The thing Madison liked about the beach was the sort of freedom that came with it.
From the feeling of the sand beneath her feet, to the cool air that billowed through her clothes, and her hair, Madison couldn't deny the fact that everything was peaceful, putting her at ease...
At ease... That Madison wasn't sure about, and as she stood at the shore seemingly enjoying the scenery and the cool evening air, her mind was miles away from here.
She had her mind in the past, during times like these when things had been different, and the thoughts all rushed through her mind... There was this particular one Madison had drifted off to.
It was to painful, and she longed to forget this memory, bury it deep where she couldn't reach out to it, but just as she kept running away from it, it kept coming back...
Flashback... Some years back...
"You dare disrespect me in this manner? How dare you!"
Madison shook from head to toe as her father thundered over her, pure rage dripping from his tone as he stared down at her with a furious look that she had never seen in his eyes.
Tears streamed from her eyes down to her chest as she begged at his feet, her heart pounding, lips trembling at the same time, unable to say the right words too.
"Get up! Fucking get up!" He roared, cursing something he never did at all.
His eyes bloodshot as he stared down at her, Madison let out a wistful whimper when she saw him bend down, and forcefully dragged her from the floor of her room where she was kneeling.
He pushed her out roughly into the large corridor, making sure she landed badly on the floor, with her arm grazing the wall painfully.
"Dad, p-please...I'm sorry." Madison begged, tears streaming down her face as she slumped to the floor, gripping the hem of her mother's dress nearby and sobbing at her feet.
She begged and begged, but her father wasn't listening, and before Madison could even comprehend exactly what was going on, he had bounded across the room in two steps, flinging her wardrobe open and grabbing the first two bags his hands touched.
No! He wouldn't do this, she thought to herself, the horrific realization dawning in her as she began to beg again, "No, no, Dad please...!"
When he got to where she was standing, as she had managed to get up from the floor earlier, he grabbed her roughly by the arm, tugging on it and pulled her out of her mother's grip, separating the both of them instantly.
She could only cry as he dragged past the corridor and down the stairs, until finally he was by the exit pass of the living room, pushing her toward the door, "Get out of my house, this instant!"
Madison clapped a hand over her mouth in shock, shaking her head as tears poured down her face, "I-I'm sorry...
I'm sorry... p-please. Father you can't do this to me. I'm your only daughter."
Her mother who was also sobbing ran to her aid, using her body as a shield between Madison and her husband, and with her hands clapped together in a sign of plea, she dropped to her feet, "Honey, I beg you, in the name of everything we believe in, p-please.. she's so young. You can't just cast her out like this. Where would she go? Who would she turn to? Who would take care of her? Yes she made a mistake but she's still our—"
"Silence!" Mr Connor cut in rage dripping from his look, as he spat out, "Do you have any idea what this means? She's been sleeping around like a slut! To make everything worse, of all the men in this town, she had to carry the child of that low-life? That insignificant excuse of a man? That don of a bitch? Disgusting! You, and that thing in your belly have no place in this house. Now get out. I won't repeat myself."
Madison wobbled slowly, placing her hands on her dress, and holding on to her mother, like her life defended on it. Still sobbing helplessly, she continued to beg.
She pleaded, her mother also continued to cry and beg on her behalf, but still her father, formidable Mr Connor, wouldn't listen at all.
"Mason, p-please..." Madison sobbed, turning towards her older brother who stood by the other end of the room watching the whole thing, saying nothing at all.
He also had the same look of disgust in his eyes, and shaking his head, he made his way upstairs.
What should she have expected though? He was like their father, and he wouldn't even pay her any heed at all.
If only Micheal was here, he was her immediate elder brother, and he would have done something on her behalf, but he wasn't at home. Probably out playing with his friends, or doing something else.
She was still lost in her thoughts, when her father gripped her arm firmly, and unlocking the front door he dragged her out until she was a good distance away from the house.
