The announcer’s sharp tone cuts through my ears forcing me to move the phone away from my head. “What we do know is that they were fighting over Ashton’s new love interest and with reports coming from witnesses at the melee say the scuffle broke out when Ashton revealed that he was in love with Mr. Worthrington’s daughter.”
I fought to stop the bile from rising in my throat. I can’t go back and uproot my life all over again. I don’t want to, and I shouldn’t have to. We watch the interview in silence. A few patrons call for the channel to be changed, but Trent told them to shut it. It was surreal. My body responded to just seeing him, let alone to what he was saying.
“I’ve watched a lot of interviews with him, Madelyn, and he looks nervous. He’s never like this.”
“Why were you watching interviews? You know what, never mind. I don’t want to know about your bromance. He’s got this.” I keep watching and waiting for the tipping point of what started the all in shit fight.
Trent scoffs while I gasp at Caitlyn’s revelation and how dad handles it. More like doesn’t handle it. “And here it comes,” Trent says while Reece addresses the question.
We both sit quietly while the interview continues to play. My heart swells when I hear him say the kind things about me. “Yep, she’s funny, she’s smart, she doesn’t put up with my BS. She’s beautiful inside and out,” I take a breath to match the one he takes. I’ve chewed three of my fingernails by the time we are reaching the point of what sets dad off.
Reece looks at my father and states, “For the first time in my life, I think I’ve fallen in love … with someone other than me ... I love her.” We watch in silence as the interview disintegrates and ends in the worst way possible.
The sound of the glass smashing on the ground quickly followed with Trent yelling an expletive distracts me, while I catch my jaw from hitting the floor while my heart feels like it’s going to burst.
“Oh fuck no,” I said just as Trent said the same. For something that I’d hoped would have been said to me directly, it is still music to my ears.
“It’s okay, Mads. We just lie low, no one knows where you are,” he tries to reassure as I hear the chinks of broken glass being swept up. What should have been a happy revelation with Reece proclaiming his love for me, is now, once again, a very public affair.
The interview concludes, but the news report just kept on coming. “Further information says that Reece Ashton has been staying in the sleepy town of Portmouthe.”
Trent and I groan together. “Fucking hell.” If we thought the place was crawling with media now, it was going to be flooded shortly.
“Madelyn. You don’t have to do anything you don’t want. They are after him, not you,” he says in a soft tone. I shake my head and try and tamper down the panic that I can feel starting to take hold.
“No, they will keep looking, they haven’t let go of the last story.” My eyes are prickling with the tears that are threatening to spill over. “This is going to be worse. So much worse. I can’t go back there now.”
“Madelyn. Please reconsider. Where are you going to go?”
“I don’t know.” And it was the truth. I really didn’t know. “It must have been a sign. The car, moving out, I couldn’t just pick up and leave if I had the apartment. Can you just shift whatever I can’t pack to storage?”
I could hear my voice coming out higher and higher 'til it was a squeak. My lungs struggling to take a full breath.
“Breathe Maddy, breathe.” The noise in the background sounds distant, and I can hear a door close. “That’s it. You haven’t had a panic attack in years Mads. This is nothing like before.” I listen to Trent coaxing me to breathe properly. “You’re seriously leaving? The guy just said he was in love with you and all you get out of it is that you think there might be a witch hunt for you? Did you hear him? This guy’s in love with you. This is so not like before, not even remotely.” That announcement causes the constriction to take a tighter hold as I tried to suck the air in. He loves me? That can’t be right. I don’t believe in insta-love. Insta-lust yes, but insta-love. No.
“I heard what he said.”
“No, you overheard a conversation. Huge difference. This was just a misunderstanding. He’s probably going out of his head trying to contact you. Put yourselves out of the unnecessary misery. Ring him. He’s waiting on your call.”
I feel better, but I have this niggling sense of dread. “Is it worth it? All this … bullshit just to be with someone? The hounding. My own flesh and blood wants to sell me off to the highest bidder. What does that say? I can’t go through it all again. It wasn’t your life, your personal life up for the whole world to see … to judge and then pick apart and apportion blame. So forgive me if I’m not able to brush this off. This is a huge decision for me to make.” I know I sound selfish, but I have been trying to avoid the question that keeps popping into my head. ‘Is it worth it?’
“This is nothing like last time. Fuckface never loved you. Reece just announced to the world that he did.”
“James did too,” I interrupt.
“What about the money? Have you thought more about that? Get some help in sorting this out. Please, Madelyn, think about this. He’s said he loves you.” Yeah, I hadn’t forgotten that. “I think he’s going to come looking for you. He was ready to get in a car and come back here. He didn’t want anyone to know he was here, let alone give up where you are. Give him a chance, please. Try and ring him. You can’t just up and leave, I need to know where you are going, I have to look out for you.”
His sentiments bring a smile to my face. “You don’t have to look out for me. I can do that myself. I had plenty of time to think about this the last time, and I vowed it wouldn’t let it happen to me again.” I brush my hand on my leg.
We both stop talking when we hear a knock on Trent’s door. “They are killing me out here, Trent, you gotta get back out there.”
