14. Ian

Ian went back to work a few days after the meeting with Andrew. He would have taken more time off, but Maddie had told him to return to work because she didn't want him hovering and worrying about her. She also had to get back to working full time because she had several deadlines to meet.

Three weeks had passed since Ian had gone back to the office, and he'd barely seen Maddie. He was working long hours, and by the time he got home at night, she usually had her bedroom door shut already. He had insisted that they have Friday night movie nights, and Maddie told him they didn't need to keep up the tradition, but he insisted. He bribed her with letting her choose the movies each week, so he'd suffered through the movies she picked out. It was worth it, though.

He kept his distance as often as he could, and as much as he hated to admit it, he'd been staying at the office late most nights to avoid having to tuck Maddie in. He needed the space because his control was becoming harder to keep in check. He still texted her throughout the day to check on her and see if she needed anything, but she kept her responses short.

When he did see Maddie, she seemed to be doing better each time he saw her. He knew it would take time for her to heal. He'd given her the keys to his Range Rover to use as she needed until they could get her SUV from Colorado. He was driving his Audi R8 Spyder in the meantime. She had asked if she could drive that instead of his Range Rover. He had then lectured her for twenty minutes about how there was no way in hell that he was going to let her drive a dangerous sports car that was death on wheels. His head nearly exploded when she asked why he was allowed to drive it, but she wasn't. His response was, "Because I said so." Obviously, she rolled her eyes at him and huffed as she stomped up the stairs.

One afternoon, Ian walked into the house from work, and Maddie was sitting on the couch in the living room with her laptop. She was wearing a pair of leggings, and an oversized hoodie that he was pretty sure was his, and she had several empty bags of candy around her.

"Madison Rose, please don't tell me you ate all that candy today?"

She looked up from her laptop and then around at the wrappers and empty bags and blushed.

"Uh… I guess I did. I wasn't really paying attention."

Crossing his arms over his chest, Ian narrowed his eyes.

"Have you eaten today?"

The sheepish look on her face gave him her answer before she even opened her mouth.

"Madison! You can't go without eating real food and just eat candy. That isn't healthy for you. Do I need to check on you throughout the day at each mealtime to make sure you're eating?"

She glared at him, "Oh my gosh, I am a grown woman and can take care of myself, thank you very much."

Maddie put her computer down and started picking up the wrappers. When she went to walk past him, he stopped her.

"Bring me your candy stash."

If looks could kill, he would have died instantly.

"No!" she snapped.

Ian raised his eyebrow and put his hands on his hips.

"Madison Rose Michaels, go get your candy stash and bring it to me right now."

She huffed and crossed her arms, staring at him with pure defiance in her eyes. His hand itched to spank that brattiness right out of her. She so obviously needed it.

"I am going to count to three, and if you have not gone to get your candy, you are going to be in a world of trouble."

Maddie scowled, "You cannot threaten me! I am a grown wom-"

"One," he said, cutting her off.

Her eyes widened, and she looked shocked. He had no idea what he would do if he got to three, but he figured that he would work it out if it came to that. Maybe he would ground her or take away her phone or something. Although he really wanted to redden her bottom.

"Two."

She lowered her arms to her sides and stomped away from him. He knew there was a good possibility that she wouldn't come back, but he would go find her if that happened. He would not allow her to eat candy all damn day and not eat anything nutritious. She was already underweight as it was. When he heard her stomping back towards him with an armful of candy bags, he had to hold back a smile. She dropped them on the coffee table in front of him.

"There, happy?" she snapped.

I'd be happier if you were standing in the corner with a sore bottom.

"Is that all of it? If I find out you didn't bring me all of it, you are going to be in trouble."

She gaped at him for a second before she stomped off again and came back with another entire armful of candy. He knew her first load couldn't have been all of it. She was completely addicted to sugar.

She glared at him after she dropped the second armful onto the coffee table.

"Don't look at me like that, little girl. You obviously can't eat your candy responsibly, so I will be helping you with that. I am also going to be checking in on you throughout the day to make sure you're eating meals, and you had better be truthful with me. Understood?"

"Ian, I am twenty-four years old!"

He grinned, "I know, just a little girl. But don't worry, I will take care of you, Maddie-Rose. Now, what do you want for dinner? Steak?"

Her cheeks flushed, and she lowered her gaze. Yeah, he had hit a soft spot with the little girl comment.

Ian made steaks, a salad, and sweet potatoes for dinner. He called Maddie to come to eat, and she did, but she barely spoke to him throughout the meal and wouldn't make eye contact with him. When she set her fork down and pushed her plate away, he frowned and speared another piece of her steak and held it up to her mouth.

"Open, little girl," he said sternly.

The flush from earlier returned to her cheeks, but she opened her mouth for him as he fed her several more bites until he was satisfied with the amount she ate. They cleaned up the kitchen together in silence, and then she told him she was going to take a shower and go to bed. He wanted to offer to give her a bath and tuck her in, but since she was functioning like normal, he didn't have an excuse other than he wanted to Daddy her.

"Movie night tomorrow. Think about what you want for dinner, baby girl."

She turned to face him before she left the kitchen and studied him for a long moment before nodding her head and leaving the room.