"Ten minutes sir."
"Now, Mr. Stones, you are no longer welcome at Dalton Corp. Whether my fiancée is willing to press assault charges, that is entirely up to her." He looked up at Maddy. She shook her head.
Some of the clients and staff murmured. She was his fiancée? "As you can see, Maddy is unwilling to take this any further." "Fiancée?" Jude screeched.
"You have known me for over twenty-years, and you are willing to go against me for this bitch?"
Andre stood straight as Philip reached under his chair. She rested her hand on his shoulder, reminding him they were at his office.
"Jude…" Philip warned.
"What Philip? She worked in one of your clubs, that's how you found her! She isn't qualified to be the VP here. Are you blind? Let me have her for a few days, we can share." Jude grinned wickedly from the floor.
"Everyone, I apologize for this gentleman's behavior." Philip said firmly and nodded to Kira.
"Ladies and gentlemen, please take what's left of the refreshments and head out." Kira said nervously. She knew Philip was controlling his anger but the moment the guests were gone, she would be hiding behind her desk. She knew about her two bosses but when Philip said it out loud, her respect for him soared.
When the last person left the area. Philip glanced at Maddy. Matthew had just strolled through the door with his bag.
"Hey guys what's the emergency?" Matthew was a handsome Doctor, but he was fierce when it came to his patients. He was on call for Philip as he was the only one Philip allowed to perform surgery on him.
"Andre, take Maddy and Matthew to my lounge." "Matthew, take Maddy to Philip's lounge." Andre said. "Andre." "Not leaving you here sir." She replied. "Fine. Matthew, Maddy, get going." Andre and Philip waited until the office door was closed with Matthew and Maddy on the other side of it.
"Jude, I know your reputation for sleeping with anyone who is willing, but my woman is off limits, especially since she refused you more than once, I will not say this again." "You have lost it Philip;
I remember the days when we used to run shit together and all of a sudden you are shacking up with some black bitch from one of your clubs? Come on man, let me have her or I will take her from you and throw her back when I get tired."
Jude didn't understand how his words affected Philip. When he did get the picture, Matthew was standing over him with a strange look on his face.
"What happened?" Jude asked Matthew as he struggled to sit up.
"I was told to wait here until you woke up. Damn, they messed you up good Jude. Why would you mouth off to Philip of all people? You know what he is capable of!" "Man, she looks good and she would look better bouncing on my…"
Jude never got the words out. When he woke up for the second time, he was in an alleyway in the heart of Brighton, surrounded by four men. Matthew had punched him and left. Two of Philip's bodyguards took him out to a car and drove him away from Dalton Corp.
The next day, the headline read, Jude Stones, CEO of Wind Man & Associates caught with his pants down.
"Oh gosh Philip, what did they do to him?" Maddy asked as she curled up with him on the sofa. Her wrist was wrapped in a light bandage.
"Oh I Dunno, a rectal exam maybe? He dared to threaten my woman." Philip said as he reached across, took her wrist and kissed it.