MAD

~ Chapter 14 ~

Rebecca was pulling her curled hair to the side and pinning it down as she waited for Zach to get out of the shower. When he finally stepped into the room she was finished with her hair and moved onto retouching her makeup.

"Tell me again," he huffed "why do we have to go to this thing?"

"Because you are a big celebrity and this is the most important event of the year in town." She shrugged. "Also because you need good publicity now that you are getting a new contract with a different label."

Grabbing a few stray pins from the bed, she threw them onto the bedside table and ran her fingers through her curled hair, that was falling by her shoulder.

One hour later they were leaving the house, hand in hand. Rebecca was wearing a long, tight dress that fit her slim figure perfectly; on her feet, bright red high heels made her stand almost as tall as Zach did. By her side, Zach was wearing a white dress shirt with black suit pants, a black leather jacket, and matching boots.

"Shouldn't you at least wear a tie?" Rebecca asked as Zachary started the car.

"Why should I? I am a rock star..." he winked at her, smirking.

Rebecca groaned and shook her head at her boyfriend, turning to look out of the window.

"Fucking egocentric bastard..." she grumbled, making Zach chuckle.

The couple arrived at the hotel and let the valet take their car as they moved towards the stairway that led to the hotel entrance. Lights and flower arrangements decorated the steps and around the doorway, making the pace look like a palace.

"Wow!" Rebecca mumbled, stopping after stepping inside the building. "This looks amazing. I feel like I just stepped into a fairytale."

"Yeah, it doesn't look half bad..." Zach offered, pulling Rebecca along as he moved from the hotel's reception to the grand ballroom where the music was already playing softly.

Flowers were hanging from the ceiling, dangling above people's heads, and the lights were dimmed, making the place look like a scene straight out of a Disney movie.

People stood in small groups scattered around the room, talking in soft tones, with drinks in hand.

The women were in long, dazzling dresses, with complicated hairdos and sparkly jewelry. The men in fitted suits, matching shoes and gelled back hair.

Zachary and Rebecca stood at the ballroom double doors for a few minutes, observing the luxury and ostentation, so different from them.

"Look, there." Rebecca pointed to the far left of the ballroom. "The guys are already here. Let's go say hello!"

"Is that Josh next to Nate?" Zach asked, squinting his eyes as he tried to get a better look at the man standing almost glued to the smaller boy. Rebecca got a hold of his elbow and gently pulled him along towards his band members.

Once they got closer, it was confirmed that it was indeed Josh who stood glued to Nate's side.

"Hello, people! Missed me?" Rebecca asked as she pulled Gabriel closer by the neck.

"How could we Becca?" Michale laughed. "We just saw you over lunch." He shrugged and removed Rebecca's hands from Gabriel's neck, letting him breathe properly again.

"You look lovely, Becca." Nate commented, smiling softly at the over excited girl.

"Isn't it amazing?" she asked. "I feel like this night id going to be amazing, magical even!" she jumped slightly. "And thank you for noticing Nate."

As the night went on, people approached their small group, making small talk with the band and trying to fall on Josh's good graces.

At one point, when the night was nearing midnight, Kyle Dawson approached them, smiling warmly (and fakely) at them.

"Well, hello there." He spoke, shaking their hands and lightly kissing Rebecca's cheek. "So, what are you thinking of the evening?" he asked, fake warm smile still etched on his face.

"It's been entertaining. We talked t a few people..." Josh stepped up and answered, allowing the others to indulge in conversation between them and not bothering with the boring themes the host of the party was sure to speak about.

"So, mister Walker, what are your thought on my marvelous hotel?"

"It's quite impressive." Josh nodded. "Heard it's been completely full ever since the opening night. Have you thought of maybe expanding? Or perhaps build a new one on some other hot place in town?" josh faked interest on the man's business. He had to.

"Yes. Actually, I've been discussing it with Joel and I've decided that all present and future expansions of the company in town are going to be one hundred percent under his management." Kyle said, looking slightly irritated by the thought.

"That's good news. He'll be better prepared for when you decide to hand down the company to him."

"Father?" they heard Joel from behind them.

"Oh, Joel. Thought you were still busy with that girl."

"Father, please." Joel warned.

Standing next to him Maddeline tightened her hold on his hand.

"Let it go, Joel." She said, rubbing circles on his skin. "Kyle, it's a pleasure to meet you again." She said with a serious face, then turned to Josh and gave him a small, sweet smile. "Hey there, Walker."

Josh stood in shock, looking at her for a minute until Nate slipped his hand around Josh's waist, making him look down at the boy with bulging eyes.

"Hello, Joel, Maddeline." Nate smiled softly as he spoke. "Guys come say hello to Maddeline." He called his band mates who were still immersed in a conversation between them.

"Maddeline!" Gabriel exclaimed, hugging her tightly and kissed her cheek softly.

"Oh," Kyle looked at him weirdly "you know each other?" he asked, still stunned.

"Of course." Michael looked at him weirdly. "She's my cousin."

A new voice, made the group look at the girl approaching them.

"Maddie!" Rebecca screeched. "Oh my god, you look so good with you hair like that!" she exclaimed, making the other girl blush.

"Thank you."

Behind Rebecca, Zach stood in shock, unable to mutter a word of acknowledgment, at Maddeline, who stood in front of him looking like a ghost from the past.

His heart started accelerating and his hands quickly got clammy. He had just been transported years back to when he had asked her to marry him and in that moment, he could not help but feel the urge to do it again.

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Author's Note: I'm really, really sorry for the delay...Hope you enjoyed this chapter, and if you did please vote and comment!

Besitos,

Jessy.