Chapter 74
HAZEL
PRESENT TIME
A mere week had passed since my birthday, and Elenor and I remained in an unsettling silence after our intense altercation on the penthouse doorstep. The heat of our argument still lingered in the air as we exchanged words that carried more weight than either of us intended. Elenor, unyielding in her stance, fervently pressed me to disclose Daisy’s secret to Ravel. Her reason? The current exciting and happy atmosphere supposedly lent itself as a perfect time to make the revelation. Yet, I found myself resisting, a feeling deep within me insisting that the timing wasn’t opportune.
With each attempt, Elenor, driven by her unwavering belief, asserted that there would never be an ideal moment. Frustration boiled over, and my patience waned, leading me to unleash words that I now regret. The tension escalated to the point where I, overwhelmed, angrily got into her waiting car. Astonishingly, she declined to accompany me, instead instructing her chauffeur to transport me to the airport.
My birthday had nearly been marred by the tension with Elenor, but my excitement for Ravel’s surprise buoyed my spirits, preventing our quarrel from casting too long a shadow. Determined to channel my emotions elsewhere, I engulfed myself in the rhythm of the treadmill, drowning out the world with music coursing through my headphones. Each footfall matched the machine’s pace as I poured my energy into the exercise. Unbeknownst to me, I shared the gym with an unexpected companion.
The thumping of my own feet pounding the treadmill drowned out the environment so effectively that I failed to notice David’s presence until he appeared beside me, standing in close proximity. The sudden sight nearly caused me to lose my equilibrium, a near mishap on the treadmill reminding me of my surroundings. Swiftly disengaging the treadmill and stepping onto solid ground, I grabbed my towel to wipe away the sweat that had accumulated during my focused exertion.
Breaking the silence, I finally addressed David, curiosity lacing my words. “How long have you been standing there?” I inquired, my hand reaching for a refreshing bottle of water resting on the bench.
“Not long enough to figure out how to show you this,” David’s response carried an air of intrigue, leaving me to cast a sidelong glance his way. Taking a seat on the bench, I settled down, ready to hear whatever he had to share. “What’s going on? Did something happen at the office?” My inquisitive words hung in the air, awaiting an explanation.
In response, David extended his phone toward me, a gesture accompanied by a somewhat strained expression. His words held a hint of urgency. “I think you should go online and check the trending news.” His tone was almost laced with a wince, sparking my concern even further.
–
A frown creased my forehead as I swiftly grabbed my own phone from the bench. A flood of notifications caught my attention, missed calls from Ravel, Elenor, and Agatha. The realization dawned upon me my absorption in the workout had inadvertently blocked out the world beyond my headphones.
T
Attempting to connect online, my focus was interrupted as the gym’s door burst open, and Agatha barged in, clearly winded. My eyes blinked in rapid succession as I shifted my attention between her and my phone. Finally managing to access the internet, my breath hitched at the sight of the news that awaited me, an unforeseen turn of events sending shockwaves through my being.
RAVEL SOUTHWARK’S EX-WIFE ALLEGEDLY HAD A CHILD FOR HIM, A BEAUTIFUL BABY GIRL CALLED DAISY WHO IS ALMOST THREE. THE PUBLIC ARE BAFFLED ON HOW THE EX-COUPLE MANAGED TO KEEP IT HIDDEN
ALMOST FROM EVERYONE.
The internet was ablaze with pictures of Daisy and me, the last one unmistakably taken yesterday at school. A surge of anger coursed through me as I realized that one of her teachers must have captured that moment. My hands balled into fists, my frustration palpable. “When was this released?” My voice carried a mix of urgency and disbelief.
“An hour ago,” Agatha’s response came swiftly, her tone mirroring the bewilderment of the situation. Her fingers raked through her hair as she continued, her words tinged with concern. “Who could have released this? Who leaked the news?” A hint of exasperation colored her voice as she pondered the possibilities. “You think it’s the nanny?”
My thoughts raced back to the heated argument with Elenor, and a gnawing suspicion surfaced in my mind. Suppressing
panic, I rose from the bench, David and Agatha following suit. Stepping out of the gym, I immediately took charge. “Give Robertson a call and have him bring Daisy home. He should use the emergency parking lot,” I directed, a sense of urgency underscoring my words. The possibility of papara zzi swarming outside the school gates to capture images of Daisy was very real. How had things spiraled to this point?
Agatha swiftly moved away to place the call, and I moved with determination, heading toward the bar area. My query cut straight to the chase, a blend of frustration and concern lacing my voice. “How many of them are outside my gate?”
Taking a seat beside me, David’s response revealed the extent of the situation. “The papara zzi? I don’t know. I took the emergency parking lot,” he admitted, his tone somber. “But with the picture online, there are quite a lot of them outside.”
I reached for a bottle of scotch and took a long swig, the warmth of the liquid momentarily numbing the chaotic thoughts racing through my mind. “Nobody is to use the emergency parking lot aside from my daughter,” I declared firmly, my frustration evident. The papara zzi would certainly take notice if we were seen entering or leaving the house through any route other than the main entrance, potentially sparking further invasive inquiries.
David acknowledged my concerns, his hand finding its place atop mine, a gesture meant to reassure. “Everything is going to be fine,” he uttered, though his words carried a tinge of uncertainty. His attempt at reassurance was appreciated, but the storm brewing within me was not so easily quelled. “Who do you think could have leaked that?” he inquired, his gaze seeking understanding.
My mind circled back to Elenor, the most probable source of the leak given her knowledge of the secret. She held the knowledge, yes, but broadcasting it publicly rather than simply confiding in Ravel raised doubts about her being the sole culprit. “Honestly, I do not know who to point fingers at,” I admitted with exasperation.
My phone vibrated on my hand and I glanced at it, scoffing at the unfamiliar number. I ignored the call but it kept coming until I angrily answered. “Who the f uck are you and what do you want?!” None of my business associates have my personal line, so I know for a fact that this isn’t business.
“You will speak to me with respect you sneaky low life!” The familiar voice snarled. I don’t need any confirmation to know who is talking. “How dare you ask who is calling? Did you lose my number?”
“I didn’t lose your number, I deleted it.” I corrected, setting the record straight. “If you were attentive, you would have noticed that I blocked you on WhatsApp too.”
“I don’t care whether you blocked me or not!” She snapped, “I want to know why you hid the existence of that child away from my family?!”
“F uck off Anne!” I hissed, “I have no business explaining myself to you, and the next time you want to reach me, contact my f ucking secretary!” I disconnected the call, slamming my phone on the counter and cursing loudly.
“You need to take it easy Hazel,” David advised.
My phone vibrated again before I could even respond. Picking it up, I glared at Elenor’s name for a moment before answering the call. “Elenor?”
“This has nothing to do with me.” She blurted out, “I have absolutely nothing to do with this news at all. I know what you’re thinking and I know how connected the situation is but this isn’t me. I didn’t betray you at all, you have to believe me.”
“The fact that I don’t even know who did this is driving me crazy Elenor.” Someone is after me and I don’t even know who.
It can’t be David because no matter how angry he was with me, he never wanted Ravel to know about the baby.
“I’m going to help you figure this out, I promise.” She sighed when I didn’t respond. “Did Anne call you?”
“Yeah, I just received her call before you called.”
She cursed under her breath. “And what did she say?”
“She was being her usual self and I ended the call on her.” Despite the tense situation, I found myself chuckling when Elenor complimented me for ending the call on Anne. “I have to go Elen, I’ll talk to you later.”
“P.S., I think you should know that Ravel is on his way to Seattle. He left an hour ago.”