My hood muffles the details of the hushed whispers of the people sitting opposite me, but I hear them conferring. It makesme twitchy until someone clears their throat, attention back on me.
“Holly, can you give us your assurances that, to the best of your knowledge, Connor Preston has no access to your entertainer profile? There is nothing, to your knowledge, he could use as blackmail, or divulge on social media to compromise The Agency?”
“No. Nothing. He tried to buy my services when he found out I was an entertainer, because he suddenly had money, but I said there was no chance in hell. He didn’t say a thing about The Agency. Honestly, I think if he had anything on me, or you, he’d have used it already.”
“That’s good to know.”
I breathe a sigh of relief. Interrogation over. Or so I think.
“Holly,” a different man says. “It’s important that we understand what your emotional state is. Your reviews have been excellent since your return to work, and we are aware you are currently in a relationship with another of our entertainers. Still, we need to know for certain what your true feelings are.”
“My feelings? Like stress wise?” I wish they could see my expression, trying to weigh up their words. “Yeah, I’m ok now, thanks. Well, I’m getting there. I’m better every day. Josh, um, Weston, has been amazing. He helped me through the horrible lows when I thought the whole world was crumbling and everyone hated me as the hooker ex who broke Connor’s heart in that stupid song. And I’m getting back on my feet again. I’ve been edgy, and trying to keep out of view, and I haven’t been back to Belgravia once, but that’s ok. Maybe one day, right?” I let out a sad laugh before I check myself. “I wouldn’t go back there unless I was dead sure it wouldn’t cause problems for The Agency, I promise.”
“We are glad to hear you are feeling more positive. It must have been a very challenging situation.”
“Yeah, it was. Very challenging. But it’s ok. I’m ok.”
“And how do you feel about Connor? Do you still have any feelings for him?”
The question takes me aback. I jolt in my seat, because I’d rather chew my own arm off than be anywhere near the sonofabitch.
“No. None at all. I can’t stand him.”
“That’s your honest answer? Please tell us the truth, Holly. Things are entirely confidential in this room.”
I wish they could see my jaw drop.
“I swear on my life that I have no feelings for Connor whatsoever. I wasted so many years of my life on him, just for him to ditch me like I meant nothing, and then tried to crawl back like a sad puppy! I would never, ever, ever want to be associated with him again. He’d have trashed my life without giving a damn about any of it, and he tried. My relationship with my parents, my relationship with my career, my relationship with Josh.” I’m rambling and I know it. “No. I don’t have any feelings for Connor. None at all.”
“And you’re certain that won’t change, regardless of his circumstances? Regardless of what happens to him?”
I get another zip up my spine at the question.
Regardless of his circumstances…
They sure know more than I do. Just the thought of how much brings me out in shivers.
“I’m certain that won’t change,” I tell them. “Not ever.”
The silence is heavy now. Really heavy.
The thought of Connor being anywhere near me makes me sick to the stomach, but as I sit there, shackled in front of strangers, I get another round of shivers. Because these people, whoever they are, with all their connections, could do whatever the fuck they wanted to…
And what if they wanted to… what if they plan to…
“Connor is going to be alright, isn’t he?” I ask, leaning forward. “I mean, you aren’t going to, um…”
“Um what, exactly?”
My cheeks are burning up under the fabric. The air feels stifled.
“You aren’t going to, um… kill him, are you?”
It’s a massive relief when the group sitting opposite me start to chuckle.
“No, Holly. We aren’t going to be having Connor Preston assassinated. We have resources at our fingertips for a huge amount of services, but we certainly don’t employ hitmen.”
Oh my God, the burn of my cheeks. I feel like a total fucking idiot.
