Page 11 of My Sweetest Temptation

Panic threatened to take over until the door swung open. A woman I’d never seen before entered the room with Malik. She wore a white fitted dress that ended an inch above her knees with a black belt across her waist, giving her lawyer-like vibes.

The woman’s gaze met mine while Malik stood behind her. “Hi, Gigi. It’s nice to finally meet you, although I wish it were under better circumstances,” she said with a kind smile. She sat on the chair a few feet in front of me. She flung her long strawberry blonde hair over her shoulder and said, “My name is Madison.”

I stole a glance at Malik, whose hazel eyes were filled with grief. He offered me a fleeting half-smile that failed to mask his inner turmoil. “I’m a lawyer with Brady and Brooks,” Madison continued. “We handle a wide range of legal and business issues, including estate planning.” She paused as if to give me time to take that in. “I know you have a lot of questions, and I promise you, in time, you will have all the answers you need. But first, I want to express my deepest condolences for the loss of your parents.”

The grief crashed over me like a tidal wave at hearing it spoken aloud, and I let the tears fall freely, not bothering to wipe them away.

“Your mother prepared for this day, and she ensured you would have everything you needed.”

Confused, I watched her walk to a photo frame hanging on the wall behind a mahogany desk. She slid it aside, revealing what looked like a hidden safe with a security device that required a code. “Your mother first came to me when you were still in her womb,” she explained, her fingers deftly keying in a code. The safe clicked open. She retrieved something from inside it and locked it again, turning to face me. “All she told me was that you needed to be protected. So, I helped her draft the necessary legal paperwork for you.” She held a sleek black envelope out to me. “This is everything you’ll need to start anew in Chicago.”

“Chicago?”

She ignored my surprised tone and continued. “Identity papers, passports, bank account information, money, and keys to your new apartment, all under an alias,” she explained. “Once you leave Canada, you cannot under any circumstances reveal who you are, where you are from, or anything about your parents to anyone.”

“Is it because of those men? Who were they? And why did they have to—” I swallowed, unable to finish the thought.

Madison took a breath. “Your mother was terrified for your safety,” she began. “She feared that terrible things would happen if they ever discovered who you were.”

“Who’s they?” I asked. “And what do you mean by who I am?”

“Very dangerous men,” Malik interjected.

“Why didn’t you save them too?” I choked out, as tears blurred my vision.

He looked away for a moment, his jaw tightening. “I didn’t get the distress call until it was too late,” he replied. “Trust me, I would’ve done everything possible to save them.”

With a nod, I let the tears cascade down my cheeks and wiped them away with the back of my hand. “And the cops?” I whispered.

“I was outnumbered,” he said softly. “And I promised your parents I would do everything and anything to keep you safe. I did what they wanted me to do. Your mother was clear that I wasn’t to leave you unprotected under any circumstances.”

Right. No matter the cost, even if it meant being left parentless and all alone.

“Gigi, your mother told me that the moment you were in danger, we needed to act swiftly to get you to safety, and that means we have to change your identity,” Madison continued, pulling us back into the original conversation.

I reluctantly held the envelope, the weight of this responsibility pressing down on me. Madison’s gaze softened as if she could sense my unease. “I know this is overwhelming, but it’s necessary, Gigi,” she assured me. I nodded, staring at the envelope in my hands as if it might explode at any moment.

“Remember, Gigi,” Malik added. “These men will stop at nothing to find you. Your life here in Canada stays behind. No contact with anyone from here, including your friends.”

With a heavy heart, I realized I was truly on my own now, facing a threat I knew nothing about. And I still didn’t know why they were keeping secrets from me.

“When the time is right, all your questions will be answered,” Madison said, but it sounded like more cryptic shit.

“Do you know what they were involved in?” I asked quietly.

“They weren’t involved in anything,” Malik replied.

“Can’t you give me something?” I pushed, my throat tightening. “Anything?”

“All I can tell you is that your parents were good people. They cared about you more than anything else. Everything your mother did was for you. I promise you’ll know the whole truth when the right time comes. But for now, until the threat is gone, you have to remain in the dark. I know it’s hard, but you’ll see why this is necessary once you understand. Please, just trust me, Gigi.”

A suffocating silence engulfed us, each second stretching painfully. My mind raced with questions. What could be so dangerous that they needed to keep it from me? What kind of threat loomed over my life that would push me into hiding? I felt like I was trapped in some twisted plot of a movie.

“And here,” Malik said, breaking the stillness as he handed me a new cell phone. “This is a secure line that you can reach me on. My number is stored, along with Madison’s. Your conversations must remain brief. Emergencies only. Do you understand?”

I nodded, though my grip tightened instinctively around the phone as if it was some sort of time machine that could send me back in time to when my parents were still alive. “Yes, I understand,” I whispered, the words laced with my fear of what lay ahead.

Madison offered me a gentle smile, but it didn’t quite reach her eyes. “Live your life as normally as possible so you don’t raise suspicion. Find a job that’s completely outside your usual interests—something that no one would ever associate with you.” Her gaze sharpened as she emphasized her next point. “One slip and you’ll be exposed. We can’t afford any mistakes.” Her words were a chilling reminder of the stakes. “There’s a black sedan waiting for you outside. The driver will take you to the airport,” she continued.

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