Furious, he tossed the bags in his hands at her, and without a single word, he walked back into his house, and dragging her crying mother back with him, he shut the front door close. The last thing Madison saw and heard, was the crying form of her mother as she called out for her but her father wouldn't let the poor woman come out.
She had tried to avert this, she had tried to come clean to Damien, and tell him about the pregnancy but now he was gone.
She was all alone, hopeless and ridden with despair.
Walking out of the gates with her bag, Madison began to roam the streets. It was a cold night, and the only thing she had on was a pair of jeans and a thin sweater. The cold wind bit through her skin as tears welled up in her eyes, her thoughts still running wild on what to do.
She had nowhere to go, no one to turn to, and it was already so dark now.
After aimlessly walking around, she found an empty, deserted car where she could rest her head for the night and continue her aimless journey tomorrow.
As Madison bundled up into the car and began to cry silently, she wished she could just disappear into the night, or maybe wind back time taking her to the moment when she felt happy and in love.
Why had she been born into this family? Why couldn't she love freely? Her father had blackmailed her into breaking up with Damien, lieing to him, and now that he was gone and she was currently carrying his child, he had turned his back on her.
Disowning her, and casting her into this cold wicked world. For the first time since forever, as she whimpered silently, Madison felt truly helpless and alone...
Present day, 2022 (At the Beach)
"Madison!"
Madison whipped around at the sound of her name, startled instantly. She had been so engrossed in thought that she forgot where she was for a moment, and when she saw that it was Alvarez calling, she quickly relaxed, her nerves settling.
She had almost forgotten that she had called him earlier today to come meet her here, somewhere far away from the public eye, and at least she thought it was the safest place to meet up to avoid any encounter with the paparazzi.
She had been thinking about everything her mother had said the other night, and finally she was deciding to swallow her pride smf give it a try.
That was why she had asked him to meet her here, so she could beg for his help, but now she suddenly began to have cold feet.
How could she shamelessly ask him for money? Even when she hadn't even repaid him for all his help.
For a second, Madison considered making up a lie to explain why she wanted to meet up. She could tell him that she missed him, and just wanted to have a hearty conversation with that was all.
Yes! She needed to divert the topic, becaue she didn't think she could do this. There was no way, she could beg him for money...
"Are you good?" Alvarez asked when she faced him, his eyes curious as he observed her, coming to stand in front of her and pulling her in a warm embrace.
"W-what? Yeah, I'm okay." She lied, faking a smile and pulling out of the hug, "Why do you ask that?" She tucked a strand of hair behind her ears, and folded her arms.
"Well, I called your name twice actually before you turned. I was also standing pretty close you too, watching the beach waves but you didn't notice, so... it's obvious you were thinking about something. What could distract you that much that you'd forget where you are?" He asked, a look of concern coming over his face.
At his words, Madison's face fell, and clenching her fists she stared at him.
"I don't want to talk about it. Just some random thoughts, but don't worry, it's nothing you have to worry about." She said curtly, making Alvarez frown a little.
"Really? Madison..."
"I said I don't want to talk about it!" She snapped without meaning to, but she had already made the statement, and the hurt look that came over his face made her look away, and she began to feel guilty for reacting that way, "Look, Alvarez, I'm sorry. Really really sorry, but a lot has happened already, and I really don't want to keep thinking about it. It's all in the past, I'm trying to stand by that motto."
"Madison, I hope by now you know that I am your best friend, now and forever. I care about you, and you should know that you can trust me with anything. You can confide in me about anything whatsoever and not have to feel weird or judged. Okay? I won't tell a soul too, I promise you that. Whatever secret you have, it's safe with me."
Madison's heart melted at his words, but she knew she couldn't say it. She just couldn't. No matter how much she wanted to share it someone, and ease her burdened heart a little.
"I'm here for you, Maddie. Everyday I wonder how you're doing and worry if you're doing okay. I care about you, Madison. And that's as genuine as it gets. I honestly want you to believe me."
Madison clutched at her dress.
She was this close to giving in. He really did care. He was her only friend, after all. Maybe she could trust him. Maybe...
"Maddie.."
