Melody's POV

It was quiet in the wing, so I decided to move to the living room and start singing the song that Suri wants me to perform with her. I had to slightly change my tone so no one would know that I was Melody Stryker.

Sitting on the couch, I sing 'Shutting the Door,' one of my favourite songs. That time in my life seems a long time ago. Right now, I am working on a new album about where my life is right now.

The people around me right now inspire me to write new songs. I hope they will enjoy the songs.

My head is bent, and I look at the notebook before me. I feel a tap on my shoulder and I jump. Turning around, I see Zane's Head Bodyguard. "Hi, Keegan." Clive plays along with the name change.

"Clive," I stand and hug him. "Zane sent you?"

"Yes," Clive looks towards Hunter. "I think he sent too many people here, but I can't say that to my boss without him telling me off. He wants the best for his favourite girl."

Keegan laughs. "Of course he does."

My phone rings, and I look at the screen and see 'Maggie' flash across the screen. "Excuse me. I have to take this call, it's my sister." I walk away from Hunter and Clive. Entering my room, I walk over to the bed and sit.

Accepting the call, I say. "Maggie, what's going on?"

Maggie's laugh comes through the phone.

Maggie: Can't I catch up with my big sister? After all, I miss you.

Me: No, you don't. When I'm gone, you can pretend you don't have a famous sister who travels the world.

Maggie: Fine, you caught me. Mom got an investigator involved in your car accident, and they found evidence that Mandy was behind the wheel that day.

Me: I'm glad they found crucial evidence in the case.

Maggie: The cops have the evidence. Mandy's going to be charged soon. Jay came by the house recently to meet me. I offered him a drink to get his DNA, and he took the bait. When he left the house, we bagged it and sent it to get tested.
Me: What's the report?

Maggie: Jay is Grandfather's child.

Me: What did Dad's family say?

Maggie: The family is going nuts. It's funny watching them fight amongst each other. They are trying to bring Mom into the family again.

Me: What did Mom say?

Maggie: Mom will tell you.

Mom: I told them to go to hell. They wanted nothing to do with us after your accident, and I'm still happy to be away from you're father's family. They are toxic people, and I particularly don't want to be associated with those kinds of people. Besides, Maggie and you are the family I need.

Me: I love you, Mom.

Mom: I know, sweetheart. How is everything going in the French Alps?

Me: A woman got jealous of me. She pushed me and I hit my head on the wall. I passed out before Zane could call me.

Mom: Where were you, employees?

Me: They went skiing.

Mom: Are you okay, now?

Me: Yes, I am. Zane has security all over the place. Of course, he got permission from the Westbrooks.

Mom: How is everything going with Hunter?

Me: Mom, he's so handsome. I'm falling hard.

Mom laughs.

Mom: I knew my daughter would fall in love while she was away from home. I can't wait to see what this man looks like.

Me: You can Google him, Mom. He's all over the internet.

Mom: So are you. I don't Google you,

Me: I don't want you ever to Google me. It gives me shivers of hearing the latest Bullshit story someone's made up.

Maggie's voice comes through the phone. "Mom, I googled Melody. Guess what I found?"

What lies have they come up with?

Mom: What is it?

Maggie: Melody has been spotted.

Me: Where have I been spotted?

Maggie laughs.

Maggie: In the Florida Keys, apparently, you are pregnant. There's a picture of a woman, and she looks nothing like you.

Me: That's why you have to stay away from that garbage.

Maggie: I will stay away from it, from now on. It was a great laugh to see what was said. No one knows where you are except for Aliyah and your family.

Me: Call me once Mandy has been arrested. I want to know that that woman won't hurt anyone else.

Maggie: I will.

Me: I'll call you before Christmas.

Maggie: Okay, I love you, Melody.

Me: I love you, Mom and Maggie.

Hanging up, I walk over to the door and see Clive standing there. "I have to grab something from the living room. I will be back in a moment."

"Okay," Clive remains in his position as I walk down the hall. When I get closer to the living room, I see Hunter with the notebook in his hands, flipping through the pages.

Clearing my throat, I get his attention. "That's a private book, Hunter," I tell him.

Hunter turns towards me with the book in his hands. "I was going to bring the book to you, weren't I?"

Crossing my arms, I say. "When? After you went through the entire book?" I grab the book from him. "I'm guessing you've been through your siblings' diaries too? Found out some of their secrets."

"Shit," Hunter turns away from me. "How do you know that?"

Shaking my head, I laugh. "I was teasing you, Hunter. I didn't expect you to tell me you've been through your sister's private stuff."

