26. Nick
Chapter twenty-six
Nick
I talk to the label about the threat to Maddie, but they imply that this comes with the territory.
Plus, the way our producer Ashley’s eyes narrow, it seems she’s registering this as some way to persuade me to give up Maddie.
The police are far more interested, thankfully, and promise to track it down.
The various videos the police have been able to retrieve from around our neighborhood of the night of the break-in into Maddie’s apartment never show the guy’s face.
But after some research, the police don’t think this is the same culprit.
The label reports and blocks the commenter, but that seems to be all we can do for now.
What if the culprit is one of my crazy fans? I want Maddie, and I want a career making music—but not if Maddie can’t walk the streets of New York as a civilian.
I put down my guitar. Writing more lyrics doesn’t seem to be the way to figure this out.
José has also been more distracted this week. Elena had some spotting, so now he’s worried and says that if he’s not watching her, she’s doing too much. We’re both basically trying to protect our women—without much success.
The label and the police suggested that Maddie and I not have any public dates for the time being.
That’s fine for now. We’re swamped rehearsing for our upcoming performances.
Maddie is busy trailing the deputy commissioners and writing her playground article.
But I don’t want our relationship to have to be in the shadows.
I open my laptop to study the Infrastructure Department budget from last year to see if it reveals any clues.
The corrupt commissioner should have the highest numbers for repair expenditures, because all the projects in his domain are adding an extra cushion to pay the bribe that is shared between him and Beatrice.
But we can already assume that he’s not limiting himself to his assigned buildings to spread the suspicion, unless it is Galliano.
The amounts seem to be evenly distributed across the deputy commissioners’ assigned housing developments. I give the perp credit for hiding it well.
My mom calls, but when I tell her I’m worried about my fans threatening Maddie, she says, “One more reason not to be a rock star.”
She’s super helpful, as always.
Except then she calls back. “Can’t the music label pay for your security? They should pay for security, for both of you.”
I say that I will ask again. I feel like this is a small step by her, that it’s a tiny acknowledgment that this is my career.
I meet Maddie for dinner back at Luca’s place and explain what the police told me.
“Okay. I have to accept that it’s a hateful comment directed at me,” Maddie says. “It hurts, but I also don’t want to hide our relationship. Let’s post one of our happy photos on your Instagram account. I may be a writer, but sometimes a picture is worth a thousand words.”
I pick the one that is not my favorite and post it, adding a bunch of hearts in the accompanying text. My favorite ones are only for Maddie and me. But even this one photograph clearly shows our happiness.
“At least I can spend this Saturday with you at the Chinese New Year Parade, but I’m about to go on tour, so I’m not going to be here full time. Will you be okay?” I ask. “Will you please only follow someone when you’re disguised?”
“Yes. I promise. I even bought my own wig from a company recommended by Uncle Tony. I’ll miss you, though.
I like coming home to you,” Maddie says.
“I’m busy with work anyway. It will be good, probably.
You’re distracting when you’re here. When you come home, I don’t want to work on my story anymore. I want to relax with you.”
I tug her onto my lap on the couch. “Why do you think the contract hasn’t been revealed yet?”
“Hopefully, it’s related to my story,” she says.
I don’t want it to be related to either, to be honest. I want it to be a random home invasion that is not related to either of our careers so it has no effect on our future.
“I’m not hoping it’s related to your story. I’m worried for you,” I say.
She sinks into me, her soft curves tempting me. I’m going to make tonight a night she will remember. She can catch up on sleep tomorrow night.