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“Yes, sir.What would you like to ask Viki Slate?”Martin asks.
Silence.“Does your abduction stay with you?Haunt you in the quiet nights?”The question comes unexpectedly and chilling.
My breath catches in my throat, fear trailing down my spine.My eyes dart to the side of the stage, where Lexy stares back at me, shocked.Kingsley, eyes narrow, whispers something into his radio.
“You don’t have to answer that,” the journalist says, a touch of concern in his voice.
I clear my throat, regaining my composure.“What happened to me… I don’t wish upon anyone, but it’s only made me stronger,” I say, voice steady, but inside, my emotions are near breaking.
My chest constricts, my breathing hitches, the shadows of the past threatening to break through.
And with that, the interview comes to a close.I’m smiling, but I feel like I’m outside my body— a spectator in the room.I am not listening, but a static of voices surround me, and the producer counts down until the credits roll.
“I’m sorry, Viki, we didn’t realize…” Martin’s voice trails off, but I don’t hear the rest of his apology.I stand abruptly, fear and anxiety clawing at me, making me feel lightheaded as I practically run out of the studio.
I make it to the green room and shut the door, leaving Lexy and Kingsley on the other side.
A loud knock pulls me from the depths of my mind.
“I just need a minute,” I yell back at them, lying on the sofa, trying to regulate my breathing.
The question about my abduction caught me entirely off guard.After the first time I was asked about it in an interview, I’d put a stop to any more personal questions.Lexy always briefs interviewers on topics that are off-limits, and this one is strictly off-limits.But an audience member asking?That was completely unexpected.
The question has triggered a wave of anxiety I can’t seem to control.My heart pounds in my chest, and my mind races, replaying the memories I’ve tried to put behind me.
I hear a firm knock at the door.“Miss Slater?May I come in?”Kingsley’s voice is loud and authoritative.Weirdly, it brings me comfort.
I hesitate for a moment, then call out, “Yes.”
The door opens, and Kingsley steps inside, his eyes searching my face.
5
Kingsley
My eyes lock with hers, and I see vulnerability shimmering there.Miss Slater rises from her seat, leaning against her dresser for support.
This would be the moment to ask if she’s all right after that distressing question that she so blatantly struggled to answer.It’s a fear I’ve witnessed in men on the verge of death or soldiers traumatized from the horrors of battle.Instead, I take a moment to look at those striking blue eyes and auburn hair cascading in curls down her back.Her petite frame might deceive some, but not me.
“What is it?”she asks, attempting to regain her posture, but I’ve learned not to be fooled by her size.She’s brimming with sass and confidence, and she’s headstrong.Most celebrities are, or so I’ve been told by my employer, who handles security for many A-listers.
“I’ve got Dean and Colin looking for the audience member, but he left when the show ended.”
“He was just a fan, curious, that’s all,” she replies, dismissing me.
“However, as far as I’m aware, your abductors remain at large.”
She shudders, then tries to mask it with a forced gesture, but I catch it.Reading body language is second nature to me.
“That was in Tokyo.We’re in Australia now,” she snaps back, her tone dripping with defiance.
Has she not heard of worldwide organized crime syndicates?
Suppressing my frustration, I step closer.Our proximity is such that she has to tilt her head to meet my gaze.“I notice everything, Miss Slater.Every single detail.We need to remain vigilant.”
Her breathing becomes slightly uneven while I’m enveloped by her scent—a mix of woody cinnamon and floral notes.Were she not so defiant, her beauty would be truly breathtaking.
She steps closer, the satin of her dress brushing against me.The outline of her figure makes me tense up.“So do I, Kingsley,” she murmurs, and the way my name rolls off her tongue sends my imagination down a dark path.
