Into The Woods (Dark Fairy tales), page 20
“Oh, I will, will I? If you’re inviting her and promising her all this stuff, don’t you think you should pay for it?”
“I don’t have any money. Daddy has all the money so you’ll have to ask him if you can go too.”
“Little man, I think Hilda is looking for you. Why don’t you go see what she wants?” Maddox said, as he lifted his son off the bed and placed him firmly on the floor.
“Okay, daddy. Miss Sutton, ask if you can go, okay?” Darius said, as he scurried out the room.
“He is too cute, Maddox.”
“Oh, he’s too much. I hope he didn’t wake you.”
“No, I was awoken by a screaming grown man, not a child.”
“Sorry about that. I had some things I needed to handle,” Maddox explained, quickly losing his smile.
“About that. Maddox it’s not Jarvis’ fault. I mean, what happen between us was my initiating, and I really don’t think…”
“Sutton, can we please not discuss this?” A sardonic smile crept across his face. “See? I didn’t end the conversation, I asked nicely. Old dog, new trick.”
“Well, you are the oldest dog I know,” Sutton teased.
“Oh, I am, huh?” Maddox gave her sides a quick tickle. “Is that why you’re in here flirting with my son? You need something a little younger?”
“Oh, yeah, let me tell you, his intriguing conversation about sharks was what won me over.”
“Don’t be fooled, he’s a little heartbreaker. My son’s got skills. He’s a smooth little playa.”
“Oh, let me guess: he gets it from his father.”
“Well, I didn’t want to sound cocky…but, yeah,” Maddox said, as he placed a kiss on Sutton’s waiting lips. “So, why don’t you shower and change we leave in an hour,” Maddox said, as he rose and began to walk to the door.
“Wait, what are you talking about?”
Maddox turned and looked at a puzzled Sutton. “Didn’t you just get an invite to the aquarium? I would hate to see my son heartbroken and stood up.” Maddox warned playfully, as he left the room.
***
“I think we should get cotton candy first, Daddy. That way we can eat it while we’re looking at the fish,” Darius said, through a mouthful of oatmeal. “What do you think, Miss Sutton?”
“Son, don’t talk with your mouth full. It’s rude,” Maddox scolded, without looking away from his newspaper.
The doorbell rang, and shortly after Curtis led Jarvis into the dining room. “Mr. Franklin to see you, sir.”
“J!” Darius screamed, as he jumped out of his chair and hopped into Jarvis arms.
“D-man how was your grandma’s?” Jarvis asked, as he gave Darius a tickle.
“It was fun. We’re going to the aquarium. Do you want to go?”
Jarvis looked at a smiling Sutton and then an annoyed Maddox. He gave Darius another tickle before placing him back on the ground. “Maybe next time, little man.”
“Do you have the files?” Maddox asked, his voice all business.
“Yes, sir,” Jarvis dug in his messenger bag, retrieving a large file of papers. “Perry signed them this morning.”
Maddox looked through the files, as he rose from his chair. “Come into my office. Darius, if that oatmeal isn’t gone in the next few minutes, the only fish you will see will be in the tank in your bedroom,” Maddox barked, as he led Jarvis to his downstairs study.
Sutton watched as everyone jumped to attention. She wondered why everyone feared the wrath of Maddox. She was a bit scared herself, but found most of the time when she challenged him he relented easily—but that was most likely followed by sex. It then occurred to her that that was probably one of Maddox’s turn-ons. A good fight was always followed by a hot, passion-filled make-up. This, unfortunately, wasn’t something that others—like Jarvis—could count on.
Sutton gave a now-silent Darius a smile, as she watched him shovel spoonfuls of oatmeal into his mouth. Even his son was on high alert, aware of Maddox’s temper tantrums, Sutton thought, as she excused herself and made her way to the study. The doors were shut, but Maddox and his unmistakable anger echoed through.
“There is no room for fuck-ups Jarvis. If you’re going to one day become a lawyer at my firm, you need to learn that now.”
“Maddox, I am pretty sure I didn’t mess up the file. I remember…”
“The one thing I hate more than fuck-ups are excuses, so if you want to have a job come Monday, I would think carefully before uttering those words.
“Your right, and I’m sorry.” Jarvis let out a large, defeated breath.
“I left the Hackamore file on my desk. Get started on that when you finish this.”
“I was wondering if there was any way I can do that on Monday. It’s just that it’s my mother’s birthday today, and they’re throwing her a cookout. If I finish this and get it back to Perry I can catch the end, but if I have to start the…”
“Well, I guess you should have thought about that before you fucked my…before you fucked up the file,” Maddox corrected sternly. “Get it done.”
Sutton jumped as Jarvis opened the door. He gave her an angry glare as she hurried to the front door. It was official; Maddox was not happy about the situation, Sutton thought, as she took a deep breath and entered the lion’s den.
“Maddox, can we talk?” Sutton asked meekly, as she shut the office door.
“Not about this,” Maddox snapped, as he continued to study his papers.
