𝐄𝐃𝐆𝐄 𝐎𝐅 𝐅𝐀𝐈𝐓𝐇 | ᴊᴀᴠɪᴇʀ ᴘᴇɴᴀ |

~ 26 ~

｡･:*:･ﾟ★,｡･:*:･ﾟ☆ ｡･:*:･ﾟ★,｡･:*:･ﾟ☆ ｡･:*:

Days had passed since the meeting, but the tension from that day still lingered in the air. As I sat in the break room with Sarah and Mark, I tried to shake off the uneasy feeling.

"You were amazing during that meeting," Sarah said, sipping her coffee. "I bet Javier is thrilled with how it went."

I forced a smile. "Thanks, Sarah. It was a team effort."

Mark leaned in, his eyes twinkling with curiosity. "Speaking of Javier, what's going on between you two? You seemed pretty close."

I rolled my eyes playfully. "Just work stuff, Mark. We had to be on the same page for the meeting."

They laughed, but I could sense their curiosity. Before the conversation could go any further, I excused myself. "I need to grab some files from my office. I'll catch up with you guys."

As I walked down the hallway, I bumped into Liam. He flashed me a smile that made my skin crawl. "Hey, Madison. Got a minute?"

I nodded reluctantly. "Sure, Liam. What's up?"

He stepped closer, his gaze lingering on me longer than necessary. "I just wanted to ask you if you wanted to go out some day."

I looked at him surprised, not knowing what to say. "I'm really busy currently but I'll let you know," I said, trying to keep my voice steady.

His hand brushed against my arm, and I stiffened. "You know, if you ever need anything, just let me know. I'm here for you."

Before I could respond, my phone buzzed in my pocket. I glanced at the screen to see a strange number I didn't recognize. Relieved for the interruption, I quickly answered.

"Hello?" I said, walking a few steps away from Liam.

"Madison? It's Olivia. Your sister."

I went blank, shocked. "Olivia?" I whispered, my mind racing. "How... how did you get my number?"

"I searched for your name online and well, you are really famous in Los Angeles... ," she took a pause. "Look, Maddie, I know this is out of the blue, but our brother and I really miss you. We stopped talking to our parents about five months ago. We want to see you, to rebuild our relationship."

"This... I don't know what to say, this was the last thing I expected happening to me today," I felt a lump in my throat. "I'm really busy, Olivia. It's complicated for me to go to New York."

"Please, Maddie," Olivia's voice pleaded. "We need you. We have a lot of stuff to talk about."

Before I could respond, Teresa appeared, her face serious. "Madison, the boss needs to see you in his office. Now."

"Thanks, Teresa. I'll head there right away," I breathed a sigh of relief. "I have to go," I said quickly into the phone. "I'll call you later."

"Okay. Please do," Olivia said before I hung up.

As I walked towards my boss's office, my stomach churned with anxiety. The memory of his touch during our last encounter made me uneasy. I took a deep breath and knocked on the door.

"Come in," he called.

I stepped inside, forcing a professional smile. "You wanted to see me, sir?"

He looked up from his desk, a predatory gleam in his eyes. "Yes, Madison. Come in and close the door."

I complied, my heart pounding. "What can I do for you?"

He stood up and walked around his desk, standing uncomfortably close to me. "I wanted to discuss your performance. You've been doing exceptionally well."

"Thank you, sir," I said, trying to maintain a calm exterior.

His hand brushed against my arm, lingering. "You know, Madison, you're a very attractive woman. It's hard not to notice, even the clients told me."

I stepped back, my pulse quickening. "I appreciate the compliment, but I'd prefer to keep this professional."

He smiled, but it didn't reach his eyes. "Of course, of course. But sometimes, a little... personal touch can go a long way in this business."

His hand moved to my waist, and panic surged through me. "Sir, I don't think this is appropriate."

He ignored me, his hand sliding lower. "Come on, Madison. We both know you're capable of more than just professional success."

I shoved his hand away, my voice shaking. "Stop it. This isn't right."

He laughed, a cold, menacing sound. "You think you can just say no to me? After everything I've done for you?"

My mind raced, and I knew I had to get out. "I need to go," I said, backing towards the door.

He lunged, grabbing my arm. "You're not going anywhere."

In a burst of adrenaline, I twisted out of his grip and ran out of the office, not stopping until I reached the restroom. I locked myself in a stall, my body trembling with fear and anger.

Tears streamed down my face as I thought about how I got to this point. When did every man start seeing me as just an object? I wasn't a whore. I was talented and hardworking, but moments like these made me question everything.

Javier's words echoed in my mind, the time he jokingly called himself a whore. Maybe he was right about both of us. I felt broken, my self-worth shattered.

Desperate for clarity, I found myself walking through the streets of Los Angeles, desperate, not even knowing where to go. I ran into the beach, that was just some feet far from the office, and looked out at the water, the weight of my experiences crushing me.

Was I really just a body to be desired? Did my talents even matter anymore?

I closed my eyes, feeling the wind on my face, wishing for a sign, a reason to believe in myself again. And in that moment, I realized I needed to make a choice-not just about my career, but about how I saw myself. I needed to reclaim my worth, to remember that I was more than just a pretty face.

I wasn't ready to give up. Not yet. Javier's face came to my mind, as well as my sister's call. Maybe I should take a break and have some time for myself, and maybe rethink the offer of Javier.

[To be continued...]