Chapter 45 Behind Closed Reports

Chapter 45 Behind Closed Reports
Mayzie sat at the heavy desk in the study. Ahead of her, two matching couches faced each other, flanked by a pair of armchairs. The walls were completely hidden behind floor-to-ceiling bookshelves, save for a small gap around a pristine fireplace that looked as if it had never hosted a single flame. Since Wednesday, this room had become her home, despite its stiff, uninviting atmosphere. One night, she had even slept on one of the couches, simply too exhausted to drive back to her own apartment. Dalton had practically ordered her to keep a change of clothes here; he couldn't stand the thought of her wearing the same outfit to school two days in a row.

It was another Saturday afternoon, which meant another evening of following Dalton around a crowded party. Before they left, however, she needed to finish her paperwork. Over the last few days, Mayzie had realized her role extended far beyond being a simple assistant. She was also a spy for Dalton's mother. Every Saturday, she had to compile a detailed report of everything she had seen him do and send it off to his mother. Mayzie couldn’t quite figure out if this routine was driven by maternal anxiety or a toxic need for control. Either way, the rule was absolute: Dalton could never find out about the reports.

She had also discovered that her tedious work logging women's descriptions and phone numbers was entirely pointless. Dalton always had her call every single one of them to cancel their appointments. If there wasn’t a formal meeting scheduled, she had to call anyway, offer his apologies, and politely explain that he wouldn’t be seeing them. In the desk drawers, she had uncovered a box of address books left behind by his previous assistant. The pages were filled with the same names, over and over, all aggressively crossed out.

A sudden knock startled Mayzie, and the door swung open. She quickly closed the folder hiding her report just as a familiar face walked into the room.

"May I help you?" Mayzie asked.

The girl offered a tentative smile. "Oh, sorry. I thought Harry would be in here."

"Harry?"

"Dalton's assistant." The girl frowned, looking her up and down. "Who are you?"

"I'm Dalton's new assistant. Harry was let go a week ago."

"Oh. I'm Kelsi… well, Kelsey Wagler." She stepped closer to the desk and extended her hand.

"Nice to meet you," Mayzie said, shaking it. "I'm Mayzie Kollins. I’ve seen you around campus." She gestured to Kelsi to take a seat. "You hang out with Dalton and his friends, right?"

"Yes. Actually, Gustavo Dorcie is my cousin."

"Oh, I didn't know that." Mayzie smiled politely. "Is there something I can help you with?"

Kelsi bit her lower lip, glancing nervously around the room. "I'm not sure if this counts as your job. Harry and I had an arrangement, but it feels a little strange telling you about it."

"Go ahead, you can tell me."

Kelsi cleared her throat. "You're sending updates to his mother, right?"

Mayzie froze, unsure if she should admit to it.

"It's okay, I know all about it," Kelsi reassured her. "Since Harry couldn't follow Dalton around campus, he asked me to keep an eye on him and report any strange conversations. I actually came by to drop off my notes." She reached into her large purse and pulled out a folder.

Mayzie took it, a bit surprised. "Oh. I see."

"Don't worry, I never mentioned anything about you and Dalton to Harry," Kelsi added with a small smile. "His mother would have a total meltdown if she thought he was trying to pursue someone from your background."

Mayzie laughed softly. "I wasn't worried about that. Besides, it wouldn't matter anyway — I always turn him down."

"It might look suspicious now that he’s actually hired you, though. His mother might think you have finally given in." Kelsi smiled, then sighed, her expression darkening. "Don't worry, my lips are sealed. Honestly, it’s been hard to get close to the group lately, anyway. Gustavo is furious with me. I try to hang around to overhear things, but if he catches me, he threatens to hit me."

Mayzie's eyes widened. "What?"

Kelsi shrugged it off. "Don't worry about it. That's just how we are. I mean, it sounds terrible out loud, and there’s really no good way to explain it, but just ignore it. We fight all the time. We're basically like siblings."

Mayzie frowned, feeling uneasy. "Well… just be careful."

