Chapter 82 He's back
This is all because of me.
"This is not your fault." Mom says softly.
I rub my fingertips, trying really hard not to bite my nails.
"It is, though. Everything that is happening to Gregory is because of me." I start pacing the living room again.
Poor Gregory, I feel so fucking bad. All his hard work over the years, all the amazing work he has done being tainted by a fucking rumor.
All because he gave me my job back.
Benedict Cargill left me alone for a few months only to come back with a vengeance. I should've known he had something up his sleeve.
"We got him a good lawyer and an excellent PR team." Uncle Alessandro assures me.
I fall down on the couch, and bury my face in my hands. The damage is already done.
"We have to do something to that slime. Find something against him, Alessandro." Aunt Farrah says. "We can't just sit by and watch him trying to ruin Madison's life!"
"I'm working on it." Uncle says soothingly, because my aunt is about to lose her mind like me.
"Or maybe I can just go over and beat him up!" Dad exclaims.
My father is not a violent man, but the way I'm feeling right now, I would go and beat him up too. Kill him, even.
"We're leaving that for Miguel."
My head flies up at the mention of his name, my heart beating faster.
He's improving so much, in a week he might be discharged and will be able to fly back home.
"Madison." I don't like the tone in Uncle's voice. "Would you like to share with us why you went all the way to Germany?"
It feels like fucking judgement day, everyone's eyes on me, with T.J. lounging on the couch scrolling through his phone like my life isn't in shambles here.
My father, who is probably the most chilled person I know, doesn't look too happy right now.
"Shit." I rub my eyes again.
"Just spit it out!" The frustration is evident in Mom's voice. "I know you're an adult, but the situation is a little unusual right now, so unfortunately for you, it would be best if we knew everything."
I close my eyes. How much should I divulge exactly? T.J. certainly didn't buy it when I said we started hooking up in South Korea, and neither would the people who knows me best.
"He saved me once." My voice comes out small. "Me and some other dancers went out like we usually do, I decided to go home earlier, and some douchebag tried to mug me."
"And you didn't think we should know this?" Dad looks really pissed off.
"Dad, this is New York City, it's not that unusual." I'm not telling them everything, I still have to protect Miguel. "So he was just there, and he beat up the guy, and walked me to my car. I don't know how he got my number, but he checked up on me, and we just started chatting."
"You are never going anywhere without security again!" Dad exclaims.
"And that's exactly why I didn't tell you!" I throw my hands in the air. "Because then you were going to baby me!"
"Did you cheat on Ben with Miguel?" Aunt Farrah asks quietly, and again, everyone's focus laser back on me.
"Fuck." I wish I could bury my head in the sand right about now. I don't exactly want to discuss the details of my sex life with my parents. "Once. And I didn't want to get married to Ben, you know that Aunt Farrah. I just felt like it was what I'm supposed to do, because I thought he was a good person. Guess the joke is on me."
"Baby girl." Mom sighs, and I don't know if she's disappointed or disgusted with me. "You don't ever get married to someone just because you think it's the right thing to do."
"You guys all loved him! What were you gonna say if I pitched up here and said hey, I think Ben's brother is really hot and I really like him!" Even saying it out loud makes it sound absurd.
"I would've said I think he's really hot, too." Aunt Farrah deadpans, earning her a scathing look from Uncle.
"So what now? Are you a couple?" Dad wants to know, still not looking like he approves of it. "I don't like this, Madison. Truth be told, I don't want you to have anything to do with those fucking Cargills."
"He's not like them, Dad."
"He's not." Uncle reiterates. "But he's also a trained Navy SEAL, are you sure you want to be with someone like that?"
I think of his swollen face, of his body with all the wires and monitors. And I just left him there.
"Yes."
My answer is absolute. No hesitation, no thinking twice.
I didn't think that we would come to this.
"His family will never approve a relationship between you two." Uncle says. "You were engaged to his brother, and his father is the senator. There is no way you could ever go public."
"I know."
Have I not thought about this over and over in my mind ever since I realised I might be in love with him?
"Oh, my baby. " Mom hugs me, and I hold onto her.
Is this what Romeo and Juliet felt like?
My phone vibrates, and I'm even scared to see who it is.
Again, it's from a number I don't know, but a different one that Ben called from.
There's a video attached, and I'm reluctant to open it.
It takes me a while to figure out what I'm seeing, because the video is in a club, and the music is loud and the lights flashing.
But then I make out one of the guys sitting at a table, and sniffing something up his nose, probably coke. The guy takes a shot of something just after that, and laughs.
The guy is Simon.
What the hell?
Another text message comes through.
"I'll make sure your boy has too much fun."