Page 139 of When Hearts Awaken

“Maddy?”

I hear sniffling emanating from the back room.

Concern grips my heart in a vice and I make my way over there, to the girl who is feeling so alone right now, who probably thinks her world has ended and there’s no hope for her in the future.

“Maddy? Why are you crying?”

I find her crouching on the floor, sobs racking her body. I shake her and she flinches, her eyes widening in terror as they settle on me. “Tay? W-Why are you here? You need to go now. Please. You can’t let him see you talking to me. Go!” She gets up and pushes me toward the door.

What?

I push back. Something is horribly wrong. “No, I’m not leaving here until you tell me what’s going—”

Click.

My heart stalls as the hairs on my neck stick up. Maddy’s eyes widen with fear as she stares at something behind me.

“Why did you have to butt in where you’re not wanted, Ms. Peyton-Anderson?”

Chapter 57

“Thank you for theopportunity and I hope to hear from you soon,” the man says before following my lead and stands before shaking my outreached hand.

“Thanks for coming in. We’ll be in touch.” I sit back down, watching the last candidate for the open CFO position leave my office.

It’s been a year and a half of searching for the right candidate, and this one seems promising—sharp, a strong resume working for our competitors, and most importantly, a keen sense of integrity. He left his prior job because he unearthed a fraud that was ignored by the CEO and the Board.

Pinching the bridge of my nose, I close my eyes, exhaustion weighing on my eyelids. It’s been a day of interviews and nonstop meetings, not to mention my old friends, the paparazzi hanging out outside the building, wanting to get a remark from me about Taylor’s press conference.

The spineless idiots. But at least this time, the focus seems to be about Taylor’s bravery in sharing her experience with the world and how she’s standing up against her blackmailers. More stories have come out from countless women in all walks of life. Taylor told me that was the silver lining she’d hoped to see—to let others just like her feel less alone.

My heart doubles in size as I think about my minx, my feral little kitten—the silent strength, the don’t fuck with me attitude, the gumption to face her emotions head on.

I honestly don’t think I’ll ever be deserving of her.

I wonder how she’s doing in rehearsal today.

A pinch of worry sifts through me as I swipe open my cell phone, not seeing any calls and texts from her. But I remind myself she’s a top ballerina rehearsing for a performance that’ll determine if she gets to sit for a promotion evaluation. She’s no doubt busy as hell.

My phone buzzes, and I quickly answer it.

“Anthony? Is everything okay?”

“Sir, Taylor told me she was going to the ladies’ room, but when she didn’t come out for a long time, I asked a dancer to check inside and she wasn’t there. I’m searching the rest of the rooms as we speak.”

“Why the hell weren’t you stationed outside?” I roar, standing up and texting my driver to bring the car over.

“I stepped away for an urgent call and immediately went to the restrooms afterward. There were other people with her, so I—”

“Keep searching and keep me posted!” I rush out of the office, past my bewildered assistant and colleagues, who probably think I’ve lost my mind.

Alarm bells ring in my gut. This could very well be nothing, but my sixth sense tells me something is horribly wrong.

I get into the car and instruct the driver to get us to ABTC as fast as humanly possible. I try Taylor’s phone.

Voicemail.

I try three more times, all the same results.

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