Chapter 826 - How is your dad's business?

~ Austin, Texas ~

September 18

Kyra and Madison are having lunch in one upscale American restaurant.

"Why did you call me here?", Madison nervously asked Kyra over her Southwestern chicken salad when an overly-friendly waiter moved out of the earshot.

Kyra showed her most pleasant smile before speaking: "We didn't have a chance to chat in a while. The wedding was a big event, a lot of things happened. And can't I call you just to see how you are doing?"

Madison suppressed the need to roll her eyes. "That might sound nice if it's coming from a person who cares how others are doing."

"Ouch! If you are going to be this hostile, why did you accept to meet with me?"

"I thought that maybe you have something to tell me." Madison hoped that Kyra found out something about the rumor that Aiden assaulted her and that is why she invited her for this lunch. The fact that Kyra is shooting random questions can only mean that Kyra is here to collect information, and that made Madison's irritation increase.

"Not really. To be honest, I saw you at the wedding, running out of the ladies' room. You were holding your face. Did something happen?" Kyra saw that Madison's face contorted for a second. "Something did happen… will you tell me?"

Madison clenched her teeth at the memory of Sarah and how she slapped her and stuffed her in the trash bin.

"I had a chat with Aiden's date, and I found that she is impossible to get along. I don't know what he sees in her."

Kyra's eyebrows shoot up at Madison's obvious lie. This told Kyra that something definitely happened... something so big that Madison is trying to hide it. But Kyra knows how to push Madison's buttons and make her talk.

"Date? Are you sure that she was only a date? I heard that they are engaged… for a while. And that he is in love." Kyra carefully observed changes on Madison's face before continuing slowly: "I even heard that they were together at the Christmas party at Orion Enterprise… last year. That is quite a long time, especially for Aiden. There are some talks that they will get married soon. And even his mother adores her..."

"ENOUGH!", Madison snapped. "That bitch does not deserve him! And since he refused me, I made sure that he does not get his happy ending either! Ha! I will see how long they will stay happily in love when my dad does his thing!"

'Got ya!' Kyra's smile widened. "Oh? What thing?"

Madison's eyes darted randomly for few seconds before speaking: "Aiden came to my room and tied me up to the bed. He slept with me and left me like that… and my dad found me. I told him what happened, and he will make sure that Aiden does not go unpunished for taking advantage of me."

Kyra can tell that things in that story don't add up. She will squeeze all the juicy bits out of Madison. Does she really think that she can fool her with such a lame story?

Kyra put her concerned face on. "Really? You slept with him? And he tied you up to the bed and left you like that? You poor thing… Where was his fiancée at that time? Is she a kinky one who likes to watch?"

Madison blinked few times before explaining: "No, no one watched… Uhm… we just finished, and she showed up. And he left with her. That is why he left me tied up."

"Madison… don't insult my intelligence. You said that he refused you, and a minute later that he slept with you. Which one is it?" Kyra saw that Madison pressed her lips into a thin line. It seems she will not talk… Kyra cleared her throat. "How does Liam fits in that story?"

"Who?"

"Don't play like you don't know. Liam Balfew. You spent quite some time with him at the wedding. If there was any incident involving Aiden, Liam was part of it." Kyra saw that Madison is not willing to explain. Well, it's not like she has no other ways to make her talk. "Madison, I'm disappointed. We worked so many times together… and now you are hiding things from me. You know, I think that my recorder with our talk from last Easter party might be lost. Who knows who might find it?"

Kyra enjoyed look of panic on Madison's face. It seems that this one thing will work just fine, and in case it's not enough, Kyra has plenty of other things that she can use against Madison.

"OK. OK. I will tell you." Madison hesitated and that made Kyra's curiosity shoot up.

After some time, Madison admitted: "Liam gave me the… aphrodisiac."

Kyra's mouth was slightly open. "You drugged Aiden?"

"Shhh… Lower your voice."

"Who else was involved?" Kyra saw that this is a gold mine. She needs to know the details!

Madison frowned. "How do you know that someone else was involved?"

"Liam is a scheming coward. He always has sidekicks."

Madison could not deny this… and she already told everything to Kyra, so she might as well tell her this as well. "Thomas."

"Thomas Scott? I see…" Kyra did a dramatic pause before asking: "Tell me the truth. Did Aiden sleep with you?"

"Does it matter?"

Kyra shrugged. "To me? It does not. But if he didn't, it would explain few things."

"What things?"

"Businesses of Scott and Balfew families are suddenly experiencing some… difficulties. And they are not the only ones."

"How do you know?" Madison always wondered how Kyra finds out things. She always knows what is happening, everywhere.

Kyra observed Madison for some time while thinking how much she should tell her. Well, she needs to tell her something. "People are talking about it. Rumor is that they offended the White family in some way, and that rumor is enough for many to refuse to associate with them. People are breaking ties with them faster than you can remove unwanted bodily hair with waxing. You can check the stock market. As soon as the marked opened yesterday, their value started plummeting. And it's not just their main families. Businesses and properties that their relatives own are also losing value rapidly. By the way, how is your dad's business?"

"He is… fine.", Madison didn't sound confident.

"Really? You can't see daily updates for privately owned companies, but did you notice some changes with your dad? Does he look busier, or more stressed?"

Madison bit her lower lip while thinking how since they came back day before yesterday she barely saw her father. Is his business in trouble? Because he offended the White family? Is it because of her? She shook her head. No, not possible. Her story is credible. Aiden came to her room and assaulted her. The only liability is that aphrodisiac. Liam will not talk because it will implicate him. And even if Aiden went for a toxicology test, Liam assured her that the moment drugs wear off, they are practically untraceable. So, it will be her word against Aiden's. He can't prove anything. However… with all the commotion that evening, it seems that she misplaced the bottle. Probably the room service picked it up and thought it's trash. Yes. That is what happened.

But, is her father's business in trouble? She needs to check on that. While at it, she can check what her father did related to Aiden assaulting her at the wedding.

Madison stood up. "Excuse me, I just remembered I need to do something. We can catch up some other time." She put a $50 bill on the table and walked out.

Kyra looked after Madison and smirked while thinking that they will probably not see each other again. After Whites are done with Madison… there will not be much left.

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