/Madison's POV/
'I don't think he remembered last night.' That was the conclusion I reached the moment I saw Zane again this morning.
His mood wasn't cheerful, but he didn't look like the man who had slipped into my bed, wrapped his arms around me, and buried his tear-streaked face against my back.
Watching him move easily about the house, pouring coffee as though nothing had happened, made me wonder if I'd dreamt it. But my soaked nightshirt had been proof enough. I'd almost woken him—almost—but the raw grief in his embrace had stopped me.
As we sat across from each other at the dining table, I debated whether to tell him. But what if it was all an act? What if his breakdown was just another mask to throw me off? I couldn't trust him yet.
The public painted him as brilliant, charismatic, and untouchable. But I knew better than to believe headlines or glossy articles; media bent to whoever paid them.
"Madison?" Zane's voice cut into my spiralling thoughts.
Raising my head almost instantly, I replied. "Yes." But his gaze held questions, surprise even. "Sorry, I was a little distracted," I apologised, a little worried he might have said something while I was lost in my thoughts.
"It's alright." He leaned back slightly, studying me. "I was just asking how you're finding the stay. I know it's unreasonable of me to keep you here. I'm grateful you agreed, so I'd like to help if I can. Your work, friends… Did you tell anyone where you were going?"
"I understand your concerns but you don't have to worry about that. I really don't have many friends and I only told one person about my trip. I wasn't very specific either—"
"Boyfriend?" He guessed.
I laughed under my breath, shaking my head. "No. Just a friend. He manages my bar."
I filled him in; he seems rather curious about me though but I guess that can't be helped.
"You own a bar?" His brows lifted, genuine surprise softening his face, which was fair, not very ladylike after all.
"Yeah. There weren't many back home. It seemed like a good business." I caught his eye briefly, but he looked away quickly, back to his food. For some reason, he can't seem to meet my gaze.
"What was Allison like?" I blurted out my question, my curiosity getting the best out of me after all, I hardly spent time with her, not after we separated the way we did.
He stilled, then answered softly, "She was smart. Funny. Kind. Too trusting. She could be a mystery sometimes, but with me? She was always open. Always talking." His lips curved into a small sad smile that disappeared as soon as it came.
"You must have really loved her," I remarked, studying him closely enough to see the shift in his emotions that went from a rueful expression straight to mournful, just enough to question my choices of suspecting him.
"Yeah, I should head to work," he murmured. Then, with a sigh, he glanced at my untouched plate. "I know you're still in shock after what happened, but you should really try to get something in; you've hardly touched your food." Zane noticed as my eyes darted back to the pancakes, bacon and eggs which were left on my plate just the way Zane had filled it.
"Thanks, just… had a lot on my mind."I replied as he rose from his seat. "Zane," I called and he instantly halted right as he slipped into his leather briefcase the tablet he's been busy scrolling on since we settled at the table together.
"What would happen to my sister? Even if we can't let anyone know about her death yet. We can't just leave her at the morgue. I… I'd like to have her buried next to Addison. With our parents " I suggested but He paused too long, and I regretted speaking—until his voice came low and steady.
I exhaled, knowing he was right.
"Is there anything I can get you? While I don't wish for it, there's a chance the investigation might take a while. I already have some of Allison's stuff moved over to your room in case you need it, but if there's more, I can get it for you," He offered.
"Nah, I'm good. I've got everything I need…for now. Thanks for asking though."
"Alright." He gave a faint nod. "I know I suggested you help but you really don't have to do anything really. You just have to stay still until we lure those bastards out. This will all be over soon," He assured me in a way that made me almost believe him but despite everything I've found out about him in the short while I've known him, his influence and power over the media, I still couldn't bring myself to trust his methods; mine was faster. I thought as Zane disappeared outside the door.
The moment I heard the automatic door lock behind him, I slipped back to my room, then I grabbed my phone and dialled.
"Hey… been a while, Kim," I said softly into the phone. I hadn't thought I'd ever make this call again.
"Hey, Maddy. That's weird. Didn't think I'd be hearing from you again, at least not after you shot me in the damn leg."
Kimberly Stevenson instantly raved at the other end of the phone the moment she realised it was me. After I returned to my hometown, I practically stopped calling all my colleagues; I wanted to have a fresh start after all and just figured it'd be impossible to do that if I kept holding onto all of them.
She wasn't exactly welcoming but she sounded a lot more calm than I anticipated.
"I'd do it again if I had to. I saved your life and you owe me for that, if anything."
"What d'you want, Maddy?" She demanded.
I thought after all this time she'd have gotten over what happened but I guess not.
"Can you look into someone for me?" I requested and I heard her snicker at the other end of the phone.
She snorted. "Quite shameless of you if you ask me but I guess I do owe you one. Who're we talking about?" She asked back, earning an instant sigh of relief from me since I was afraid she'd turn me down. I could always reach out to Clara instead but she can be such a bitch.
"Zane Antler. Everything you can find," I concluded.
The silence stretched before Kim spoke again, lower this time. "The Zane Antler? CEO of Bambi Entertainment? Why'd you wanna know about that guy all of a sudden? Wait, he didn't get into your bad books, did he?" Kim almost sounded scared.
"Well, I'm doing this so he doesn't," I simply replied.
Hearing her let out a puff of breath at the other end of the phone, she replied. "Yeah, sure. I'll get on it. Shouldn't take long. You should have it in like the next two hours. I'll let you know when it's ready."
The call ended—and another lit up my screen. Clara.
"Speak of the devil," I muttered right as I picked the call of another old colleague and teammates, of course we've all split up now but we all used to be together in the past.
"Bitch, what have you been up to?" She demanded the moment I raised my phone right back to my ears.
"Why'd you wanna know? We haven't spoken… in, like, what, three or five years—"
"It's just 2 years, dumb bitch, and it's not my fault. Anyway, some big shot just paid for your information, what the hell have you been up to? You didn't go private, did you?'' She demanded and I furrowed.
A chill settled over me. "No, I didn't. I've left all that shit behind me. I told you but who was it?" I asked, concerned. Whoever was digging into me might have something to do with my sister's death.
"Sorry, client confidentiality but you don't need to worry. I gave them the basics. The rest is locked. I wouldn't want those people to be all up my ass because I leaked something I shouldn't have. I just wanted to give you a heads-up; just be careful out there " She warned and the line went dead right afterwards.
"If she was gonna help, you should have completed the damn job," I cursed under my breath, then froze when my ears picked noises coming from the door, it didn't sound like Zane, though, and after what happened last night, Zane assured me there was security all over his personal estate, so who on earth could own those cautious steps slowly advancing to the entrance?
Should I just slip out?
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