Free Rise of the Notorious by Katie Jennings Page B

We both have a stake in what happens with the company now, and despite what you may think I do in fact give a damn.”
    “Well, then start acting like it,” Duke growled as he sat back down, rubbing his face with his hands. He was tired, damn tired, and wanted nothing more than a stiff drink.
    Grant silently watched his cousins, mentally wishing he had a gun to put to his temple at that very moment. It was painful to deal with their pettiness, their frustration and blatant chauvinism. They were both trying to bully their way to the top, and understanding that fact made him instantly sick of both of them.
    At that moment, Madison swept into the office, filling the room instantly with the scent of her perfume. She paused by the door, taking in the sight of her irritated cousins and furious brother.
    “Sorry I’m late.” She shut the door behind her and continued toward Grant’s desk, setting her purse down on its surface. “What did I miss?”
    “Not much,” Grant grunted, staring up at her cynically. “How did it go with the lawyers?”
    “Fine. We will begin the corporatization process in three weeks.”
    “Seriously? I thought we were taking time to talk this over?” Cy burst out angrily.
    “We are. That doesn’t change the outcome.” She rested her hip against Grant’s desk and crossed her arms.
    “You want to know what I think?” Duke said suddenly, rising to his feet again and approaching Madison, his handsome face marred with stress and resentment. He pointed his index finger at her, dark anger in his eyes. “You’re going to drive this company straight into the ground. You can’t handle this, honey, and we all know it. You’re too damn young!”
    “And you’re blinded by jealousy,” Madison countered, attempting to keep her voice level despite the enraged emotions rioting inside of her. “You hate that I’ve been given this opportunity instead of you.”
    “Damn right I do,” Duke muttered, backing away from her. “We go way back, cousin, but that doesn’t change anything. If I’m going to be forced to follow you, then you can bet I won’t go easily.”
    He stormed out of the office. Madison watched him go, a fresh chip cracking in her heart.
    No, he wasn’t that man she’d known all those years before. He’d let himself become consumed by bitterness.

    When darkness fell over the city, Madison sought comfort in the one place she knew she could always find it. Cherir .
    She interrupted Raoul while he was cleaning up for the day and without a word wrapped her arms around him. He held onto her, startled by her easy affection.
    “What is wrong, cariño ?”
    Madison inhaled deeply as she pulled away, her eyes dry despite the sorrow and confusion mulling deep within her heart. She had only ever cried once around him, and that was years ago now. She didn’t intend on reliving that experience.
    “I hate men,” she confessed with a dark laugh. “Except for you, darling. You would never hurt me.”
    “Who hurt you?” Raoul demanded, fury rising in a hot flash as his temper flared. She reached out to grab his arm before he could take off in search of the perpetrator, her eyes sparkling with pride.
    “My gallant knight…” she mused, watching him fondly. “I don’t need you to fight my battles for me. I only came down here to vent.”
    “A knight defends his queen.” He frowned, leading her to a nearby bench so they could sit. “Tell me.”
    “Duke has become quite the asshole,” she announced, resting her head on his shoulder with a sigh. “He hates me.”
    “No, it is not hate in his heart. It is just jealousy.”
    “Close enough.” She shut her eyes tightly, willing back the misery she felt over the whole situation. Despite the isolation she felt from her family and the pressure to succeed, she had little doubt that she could do it. But lately with her grief still simmering under the surface of her cool reserve, she was having a hard time keeping her emotions at bay.