Hunter looks at the book in my hands. "What are you going to do with the stuff in that book? What you've written is so good. Is there any chance that you will let someone see what you've written?"

"No," I clutch the book tighter in my hands. "No one will be seeing this book. What's in here will be kept a secret between you and me."

"Okay," Hunter says. "Everyone wants us to join them for dinner tonight. You should rest some more before we have dinner."

"What time is dinner?"

"6pm," Hunter's phone rings at that moment. "I will see you at 5.45pm and escort you to dinner."

"See you then, Hunter." I watch Hunter walk into his office and close the door behind him.

My head starts to hurt, and I walk into my room to grab some painkillers. I open the bottle and take two. Opening the water, I drink it and take the tablets. Moving over to bed, I sit on it.

Tap, tap, tap.

Looking at the window, I see a maid standing on the other side of the window. She has a tea and a cake in her hand. "Come in."

The maid opens the door and enters the room. She walks over to the nightstand and puts everything on it. "Hunter told us to give you something to eat and drink."

"Thank you," I say, looking at her. What's your name?"

"Eliza," Eliza looks at me and says, "You would have known that if you joined us for dinner the first night." She walks out of the room the same way she came in.

Before lying on the bed, I set an alarm. I pulled the covers over my head and fell asleep.

***

Beep, Beep, Beep.

Opening my eyes, I hit the snooze button. I look over at the nightstand and see the untouched cake and tea. I climb out of bed and take the dishes to the kitchen. I wrap the cake.

Hunter walks into the room and looks at what's in my hands. He rushes towards me and says. "Where did you get that?"

Looking at him, I say.  "A maid named Eliza came into my room through the decking. She told me that you sent those for me."

"No," Hunter shakes his head. "I never asked anyone to come here and deliver you food. I should have made something for you." 

Touching his arm, I say. "I wasn't hungry, Hunter. I'll save the cake for later."

Hunter rests his forehead against mine. "You should get ready. I'll clean the dishes."

"Thank you, Hunter." I put the cup and plate in the sink. As I walk to my room, I see Hunter throw the cake in the bin, muttering profanities about the cake and the person who bought it for me.

When I get to my room, I head to the bathroom and climb into the shower. I quickly wash myself before stepping out and getting dressed in jeans and a white turtleneck.

Stepping out of my room, I see Hunter in the living room. His back is to me, and he's wearing ripped Jeans and a long black shirt. Hunter's hair is sticking up all over the place.

Damn, he's so hot.

Hunter turns around slowly and smiles at me. "Are you ready for dinner?"

"Yes," my stomach grumbles. "I should have had something earlier."

"I'm glad you didn't." He mutters under his breath.

Hunter seems worked up about that cake. What was wrong with it that he would curse over it? I made it, after all, and I know what was put in it.

As soon as I walk in front of Hunter, he places his hand on the small of my back and lets me lead the way to the dining room. When I make a wrong turn, he slightly steers me in the correct direction. "I'll show you around the house over the weekend. From now on, you should eat with everyone. I have crossed so many lines with you, it's not funny."

Turning towards Hunter, I say, "I don't care about the lines you're crossing. I want you to cross them with me whenever you have the chance. As for eating with everyone, that's not going to happen. I like being near you, Hunter. We knew from the moment I stepped foot on your plane that what connection we had would pull us closer. Don't leave me now, Hunter."

"I won't," Hunter whispers in my ear. "I'm Falling, Keegan."

A smile spreads across my face. "I said the same thing to my family today, Hunter. My exact words were I'm Falling Hard. I wasn't expecting to find this."

"I agree, Keegan." Hunter opens the door to the dining room, and we walk in together.

All heads at the table turned towards us. "Mr. Westbrook," one of the maids says. "I will bring some more chairs to the dining room. I'll be right back."

Suri springs out of her chair and runs over to me. She hits me. "I'm glad you're joining us for dinner."

"Suri," Hunter says. "You're not supposed to let everyone know we're close to Keegan. It will piss some people off."

Suri looks at everyone sitting at the dining table. "I don't care about what they have to say." She walks over to her chair and sits. "Sit with me, Keegan."

The maid returns with the chairs and places us next to Suri.

During the meal, I get to know a little about The Maids and share some info about myself with them. When dinner is over, a maid walks back into the room with a plate of cake.

It's the one I made yesterday.

Another cake is brought out and looks identical to the one I made.

My stomach sinks as I look at them both.

Someone tried to make their cake like mine, but a few things are different.

A slice of cake is placed in front of me. I pick it up, and as I'm about to take a bite, it is slapped out of my hand and falls onto the plate. "What the fuck, Ayden?"