"I will be, don't worry. Anyway, everything you need is in that folder. Harry used to rewrite my notes to leave out anything he thought was too personal. You should probably do the same for Dalton. He can get pretty reckless, but his mother keeps him on a very short leash. If he crosses the line, he’ll be in massive trouble. Just be smart about what you put in those reports." Kelsi stood up. "I should go. It was nice meeting you."

Mayzie watched her leave, sighing heavily as she looked down at her half-finished report. Great, now I have to rewrite the whole thing, she thought to herself. He probably deserves to get caught, but still...

"Talking to yourself?" Madeline's voice broke through her thoughts, making Mayzie jump. 

"Oh! Sorry." Mayzie stiffened.

Madeline chuckled at the reaction. "Did Kelsi say something to upset you?"

"No, not at all. We just had an appointment."

"I see," Madeline walked over and claimed the seat Kelsi had just vacated. "She’s desperately in love with Dalton, you know. I wouldn't pay much attention to her. It’s entirely one-sided. Dalton barely notices she’s alive and she exists. He only has eyes for one woman, and it definitely isn't Kelsey."

"Ah." Mayzie slowly closed the folder on her desk, trying to look casual. "Well, I hope he wins her over. It might do him some good to care about someone else for a change. He’s incredibly self-centered."

Madeline grinned and nodded in agreement. She studied Mayzie for a long moment. "Do you have someone special in your life?"

"I have a boyfriend."

Madeline's playful expression instantly vanished, replaced by a flicker of annoyance. "Oh? Are you serious about him?"

"I suppose so."

"You don't sound entirely convinced."

"We have our share of problems, but I think things will work out in the end," Mayzie said, offering a tight smile.

The older woman didn't look pleased. "Dalton might seem cold and detached on the surface, Mayzie, but he is actually very fragile. The slightest misunderstanding can completely ruin him. You need to watch your words around him."

"He seems to handle my opinions just fine."

"Yes, he does, doesn't he?" Madeline mused. "He is usually incredibly stubborn, yet he always seems to compromise for you. He must respect you a great deal."

"Maybe."

Madeline smiled, folding her hands neatly in her lap. "There is only one other person in the world he does that for, and that’s me. Of course, I’ve been a mother figure to him, so it makes sense that he wants to please me. I am quite curious, though, about what makes him so gentle with you."

Mayzie shrugged. "I have no idea. Maybe I remind him of you."

Madeline seemed caught off guard by the comment, pressing her lips together as she thought it over. "I heard about Dalton buying the coffee shop where you used to work," she said, shifting gears. "And that he effectively put you out of a job."

Mayzie nodded silently.

"He felt absolutely awful about that. Dalton often acts before he thinks. He couldn't bear to hear his friends talking about it, let alone face the reality of what he'd done. I’m just glad he found a way to fix his mistake."

"So am I. I was genuinely worried I wouldn't be able to pay my bills this month."

"He would have paid them for you if it came down to it."

"I wouldn't have accepted his money."

"He would have tried anyway, or just paid them behind your back," Madeline said with a wink. "Like I said, he felt terrible."

Mayzie tightened her jaw. "He should have."

"Still, I'm glad you're here now. When Harry was his assistant, he was always locked away in this study while Dalton just lazed around on the couch. With you around, he’s actually going out. He was never this active before. Either Harry couldn't keep up with him, or Dalton just doesn't want you to see how lazy he can really be." Madeline laughed.

"He certainly likes to shop," Mayzie noted. "He made me buy several outfits this week alone. He claims he doesn't want me looking like a commoner when we're out together, but I'm starting to wonder if he just wanted an excuse to buy me clothes."

Madeline laughed out loud. "It’s probably a bit of both. Besides, Harry never accompanied him to parties. Dalton must enjoy having your company. He naturally wants you looking your best. A lot of the girls who pester him go to your college, you know. He might be hoping you’ll act as a bit of a shield."

"It isn't working even a little bit."

Madeline sighed. "That’s wealthy girls for you. Their fathers tell them who to marry, and they won't stop until they get what they want. It’s rather sad."

Mayzie checked her watch. "I need to make sure he’s getting ready and dressed for the party tonight. Excuse me."

Madeline nodded, and the moment Mayzie slipped out the door, she stood up and immediately reached for the folder hidden on the desk.