My hands curled into fists hearing anyone would mistreat her that way.
Madison blinked innocently. “So that’s your version.”
“It’s the truth,” Lilah huffed, voice cracking.
I glared at Madison. Where was she going with this? The interview took a turn, in some vile game of hers.
She crossed her legs and leaned back. “That brings us to the most recent incident. The fire in Nice.”
My head snapped to Lilah’s. I’d had a private investigator keep tabs on her, but a fire was news.
Madison’s teeth sharpened like killer fangs. “The kitchen fire caused thousands in damage. The official report says it happened because you were incompetent and careless. You were arrested, although later the authorities dropped all charges, isn’t that correct?”
The air thinned, brittle as glass. Arrested? Lilah let out a shaky breath, a sign she was breaking. I had to do something to bring this interview back inline, and then Lilah and I needed to talk.
Madison quickly continued with a smug smile. “Some people might worry, Holden, that Quest by West is being run by a chef with a questionable European reputation. Fires, assaults, temper issues… Won’t Lilah be a liability to your business?”
“What do you think you’re doing? Is this an interview or a roast?” I complained.
“I’m digging into the facts some viewers may want to know. That’s responsible journalism.”
I quickly glanced at Lilah, who mouthedI’m so sorryto me with sad wet eyes. Her pain killed me, jolting me into action. No interview was worth that.
“Enough. Interview over. Turn off the camera.” I jumped off the couch, shoving the boom mic away. I fired off a message to my security team.
“How dare you? I report things with integrity.” Madison squared off with me, hands in fists by her side.
“You’re done here. You can take your integrity and leave.”
“You can’t do that.”
“It’s my mountain, and I want you off of it.”
Her mouth fell open. “What’s the matter, Holden? Mr. Snowman can’t stand to fall from grace? Can’t take the heat?”
“I can take it. But I won’t let you hurt Lilah in the process.”
Two men from security appeared at the door, at my beck and call.
Madison sputtered more about journalistic integrity and freedom of speech as the guards escorted her out, the cameraman following with all the gear.
I shut the door behind them, and leaned against it. I inhaled deeply and exhaled, trying to calm the worry inside of me about the way the interview ended.
Lilah was all that mattered though.
“Hey, look at me.” I crouched in front of her, where she still sat stiffly on the couch. We had the library to ourselves again, but the air had changed, no longer our little cozy nest.
Her eyes lifted, glossy and hurt. “I can’t believe she found out about all of that. The fire wasn’t my doing. It was my sous chef. They would’ve deported her and separated her from her husband and baby. I lied and took the blame.”
A relieved breath escaped me. “You have the biggest heart to go through something like that for someone else. But it must have been a scary time for you. At least we have a perfectly reasonable explanation for what you did and why. And we can fight fire with fire if Madison?—”
“Maybe to you it’s reasonable. But you can’t fix everything, Holden. To everyone who watches the interview, it’ll be a disaster. I’m a cautionary tale.”
“Lilah.” I took her hands. “We all have pasts. Mistakes. Bad days. None of that defines you or Snow Quest.”
“If the interview airs, it will.”
“I’ll have my lawyers kill the story before it breathes, no matter what it takes.”
