Chapter 2 Pushed Around

Maddie Hayes had never been the kind of woman who let life happen to her.

Or at least, that's what she used to believe.

Until now.

Right now, as she sat in front of an enormous vanity mirror and was surrounded by a team of stylists, seamstresses and makeup artists who were fussing over her like she was some sort of prized doll, she felt like a stranger in her own life.

Her wedding gown was nothing short of breathtaking-it was an off-the-shoulder masterpiece of silk and lace with thousands of little white beads that shimmered every time she so much as breathed. The corset bodice cinched her waist perfectly and the dramatic train spilled over the floor in elegant waves.

It was the kind of dress women dreamed of wearing on their wedding day.

Too bad she was walking straight into a nightmare.

"Oh my God, Maddie," Sarah, her friend, gasped while she put a hand to her reddened chest like she might faint. "You look stunning. I mean, really. If I didn't love you, I'd be absolutely sick with jealousy right now."

Maddie sighed as she barely resisted the urge to roll her eyes.

Sarah had been dramatic since birth, but today, she was particularly unbearable on the very day that she hated the most.

"I'd rather look like a mess," Maddie muttered under her breath.

Sarah ignored her while she still stared at her in awe. "And to think, in just an hour, you'll officially be Mrs. Nathaniel Blackwood." She practically swooned as she clutched one of the stands of the vanity mirror for support. "Do you have any idea how insanely lucky you are?"

Maddie turned her head to look at her as she arched a brow. "Lucky?"

"Uh, yes?" Sarah's eyes widened as though Maddie had just spoken complete nonsense. "You're marrying Nathaniel freaking Blackwood! Have you seen that man? He looks like he was sculpted by the gods and dipped in old money. He's powerful, sexy, rich as hell-"

"He's also an asshole," Maddie cut in flatly. She didn't care about his money. Sarah, of all people, ought to know that.

Sarah made a dismissive noise. "So what? Most rich men are. If he's going to be your husband, you might as well enjoy the view."

A few of the other stylists giggled in agreement while their faces lighted up at the way Sarah was describing Nate at the moment.

"Oh, he's so handsome," one of them sighed dreamily.

"And his eyes," another added. "I saw a picture of him in Forbes last month. Those blue eyes could make a woman weak in the knees, I swear."

"That jawline."

" Those lips, damn it."

" He really is sexy as hell."

Maddie clenched her jaw as she listened to them.

Then, they should get married to him instead, damn it, she thought as she burned with anger inside.

Yes, Nate Blackwood was attractive. Ridiculously so. But these women had no idea what he was really like.

They hadn't stood in that office a week ago and heard him spit out the words, 'there is no way in hell I'm getting married to her'.

They hadn't seen the sheer disgust in his eyes when he looked at her like she was some desperate gold-digger who had sold her soul for a Blackwood wedding ring.

They had no idea that he had not called, texted or made any attempt to see her since then.

And now, in a matter of minutes, she would be walking down the aisle to marry him.

She groaned softly and pressed her fingers to her temples.

Her life had officially spiraled out of control.

What the hell was she really doing with all this? She thought in dismay as the stylists continued to work on her appearance.

The answer was simple: she was only fulfilling an obligation with all of this.

An obligation that two old men had demanded for reasons known to them.

And, as if the universe had a twisted sense of humor, the door slammed open at that exact moment. Bam!

The air shifted immediately and a heavy silence fell over the room as every pair of eyes turned to the tall, broad-shouldered man who was standing in the doorway.

Nathaniel Blackwood.

He looked like he'd walked straight out of a G4 magazine.

Dressed in a fitted black tux that molded to his powerful frame, his mere presence sucked all the air from the room and caused the temperature to increase immediately. His dark hair was swept back with infuriating perfection, his chiseled jaw was tight, and his piercing blue eyes-God, those eyes-were burning with a cold intensity as they locked onto her.

The stylist beside Maddie let out a strangled gasp as she looked at Nate with wide eyes. "I-It's bad luck for the groom to see the bride before the wedding."

Nate let out a dry and humorless chuckle. "Oh, trust me sweetheart," he said in his sexy voice that was rich with sarcasm. "This marriage is bad luck."

The tension in the air that came as a result was thick enough to choke on. Maddie thought she heard one of the young women near her swallow audibly.

As she met Nate's gaze through the mirror, her expression was unreadable. With a slow and deliberate breath that she exhaled, she waved a hand. "Everyone, out."

The women hesitated for a fraction of a second before they scrambled for the door, their hurried footsteps echoing through the room as they did so.

And just like that, they were alone.

Maddie turned to face him while she tried to ignore that fact even as she had her arms crossed over her chest. "What do you want, Nathaniel?"

Nate stalked toward her just then and his movements were sharp and precise like a man who was barely keeping himself together.

"What do I want?" He let out a bitter laugh as he shook his head. "Since you've allowed yourself to be part of this charade, I need to make a few things very clear."

Maddie arched a brow as she waited even though her stomach was rolling in tension already.

His voice was like ice as he said, "Don't expect love from all this. Don't expect companionship. This is just a business arrangement. Nothing more. Never forget that."

A sharp pang bloomed in her chest before she could stop it.

His words shouldn't have hurt.

She had grown up in a house where love was just another bargaining chip and she had never been naive enough to believe in fairytale romances.

Also, she knew what this marriage was and she wasn't delusional enough to expect romance from him.

And yet, the way he said it-with such finality, such coldness and such disdain- had felt like a slap on her face and had hurt more than it should have.

Still, Maddie was nothing if not composed.

She tilted her head and said in a voice void of emotion. "Are you done?"

Something flickered in Nate's eyes. It was as if he had expected something like a fight from her...not this indifference.

When she remained unfazed, his jaw clenched and without another word, he turned on his heel and walked out.

***

Minutes later, Henry Grant, her grandfather's friend, who was also her mentor and Sarah's father, took her arm at the beginning of the aisle and led her down it.

The wedding was an extravagant affair and had been attended by New York's wealthiest and most influential figures. Everything was perfect-the flowers, the music, the way the chandeliers cast a golden glow over the room...they were all perfect.

But none of it mattered.

Because Nate Blackwood stood at the altar like a statue and had the coldest look ever on his face.

Not once did he look at her.

Not when she walked toward him. Not when she slipped her hand into his for the vows.

Not even when the officiant said, "You may now kiss the bride."

A breathless silence fell over the crowd.

Maddie held still as she waited while she wondered how the kiss was going to be.

Thinking about the kiss didn't make her see in time that Nate wasn't moving towards her until it was too late.

To her shock, she watched him turn away and walk off.

The room erupted in loud gasps as he did so.

Bill shot up from his seat just then and his face was red with fury as he screamed. "Nathaniel Blackwood, you get back here-"

But Nate was already gone.

Maddie stood frozen where she stood near the priest while humiliation washed over her in waves.

Pitying stares burned into her skin while hushed whispers began to rent the air in the church.

For the first time in her life, she felt truly powerless.

And as she watched her new husband disappear into the crowd, she realized one painful truth:

She had just married a man who hated her and didn't care how much he hurt her even in public.

And this was only the beginning.