“Well, then, I’ll talk and you can listen. I don’t think it’s fair that you are punishing Jarvis for what happen. It’s like I said: I initiated it because I was drunk and…well the platinum members were in the room and they…”
Maddox looked up from his papers his eyes glaring into Sutton’s. “This is none of your business, Sutton.”
“Jarvis is sorry, and so am I. It sounds like he’s missing someone’s important party because you’re making him work. It’s not fair that he gets punished for something I basically made him do.”
“First of all, Sutton, what I do with my employees has nothing, and I do mean nothing to do with you. Second, I already told you that what you do at The Woods is out of my control.”
“But that doesn’t mean that it doesn’t make you angry. If you try to tell me the fact that I was with Jarvis doesn’t make you upset, it would be a lie, and you know it.”
Maddox jumped out of his seat. “What do you want me to say, Sutton, that I enjoyed hearing that my woman was fucking my assistant? No, that shit was not something that I wanted to hear. So maybe I am punishing his ass, but that’s all I can do about the situation. What happens in The Woods stays there, remember? I no more have control over who you fuck there than you would if I fucked someone. So I’m sorry, I’m not happy.”
“Why didn’t you just say that? Why hold it in and pretend that it doesn’t matter.”
“Because it doesn’t matter, Sutton. I’ve been here before, and stopping you is not going to do anything but make you see that being with me is not what you want. You have needs. There is a special breed of person who walks into those doors and doesn’t come running out screaming. There is something about The Woods that, regardless of if you want to admit it, you need. I know the feeling, and it’s hard to shake it. Stifling that need isn’t going to do anything but make you run.”
Sutton looked at a hurt and angry Maddox. She didn’t want to admit it, but he was right. There was a thrill that came over her every time she walked through the doors—a feeling of excitement about what the night would hold. However, she didn’t want that excitement to trump the feelings of those she cared for, or to hurt the relationship that she wanted, even though she didn’t know quite what the relationship was yet.
“You could have told me. I would have listened.” Sutton hugged a hesitant Maddox. “Your feelings matter in this.”
Maddox’s anger relented, as he placed a gentle hand on her back. A chuckle escaped his lips, “I wish I could believe that. Come on, Darius is waiting,” Maddox said, as he gently pushed her away and walked out the study.
***
The aquarium proved to be a test in patience for Sutton. The argument hung over what should have been an amazing day with Darius, turning it into moments of awkward silence and forced politeness. Darius ran them from the aquarium to the mall, to the movies, and several other stops, before they headed home. Though the day was enjoyable for a now-sleeping Darius, it was tedious for Sutton.
Sutton walked up the stairs and into Maddox’s bedroom. The plan was to gather her things and clear out before he finished putting Darius to bed. The last thing she wanted was another fight. Sutton grabbed her dress and heels from the night before and stuffed them into her bag. As she turned to leave she walked right into Maddox. Shit, she thought, as she grasped tightly to her bag and purse.
“Going somewhere?” Maddox asked, as he studied a nervous Sutton.
“I thought that it would be best that I leave. After all, you haven’t said anything to me all day.” Sutton let out an exasperated breath. “No, I’m not going to make excuses. I was leaving because, frankly, I don’t have the energy to fight with you. I don’t understand you, Maddox, and I’m starting to wonder if I ever will.”
“Is that right?” Maddox gave Sutton a smirk as he breezed by and took a seat on the bed. “What is it that you don’t understand?”
Sutton felt her anger bubble slightly as she looked at a calm and cool Maddox. The man was hot and cold, and this was something that Sutton was growing very tired of. Sutton walked over to Maddox and thought over her approach. Stay calm, she thought, as she formed an argument in her head.
“You’re mad about what I did with Jarvis? You said that what you want doesn’t matter, and that you don’t believe that I would listen? I don’t get why you believe that.”
“Because it’s true,” Maddox said matter-of-factly. “Sutton, I will never make our age difference or your inexperience an issue. However, I’ve been through this before, and I know how this ends. I questioned whether it was a good idea to bring you into my life. It’s not just me, but there’s also Darius, and I take that very seriously. But for all the many reasons that I found to say no to our relationship, I found just as many to say yes. There is something about you, Sutton, that I can’t shake. There is something that tells me you’re different, and I want to believe that. I want to believe that you’re different from all the others. Yet I’m not sure you are.”
“Why do you say that?”
“Because you’re young. You’re young, and the world…this world is new and exciting. What happened with you and Jarvis is nothing more than the first in a long line of moments that you will have and I will have to accept. The problem is that as much as I say I can accept it, I don’t think I can.”
Sutton looked into Maddox’s eyes, seeing a hint of pain. “So, what does this mean?” Sutton asked, as she took a seat beside him.
“It means that I want you. I want you more than words can describe, but I’m not willing to fight you. I thought I could handle this, but I can’t. I’m not willing to share you, but that’s what The Woods are and I can’t stop you. I’ve been down this road, Sutton. I can really see a future with you. Its just that…you have to choose.”
