"Do you know why they haven't come back to the U.S?" Mallory asked the detective. "Actually don't answer that, I need you to do me a huge favor and get me in contact with her" Mallory said as she got up.
"With Brooke?" The detective answered. "Yeah, it can be through a phone call. I just want to speak to her" Mallory nodded.
~
"Devin can you stay a second" Mallory said to him as he was exiting the apartment along with the detective. Devin nodded and stayed.
"Did you know anything about this?" Mallory asked him. "No. I'm sure my father did the paper work for your father to that property but it happened years ago, I was to little to know but I can try to find those papers for you if you want them. Obviously they'd be a copy, your father must have the original documents" Devin explained.
"Please" Mallory nodded.
~
Mallory walked towards the café a week later with Noelle. They stepped in and ordered an iced coffee and a latte before beginning to talk about Christmas eve as it was the following day.
"Grandpa asked where you were on Wednesday after you left during dinner" Noelle said.
"I got an emergency call from Devin, he wanted to give me the papers before his father found out her had taken them" Mallory nodded. "the ones about Bellamis property that you spoke off?"
"Yeah, Devin has been really helpful with all of this. Speaking of Bellami, grandma told me that she called media outlets once again last Thursday that you went to the office?" Mallory asked Noelle.
"Yeah, they all asked how I felt protecting a murderer like my father, the thing is I'm not even protecting him" Noelle said. "You know I'm glad that you've taken your position in this family however when they ask you absurd questions like that I wish we could actually do more to defend you besides having them fired. In a way it was great that your father kept you away from all this mess, the media can be so mentally toxic because if you don't give them an answer they'll make one up for you which is even worse" Mallory said.
"They just want honesty, but how do you give it to them when you don't even know the entire truth about your own father" Noelle shrugged.
"Do you think your father knew about my aunt Brooke considering that he was still home when all that happened?" Mallory asked. "probably, I doubt he'll admit it" Noelle responded and grabbed her latte to take a sip of it when she saw Ezekiel step in and walk over to order. He only bought a pastry and walked over towards them but Mallory's back was facing him so she never saw him. She was looking down at her phone as she was trying to purchase a weekend stay at a hotel near her apartment.
Ezekiel looked at Noelle and gave her signs with his eyes to speak to Mallory.
Noelle wasn't sure if to leave them alone but it was probably the right idea so she got up making Mallory look at her then over her shoulder to see Ezekiel.
"Noelle-" Mallory said. "I'll be outside" Noelle said and walked towards the door as Ezekiel sat across Mallory.
He looked at her lips then at her eyes and did a very faint smile as he didn't know how she would react if he did a genuine smile. He was happy to see her, it had been almost three months since he decided to leave her.
Mallory grabbed her Iced coffee and quickly stepped out of the café but Zeke was quick to catch up to her. He grabbed her arm making her turn to face him.
"You have three seconds to let go of me" Mallory said with a serious face. "I'll let go but listen to me"
"At the count of one-" Mallory said but Ezekiel frowned still holding on to her with a soft grip. Mallory tossed her iced coffee directly towards his chest making him let of her. Noelle was watching everything but didn't step in between them. He pulled his shirt away from his skin and looked at Mallory, "I deserved that but what happened to two and three?" Ezekiel said.
"I said it" Mallory responded. "You only said one" Ezekiel frowned.
"I said two and three in my mind" Mallory said.
Ezekiel couldn't help but smile and let out a chuckle, "you took out your anger, now can we talk?" He asked.
"Speak" Mallory said. "I'm sorry for leaving you that night at the hospital" Ezekiel said.
"Is that all?" Mallory asked. "I fucked up and-"
"It's the least you can do" Mallory interrupted. "What's the least?" Ezekiel frowned.
"Apologize" Mallory raised her voice. "What about you? You haven't apologized for sleeping with him when you were with me!" Ezekiel too raised his voice.
"Because you left when I tried! Besides theres more you should apologize for that you haven't!" Mallory said.
"Like what?" Ezekiel frowned. "like making me believe you were dead or maybe like not telling me you were engaged to Hailey or maybe like being the biggest narcissistic asshole to the only person who has wanted to help you and loved you!" Mallory stepped right in front of him.
"I've simply been trying to get what was mine back" Ezekiel said.
"No, you forgot about that along time ago Zeke. All you think about now is finding ways to get back at my father, you don't want any justice anymore, what you're looking for is revenge and you don't even care if you have to use me for it. You even thought I helped my father. I lost the relationship I had with my father and my family to stand up for you. You're so blinded by this hatred you have for my father that you're making yourself miserable. If you really had really wanted justice you could've asked for my help to get a good lawyer but you didn't because that's not what you want!" Mallory said not even realizing she had tightened her fist.
"That's not true. You're the last person I would ever hurt or even use, you know that because you know I love you" Ezekiel frowned.
"I thought you loved me, I thought that when you would spend time with me and listen to me. When you would joke and talk about us or how you were going to marry me. When you would do anything to be with me. When you trusted me. I thought I was still in love with you a few weeks ago but I was only in love with the idea of you eventually being the guy I met junior year again. I'm sorry for your shirt and the damage my family has caused on you" Mallory said before turning around and walking away with Noelle.
