Chapter 11 Chapter 11 The next day was ... : 71 EZ 55 vouchers Somewhere between boring as a dry salad and steamy like a K - drama shower scene . I couldn't decide . Because surprise , surprise - Steven McLeon was still shirtless . Apparently, he had declared war on T - shirts . And the battlefield ? My sanity . It was his new thing : rolling around the penthouse with that annoyingly smug expression and a torso that looked like it came with its own lighting crew . Meanwhile , I was just trying to get him to finish ten minutes of basic quad stretches without pretending to die . " Five more minutes on your left leg ," I said , pointing dramatically like a commander at war . He grumbled . " That leg has suffered enough ." " It hasn't even started its journey yet , Simba . Push through . " He rolled his eyes and muttered something about torture . I ignored him like the professional goddess I am . And then - my phone vibrated . Now , normally , I wouldn't care . Except this vibration came with a screen lighting up behind me and a big , juicy notification flashing across the counter . MAXXX CALLING ... With a contact photo that - look , let me explain . It was Max . My best friend . And his contact photo was a very shirtless , oiled - up , thirst - trap selfie , complete with a pout , sunglasses , and a towel dangerously low on his hips . You know , just your average " hi mom don't open Madison's phone " level of trauma image . It was a joke . A dare . A thing . But now ? Now it was vibrating in front of Steven McLeon , Abs Supreme and King of Petty Reactions . Of course he saw it . Of course he leaned forward . Of course he raised one godforsaken eyebrow like it had its own personality . " Oi ? " he said slowly , like the villain in a telenovela . I snatched the phone like I was defusing a bomb . 11:27 Thu , Sep 18 Chapter 11 ... 71 55 vouchert Now , Max - my very gay , very muscular , very deeply - closeted - to - his - conservative - parents best friend - was currently vibrating across my kitchen counter , full abs on display , with a devil emoji name and a wink . I froze . Steven did not . Because of course , he saw it . And because this man is part petty , part predator , part tabloid cover- He immediately raised an eyebrow . " Who's that ? " I snatched the phone like I was defusing a nuclear bomb . " Mind your business , pecs . " He didn't blink . " Pretty bold of Maxxx to FaceTime you mid - leg press . And ... bold pic . Tasteful towel ." I gave him the flattest look known to mankind . " Don't start ." He smirked . " Is that your boyfriend ? " I snorted . " Please . " " Ex ? " " Try again . " " Situationship with benefits ? " " You wish ." Steven leaned back in his chair , flexing for no reason , his arms stretched behind his head like he was posing for thirst karma . " So what's he doing calling you during our highly professional PT session ? " I crossed my arms . " Checking if I'm still alive . He's worried you'd kill me with your spoiled royal tantrums . " " Oh , and you don't exaggerate ? " " Steven , you literally fake - cried yesterday when I asked you to do squats ." " I was emotionally overwhelmed ." I rolled my eyes and picked up my phone , swiping Max's call to voicemail with all the grace of someone totally unaffected by the fact that two shirtless men had now derailed her entire afternoon . Steven wasn't done . " He seems ... confident . Judging by the towel ." I smiled sweetly . " That towel could lift more weight than you ." He laughed . Like full - body , glorious laugh that made his stupid abs contract . The audacity . 11:27 Thu , Sep 18 Chapter 11 " I like this Max , " he said . " You don't even know him . " : 71 55 vouchers " Well , if he's going to flash his skin on your screen while I'm doing hamstring extensions , I feel like I deserve context . " " Oh , honey ." I leaned in slightly . " If you want to compete , you better take off the rest of your clothes and hold a fan . " He choked on air . Point : Madison . He blinked . " You're dangerous . " " You've seen nothing yet . Try skipping another PT set ." He stared at me , then muttered under his breath , " So aggressive ... and mildly hot ." " Mildly ? Wow . Bold of you to say , shirtless , single , and currently failing leg lifts ." I turned away , tossing my towel over my shoulder , and smirked at the oven clock . Max's call had gone to voicemail . Steven was flustered . And me ? I was