Trial And Error

Chapter Fifty-Four

Madison's POV

The dining room table was buried beneath a mountain of paperwork - stacks of proposals, contracts and personnel files from over a dozen private security firms. Madison stifled a weary sigh as she settled back in her chair. She had hoped the piles of paperwork would stop accumulating once she started whittling them down, but they only seemed to multiply.

"How's it going over there?" Olivia's head poked around the corner of the makeshift screening room they'd set up. Her friend's concerned frown highlighted the shadows already gathering under her eyes.

"It's...going," Madison hedged, raking a hand through her tousled chestnut tresses. She refrained from brushing them from her face - that gesture inevitably resulted in streaks of ink marring her skin these days. Wading through all these options, trying to decipher which firms could actually provide the comprehensive protection required for someone of her celebrity status - it was overwhelming to say the least.

Olivia ventured further into the room, navigating the veritable minefield of folders and confidentiality agreements strewn about. "I can't get over how many supposed 'elite' security firms there are out there. And they all have just...so much paperwork."

"Tell me about it," Madison commiserated with a mirthless chuckle. She scooped up one of the thicker binders, allowing its substantial weight to make her point as she let it thump back onto the table. "Kian's going to need to help me pare these down. I can't make heads or tails of half these credentials and certifications they're touting."

The mere mention of the marine's name caused a flicker of fond affection to crease the corners of Madison's eyes. She was immensely grateful to have Kian's pragmatic mindset and military background as a resource during this process. Vetting an entire security detail would have overwhelmed Madison's abilities within days if left to her own devices.

The marine hadn't left Madison's side in days, after her panic attack she'd been attached to the brunette's hip. The musician was starting to worry for her mental health until she pushed for her to leave the house for a therapy session and the gym. She knew Kian liked having structured days and how much sitting cooped up turned her crazy over time.

The sound of the front door opening and closing filtered in, followed by familiar footsteps. Speak of the devil, Madison thought as Kian rounded the corner into the dining room, eyes instantly narrowing at the sea of paperwork.

"Got a minute?" The marine's rasped query was directed at Madison, but she included Olivia in her estimating gaze.

"For you? As many as you need," Madison replied easily, a teasing lilt entering her tone as she stretched up to press a chaste kiss to Kian's jaw.

Olivia smothered a grin at the tender exchange before clearing her throat. "I'll let you two lovebirds handle this part. Just...try not to get too distracted," she quipped with a wink.

Chuckling, Kian shook her head as Olivia slipped out, leaving them alone amidst the cluttered chaos. Her gaze roamed over the scattered documents and Manila folders with a furrowed brow.

"Got a handle on things in here?" Kian asked, toeing aside a fallen stack of pages as she eased into the vacant chair beside Madison.

The singer blew out a defeated breath, her shoulders sagging. "Honestly? Not at all. I'm in way over my head with all of this technical security jargon..."

Kian drew closer, absently stroking the back of Madison's neck as she scanned over the miniature disaster zone with a practiced eye. "May I?" she asked, gesturing to the stacks.

Nodding gratefully, Madison watched as Kian settled into the chair beside her and began methodically sorting through the prospective firms with an efficiency that was abundantly military. Within minutes, she had divided the mountains into two piles - a significantly smaller one she deemed "legitimate" and a much larger "wasteful B.S." stack.