Spoiled by the Silver Fox

"No shame in being outplayed," Maddie declared, her voice an exuberant echo across the park. Dressed in crisp white sportswear, she bounded toward us with the unrestrained joy of a puppy. "Putnam! Weren't you tied up with work today?" she called out, her sneakers kicking up a cloud of dust as she neared.

Sebastian replied coolly, "He's not that busy... He just didn't want to see you, that's all."

At his words, Maddie's sunny demeanor faltered, her eyes dimming as she muttered a subdued "Oh."

Gillian, trailing behind, noticed the sudden shift. "What's got you down all of a sudden, Maddie?" she asked, her brow wrinkled in confusion.

Maddie forced a thin smile. "Nothing, Gillian. Let's just go find Steph."

But Putnam wasn't having any of it. "Come back here!" he commanded with a deep breath, his voice carrying an authority that often went unchallenged.

Maddie's eyes sparkled with a thread of hope as she turned back to him. "Are you going to join me, Putnam?"

"I just got here. Let's take a break... Stephanie and Cyrus are in the middle of a heated game. Why interrupt them?"

Sebastian, quick with his wit, jabbed, "Someone sounds jealous."

Putnam shot him a glare filled with a mix of indignation and frustration.

"Jealousy is a game for the cunning," I thought, smirking at the unfolding drama.

"Since you left my place last time... you two haven't seen each other, have you?" Sebastian's voice cut through the tension.

Maddie nodded honestly. "Yeah... Putnam's been really busy."

"The truth is, he's not busy. He just doesn't like you," Sebastian said bluntly.

Maddie's gaze dropped to the ground, her voice barely above a whisper, "I know... he's just trying to be responsible. He doesn't really like me."

Putnam took a deep breath, trying to contain his irritation. "Who said I don't like you? Why listen to this kid's nonsense?"

Maddie's face lit up, "So you do like me?"

Putnam felt cornered, as if every word he spoke just dug him deeper. "Let's just say I don't dislike you."

"Not dislike and not like," Sebastian chimed in, twisting the knife further.

Maddie's spirits deflated, "Oh..."

"Can't you see? Cyrus and Stephanie

are

is their game, and this guy

for trouble because he's

jealous. Are you blind to play into his hands?" Sebastian prodded.

Realization dawned on Maddie and Gillian's faces.

"Am I wrong?" Sebastian pressed on.

"The fact that Stephanie and Cyrus are having a blast is true, isn't it?"

"The fact that you, Putnam, don't like Maddie and are only marrying her out of obligation is also true!"

Was this kid really picking a fight with him today?

Putnam was seething with anger.

Maddie, the subject of such blunt speech, was on the brink of tears in public.

Trying to soothe the situation, Putnam said, "Easy there, don't listen to him. Even if I don't like you yet, I don't like anyone else either... That's the most I can say right now

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Sniffling, Maddie asked, "Is there a chance you might like me in the future?"

"Maybe?" Putnam thought cynically to himself.

How could he answer her when he didn't even know himself?

Maddie nodded, "Then there's still hope..."

"But you'd have to meet more often for that hope to grow," Gillian interjected.

"Yeah, right," Sebastian added.

Maddie contemplated this, then said quietly, "But he doesn't have the time."

Gillian laughed, "Then how come President Ingram here has the time to hang out and play ball with Steph?"

Sebastian added, "Being a CEO isn't

that bus

Look over there, Mr. Wilson is also playing ball with his

brother." int

Putnam shot back, "Will you die if you shut up for once?"