Page 112 of His Ruthless Match
“Yes, ma’am. That’s correct.”
I glanced at Jareth. He shrugged.
When we entered the room, Gabe was already crouched by the window as he adjusted one of the cameras. He glanced up as we entered, giving a quick wave. “Almost done here,” he said.
Genevieve was perched on the sofa, wearing an oversized sweatshirt that swallowed her frame. Her pale face and red-rimmed eyes told me everything I needed to know. She looked like she might shatter if someone so much as breathed wrong.
I sat in the chair across from her. “Genevieve, I need to be honest with you. I’ve done everything I can to counteract the negative press and to find out who started this, but it’s not working, not when new press keeps coming out. I’m doing my best to figure out a solution, but…”
Her lips trembled, and she looked down at her hands, her voice barely audible. “I’m so sorry. I never wanted any of this to happen. I don’t even knowwhat’shappening.” She took a shaky breath, her shoulders sagging. “Everyone’s dropped me, Eva. My agent, my marketing deals—everything is falling apart. Even the luxury perfume deal I had. It was supposed to last five years. They terminated the contract yesterday.”
The pain in her voice cut deep, and I felt a pang of guilt for not being able to stop this sooner. “I’m so sorry,” I said softly. “You don’t deserve this.”
“The only contract that couldn’t be legally terminated is a movie production that’s due to begin soon here in NYC. But I wouldn’t be surprised if they find a loophole and kick me out of that, too. Who wants to watch a movie starring a fucking unhinged actress like me?” Tears spilled down her cheeks, and she wiped them away with trembling hands. “I don’t evenremember leaving the hotel. I don’t know how those videos exist. I feel like I’m losing my mind.”
I reached over, placing a hand on her knee. “You’re not losing your mind. We’ll figure this out. You’re not alone in this.”
“All set,” Gabe announced, straightening up and dusting his hands off. “The cameras cover the main areas, doors and windows, but not the bedroom or bathroom, so Genevieve still has her privacy. Also, the audio is voice activated. If anything screwy happens in this room, we’ll catch it. I’ve set up motion-activated alerts, and you’ll have a live feed on your phone.”
He walked over, handing me his tablet and showing me how to access the cameras through a secure app. “Just tap here, and you’ll see everything in real time. You can also set notifications for specific events.”
I nodded, testing the feed. Seeing the room from multiple angles brought a small sense of relief. “Thanks, Gabe. This will be a huge help.”
Genevieve remained hunched, her arms wrapped tightly around herself. Her vulnerability was stark, and it made my chest ache.
I crossed the room and gently pulled her into a hug. She felt small, almost weightless, and I could feel the tremble in her shoulders. “I’ll be in touch soon,” I said softly. “Try to rest, okay? We’re not giving up on this. Or you.”
She nodded against my shoulder, her voice muffled. “Thank you, Eva. For everything.”
I pulled away, but Genevieve reached out and grabbed my hand. “Wouldn’t you all like to stay for a while? I can order some food. I’ve been by myself for so long, I’m going stir crazy.”
“I—” Jareth caught my eye, shaking his head. Right. With our suspicion that magic was at play and someone having made the connection between me and Raffaele, it probably didn’t make sense to tempt fate and stick around too long. “I’m reallysorry, but I’ve got work for another case I need to catch up on. Sometime soon, though, okay?”
My stomach turned with guilt. She needed company. She needed people in her life to help her return to herself. Deep down, I could tell Genevieve Witt was caught in a terrible situation that did not reflect her character. She was a good person.
“I wasn’t always like this, you know,” she said suddenly. “Everything people say online, the tabloids, the threads… some of it’s true. But it’s not all of me. And I want that to matter again.”
For the first time since we arrived, I saw the woman beneath the headline. Tired, yeah. But grounded. Still standing.
“I believe you,” I said quietly. And I meant it. She deserved to be believed. She was a victim, not a villain the way the media was painting her to be.
As Jareth and I left, I glanced back one last time. Genevieve looked a little lighter. Sometimes simply knowing someone believes you and values you could be life-giving. My heart felt heavy with worry, but I steeled myself. We would figure this out. We had to.
We stepped out of Genevieve’s hotel, our wigs still in place from our precautionary disguises we donned earlier. The city had settled into a quieter rhythm, the hustle of the day giving way to the muted hum of night. Beside me, Jareth walked silently in his ridiculous man-bun wig, his stride casual yet vigilant, his sharp eyes scanning the streets with practiced ease.
The weight of the day pressed heavily on my shoulders, but the rhythmic clicking of my heels against the pavement helped me focus. I wasn’t sure what I was focusing on—maybe the sound itself, maybe the simple act of moving forward. Anything to keep my mind from spiraling.
As we passed a quaint little candy store, I stopped abruptly. The rows of brightly colored sweets drew my eye like a beacon. I’d walked past this place countless times and never went inside, but tonight, it felt like a lifeline. A brief escape from the rest of the disaster that was my life currently.
“Delgado,” Jareth said, stopping beside me with an arched brow. “Are you seriously stopping for candy right now?”
“Yes,” I replied, my tone mock-serious as I pushed open the door. The cheerful jingle of the bell above the entrance was a stark contrast to the chaos that usually consumed my life. “Everyone has their vices, and right now, I need sugar in my veins.”
“I didn’t take you for a candy person. Stress must really be hitting you hard.”
“Shut up,” I shot back, already scanning the shelves. The store was cozy, its wooden shelves overflowing with candies of every shape and color. The air smelled faintly of chocolate and nostalgia. “Sometimes, you just need to indulge.”
My gaze landed on a section dedicated to old-school treats, and my eyes lit up. “Oh my god,” I said, plucking a pack of candy cigarettes from the shelf. I held them up for Jareth to see, grinning like a kid. “These used to freak my mom out so bad when I was a kid.”
