-Maddox's POV-

Maddox watched the woman in a black smooth her way through Tony's iron defences. He had never seen Tony smile so brightly towards a stranger. Ms. Lightwood crudely enjoyed her tea after she had just humiliated Alexander Ainsley in front of him. Maddox was aware that Alex was nervous but she was ruthless to call him out like that, and now, she seemed like a nice woman enjoying the sunlight with a cup of tea and good company.

Blair Lightwood who are you truly? He wondered.

"How did you know Mr. Ainsley was nervous?" Maddox asked whilst silently agreeing with them silently that the choice of ginger tea was exceptional.

"His hands and a few other things," she said vaguely.

"Like?" He urged her to continue.

She put her cup down. "Well, first when I shook his hand-" Tony gave her a puzzled look, but Maddox just sipped his tea because his curiosity was answered from earlier; he thought she was either overly bright or the hand-shake was to prove something, he was right. "His pulse was beating faster than normal, and his hands were anxious even though he tried to compose it on his face," she revealed. "But when I felt yours, it was steady."

Maddox grinned. "What else can you tell me about Mr. Ainsley?"

"He holds a lot of anger and resentment," Tony and Maddox looked at her baffled. "Probably towards you, or the whole world," she said conversationally.

"How can you tell?" Tony asked.

She hesitated for a moment and Maddox noticed the flicker in her eyes. "His colour choice," she revealed.

Tony almost dropped the tray. "What does the colour of his clothes have to do with his emotions?"

"Everything, his brown suit paired with a red sports shirt," she said. "His deceptiveness is holding onto his rage." She glanced between the two who were listening very closely. "He's a flight risk." She abruptly got to her two feet after dropping that bomb on them and then said; "Would you mind showing me your office space now?"

Everyone got up and took her towards the sleek metal elevators.

Maddox watched Ms. Lightwood; she was tall and reached his shoulder and the dress did nothing to hide her curvaceous and healthy figure. Her blonde hair swayed in lengthy waves down her back, the heavy mass adored her small face. She had the most striking crystal blue eyes like the ones she wore on her delicate wrist. When he was talking to Mr. Ainsley earlier, he felt a strong gaze piercing his back, he turned to look and had found her staring at him, studying him like a night-owl does its prey.

There was a spontaneous spark that attracted Maddox towards her, but he assumed nothing serious of it since she seemed to have that effect on everyone around her. Maddox in all his days has never met someone like her. She could smile like her heart was made of pure gold, but her eyes hid many secrets or maybe just one and she couldn't hide that from him. He wanted to crack her shell and study her carefully, he wondered more and more about his mysterious interior designer. There was just something about her that drove him over the brink of the edge, he was so used to not caring about others but Ms. Lightwood was something else entirely.

-Blair's POV-

They all reached Mr. Steele's penthouse in mere seconds with the help of the beautiful vintage elevator that had gold molding and crimson red walls. She had to admit that Mr. Steele was different from the usual group of people she meets every day. He was secretive and smart, she could tell that his eyes were on her, he studied her and was probably making his assumptions about her like everyone does. But Blair didn't mind, she was quite pleased that he was curious around her and about her.

Blair held her tongue earlier when Mr. Steele kept questioning her about Mr. Ainsley because she could see that Mr. Ainsley kept something dark tucked away in his old heart. She kept that part to herself because she knew how Maddox and Tony would react. They would think she was crazy.

Maddox broke the silence and elevator music. "Tony, I'll show Ms. Lightwood around." Tony disappeared in a few moments leaving Maddox and Blair alone.

Maddox pressed his hand on a black glass screen and the door automatically opened for them.

"What do you do for a living?" She asked as he presented her the way inside his private space.

"Real-estate mostly. I own hotels, publishing firms and a few other things," he informed.

"Hotels?" she asked.

"Yes," he answered and waved a hand around his surroundings. "This is my hotel."

Blair gaped. "I had no idea," she admitted truthfully.

"Not many do," said Maddox. "I wanted to keep this hotel private for myself."

Blair waltzed into a massive penthouse, the ceilings were way beyond reach and there was a crystal chandelier attached on the high up, which created beautiful streams of rainbows everywhere- the only thing that seemed to add colour.