back in control . Because let's get one thing clear : Max may have had the towel pic , but I had the power . And Steven McLeon ? He had no idea that this wasn't even my final form . But of course , Max called again and this time I answered . Because why not ? " Did you survive the McLeon Curse today or nah ? " Max's voice sang through the speaker . " Did his abs finally hypnotize you into kissing him mid - leg stretch ? " Steven perked up . " Excuse me ?! " I slapped the phone face - down . Fuck ! Okay , Max could wait . Steven narrowed his eyes . " So .... do you and your shirtless friend talk about kissing me ? " I gave him a deadpan stare . " Don't flatter yourself . We talk about your emotional constipation more than your abs . " He flexed a little . " So you do talk about my abs . " Chapter 11 55 vouchers " The kind that makes grown billionaires remember that sass queens like me don't beg - we brunch . " He chuckled , low and amused , while I whisked with violent grace . " Is this some kind of revenge for Max's towel pic ? " he asked . " No ," I said , flipping a waffle . " This is my origin story ." Fifteen minutes later , I placed a plate in front of him . Perfect golden waffles , topped with caramelized bananas , a swirl of whipped cream , and a honey drizzle that probably made angels weep . He stared down at it like I just proposed marriage . " Oi ! Madison ... " " Don't speak . Just chew ." He picked up his fork slowly . Took a bite . And paused . Closed his eyes . Exhaled . " Okay , " he muttered . " That's ... actually offensive . " I leaned over the counter , chin resting on my palm . " Good offensive or ' I'm calling my lawyer ' offensive ? " He glared at the plate like it betrayed him . " I'm mad . Why do these taste like childhood hugs and excellent life choices ? " I smirked . " Because I'm magic . " He shook his head . " You're something . " " Something expensive , apparently ," I said , pointing at my brand - new Louis Vuitton slippers courtesy of his mother's unlimited shopping spree . " Do they squeak when I walk ? No. Because they don't know poverty like I do . " Steven laughed again , real and unfiltered , and for the first time that morning , he looked ... Relaxed . Maybe it was the waffles . Maybe it was Maxxx . Maybe it was me . But something shifted . And I felt it too . 11:27 Thu , Sep 18 Chapter 11 " I like this Max , " he said . " You don't even know him . " 71 55 vouchers " Well , if he's going to flash his skin on your screen while I'm doing hamstring extensions , I feel like I deserve context . " " Oh , honey . " I leaned in slightly . " If you want to compete , you better take off the rest of your clothes and hold a fan . " He choked on air . Point : Madison . He blinked . " You're dangerous . " " You've seen nothing yet . Try skipping another PT set . " He stared at me , then muttered under his breath , " So aggressive .... and mildly hot ." " Mildly ? Wow . Bold of you to say , shirtless , single , and currently failing leg lifts ." I turned away , tossing my towel over my shoulder , and smirked at the oven clock . Max's call had gone to voicemail . Steven was flustered . And me ? I was back in control . Because let's get one thing clear : Max may have had the towel pic , but I had the power . And Steven McLeon ? He had no idea that this wasn't even my final form . But of course , Max called again and this time I answered . Because why not ? " Did you survive the McLeon Curse today or nah ? " Max's voice sang through the speaker . " Did his abs finally hypnotize you into kissing him mid - leg stretch ? " Steven perked up . " Excuse me ?! " I slapped the phone face - down . Fuck ! Okay . Max could wait . Steven narrowed his eyes . " So ... do you and your shirtless friend talk about kissing me ? " I gave him a deadpan stare . " Don't flatter yourself . We talk about your emotional constipation more than your abs . " He flexed a little . " So you do talk about my abs ." 11:28 Thu , Sep 18 Chapter 11 71 55 vouchers There was something about feeding a shirtless billionaire while dressed in fluffy socks and a borrowed Dior hoodie that made you feel like you were either in a fever dream or five episodes deep into a K - drama you never auditioned for . But whatever this was ? It was starting to feel good . Not just the sass . Not just the games . But this . Him . Me . Waffles . And a little heat that had nothing to do with the stove . 宙