Madly Yours (Nora Reed) novel Chapter 451

The trio immediately averted their eyes, entirely convinced that their boss was fully recharged and ready to exact his brutal vengeance.

Their spines went rigid.

"Arthur, go down to the kitchen and have them prepare some food. Bring it up to my room shortly..."

"?"

They all froze, metaphorical question marks popping up over their heads. The impending doom they were bracing for hadn't arrived.

Arthur recovered first. "Yes, sir. I'll get it sorted right away."

With that, he practically fled the room.

Left alone with the boss, Archer and Olive stared at each other, the tension thick enough to cut with a knife.

Hudson's gaze swept over them coolly. "Archer, you—"

Before he could finish, Olive jutted her chin out and stepped forward. "Boss, Archer didn't mean to keep it from you! The whole thing was my idea. If you're going to punish someone—"

Hudson's lips curved into a faint smile. "You all did well."

"???"

"Huh?" Olive stood paralyzed in shock, genuinely thinking her ears were malfunctioning.

"From now on, even when I'm not around, her word is law."

"...Right."

It wasn't until Hudson walked away that Olive blinked rapidly, turning to Archer in total bewilderment. "Holy shit. What did he just mean?"

Archer looked toward Hudson's room, a wide grin breaking across his face. "It means we're off the hook. No executions, no torture. And we can finally order that food."

"Yes!"

...

Nora was roused from her sleep by the mouthwatering aroma of food.

She blinked her eyes open to find a small room-service cart parked next to the nightstand, loaded with a hot meal.

"You're awake?"

Hudson sat on the edge of the bed, a bowl of soup in his hands, offering a gentle smile. "Hungry?"

"Mhm..." Nora rubbed her eyes and propped herself up. The blankets slipped from her shoulders, revealing her luminous skin and a scattering of dark, telling marks just below her collarbone.

"Next time, you can be in charge. The pace, the depth, it's all up to you..."

Did he really just say that out loud?

Her face turned a violent shade of scarlet. "You are absolute trouble!"

...

Early the next morning, just as the sun began to peek over the horizon, Nora's alarm blared.

She reached out blindly to shut it off, blinking away the sleep, only to realize Hudson was already gone.

Remembering her plans to attend the architectural exhibition with Sienna, she quickly got out of bed to wash up.

When she finally stepped into the hallway dressed and ready, she found Olive leaning against the wall, tapping away on a mobile game.

Seeing Nora, Olive grinned and pocketed her phone. "Ready to roll, Madam?"

"Let's go!"

Half an hour later, a sleek black Maybach pulled up to the entrance of the Northampton Convention Center.