Blair admired the long ceiling length windows that exposed Meadow-Mist between acres of landscape, the sun shined brightly over the forest and jagged mountains; it was mesmerizing, unlike his uncharacteristically plain house.

There was a simple white 'U' shaped couch on top of a cream basic rug. She approved of the silver lamps and glass side tables, the fire place was a nice touch; and thankfully it looked like it has been used quite often. The kitchen was on the other side of the room; it was black, and that's all she could say about it. Her eyes glued to the sleek piano placed in the corner, she gazed back at him with wonder in her eyes and he was already watching her. That amber gaze was unsettling and she couldn't quite grasp what he was thinking about.

"The office is this way," his voice was soft but resilient.

Maddox took her down a white hall that had a few doors, but he took her towards a pair of double doors at the end of the hall. He swung open the doors to an empty white space yet again.

The ceilings were carved into a cove with another chandelier twirling down, but it didn't do any justice to this beautiful space. Next to the horrible white book shelves there was a small staircase that led to another floor, and through the metal railing she could spot a simple bed and a bedside lamp. "You want me to finish this room?" She asked.

"Yes," he answered.

"Hmm," her mind began to race with all the ideas that popped in her head, but even she knew, she couldn't just put a purple giraffe in here. "Do you have any preferences?" She asked him.

"Simpler the better, but something I can't get tired of," he said as he leaned on his glass table with his legs crossed, he let her explore the room as he just stayed quiet beside her.

Blair wasn't ready to keep this room simple, she didn't have the heart to ruin the gorgeous cove ceilings with simple furniture. "I'm guessing I have an open budget?" She asked while exploring the book shelves.

"Of course," he answered.

Blair twirled around and faced him. "Tell me Mr. Steele," she began to work her magic. "Do you like what you do?"

His dark brows knit tightly together. "Yes, I do," he answered. "Why do you ask?"

She laced her arms. "Would you have done anything else? If you had the chance, I mean."

"No, I wouldn't," he answered simply.

Blair sat on the arm of the very hard chair, which would probably be the first thing she'd get rid of after those horrid white book shelves. "Why not?" She asked him.

His eyes narrowed. "Why do you care so much about this?"

"It's important," she said. "I need to know a little bit about you, if you want me to build you a study room."

His long legs took seconds to reach her, he was closer than she'd like to admit. He laced his muscled arms over his chest. "Why would you need to know about me?"

Blair smiled and stood up. "If I don't understand you, then how can I give what you need," she said.

"What does my profession have anything to do with my furniture style," he remarked.

She released a heavy sigh. "You love your job," she stated. "Your passionate about achieving the next goal, and you get a sense of rush when you make another big deal," she paused to find his striking amber gaze locked with hers. "Your protective and like to be in control not because you have ego, but you have an obligation towards the business and your employees" -she walked towards the large windows- "you protect them because that's the right thing to do. And trust me your workers can see that too, and that's why they work with you, follow you."

"You got all this from just asking me a few questions?" He asked while tucking his hands away in his pockets.

"Yes and no," she said with a hint of mischief twinkling in her eyes. "Tony doesn't know it, but I learned a lot from him too." His unexpected chuckle caught Blair off guard; frankly it was a deep and sweet sound.

"I'm still surprised how you got him to open up to you," he said. "It took me almost a year." Blair stared at him wide-eyed. "It's true-" Maddox grinned. "So, Ms. Lightwood will you design my office?" He asked as Tony entered the front doors right on cue, although she never saw Maddox reach for his phone.

Her gut uncoiled and she noticed there were no purple butterflies swirling around her that must be a good sign. "Yes, I will," she said. "I can't deny anyone who comes to me for help."

"I will get the paperwork ready," said Tony. "Ms. Lightwood, will it be alright for you to come in tomorrow as well?" He asked politely.

"Yes, that should be fine," she said before falling grim. "I have a problem though." They both looked to one another and then at her. "Stop calling me, Ms. Lightwood," she revealed. "You make me sound older than I am. Let's just stick with our first names, alright Tony." They all nodded and left the penthouse with the intention to meet tomorrow.

"I can drive you home, Ms-" Tony paused. "Blair."

"Thank you, that would be great," she said.

"Actually," Maddox's voice froze them both. "I'll drop her off."

Tony pushed his glasses higher up the bridge of his nose. "Of course." He tossed the keys to Maddox and let him guide Blair to the elevators.