I t was already too late.

The Madam knew .

And there was nothing I could do to conceal the truth. That was the thing about photos. They seemed to live forever. Even when you wanted so badly to destroy them .

Madam waved me inside her office, directing me to take a seat opposite her. My feet dragged over the floor and I couldn’t take my eyes off it. She had the Hollywood Reporter sitting on her desk. It didn’t surprise me that she had it out for all to see. If she hadn’t told me to come by before the photo was taken, she certainly would have insisted on a meeting after the photo broke this morning .

“Where’s Jerome?” I asked, hoping to delay the conversation I didn’t want to have .

“Running some errands.” Her eyes glowed above her cherry red lips .

“Huh,” I said under my breath, falling into the seat across from her .

The entire ride here, I’d hoped that what Alex told me wasn’t true. That my face hadn’t been printed on the front page of one of LA’s largest celebrity publications. But I knew it the moment Alex said it. It was the truth, and it wasn’t something that I could just wish away, hoping it had never happened .

“So,” Madam folded her white-gloved hands on top of her desk and straightened her spine, “did you enjoy the gala ?”

Last night was a blur. Everything happened so fast. I was still reeling from the ups and downs, the different emotions of the night. I didn’t know how best to respond. I enjoyed it, and then I didn’t. And with Kelly leaving so suddenly, it was impossible to look into Madam’s sharp eyes without experiencing feelings of regret that knotted my belly. I’d told her too much. Let my guard slip, and now I was on edge preparing for the moment she would take advantage of my weakness .

“I think so,” I murmured, still able to see the bright bulbs flashing, lighting up the dark night .

Madam chortled .

Sucking my bottom lip between my teeth, we shared a glance to the city’s new favorite couple—Kelly and me .

“Looks like the media has made you an item.” Madam smirked .

“Hope they don’t get too attached,” I said, shifting in my seat. “Thirty days isn’t a whole lot of time .”

Shaking her head, Madam added, “In this city, a month is a lifetime .”

Her comment got me to grin. And as I sat there staring at the way Kelly and I looked together—like the next best power couple to take America by storm—I couldn’t stop my head from wondering if Madam had her photo taken last night, too. With as many reporters as there were waiting outside Ty Lemon’s mansion, I didn’t know how anyone could have escaped them. “I assume your photo was taken as well .”

Madam tipped her head back and cackled. “Oh, no honey. Madam is much too smart to allow that to happen .”

My brows pinched, wondering how she did it. Like a phantom in the night, Madam could disappear as easily as she came without ever drawing too much attention to her. She was by far one of the most calculating women I knew and it served her well .

Her knowing eyes searched my soul before she dropped her gaze back to the supermarket tabloid cover. “Though this wasn’t the story I was expecting to see come out from the gala .”

The crown of my head reached toward the ceiling. “No ?”

“You saw him there, too.” She glanced at me from under her arched brow. “Timothy Parker.” One corner of her mouth curled upward into a smirk. “Did you manage to say hello ?”

Casting my gaze to my fidgeting fingers I shook my head, choosing to remain hidden under my swooshing bangs gliding across my forehead like wipers on a windshield .

“Darling, that’s a shame .”

I flickered my eyes up to hers just as her frown vanished .

Her brows raised high on her head. “You know, sweetie, he’s been asking about you .”

A stabbing stich in my side twisted as I thought back to the conversation Kelly insisted we have about what I discussed with Madam. I knew the real reason I was brought in today, and it had nothing to do with the gala or why I didn’t take the time to greet Timothy. I called her out last night about setting Kelly up to find me with Timothy, knowing he would react the way he did. So why she was telling me these things now had me scratching my head .

Searching her desk, I knew there was a delivery waiting for me somewhere. But it wasn’t out in the open like the tabloid. Madam was working down her list of points she wanted to discuss and knew exactly what she was doing. Unfortunately for me, no matter how much I wanted to just get on with learning about my next delivery, she wasn’t through discussing Kelly .

“It’s Kelly, isn’t it?” She tsked. “He doesn’t want you to speak with Timothy ?”

“Can you blame him ?”

