Chapter 2 2. Smiles and Whispers

Maddison's POV

His remark was meant to be a nice thing, but it was awful to hear. She felt like all the air got knocked out of her lungs, and she just couldn't help but think that her fake smile was just going to shatter.

"He, uh..." Her mind just completely blanked. All the good excuses she had practiced, such as an office emergency or a family situation, just disappeared.

Jenna who had been silent, stepped in to help, and she was so good with people. "He was called into an emergency meeting at the last minute, Professor. He's so sad about missing this but you know how it is with those oil companies; they just don't care about graduation days."

"Oh, what a shame! A real shame on a day like today," Professor Davies called out but then he was already distracted by another lecturer waving at him. "Well you tell him I said hello, Maddison and once again, congratulations. You really have earned all of this."

As he turned and walked away, Maddison leaned back against the cool stone of the window frame and her whole body was shaking from trying to hold herself together.

"Thanks," she whispered to Jenna, and her throat felt tight. "I couldn't think of what to say."

Before Jenna could answer, a low, clear voice cut through the noise nearby. "Ms. Carter."

Maddison turned around and saw a man standing a little step behind who seemed very composed and dignified, and though he looked hot, he seemed to be in his forties and was dressed in a well-tailored dark suit. He had a quiet aura of power surrounding him, and as other party guests laughed and chatted, he was calm, his dark grey eyes settled on her with a stare that made her uncomfortable.

"Your speech was..." he started, taking a step forward.

"The structural integrity of a promise. A novel approach."

Maddison was surprised. "Thank you, I..."

Just then, a quiet buzz came from his inside pocket and he didn't move, but his eyes looked down for just a second. He held up one hand, which was both an apology and a clear sign for her to wait. He pulled out a simple phone, looked at the screen, and his jaw tightened just a little.

"Excuse me for one moment," he said, and his voice became a quiet, commanding whisper. He turned away from them and brought the phone to his ear. "Stevens... Yes... Tell Zurich the wire transfer is not up for debate. If they refuse, we acquire them by morning and I don't care what it costs."

He walked a few steps away with his back to them, already lost in his important business after which Maddison and Jenna gave each other a wide eyed look.

"Whoa," Jenna mouthed without making a sound. "Who was that?"

"No idea," Maddison whispered back, feeling a strange chill even though the room was warm. She was curious but also a bit scared because the man was so different from all the other men in the room, and when he looked at her, she got the impression it was less of a compliment and more like he was judging her. But soon, her worry for Tyler took over, and she turned to look back out of the window. The man and his commanding phone call were already fading from her mind as the familiar ache returned to her chest.

"I have your back and I always will." Jenna looked very loyal and worried. She moved a little closer, and her voice was barely a whisper. "Did you call him?"

Maddison shook her head while she stared into her champagne. "No. I texted him as soon as the ceremony finished and I texted him twice earlier, but he didn't answer." She swirled the glass and watched the bubbles race to the top. "His phone could be dead or he could be somewhere with no signal."

She listed off all the possible good reasons, as if she were trying to convince herself there was still hope but each reason sounded less and less likely.

"Or," Jenna said, and she wasn't joking at all, "he could have taken five seconds to text you back, Maddy. A simple, 'So sorry, can't make it.' That's all it would've taken." The simple truth of it really hurt Maddison's feelings, and this wasn't about some big problem he couldn't get out of, it was about five seconds. Tyler didn't think she deserved five seconds of his time on one of the biggest days of her life.

The small bit of worry she felt during the ceremony started to grow much bigger, and it now felt as though that worry was breaking apart the trust she and Tyler had built for the past years.

"I don't want to think about it," Maddison said, and the words sounded meaner than she wanted them to. She tried to push the thought away but the decision felt empty, as if she were ignoring the big problem that was already happening. "I'm not going to let him ruin this, because I worked too hard."

She squared her shoulders and drank the rest of her champagne in one gulp, then she set the empty glass on a passing tray before she put her brightest smile on her face, but just when she turned to join the party again to act like a happy graduate who wasn't bothered by anything, Jenna's hand on her arm stopped her.

"Hold up," Jenna said, and her eyes were serious. She pulled Maddison back, out of the way of people walking by. "Look I love you and today's your day, and I'll punch the next person who asks where Tyler is, but we need to be real for a second. This isn't the first time he's let you down on an important day."

Maddison pulled back a little. "That's not fair."

"Isn't it?" Jenna's voice was gentle but also very firm. "Do you remember my 21st birthday party? The one he promised he would be at, the one we spent months planning? He said he fell asleep. Do you remember the awards dinner when you won that big scholarship? He said he had a meeting late in the night. Maddy, I have been hearing you make excuses for him for many months."

"They were different," Maddison whispered, but the words sounded weak even to her. She remembered those times clearly, and they were like small problems she had tried to ignore and perhaps, she should not have.

"Is it different?" Jenna asked, her eyes still fixed on Maddison's. "Or is it just a larger occasion? I'm not trying to argue with you or spoil your day, I swear. I just... I want you to be safe. Please."

Her words were serious and felt important. It was more than a warning and it showed how strong their friendship was, and it was also her way of trying to help Maddison before something bad happened.

***

Now, the stuffy air in the party room suddenly felt hard to breathe and Jenna's words along with the quick, strange meeting with the mysterious businessman had bothered her more than she wanted to admit. She was trying hard to stay calm, but it wasn't working anymore.

"I need some air," she whispered to Jenna, and then she slipped out through a pair of heavy, arched oak doors, and just like that, the loud noise of the party became a soft, distant hum. She walked out onto the perfectly kept lawn, and the late afternoon sun felt warm on her face, and in that moment, she felt like she needed a moment to be honest with herself. Her thumb stopped over the power button on her phone, as a mix of fear and silly hope grew in her stomach. She just needed a sign...any sign that would make her world feel right again.

"Ms. Carter? I hope we can finish our conversation."