Danielle Hayes

The air was heavy with melancholy as we entered Mr. Bennet's home.

Mr. Prescott turned to me as he whispered. "She could be delicate right now. I'll take the lead."

"Okay." I nodded.

Leah Bennet came out of her room and sunk into the couch. A dog curled up beside her, resting it's head on her lap.

She was an elder looking woman in her late forties or so with her bleach blonde hair put up into a top knot. Her blue eyes were red and lifeless from the crying and stress.

"Oh Logan! You have heard about it." He couldn't help but nod.

From the corner of my eyes I saw a movement. A young guy in his early twenties stood, leaning against the wall.

Noah.

He looked fed up and exhausted from all the news. His eyes were puffy and red.

I felt bad for him. It seemed as if he took his father's death pretty hard.

I tried to call him but he looked away. He unsteadily moved across the room before stopping near his step mum.

"I am going to my apartment." He left.

"We are sorry for your loss." Mr. Prescott sighed.

"Thank you." She smiled sadly before turning to me. "I see you brought your friend."

"Yeah! She's Danielle." We shook our hands.

"Your husband was a great man, Mrs. Bennet." She nodded.

I remained silent waiting for Mr. Prescott to acknowledge. She seemed so lost and fragile.

Taking her hand in his, Mr. Prescott whispered quietly. "An hour ago Oliver called me about revealing something important. Do you know anything about it?"

"He's dead now. I guess it doesn't matter but no, I don't know anything about it."

"He also happen to have called Detective Ashford too." I added as Mr. Prescott nodded.

"Did you know my husband?" She asked quietly, turning to me. Meanwhile Logan's fingers were tracing circles on the back of her palm.

"Very briefly, Mrs. Bennet. Mr. Prescott has told me quite few words about him."

"Oh! He would have definitely liked you." She said, turning to Mr. Prescott who's face turned stone hard.

Huh?

"I am sorry to ask this Leah but, I gotta ask you this. Where have you been in the past hour?"

"I honestly don't know." She put her head in her hands. "I don't know anything."

"Perhaps retrace your steps Mrs. Bennet. It may help you."

"I reached the pool after my gym session but I left even before the bartender served the drinks. And I was too busy to watch my husband swim."

This time, she clutched Mr. Prescott's hands. Her nails dug deep as she did.

"You knew something bad was going to happen. Why are you here then?"

"Someone needs to hire us, to find out the truth. It works that way."

"Then go away!!" She shivered as she yelled. I immediately brought her a blank which she accepted. "Go away!! I don't want to fall into such a mess. I just wanna sleep and never ever wake up. That's all. I want peace Logan. Get out!!" She said, yelling the last part.

Mr. Prescott looked at me before indicating the door.

"Danielle, leave us alone."

•°•°•°•°•°•° 💙

"What is he doing?" I mumbled to myself as I paced back and forth in the lobby.

The tension was killing me.

Should I go in?

Fuck it! A girl gotta know.

I peeked in through the door. I was quite surprised by the scene that had been going on.

Mrs. Bennet's head was resting on Mr. Prescott's shoulder as she wept. His hands were firmly rested on her shoulders as she shook visibly, bawling her eyes out.

He said something to which she shook her head off. Trying not to interrupt their moment, I closed the door.

A few minutes later, Mr. Prescott emerged through the door. He shook his head in disbelief.

"I couldn't convince her."

What? Oh no!! It couldn't end this way. There has to be some other way.

Fishing my phone out of the pocket, I searched for the number that I had fed just a minutes ago.

"Hey Noah! This is Danielle, we just met a few minutes back." I spoke into the phone.

"Yeah right! I remember." Said Noah through the line.

Mr. Prescott stood there, analysing me as to what I was doing.

"We have an urgent business to discuss. May we come over?"

"Ugh! Sure... But I won't be awake much longer." He said, after some time.

"Thank you." I said, cutting off the phone.

"Awesome Danielle!" He smiled. "Well played. Noah is on the 98th floor."

I smirked. "Let's go."

A couple of knocks on his apartment door made him open the door. He looked pretty much the same as earlier, except that he was a mess. He ran his fingers couple of times through his hair as he scooted aside.

He was playing a game on the massive tv that pretty much occupied the entire wall.

"I don't even know what I am doing." He groaned out.

"We understand. It's indeed a shock." I said, standing beside Mr. Prescott.

"This is a tough thing to happen Noah." He added.

"What are the police even doing? Are they taking it seriously?"

"We are here to discuss about it." I said that earned me glare. I glared back at Mr. Prescott who's gaze returned back to Noah.

"You want me to hire you?" He yelled. "Is that what it is all about?"

"Noah please! There's a killer out there. They might be coming for you next." I tried to make him understand.

"Woah! You can't put that on me. You two, get out!! Get the hell out of my apartment." He slumped onto the chair while Mr. Prescott stared at me annoyed.

Was he trying to blame me for that? I was trying to sort it out.