"If you care that much and you're that concerned, then help me pay off Damien for the dress." Madison blurted out without thinking, and as soon as she said it she felt shame well up within her.
Tears stung her eyes as she began to sob quietly, wiping her eyes at intervals.
"I think that came of the wrong way, so I would... I would... I would paraphrase it again." She mumbled, still crying and stuttering, "I didn't want to ask you for anything else because you've done so much already. You've done too much... and all I've done so far is take, and take..." She trailed off, sniffing back her tears to no avail, "I didn't want to beg you for money anymore. To be honest, it was my mother's idea. She knows about everything, and I told her about how much you've been helping out, and so she urged me to beg you for this. We can come into an agreement, and when I get enough money I'll pay you back in every fold."
"Maddie, it's okay..." Alvarez cooed, placing a hand on her shoulder.
"I also want to tell you that I'm going back to London." She said after a while, sniffing and looking surprised, Alvarez asked with a lift of his brow, "What? When?"
"Very soon. I have some money with me, it'll be enough to transport me if I use the public train. So, I guess that's it. Once I'm there, I'll find a good job and I won't stop working until I've paid you back every cent that I owe. At least back there I won't have to worry about the paparazzi, and I could even—"
"Maddie... Madison, it's okay. It's okay, you are talking to fast," Alvarez stopped her, squeezing her arm gently and offering her a small smile.
"I don't know how to be slow Alvarez. Everything that's happening, is taking place all to fast and..."
"Shhhh... I know how extremely difficult this must be for you, and accepting help so many times must hurt your pride and that's normal but honestly I want you to know that anyone would feel that way so don't beat yourself up, about it." He paused and smiling still he asked, "Your mother is a genius though."
"Huh?" Madison said confused and he finished his statement by asking, "Do you have any idea how long I've been wishing for you to ask me that?"
Madison looked on, speechless, a tear rolling down her cheek, and her lips quivered.
"Don't feel to bad please. I want to help... move you into a better place, pay for the dress, and I also truly want to take this burden off your shoulders because you truly don't deserve it. I would be glad to help you, and sincerely you don't even need to beg for it. Okay? Also you don't need to worry about paying me back. I'm not expecting anything in return."
Wait what? She just couldn't believe her ears, and shaking her head vehemently, she protested, "No, no...it's something I have to do. Please, let me do this. That way, my conscience would be settled. You loan me, I pay back and that's it."
She was expecting him as usual to pick up a fight, but instead he nodded, squeezing tighter on her arm, "If you say so Madison."
"You've done so much for me, Alvarez," She said, tears rolling down her cheeks. "I don't deserve you, I really don't."
As he drew her into a hug, she melted into a pool of tears, "I'll never forget you! Ever, ever..."
"Shh..." He cooed, rubbing her back in circles as he let her sob in his arms, "I'm always here for you, always."
.......
Damien stared down at his phone as a notification, made it ping.
Wondering what it could be, he picked it up, tapping on an icon to reveal a mail from his private investigator.
On normal circumstance he would have ignored the text, seeing that he was in a very important meeting with some of his clients, but then the mail was also important too.
Only that fact that it was from his private investigator, caught his full attention, and clicking on the mail, it opened up to reveal two attachments labelled, 'The Connors' and a few pictures that were yet to load.
His breath caught in his throat as he stared down at it the mail, a sudden surge of anticipation rushing through him and he felt his fingers tingle.
Finally, he had more information, one that he had been patiently waiting for.
But not yet.
Gingerly, and even though he didn't want to, Damien turned off the phone screen and placed it back on the table. Looking back up, he said a short apology to the members of the board who sat at a round table, and urged them to go on with the conversation. He had scheduled a meeting to discuss a few important issues at hand, and he couldn't afford any diversion now.
"Please, go on." He said, sitting up straighter in his seat and trying to listen to the suggestions they were bringing to the table.
Every few seconds though, his eyes drifted from the board to his phone, and he tried his damndest way to stop it, every fucking time.
.......
Thanks for reading. 💕