Madam gave a dismissive nod. “You continue to surprise me, darling .”

One brow arched as my lids narrowed .

“Whatever you’re doing to keep Kelly calm—” she turned her head and looked away, “—especially with the challenges he’s currently facing,” her eyes rolled back to me, “keep doing it .”

Tucking my hair behind my ear, I was quickly reminded of Kelly and the way he fisted my hair as he drilled me from behind. I hadn’t been feeling well since learning of his arrest. I was worried for him—for our future—but I knew the exact reason why Kelly seemed to be able to keep his emotions in check, and it had everything to do with me .

Feeling Madam’s intense gaze locked on me, I glanced down my front. Memories of Kelly taking his frustration out on me had my nipples tightening, reminding me of the way he clamped them to follow the rhythm of his thrusts .

But I knew the truth .

And Kelly wasn’t as calm as Madam thought he was .

Inside he was grappling with the challenges he faced, tormented by the obstacles ahead .

Madam sighed when opening her side desk drawer. “Not to waste any more of your time,” her smile hit her eyes, “I need you to deliver this for me .”

I watched as Madam slid a similar sized package as my previous deliveries across her desk. “To Emmanuel’s ?”

“Actually, no.” She lifted her hand to her head, lightly patting her perfect hair. “It’s a new destination. The instructions are inside .”

I flicked my eyes to the package .

“I trust you won’t have any problems.” She held her chin high, exposing the diamonds hanging off her neck. “But, if you do, call the number on the card .”

Running an unsteady hand through my hair, I couldn’t help but regret my decision to take on Alex’s debt owed to Madam. I did want out. Everything I told Kelly was true. And now that Kelly knew my desire to leave, I was afraid that word would get back to Madam—if she didn’t already know .

“About what you said at the gala,” Madam broke the silence that had settled between us, “about Kelly — ”

My eyes came alive .

“—I’ve been thinking.” Madam straightened the bangles on her wrist before removing the tabloid from her desk .

Suddenly, my eyes popped out of my head when I saw who was hiding beneath. “Is that Nora?” I lurched forward. “Why do you have a picture of Nora?” My face twisted in confusion .

“Oh, yes.” Madam’s eyes glanced at the picture of Kelly’s wife. “I nearly forgot.” Madam settled back in her chair with exaggerated nonchalance .

“Forgot?” The crease between my brows deepened. “Forgot about what ?”

Turning her head to the window, Madam said, “I’ve been thinking about what you said at the gala .”

My mind swirled to recall everything we’d discussed .

“And I think you were right.” She rolled her head back, fixing her eyes on me .

The last breath I inhaled caught in my throat as I heard the faint pounding of my heartbeat between my ears. Did I hear her right? Was she admitting she was wrong? I had to be misunderstanding her but her expression said otherwise .

“You deserve to know why Kelly’s wife killed herself .”

I sank back into my chair, covering my mouth with one hand. My eyes were round and, though they were open, I was deep inside my head wrestling with my own thoughts. Madam’s words hit me like a semi-truck and now that I was about to learn the reason why Nora did what she did, I wasn’t sure I wanted to know the answer .

“Nora was a sweetheart.” Madam’s voice was calm, sprinkling her words with a little remorse. “She was the type of woman you would take home to Mom .”

Madam nodded, so sure of herself, as I sat there wide-eyed, listening. And though my heart was beating fiercely inside my chest, I felt numb, cold .

“It’s not my place to tell you the specifics.” She paused to wet her lips. “I don’t want to speak for Kelly, but let’s just say that Nora wouldn’t have killed herself if it wasn’t for what he did .”

My lids fluttered as I refocused my lenses, letting them land on Madam’s reluctant face .

She couldn’t be saying what I thought she was saying. Nora took her own life because of what Kelly did? What could he have done? And if he didn’t do whatever it was she was hinting at, would Nora still be alive? My heart ached, not knowing if Kelly was the man I thought he was. “You mean,” my brows pinched as my hands trembled, “Kelly killed her ?”

The door swung open behind me. With fresh air rushing in, I turned to find Jerome working to catch his breath .

“Sorry to interrupt,” he said to Madam, “but it’s time .”