“I’m sorry for leaving you in the lurch like this, with all the journalists and photographers beating on your front door, me being there will be hell. I can’t go through that again.”
“This isn’t like last time though Madelyn. This time, the guy loves you. You don’t have to run. Everyone loves a good love story. You know –– the guy gets the girl, they have an epic love, and it makes everyone gushy, deep down they are as jealous as fuck. He said he loves you. You were worried that it was a one-way love, you heard it right from the man. He loves you. And yes, I know you love him, as much as you don’t want to admit it, I’ve seen you around him. Hell, you glow even when he’s mentioned, or you’re thinking about him.”
“When did you get so intuitive?”
“Some skills you pick up as a barkeep,” he says with a laugh. “I’ve seen you happy Madelyn, this is a different kind of happy. Go be with your happy. I’m not going to let anything happen to you. You go deal with him, I’ll deal with whatever is here.”
A few seconds of comfortable silence falls between us.
“Madelyn?”
“Yeah?”
“Why are you waiting? If he has changed his mind, he’s a damned fool, but when I spoke to him, he was devastated and then he was pissed off, but at me about the photo thing. You need to get it sorted out.”
“I will. Thank you.”
We say our quick goodbyes and even if it all goes pear-shaped, I will do what I promised Trent. I look at my phone and see there’s a message from Reece saying, ‘Please don’t run from me. It’s not what you heard. Please talk to me. I only just got you, I can’t lose you now.’ I power my phone off to give myself some thinking space.
I pull my jeans on quickly and re-stuff my bag before putting my shoes on. I slide my arms into my jacket and secure one of the buttons. The television clicks as I turn it off. I drop the remote next to my keys, and they jingle as I scoop them up. I take a deep breath as I slide the lock-free and open the door. Worst case scenario, I come back here for the night and knowing that helps ease my anxiety.
<
br /> The drive back to the Regency seems to fly by, but I guess the drive away was me driving aimlessly to figure out a plan. The Jeep rolls into the valet area, and the same attendee approaches me.
“Hello again,” I say, trying to sound bright.
“Will this be a quick visit again?” he takes hold of the door and allows me to get out.
Good question. I answer him honestly. “I really have no idea. Better keep the keys handy.”
What a difference a few hours make, the actions are the same, but the feelings are completely different. The happiness and hurriedness are both gone. Replaced with a sense of dread and fear, I gather my bag from the car and head towards the door. The door slides open, and I step into the foyer. I glance to the alcove and can’t help but shudder. The formerly opulent and welcoming area now seems tainted and cold.
My inability to move from my place in the foyer garners the attention of the reception staff. One of them is the same concierge I encountered before. Fucking great, I sigh. I stay cemented to the spot when he rounds the reception desk and advances towards me. Another scene, that’s all I need.
“Ms Worthrington, please.” The use of the name I rarely use throws me for a moment. “Come in. I’m Tristan, and I must first apologize for the way things were handled. It was a gross misunderstanding on my behalf, and I cannot apologize enough. Please. Let me get your bag. I have your key right here. I have tried to make amends to Mr Ashton, but I know he’s upset.” He pulls my bag handle free from my hand and links his arm through mine. I’m still rooted to the ground as he starts to walk and I slightly stumble as we set off across the foyer. His arm loops free of mine, and he clicks his fingers to point out in some hand gesture that they are to man the desk. Took me a second to realise as we stopped at the elevator that I was getting an escort to Reece’s room. This is certainly a different person than the one who greeted me initially. “She told me a very convincing story, and I’m terribly sorry if I made you uncomfortable. I will, however, not apologize for the clothes. Honey, you have to get that sorted. There is never any excuse to wear head to toe polyester.” The elevator pings as the doors open and I’m ushered inside while reeling from the shit sandwich apology.
“He is going to be so happy to see you. Are you happy to see him? Can I just do this—” and his hand reaches out to pull my hair free from the band holding my hair off my face. “Do you have any lipstick in those bags under your eyes?” I shake my head. “Just trying to help. You have a natural beauty going on, but just a little touch of makeup will enhance that.” I narrow my gaze at him and thankfully he takes a step back. “I need to shut up now don’t I?”
“One of the best things you’ve said so far,” I say with a smile. “So he was upset?”
“Oh, tears, tantrums, the works.”
“Tears?”
“Yeah. My own and from the woman being dragged away by security. He sure knows how to break a heart.” Can’t break a heart that doesn’t exist when it comes to Caitlyn. “He was not pleased at all when we worked out what had transpired. I’m heartbroken that I upset him. I’m his biggest fan.” I raise an eyebrow to him, and he corrects himself. “Okay. His second biggest fan but first that is male. I probably shouldn’t say this, but I have a little shrine type thing going on. Look he’s my wallpaper.”
Tristan pulls out his phone and shows me a picture of what looks like him trying to kiss Reece’s cheek. I glance at Reece’s eyes and even though it’s a picture, it feels like he’s looking into my soul. My face breaks into a smile and my nerves disappear, I’m excited to see him.
“That’s a great picture.” I hand the phone back to him.
“Breaks my heart, I was holding out on the rumours to be true.”