“Choose? What do you mean, choose?”
Maddox gave Sutton a serious glare. “Between me and The Woods. You were right; I was punishing Jarvis because inside it felt like he was taking a piece of something that belonged to me. I’ve only had that feeling once before and…look, Sutton, this is your time. If you want to walk away, I’m giving you an out. I won’t hold it against you. I would prefer you leave now, before I invest any more of my—
or my child’s—feelings in you. So, the ball’s in your court. What will it be?”
Sutton took in Maddox’s words. This was all new territory. She’d never had anyone confess their feelings to her, let alone tell her that they could see her as their future. The thought wasn’t as scary as she assumed it would be. With Maddox, she would never want for anything. He was smart, successful, wealthy, and incredibly sexy. Then there was the fact that he was an amazing father, and if they were to ever have children he would be just as good of a father to them.
To most women this would be a no-brainer. You can have a man who wants you, or a life as a glamorous call girl: what’s to question? Yet Sutton didn’t know why, but the idea didn’t sit well with her. Although Maddox was offering her the hope of a great possible future, she couldn’t escape the fact that this was not the right choice.
“It’s not that big a deal. I mean, after all, you go to The Woods,” Sutton rambled, stalling for time.
“That night was the first time I’d been there in years. I stopped going shortly before my son was born. That night was a random night that led me…that led me to you. I guess it was a good thing. Or maybe it was bad. I really don’t know yet.” Maddox took Sutton’s hands into his and gave her a shy smile. “What I do know is that I’m glad that I went.”
Sutton looked at her handsome lover. She couldn’t get rid of the nagging doubt, but losing something that could possibly be great…that bothered her even more. “I won’t go back. I don’t need it. The Woods were really just an…an experiment.” Sutton placed a soft hand on Maddox cheek. “This could be so much more.”
Maddox smiled, as he leaned in and gave Sutton a soft kiss. “I was hoping that was what you would say. So, you’ll find another place to live? I mean, after all, I think it’s best you not be with someone like Charlotte.”
“What does my apartment have to do with anything? I promised to stop going to The Woods. Living with Charlotte is not going to hurt me or make me go back on my promise.”
“I’ve already told you what type of person she is, Sutton. Can you please just do this one thing for me?”
“Even if I wanted to leave, I can’t. I don’t have my job at the salon, and the waitress job…well I lost that one, too. I can’t afford to move.”
“I will get you set up in a place. Buy you any and everything you need.”
“No!” Sutton shouted as she leapt from her seat. “If we are going to have this relationship Maddox, you need to know that I don’t want your money. You buying me a place and paying for me makes me feel like a child. Give me a few weeks to find a job and save some money. Then I can move out on my own. I left my grandmother because I wanted to be treated like an adult, so please just let me do this on my own.”
Maddox stood and crossed over to Sutton, “You’re right. Fine, I can give you time. “He wrapped her in his arms and kissed her softly, then hugged her tight. “I’m so happy you picked me.”
Chapter Seventeen
Sutton banged her head on the table, cursing her luck. She had six thousand to her name, and she refused to use the ho bank money. The amount of screwing she’d done had done nothing more than win her enough to live on for a few mere months, if that. The fact that she’d also spent the morning putting in applications didn’t help her outlook. No one was hiring, and if they were she couldn’t mix in the hours with her school schedule. Not that a measly part-time job would pay for anything worth living in. Sutton hated to say it, but The Woods was really turning out to be her only choice.
However, The Woods was no longer a choice. It had been a week since she’d decided to give it all up and make a go of it with Maddox. This was a decision that she didn’t want to regret, but she was having a hard time doing that when she looked at her bleak future. She wanted to keep her word to Maddox. She cared for him and knew that her going to The Woods was a hard thing for him to accept. However, she also wanted to finish school, and the jobs she was being offered were not conducive to that.
Sutton weighed her options. Dropping out of school in her last year was not an option. Taking Maddox up on his offer to help was something she really didn’t want. Running back to her grandmother…Sutton stopped that silly thought in its tracks. There wasn’t a solution that she knew she would be happy with. In order to keep Maddox, she had to give up The Woods and living with Charlotte, the two things that were keeping her afloat.
Sutton pulled her head from the table, opened her laptop, and began to run through the help-wanted ads on another hiring website. She wasn’t willing to give up just yet. The Woods wasn’t an option, and she only had a small amount of time before she would have to leave Charlotte’s. There was no time for a pity-party. Besides, she was actually glad she hadn’t gotten too deep in The Woods, Sutton thought, as she looked at yet another ad for a waitress position. The last thing she wanted was to get trapped. As thrilling as being there was, she had to move past it. Although in her dire financial state she sure would have enjoyed another week or two, Sutton thought, with a giggle.
“Hello, roomie,” Charlotte chimed in her usual overly cheerful way. “ What are you up to?” she asked, tossing her armful of shopping bags on a chair and taking a seat across from Sutton.