Give me a break. It was my first day here.

"Mr. Prescott has worked with you before too. You trust him, right? You need to have someone whom you can rely on during the difficult time, Noah."

"Difficult time." He laughed.

This was it. I had to do something.

"Noah, listen to me. I had lost someone too. Two of them. Someone who was quite close to me." I said, remembering them.

One was my mum and... Other was, August.

I closed my eyes, trying to control myself but I couldn't. Tears threatened to fall down as I continued. I knew, I couldn't contain them any longer.

I felt a hand on my shoulder. I found a pair of alluring grey eyes staring back at me. All the anger of his, is lost replacing it with pity.

"Atleast you have someone to turn to. I had no one then."

I felt a light squeeze. I mouthed him, I was okay. But was I, indeed?

Yep! I am. I have to be okay.

I composed myself soon enough. I couldn't let it get me once more. It could get me nowhere. But someday or the other, I have to face it. It has to be done.

Mr. Prescott will definitely be with me, right?

Will he help me even after knowing the entire truth about me? Or will he misunderstand me just like others did?

God! What was I even thinking?

"You are making things worse. I can't handle all of this. Imma go to sleep. You two, just leave."

"No! Trust me on this one Noah. You need us. We will help you through it."

Mr. Prescott nodded, crossing his arms.

"Fine. Alright. I am hiring you guys."

Mr. Prescott closed the deal as per the terms and norms. They worked out a retainer and let diem.

As they work, I admired Mr. Prescott. The sleuth of Washington DC. He wasn't whom I thought he was. I thought I wouldn't even last a day, working with him. But guess I was wrong.

He is a good guy, infact a good looking one too. I could give him that. Working with him wasn't bad after all.

It was better than working in that god awful night club.

What would I have done if at all I failed in convincing Noah? Shit! Would I have been jobless? My ex boss wouldn't even have allowed me to work again. Not after what I did.

After all the negotiations and signing of the contracts, Mr. Prescott stood beside me.

"Did your father have any enemies?" I inquired opening my notepad.

"Nah! I don't know. We don't talk much about it. He just brags about himself." He shrugged.

"Alright. What about you? Where were you when the incident happened?" I pressed further.

"The 'incident'? The death you mean? Are you serious right now?" He approached me, standing face to face. "I hired you." He yelled, stressing the word I.

"That doesn't mean, the police will not question you. Atleast, tell us the truth Noah."

"I was with my girlfriend. Alright?" He stepped back.

"Her name?"

"I don't want to disclose that. I don't want her to get involved."

"The police will track her down." Mr. Prescott butted in.

"She's um... A shy, private person."

"That's alright, Noah. We will try our best to not let her involved."

"Thanks Logan." He relaxed.

Our questions were cut short as television lit up, revealing a beautiful woman with blue hair.

Was she his girlfriend?

"Oh god Noah! I am so sorry. How are you?" She asked, worried.

"Lara. Hi! I honestly don't know what to do."

"You guys need to make a statement but that can wait. I'll handle the press." She glanced at us. "Logan, it's good to see you. Woah! Who's this super model?"

I blushed at her comment. He glanced at me for a moment before looking at Davina.

Mr. Prescott introduced me to her.

"Pleased to meet you Lara. Nice hair colour though."

"Girl you are gorgeous. Absolutely sexy. You two look good together. I ship you guys. Power couple." She winked.

I blushed once more meanwhile Mr. Prescott coughed. His once pale cheeks and ears turned a darker shade of red. He quickly stole a glance before focussing on Lara.

Was he embarassed?

"Wait-" her camera went unsteady for a while before she was back once more.

"Noah, I'll call you back. Stay strong and love y'all." She said before her line went dead.

"God!! She's non stop." He groaned.

"Yeah! I see that. I like her energy."

"Yeah, she handles the PR. She always monopolizes dad's time." He rolled his eyes. "Ahh! Guys I need rest." He sunk back. His eyes were drooping and his cheeks turned red.

"Sure. Take some rest. We will be out."

We went out. As soon as we stepped out of his apartment, I hugged Mr. Prescott, catching him by surprise.

"Oh god!! Can you believe it Mr. Prescott? We got it." I squealed.

"Ah yes!" He said, tapping my back ever so lightly. "You did good."

Getting my sense back, I stepped back, embarassed.

"Sorry." He nodded. "I don't think Lara is his girlfriend. She seems too maternal to him." I changed the topic.

"I think so too."

"Um... It's late, Mr. Prescott. I'll leave. See you." I turned around to move away from him only to get stopped by him.

"Wait."

******

Hey guys!! I hope you are doing great and I hope y'all liked this chapter.

Top 4 shows on your binge watchlist.

Mine are: The originals, Baht Oyunu, White collar, My girlfriend is an alien, teen wolf. ( Internationally )

Regional wise ( hindi ): IPKKND, GHKKPM, Imile🤷🏻‍♀️ ( addicted, can't do anything about it )

Love 💕

Mikaelson