Love & Shadows

Chapter 2

"Madison Alexandra Montgomery!" Her father's voice echoed through the phone, and she barely resisted the urge to hang up on him.

"What now Dad?"

"Your mother tells me you have not yet RSVP'd to the charity gala." She could hear the restrained anger. "You will be there. And you will bring someone suitable for the occasion."

"Excuse me?" Madison had enough, "I will not be attending. And your idea of suitable and mine are very different, Dad."

"I should have known you'd disappoint me."

"Yes, you should have. Listen, I'm sorry, but this is futile. I will call Mom and explain the situation. Talk to you soon Dad." She hung up before he could say anything more. Her day was already ruined, she didn't have to give him any more of her time. His disappointment started when she declined his offer to take the family business over from him. And when her aunt had died and Madison had gotten everything in her will, she'd had the means and opportunity to follow her dreams. She didn't need his money, or approval anymore. Madison threw her phone down on her desk and walked to her floor-to-ceiling window. She could see and hear the ocean from her office. All she had to do was open the door, and she'd be just a few steps from the warm sand of the beach. "Yeah right, you have actual work today, Maddy." She grinned as the older of her retrievers lifted her head and watched her with hopeful eyes. "Soon, Levi, I promise."

"Mads, listen, I have a situation." Alison walked in, eyes on her tablet as she swiped and typed.

"I pay you to deal with those," Madison joked.

"Yes, but this needs more than just the manager's approval, this needs the owner's approval." Alison lifted her head and squinted at Madison. "Did you speak to your dad again?"

Madison grimaced. "Yes, he wanted to know about the gala."

"Asswipe." Alison took a breath and waved her hand through the air as if to wave the thoughts of David Montgomery away. "So, we have a guest coming. Do you know Kiara Lennox?"

"Yes, she's the writer. I have a few of her books."

"She's booked a month with her sister and her sister's fiancé."

"Okay, why would that need my approval?'

"Because there's a bit of a situation and the sister has asked if we could provide security for Kiara."

"Why would she need security? And here? This place is safe, we've made sure of that."

"Yes, we have. But apparently, she has a stalker. The police have written it off as being an overzealous fan, but her sister thinks there's more to it. Anyway, she asked if we could help keep her sister's identity safe and book them under false names, and also just have someone maybe just patrol around at night. They are willing to pay more for the added security."

"This is just what I don't need." Madison raked a hand through her black hair. "When do they arrive?" When Alison started to speak, she held up a hand. "Come on, we both know you coming here is just a formality. You have already booked them and organized the security. Dev and Shan can handle anything." Devon and Shannon Frey were the resort's heads of security, and she trusted them with her life.

"Fine, yes. But I figured you'd want to know, since if trouble comes here, we'd probably be at the center of the media circus."

"Yes." She inhaled deeply and sighed the breath out. "Let's make sure she's not found and she's safe. Where will they be staying?"

"Cabins seven and eight. She's in eight. Her sister said she'd enjoy the bit of seclusion it offered."

"Okay, thanks. Why do I feel like the next few weeks are going to get a lot more interesting?"

"They've booked a bunch of activities. I'm sure we won't see them around too much anyway. And Alice, Kiara's sister, said Kiara has a deadline, so she will probably be secluded most of the time."

"A girl can hope." She sat down at her desk and grinned. "Kiara Lennox. Maybe I will finally see what she looks like."

"It's called Google, Mads."

"I hate Google. It's impersonal and what can you tell about a person off there?" She shook her head. "No, most of what's on there about me is made-up s**t. Why would I want to get to know someone like that?"

"That's true. Okay, well, they arrive tomorrow afternoon. I will tell Zoey to give me a heads-up when they get here."

"No, on second thought, maybe it's better if I stay out of her way. If someone else recognizes her, I don't want to be caught in photos all over the media. I'd rather keep my face off those platforms."

Alison laughed as she made her way to the door. "You will die alone and covered in fur if you don't get over your fear of your name. You've built something amazing here. Blue Lunah Resort is all yours and a safe haven for a lot of the people who work here. Be proud of that."

"I am, but that doesn't mean I want to be all over the tabloids again. That's my father's gig."

"Yeah, yeah. Clock out. It's late, whatever you still have to do can wait. These three need their afternoon run." Levi, Lucy, and Feeney wagged their tails in agreement.

"They've been ready since we clocked in this morning." Madison grinned. "See, they are all I need, this place, all of you guys, and these three monsters."

"They don't have arms to hold you at night, Mads. We all need human contact sometimes."

"Human contact has burned me enough times. I'm happy just as I am, thank you."

"Yeah, I know. And honestly, that makes me just a little bit sad, my friend."

Madison watched Alison leave and quietly close the door behind her. Did she miss s*x? Yes, of course. But would she risk her peace for some pleasure that she could take care of herself? No. Never again.