Chapter 2

Madison

His presence was intoxicating. Alexander's cologne wrapped around me, lingering like dark spices and something earthy. My pulse quickened as he leaned in, our faces just inches apart.

"You're here," he murmured.

"Mr. Knight, what's going on?" My voice trembled. I placed a hand on his chest, meaning to push him back, but all I felt was the chiseled muscles under his shirt.

He took my hand, interlacing his fingers with mine and pressing them back against the wall. The heat from his touch was electric, coursing straight to my core. My breathing turned shallow, and my heart thudded in my ears. His eyes were dark, pupils blown wide.

"You're really here." He whispered huskily. His gaze swept my face, lingering on my lips as his breath warmed my cheek.

"Are you... okay?" I stammered. His pupils seemed larger than normal, almost swallowing the blue of his irises. Something felt off. Was he on drugs?

"I'm more than okay." He nuzzled against my neck, lips brushing my skin. "You're perfect."

"I think you might need medical assistance-"

He didn't let me finish. His mouth captured mine, and the world tilted on its axis. The kiss was fierce, desperate, and filled with a hunger that took my breath away. His free hand found my waist, pulling me against him.

The sensible part of my brain screamed for me to push him away, to get help. But then his tongue parted my lips, and my knees went weak. I grabbed onto his shoulders to steady myself, my fingers digging into the fine fabric of his suit.

His kiss grew more intense, leaving me scarcely able to think or breathe. A moan escaped my lips.

My hands roamed over his shoulders and back, feeling the hard muscles flex beneath my touch. His grip on my waist tightened, lifting me effortlessly.

Before I knew it, he maneuvered me backward, guiding me toward the bedroom. We stumbled, our lips never parting, until the back of my knees hit the king-sized bed. He gently pushed me onto the mattress, positioning himself above me. His eyes were wild.

"Off," he said, tugging at my blouse.

I fumbled with the buttons. Finally, I managed to undo the fabric and slip out of it.

His gaze darkened, and he pulled down the cups of my bra.

He bent down, and I arched up, gasping.

His free hand roamed lower, slipping under the waistband of my pants. A sharp jolt shot through me.

"Fuck," I moaned, my fingers threading through his hair, holding him to my chest.

With one swift motion, he tugged my pants and panties down my legs. His hands spread my thighs apart. I cried out.

"You're so ready," he muttered, almost to himself.

Before I could respond, I watched, breathless, as he quickly moved to unbuckle his belt and unzip his pants. He didn't bother removing his clothes.

He climbed between my legs, and I squirmed.

He moved against me, and my nails dug into his back.

His mouth crashed against mine in a desperate kiss. His hands gripped my hips as our bodies moved together, mingling with our groans and panting breaths.

"God, you feel incredible," he growled, breath hot and ragged.

We moved together. I felt the pressure building. He angled his hips, and I cried out, my entire body tensing.

"I'm close, Alexander," I gasped, my nails raking down his back.

My voice seemed to spur him on, his movements growing even more frenzied. I clutched at the sheets, trying to ground myself.

"Yes," he groaned, his pace becoming erratic. "Come for me."

His encouragement drove me over the edge. With a final scream, I shattered, waves washing over me as he continued moving with me through it.

It was then, just as the intensity began to wane, that I heard him mutter, "Fuck, Katherine."

I froze. My mind reeled. Katherine?! Who the hell was Katherine?

But I couldn't dwell on it for long because he was still moving with me. My overstimulated body responded despite my confusion, another wave already building.

"Katherine, you feel so good." He drove into me one last time, with a guttural moan. His body trembled, triggering another wave that left me breathless and shaking.

As the haze faded, reality sank in. Alexander had called another woman's name while we were together. He didn't even know who I was.

As he collapsed next to me on the bed, his breathing heavy, I stared at the ceiling, my mind racing. Who was Katherine? Did she work for him, too, or was she just one of his many conquests? The thought gnawed at me like a persistent itch I couldn't scratch.

I slipped out from under his arm, my legs still trembling. Alexander's soft snores filled the bedroom as I gathered my scattered clothes. Of course, he'd pass out - typical man. At least he hadn't called me "baby" or some other generic pet name. No, he'd gone with "Katherine" instead.

I stumbled to the bathroom, wincing at my reflection. My carefully straightened hair now resembled a bird's nest, and my lipstick... well, that was definitely not where lipstick should be.

As I cleaned up, my mind wandered to the stack of NDAs in my desk drawer - all the women who'd crossed paths with Alexander Knight.

"At least I didn't have to draft my own NDA," I muttered. Being Alexander's PA meant cleaning up his messes and arranging flowers and "sorry" gifts for the parade of models and socialites he left in his wake. But Katherine? That name wasn't in any of my files.

I smoothed down my outfit and checked my phone - 10:27 PM. The doctor would still be awake. I scrolled through my contacts, finding Dr. Peterson's number. My thumb hovered over the call button as Alexander's snores echoed from the bedroom.

"Dr. Peterson? Sorry to bother you so late." I kept my voice steady and professional. "It's Madison Harper, Mr. Knight's PA."

"What's he done now?" Dr. Peterson sighed.

"He seems altered. Dilated pupils, unusual behavior. I found him like this when I came to drop off some urgent paperwork." The lie slipped out easily. Too easily.

"Drugs?"

"Possibly. He's sleeping now, but-"

"I'll be there in twenty."

"Thank you, Doctor." I ended the call and slipped my phone into my pocket.

Back in the bedroom, Alexander sprawled across the unmade bed like a fallen Greek statue, suit wrinkled and pants still undone.

"Right. Time to make you presentable." I surveyed the scene. The nightstand had shifted a foot to the left. A decorative vase teetered on the edge – how had we not broken that?

I approached Alexander's sleeping form. "Don't you dare wake up," I muttered, reaching for his zipper. My fingers trembled as I worked quickly to tuck in his shirt and fasten his pants. The belt proved trickier – threading it through the loops while he was dead weight required some creative maneuvering.

His head lolled to the side. "Mmm... Katherine..."

I yanked the belt tight with more force than necessary. "Yeah, yeah. Katherine. Whoever she is."

The doorbell rang. Shit. Dr. Peterson was early.

I sprinted to straighten the nightstand, shoving it back into place. A quick scan of the room – nothing else seemed obviously disturbed. I grabbed a pillow and wedged it under Alexander's head, trying to make it look like he'd dozed off.

Dr. Peterson strode in, medical bag in hand. "Evening, Ms. Harper."

"Doctor. Thank you for coming so quickly." I gestured to Alexander. "I found him like this when I came to drop off some urgent documents."

The doctor knelt beside the bed, checking Alexander's pulse. "Any idea what he might have taken?"

"None. He seemed... not himself." Understatement of the century. "Dilated pupils, erratic behavior."

Dr. Peterson lifted Alexander's eyelids, shining a small light. "Probably some party drug. Though it's unlikely for him to indulge alone."

"Should I call security? His driver?"

"No need. I'll stay until he comes around." He pulled out a blood pressure cuff. "You should head home, Ms. Harper. I've got it from here."

I nodded, gathering my purse. "Of course. Thank you again."

I hurried to the elevator, my reflection in the metal doors nearly composed except for my swollen lips and flushed cheeks.

The night air slapped my face as I hailed a cab, needing to get home and think.

"Where to?" the driver asked.

"Anywhere but here." I caught his concerned look in the rearview mirror. "Sorry. 42nd and 8th, please."

As the city lights blurred past, I wondered how I'd face Alexander tomorrow. Would he remember? And more importantly – who the hell was Katherine?