I snort, “I believed them too. It wasn’t 'til he was kissing me that I thought ‘hang on a minute’.”
“Oh, I’d love to hear the story. I can then just change you to me in my mind.”
The door chimes as it opens and I’m thankful that this short but draining ride is nearly over. I reach for my bag and say, “I’ve got it from here. Which room is he in?”
He takes a step back and makes the distance between me and my bag. “No no. I have some ground to remake if I’m going to be President of the Reece Ashton fan club. If I could put you on a silver platter, I so would.”
I move to block his exit. “Truly. If you are honestly sorry for what you did, you will let me face this myself. I don’t want an audience.”
We stare each other down for a moment before he hands my bag to me. “He’s in room five one zero. Can you talk with him after I get some more pictures of my boyfriend?”
“He’s not your boyfriend.”
His hand juts forward to pass me the swipe card. “I don’t like your bubble bursting negativity. A boy can dream.”
“So can a girl. He’s my dream. He’s my love. My bag please.”
I honestly thought the next time I was going to see my bag was on eBay for the amount of time he took holding out on me. “Here.” He finally hands me my bag. “Can I get a photo?”
I take my bag from him and back out of the elevator. “Maybe after I have some makeup on.”
The doors start to close. “I’m so jealous of you,” he calls out.
“I know,” I call back as the doors seal shut. I let out a deep breath. One hurdle overcome. I turn on my heel and look for the numbers on the wall to show me which way to go. My head races with questions about how he’s going to be when he sees me. Will he even let me in the door? I lower my bag to the floor and remove my jacket. I tamp my nerves down with a deep breath and say a silent prayer as I raise my hand to knock.
I’m ready to jump into the unknown.
Chapter Forty-Seven
REECE
I have given up trying to call her. The answering service is doing my head in, and I’m sure I’ve worn a hole in the carpet where I’ve paced. I try Trent with no success. I feel trapped. There’s no other avenue to use. She’s not on social media. I even rang the shop, and Mr Clementine kept thanking me even after telling me he hadn’t seen her since this morning. Not sure why he was thanking me, but it didn’t get me any closer to finding out where Madelyn was. There’s no other number to try, that’s even if she is going back home. I have to just sit and wait.
I set my phone on the bathroom vanity while I strip off my clothes and climb under the hot spray. You promised you wouldn’t hide from me. I think about how my words must have hurt her, but they weren’t directed at her, and I can see why she didn’t even give me a chance to respond. Just another fucking cherry on the clusterfuck that was today.
I hate this. This was not the way I wanted to tell her how I really felt about her. I wanted her to hear it from me first. Yeah, it was quick, a premature profession of love but it was honest. I truly do love her. I just hope she’s seen the interview. No. I hope she hasn’t. Fuck. Water splashes as I shake my head under the spray in frustration. Despite the shower and my own thoughts, I hear a loud bang on my bedroom door. Fucking great. Fucking Caitlyn’s managed to get back on the floor.
Shutting the water off and running my hand over my hair trying to get as much out of it as I can while I reach for the towel and wrap it around my waist. The banging starts up again as I exit the bathroom and make my way to the door. I don’t dare call out and give any indication that I’m inside and rise to my toes as I approach the door. Somewhere along the way, I’ve held my breath, and I line up to look through the peephole.
“Madelyn,” I say out loud. All need for silence is gone as I pull the door open. A rush of cold air from the door hits my chest as I look down and hold tight to the towel. “You came back.” I can’t help but smirk as her stare lowered and remained on my chest. I move to prop the door open with my body as I reach forward and cup her face with my hands. My mouth is on hers in an instant. She doesn’t resist and opens her mouth for me. This is a good sign. A very good sign. The cold door bounces against my now naked hip and I pull her inside the
room without breaking our kiss.
I hear her bag drop and within an instant, her hands are on me, and I’m pushed against the wall. Her fingernails digging into my hips has me instantly hard as she presses her body to mine. My cock lays flat against her stomach. My hands slide into her hair, and she opens her mouth to gasp as I tug gently. Her hands move to my chest as I pull my mouth from hers. Her eyes close as she tried to move forward but I don’t relinquish my grip. When her eyes open wide to show me I have her full attention, that’s when I speak.
“I love you, Madelyn. You should have heard it from me when I left this morning. I wanted to say it. I don’t know why I didn’t, and I’ve been kicking myself all day. I think that’s why it came out so freely to your dad. I’ve wanted to say it. I know it seems quick and scary—”
Madelyn’s soft hand closes over my mouth, and I still mumble out a few words before I stop. She says the words that make me feel on top of the world. “I love you. I love you, Reece Ashton. I dreamed of finding a guy that loved me for who I was, not what I’d done.” Her hand lowers to my chest, but I don’t dare interrupt her. “I think I’ve been in love with you since you fondled those tins of peas.” Her hands move across my chest, over my neck and into my hair where she pulls me down to meet her mouth again. I kiss her deeply while my fingers work to remove her clothes. I break the kiss but don’t miss a beat to reclaim it before her shirt has hit the floor. “No bra?” My hands relish the touch of her skin before I take a breast in each hand.
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