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All of that is now crumbling before my very eyes.
Madison
Dasha is the only one I can talk to. She’s always there for me when I’m down. I can’t run to Rocco. I’m not sure if I’ll ever be able to.
It’s Byron’s fault. If he didn’t fuck this thing up, I would still be feeling that high. I’d still have those butterflies in my stomach.
I’d still feel the joy that comes whenever I think about Rocco.
Instead, I have a burning pit inside my gut, and it just keeps growing and growing.
“Well, the choice is obvious,” Dasha says. “You can’t go to Boulder.”
“How is that the obvious choice? I’ll lose everything. I won’t have any money left to feed myself or pay rent.”
“Yeah, but if you leave, I won’t have you anymore. That’s not an option either,” she jokes. “Seriously, come work for me at the salon. I could use a hand around that place.”
“Ugh, and deal with angry customers yelling about their hair dye? No thanks,” I say. “It’s not really my field.”
“Beggars can’t be choosers,” she says. “Besides, it could be fun.”
“I don’t know. Maybe.” I sigh and fall back onto the floor. “I just feel so exhausted. I hate admitting this to anyone, but myself, but I think I was starting to like the guy. He was sweet.”
“And a load of trouble,” she says.
“Yeah, and that’s exactly the reason why I liked him. He was a perfect combination of the two. He was fun. He made my blood rush with adrenaline. He made me feel really important,” I tell her. “I’m sorry I’m unloading on you right now. I just don’t know what I should do, and I need a friend.”
“You’re always welcome here, Madison. You know that. I’m always good to help you out,” she says, hugging me.
I’m not sad. Mainly, I’m just anxious, angry, and full of anxiety.
“Do I just go to Boulder and hope for the best? I mean, I’ll probably be back relatively fast, right?”
“If you go to Boulder, you won’t be coming back anytime soon,” she says. “I can almost guarantee you that. Byron seems like a psychopath.”
“Oh yeah,” I say. “I forgot you met him a few years back. He’s a real winner.”
“I’ve met him more than a handful of times,” she says. “He always comes on to me. It’s like he doesn’t get the hint. I’m not interested in criminals.”
I laugh, shaking my head. “Let me guess, he wrapped his hands around your waist and told you that you looked lovely?”
“Yes! It’s totally disgusting how he treats women,” she says. “You have to stay. You can’t let that guy win.”
“It’s worse than that,” I say. “I think he’s running the company into the ground.”
“Seriously? How do you know?” she asks.
“I don’t. It’s something I feel. He’s grown increasingly more volatile. He orders his guys to follow him around wherever he goes. I don’t think he can handle running this company by himself, and I think he knows it. He knows Rocco could run him out for good.”
“You should be running that business, Madison. You know how to do it. Oust him. You have to find a way,” she says.
I nod, but it’s not that easy. You can’t just kick a man out of his own company. You have to provide proof of wrongdoing. Even if he has lost his mind, he’s surrounded himself with capable men. Their only job is to cover up his tracks.
I sigh, but I suddenly feel confident. “Okay, I’m not leaving. It’s settled. I just need to come up with a plan.”
“You need to see Rocco,” she says. “I’m sorry, but you know it’s true.”
“I guess that means there won’t be any hot elevator sex this time.”
