never caused trouble

dent involving Louis was also quietly brush

Infinity Entertainment and the Dawson Group continued without interruption. Since

files, however, she understood immedi

he industry for his inappropriate behavior toward female producers. Abby clearly didn

ng was not

Madelynn knew Danny would not tolera

ng, she agreed to me

ime himself, seve

legantly named private rooms. The one they

wn, Madelynn already knew-Randy

poured her a drink, his gaze linge

ge," he said smoothly. "No wonder Infinity Entertai

sliding the glass aside. "But I can't drink m

tly. "Not drinking is the s

u instead," she said calmly, "as

efore he put a smile back onto his face. "Alright

ynn maintained a polished, profes

rsation into something more personal, she s

nsigned, with Randy saying he sti

out of the restaurant, it w

tch the last subwa

out. "Miss Douglas," he sai

Madelynn replied. "I

ll have a hard time getting a taxi. I

he passenger door of his car. "Or is it that you think

iefly landed on th

that night, the black luxury car, and the ma

ftly and eventually

ou, Mr.

e, something felt wrong.

o Infinity Entertainm

nice," Randy replied wit

phone. "I have an early meeting t

darker and quieter, far from the main traffic. "You're still young," he continued casually. "The

an abandoned industrial building. Randy killed th

for the door handle. But it

, Mr. Wallace?" Her

Instead, he unbuckled his seatb

ping away the polished image he had maintained and

rrangement this is," he said flatly, leaning closer. "In this industry, nothing

ack pressed against the car door, k

ood me. I'm not th

gh people like you to know better. Stop putting on an act.

reply, his hand l

Madelynn's mind we

m away and reached

and his expression twisted in anger. He grab

ng for troub

g toward her face,

second, but his nails stil

y grabbed her collar and slamm

ded throug

ively reached for

f the car, hitting the ground hard. Her elbow

he fumbled on the ground, foun

s caught mid-air. The grip was firm yet stea

a voice sai

ntly. Tears blurred her vision

clearly in the dark, only a shado

knew tha

ook the brick from her hand with

His attention stayed fi

ale the instant he

Mr. Daw

didn't

e arm. In the dim light, his expression was hard to read, but his

seconds," he said

e engine started violently, and the black vehicle soon sped off do

ell into he

iden let go of M

y her breathing. Pain throbbed through her elbow, where blood h

ked at her

t ask an

y handkerchief from his pocket,

back a memory she hadn'

e nothing h

loth gently over the

stinctively

yes lowered. His movements w

tely as it soaked up blood. For a

elt tears gathering

u doing here

"I was just pa

doesn't lead

paused sligh

dmitted after a beat. "I sa

n went

of steady pressure,

bruise near her temple. His e

else hurt?

N

dn't beli

nger before drifting to the edge of her coat, wher

you

es

he

didn't

d his eyes, refolded the handkerchief

walk?"

ea

to take a step, but her

before she could

en. Then, he bent slightly, slid one arm behind her shoulders and t

ide

e," he int

toward the exit

stopped r

instead, the tension sl

r again-pine, cool and crisp, like sn

just for a moment,