Is this destiny?

Aiden walked out and his eyes landed on a woman in a fiery red mini-dress. She was looking away and didn't notice that he exited.

His eyes narrowed. 'What's with that outfit?' It's obvious that she is dressed up for a party. If she had no intention of entering, and just wanted to talk to him, why would she dress up like that?

This confirmed Aiden's suspicion that she is up to something. He repeated his guess from earlier, that she wants to use him to get access to the event so that she can get close to Jeff. There is no way he will allow that. But he can't offend her… not without risking that she reveals his dirt to Sarah.

Madison is standing in the lobby. She decided on a spot a bit further away from the entry, so that it does not look like she is only eyeing the event. Madison heard the door open and her heart fluttered. With her peripheral vision she saw a man in a gray shirt walk toward her slowly. She repeatedly reminded herself not to turn that way… she needs to look nonchalant. No one likes desperate girls. 'That's right… walk to me… take in the sight of my body and imagine what it can offer…' Madison was doing her best to suppress a smile.

"Madison?", Aiden's deep voice made her knees tremble.

She turned toward him slowly and allowed a smile to bloom on her face. Madison's eyes moved over him, greedily taking in the sight of Aiden who is finally standing right in front of her.

"My, my… you are even more handsome than what I remember.", she was not able to hold back that thought.

Aiden tilted his head slightly. "You look good as well.", he dryly responded. "Why did you call for me?"

"Going straight to the point? It's not like it was ever you to beat around the bush… right?"

By the way she looks at him, Aiden already guessed why she called him. He knows that look well, and he used to enjoy it... but now, it's making him a bit nauseated. Aiden rolled his eyes internally, but he reminded himself not to offend her. He needs to play along and pretend that he does not realize that she is interested in him. And he can't let Madison find out about Sarah.

"Is there a reason you called me out?"

Madison ignored his indifferent voice, actually, part of her enjoyed it. "I heard you are here and thought we can chat, considering that we haven't seen each other for a while. Is that a problem?"

"My brother is getting married. And this event is part of that. I'm not sure if we have anything to talk about… but if you only want to chat, we can meet some other time. Now, my presence is needed inside."

Madison saw that Aiden was about to leave and panicked. She rushed toward him. There is no way she is going to let him leave! Madison didn't expect that in a blink of an eye, he would extend his arm and back of his palm landed on her forehead, preventing her from getting closer to him.

"What are you doing?", Aiden asked while holding her (literally) at an arm's length.

Madison was flustered for a moment before taking a step back, getting herself free from his hand.

"You said some other time…", she mumbled. "When is that?"

"Later. I am here to celebrate my brother's marriage."

"Can we meet tomorrow?"

Aiden rejected. "I'm busy tomorrow."

"How about next day?" Madison is not the one to give up easily. Not now when he is right in front of her.

"That is when the wedding is." Aiden stated the fact.

Madison's eyes sparkled from excitement. He finally got to the point she wanted to address. "We can go together."

Aiden thought how Madison's last statement confirmed that she does not know about Sarah. He needs to keep it that way. "I have a date."

"A date? … Since when do you have a date? … Is it that girl in a silver dress?", Madison could not hide her jealousy.

'So, she knows about Sarah, but does not know that I'm engaged…' Aiden repeated to himself that he can't allow Madison to find out that Sarah is not just a fling. If Madison finds out how important Sarah is, she will definitely look her up and tell her… things.

"If it is or isn't… how is that your business?"

"Even if we don't go together, I will see you at the wedding. I look forward to meet the girl who you are willingly addressing as your date." No matter how aloof Aiden looked, Madison sensed that she is onto something. Call it a woman's intuition.

"If you know what's good for you, you will stay away from her.", Aiden growled at her. Madison's smug expression made Aiden forget that he should not let her know about Sarah.

Madison was stunned for a moment when she saw that Aiden lost his composure. She could not hide that this situation, her being able to rattle him… excited her. "Is that a threat? Now I'm even more curious to find out who she is. Just who is the girl who can make a guy who does not sleep with the same girl more than once turn into… this."

Aiden realized that he revealed too much. He can't back off now. He needs to keep this pesky woman away from Sarah. Rage swelled inside him at the sight of a sinister smile on Madison's face. "Madison, I'm warning you…"

Madison was not intimidated by his words. She is overjoyed at the thought that she has some leverage, even though she still doesn't understand clearly what that leverage is. She approached him slowly, and they were only half a step away from each other when she stopped moving and looked at him seductively. "What? What will you do? How about this: you be my date for one evening, and I will never come close to you... or her."

In Madison's mind, if she gets him for one evening, even if she needs to use that aphrodisiac which Liam gave her… Aiden will be hers, forever.

Aiden's face darkened. "It does not seem that you understand the current situation. Even if I don't have a date, I am not interested in you…" Aiden leaned closer to Madison and spoke in a low voice: "You said it yourself, I don't sleep with any girl more than once. That makes you… used. I am a hunter, and I like fresh meat and you were hunted and eaten already. You should get out of my sight and play dead."

While Aiden was saying the last part, the door of the venue opened, and the music from there seeped into the lobby.

When he finished talking, Aiden turned toward the door and saw Jeff standing and observing the scene in front of him.

Jeff noticed that Aiden left in a hurry and seeing that he didn't come back after a while, Jeff went to see what is the reason.

Jeff is surprised to see Aiden close, too close to that woman, and they look intimate… whispering while standing next to each other in an almost deserted lobby. And Jeff would be blind not to see that the woman is attractive… and the way she looks at Aiden....