The pub looked exactly like what it was trying to be—authentically British with a modern twist. Red brick walls, diamond-pane windows, and enough brass fixtures to outfit a small ship.
The kind of place that served fish and chips but called them "sustainably sourced cod with hand-cut potato wedges."
Through the front window, Maddox spotted Jenna at a corner table with two other girls her age. His sister was gesturing wildly with her hands, probably telling some story that was funnier in her head than in reality. The other two were laughing anyway—that's what friends did.
The pub door opened with a brass bell that announced his arrival. The smell hit him immediately—beer, fried food, and that particular mixture of wood polish and old cigarettes that every British pub seemed to share.
"Maddox!" Jenna's voice cut through the ambient chatter.
He waved and started walking toward their table, but something strange happened. The conversations around him didn't exactly stop, but they definitely shifted. Heads turned, eyes followed, and whispers started.
'What the hell?'
Then he realized—they'd seen him get out of the Vireon. In a neighborhood where most people drove ten-year-old Hatchbacks, a ⊽1.75 million supercar was like a unicorn landing in your backyard.
Jenna stood up and wrapped him in a hug that smelled like vanilla perfume and little sister affection. "About time! We were starting to think you'd chickened out."
"Traffic," Maddox lied smoothly. No need to mention that the traffic had been moving too slowly for his taste.
"Right." Jenna's eyes sparkled with mischief. She knew him too well. "Anyway, these are my friends. Ladies, meet my big brother who's apparently doing quite well for himself."
The two women at the table had been trying to play it cool, but their eyes kept drifting toward the window where the Vireon sat gleaming under the streetlights like a metallic blue jewel.
"I'm Sarah," said the blonde one. She was probably Jenna's age, nineteen or early twenties, with the kind of smile that suggested she was very interested in getting to know him better. Her handshake lingered a few seconds longer than necessary.
"And I'm Claire." The brunette was more subtle but no less interested. Her eyes did a quick up-and-down assessment that would have made a used car dealer proud.
"Nice to meet you both." Maddox settled into the chair across from them, trying to ignore the way they were looking at him like he was dessert.
Jenna caught the looks too. Her hand moved under the table, and both women suddenly winced slightly. Whatever she'd done—pinched, kicked, or simply applied pressure to some sensitive spot, it got their attention.
"He's married," Jenna said in a stage whisper that carried to half the pub. "Happily married to a wonderful woman who would probably turn you both into handbags if she caught you making those faces."
Sarah's smile faltered slightly. Claire had the grace to look embarrassed.
"Sorry," Claire mumbled. "It's just... that car..."
"Is borrowed," Maddox said quickly. Better to deflect than explain. "Company car. You know how it is."
'Company car. Right. If unemployment counted as a company.'
"What company gives out Vireon EchoBlades as company cars?" Sarah asked. She was persistent, he'd give her that.
"The kind that expects results," Maddox said, hoping his voice sounded more confident than he felt.
Jenna jumped in before the questions could get more uncomfortable. "Speaking of results, are we eating or what? I'm starving, and the match starts in less than two hours."
They flagged down a waitress—a young woman who kept stealing glances at their table like she was trying to figure out if Maddox was someone famous.
The menu was standard pub fare with pretentious descriptions and prices that made everything sound more expensive than it was.
"Fish and chips for me," Jenna announced. "Extra mushy peas."
"Same," said Claire.
"Steak and kidney pie," Sarah added. "And another round of drinks."
"Just a burger," Maddox said. "And a pint of whatever's on tap."
The waitress scribbled down their order and disappeared, but not before giving Maddox one more curious look.
"So," Sarah said, leaning forward slightly, "what kind of work takes you to football matches on a Friday night?"
'The kind where you get fired and need your little sister to cheer you up.' Of course, he didn't say that.
"Flexible schedule," Maddox said. "Sometimes you work weekends, sometimes you get random mid-week nights off."
"Must be nice," Claire said. "I haven't had a flexible anything since I started university."
"What do you study?" Maddox asked, grateful to turn the conversation away from his fictional job.
"Accounting," Claire said with a grimace. "Thrilling stuff. Sarah's studying marketing, and already works for a cosmetics company."
"Hence the perfect makeup," Jenna added. "Sarah could make a zombie look ready for a night out."
Sarah laughed and flipped her hair. "It's all about knowing your products. Speaking of which..." She gave Maddox another appraising look. "You've got great bone structure. Ever think about modeling?"
'Here we go again.'
"Constantly," Maddox deadpanned. "But my wife keeps reminding me that I have the personality of wet cardboard."
Jenna snorted with laughter. Sarah looked disappointed. Claire hid a smile behind her drink.
The food arrived faster than expected, probably because the kitchen staff were as curious about the Vireon's owner as everyone else. The burger was actually decent—proper beef, fresh bun, chips that weren't frozen.
Maddox realized he hadn't eaten anything since breakfast, and that had been interrupted by this morning's disaster.
'Don't think about it. Not now.'
The conversation flowed easier once everyone was eating. Sarah and Claire were actually quite funny when they weren't trying to flirt. Jenna told embarrassing stories about Maddox's teenage years that she could recall.
For almost an hour, he could pretend his biggest worry was whether Cromley Rovers would win their match.
Then his phone buzzed with a text message.
The screen showed Alina's name, but when he opened it, his stomach dropped.
["Saw the news about Silvergate. We need to talk when you get home."]
'Shit.'
The burger suddenly tasted like sawdust. The pub's cheerful atmosphere felt forced and fake. Reality came crashing back like a brick through a window.
"Everything okay?" Jenna asked, noticing his expression.
"Yeah," Maddox lied, shoving the phone back in his pocket. "Just work stuff."
"On a Friday night?"
"The glamorous life of flexible scheduling."
But Jenna knew him too well to buy it completely. Her eyes narrowed slightly, the way they used to when she caught him sneaking cookies before dinner.
"Time to go."
"Right then," Maddox said, standing up and dropping enough cash on the table to cover everyone's meals plus a generous tip. "Ready for some football?"
The three women exchanged glances but didn't argue. Sarah and Claire were probably hoping the evening would give them more opportunities to chat up the mysterious man with the expensive car. Jenna was worried about her brother but smart enough not to push.
As they walked toward the exit, Maddox caught his reflection in the pub's front window. For a moment, he looked exactly like what he was mistook to be—successful, confident, and in control.
If only it were true.