Page 15 of Echoes of Temptation
“Sit down,” King orders angrily. “I have one question for you Madeline and I want the fucking truth.”
I’ve been nothing but truthful to the jerk, but I nod.
“Did you steal something from Wesley?”
“Who is Wesley?” I ask, confused. “No, I didn’t steal anything from anyone, King. I’ve told you this half a dozen times.”
King simply stares into my eyes. It feels as if he’s tearing my mind apart layer by layer. The tears fill my eyes at the look of anger in his.
“Knox,” he says, looking away.
I look over at Knox and he looks so sad.
What the hell is going on?
A video appears on the wall-mounted tv and my eyes are drawn to a man facing the camera who appears to be talking to someone off-screen. There’s no sound but I can tell it’s some security feed.
The man smiles at the unknown person before turning and walking out of view. Seconds later, a new person appears, and horror like I’ve never known before courses its way through my body. I watch as this person looks around nervously before opening her purse, grabbing something from the table, and tossing in inside. It doesn’t take more than a few seconds, but that’s not what has me so scared.
It’s me. That’s my face. That’s my body.
What the hell?
The first man reappears and smiles down at me.
No, not me. That’s not me.
He leans in and kisses her before she turns and leaves.
“Explain,” King demands.
“I can’t,” I say, tears flowing down my face. “That’s not me, King. I’ve never seen that man or been in that building in my entire life.”
“I’m looking at the fucking proof, Madeline,” he fumes. “I told you from the beginning that I will accept nothing but honesty from you.”
“I am being honest,” I cry. “I have been. That video has been tampered with. I’ve never stolen something and I don’t know that man.”
“That man’s name is Wesley,” Steel says, glowering in my direction. “He claims you stole thousands of dollars’ worth of oxy from his warehouse and never contacted him again.”
“But I didn’t, Steel,” I shout. “I didn’t. I don’t know what’s going on. That video isn’t real.”
“It is,” Knox says softly, his own tears flowing down his face. “I’ve been through it with a fine-toothed comb, Maddy. Nothing in this video has been messed with. Nothing has been altered, or spliced, or added, or taken away. It’s completely legit.”
“I didn’t, Knox,” I whisper. “That’s not me. I don’t even know what oxy is.”
He doesn’t respond but simply lowers his head.
“I bet you’ve had a nice laugh, haven’t you,” King says. “Were you so desperate for attention that you lied about why he was after you just so you could get someone to feel sorry for you? What’s wrong, Madeline, no one wants to come near that fat fucking body of yours so you hope to gain some sympathy for some sort of emotional contact? You’re not worthy of anyone’s sympathy. No one would want to touch your nasty ass when it reeks of lies.”
My eyes widen at the cruelty of his words.
“Your shit is packed,” he growls. “There’s a taxi waiting outside. Get the fuck away from me and my family. You’re luckyI don’t shoot you between the eyes for bringing your shit into our lives. The only reason I’m not is because it would break Knox’s heart. Get the fuck out.”
I look around the table for some sort of support but find none. Everyone is looking at me with contempt, apart from Knox, who is still looking down at the table.
I stand and make my way to the door. When I open it, Sophia and Bitsy are standing there crying. I try to smile at them, but I just can’t muster up the strength. I look back at King once more and give him my final words.
“That wasn’t me,” I whisper.