Page 43 of Madden

Chapter Thirteen

Brielle

I never ended up going to my parents’ for dinner yesterday. I sent a text to my mom shortly after I woke up saying something came up and I’d get ahold of her later in the week.

Shortly after, a barrage of phone calls from my father ensued, to the point where I turned my phone on silent and buried my face in a book for the afternoon. I took a break to pick up dry cleaning and swing by the store before noticing a few messages from Madden.

He texted me earlier in the day, letting me know he had plans when he got home. I didn’t expect to hear from him until he called me as he crawled into bed. We talked for a little while before we both agreed to get some sleep. He was exhausted from his trip, and neither of us got much sleep the night he stayed with me.

I needed the sleep too, or I’m positive it would’ve ended up being another morning of me sprinting through the lobby at work. It’s not a moment I want to relive ever again.

I’m sitting at my desk, scrolling through emails, when one comes through from Davis with a message saying, “Thought you’d want to see this.”

I click on the link, and it pulls up an article from Hollywood Tea.

MADDEN COLE IS SPOTTED HAND IN HAND WITH MYSTERY WOMAN

It looks like Madden Cole has moved on once again. We’ve all heard the rumors and know it’s true. He’s no stranger to the dating game.

On Saturday, Hollywood Tea caught the drummer walking into Granite hotel alongside a mystery woman.

This isn't the first time in recent months the A Rebels Havoc band member has been spotted out with unknown women, only this time he seems to be cozied up with a blond bombshell.

Some believe he could be taking it to the next level with this one, though, since he's not normally one to be spotted out in public showing PDA toward rumored flings.

Sources say Madden and his "hotel rendezvous" are only friends and are not romantically involved, but if that's true, what's the story behind the hidden kiss?

Who knows if the duo are friends or in the beginning stages of something more? What do you think? Does our last remaining single rebel have a new woman in his life, or do you believe they're just friends?

I read the article several times, massaging my fingers over my forehead. The photo appearing in the article is grainy and hard to see in the dark. My head was down during my attempt to slip past Cedric.

My stomach twists, knowing people saw us together. The last thing I need is to have my face plastered all over the media alongside Madden, especially when I’m still finishing the article.

I don’t want my boss to find out we’ve been spending time together.

I roll my finger over the mouse, scrolling up and down the article, debating what to do. I’ve met a few people who work for Hollywood Tea over the years. All professional relationships, but I’m closest to Clive Teller, their editor-in-chief.

If anyone could help me stop anything before it hits the headlines, it would be him.

It’s ridiculous, though, because what’s there to reach out about? No one knows who it is or who I am.

Two knocks hit the doorframe of my office, and I spin in my chair to find Davis standing behind me.

“Did you see what I sent you?” He smiles big, showing his teeth and fluttering his lashes.

“Yeah…” I sigh, sliding down in my chair. “Come in, though, and shut the door, will ya?”

He looks around to make sure no one’s coming before he does.

“You never told me you were hooking up with Madden Cole.”

“I’m not hooking up with Madden Cole.”

He curls his mouth into a smile and barks out a laugh. “You’re a terrible liar.”

My face warms, and I know without looking in the mirror I’m bright red from embarrassment.

“Do you want to try again to see if you can do better the second time around?”

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