Still, Chloe was the Chloe Sims, event manager extraordinaire, recently bedded by Archer Tate, and not going to be intimidated by this interloping cow. Mega-bitch activated, Chloe peeled off the face mask, planted her feet firmly on the bottom of the bathtub and stood. She was pleased to discover that standing in the tub, she was slightly taller than Madison. She looked down at Archer’s ex and, with as much authority as she could muster in her naked state, growled, “Hand me a towel.”

Madison blinked twice and, mouth agape, looked about for a towel. She seemed on autopilot when she lifted a large, fluffy bath sheet from the railing and handed it to Chloe, averting her eyes from Chloe’s nakedness.

“Now give me a moment,” Chloe commanded.

Still seemingly dumbstruck, Madison acquiesced and, mumbling an apology, left the bathroom. Chloe’s heart was thumping so fast, she took a steadying breath. Activating her mega-bitch mode always came with a jolt of adrenalin, and she’d need to calm down if she was going to handle this situation with any kind of composure.

She dried off and wrapped herself in the bathrobe, all the while trying to determine her next move. With a towel, she removed as much of the hair treatment as she could, then scooped her shoulder-length bob into a hair clip at the back of her head. She splashed water on her face to remove the sticky residue of the face mask and looked at herself in the mirror.

She would have preferred to be fully dressed and made up before dealing with Madison Bloody Strumpet, but she knew that would be pushing it. It was time to face the ex.

She pulled her shoulders back and lifted her chin, then walked through the bathroom door to the rest of the suite. Madison was seated on one end of the couch, looking like she’d been blindsided. She didn’t seem to notice that Chloe had come into the room and started a little when Chloe spoke.

“You’re Madison.”

Madison drew in a sharp breath and lifted her eyes to Chloe’s. Chloe stayed standing, wanting the keep the upper hand for as long as possible. “Yes. I am. And again, who are you?”

In event management, Chloe had handled her share of tyrants, micromanagers, whingers, whiners, and idiots—clients, vendors, and colleagues alike. She was also well-versed in “diva” and knew a bluff when she saw one. Madison was all bravado and no substance. It clearly wouldn’t take much to make her crumble into a sobbing ball of misery, but Chloe hesitated.

As experienced as she was in an array of people-management situations, she’d never handled a petulant ex who seemed to be on the precipice of a breakdown. She was also not a cruel person and, really, her own position as Archer’s love interest was also rather fragile. She had no idea where they were heading, if anywhere at all.

She was going to have to tread lightly to navigate these uncharted and muddy waters.