Invisible String

C.2: one single thread of gold tied me to you

"You took money from me?" He asked, out loud. It wasn't a question so to speak, but a statement, one of shock.

"Temporarily misappropriated," she corrected him.

"Still taking," he argued.

"A loan, I just told you that I'd give you the money back, in eight to ten business weeks." She argued back, with the timeframe getting longer.

"I want my money back now."

"I don't have it. I wasn't lying about my situation that night. I'm unemployed and I'm technically homeless and could be kicked out from the place I'm staying at a moment's notice. All I have is enough to get me back to the place I'm staying."

Josh ran his hand over his face at her truthfully pathetic admission.

"Fine, you've got six weeks."

"Thank you."

"This isn't why I wanted to confront you."

Madison just nodded letting him speak.

"Why'd you leave?" he asked, much less combative than before. "You said that you were just heading to the bathroom."

Not completely sure of this sudden slight vulnerability. She shifted uncomfortably in her heels, as she tried to deflect, not wanting to tell him the truth. That she was ashamed of herself, she had just gotten her heartbroken and just wanted to forget about it for a moment. And that's what he did and that was what she was ashamed off, forgetting about her broken heart, as if the previous love didn't matter anymore.

"Well, if you recall, I just said that I was going to the bathroom. I didn't specify which bathroom. Just I went to the one at the place where I crashed." Madison explained, struggling to hide that she was internally panicking, "Like here's a bathroom, I'm gonna head there now."

Josh couldn't argue with her logic, but he truly wanted to argue. She just left without saying anything and now he watched her, before flagging down Donna.

Madison pushed open the door to the women's bathroom. Sighing, she quickly tried to regain composure as she checked the stalls. Pushing each one open to find out, which if any, had a window.

"It's always the last one," she remarked as her eyes landed on the small window in the top corner of the bathroom. She didn't question if this was a good idea or not. Just knowing that she had to at least try. Locking the stall door behind her, she closed over the toilet. Her gaze briefly dropped to her shoes, she groaned at herself for choosing to wear an expensive pair of heels.

Standing onto the lid of the toilet, Madison steadied herself, only now realising what potential situation she could be putting herself in.

The door to the lady's room swung open.

"Shit," She cursed under her breath, thankful that the stall walls were tall enough to keep her hidden.

"Madison Montgomery?" A soft woman's voice broke through the silence.

"Shit," the hidden woman cursed again, as she climbed off the toilet, as the woman stopped outside her toilet stall.

"Hi," Madison smiled.

"My boss, Josh, sent me to make sure that you weren't about to break a window in the White House to climb through." The new woman explained, pretty confused as to why Josh had asked her to follow this woman into the bathroom, "The windows are glued shut." She added.

"Figures," Madison interpreted.

"And if you did somehow break through the window, I don't think Secret Service would like that much."