Scarlett P.O.V

"Stay close," Maddox warns as we enter the garage side door left propped open by a rock.

I nod, casting one final look at the beat-up red Honda Accord and the white pickup truck in the parking lot before the heavy door slams shut behind us. Aside from them and Maddox's own car, it was empty. Hopefully, it reflected what awaited inside. But looks could be deceiving.

I inhale, air heavily permeated by oil invading my nostrils as we proceed further inside. Racks of tools and car parts lined the walls with a ring of cameras set up before them.

Jeez.

Out of everything I expected to do today, being on a porno set wasn't on the list. Or even in the realm of possibilities.

But here I am. And with Maddox at that. It's deeply unsettling. More so, who is accompanying me than the fiery redhead in a blue tube top and miniskirt bent over the hood of a yellow MX-5 Miata speaking in broken English to a bare-chested Mr. Clean look-alike in greasy coveralls.

Francesca and her sister's conversation still remains fresh in my mind, and until I decide on my next course of action, I should've stayed far away from Maddox. But I'd got caught up in the case and couldn't resist his offer to tag along in hopes of finding out more. Now, it seems I am paying the price for my curiosity.

"I don't see him. Do you?" Maddox asks, eyes scanning the faces in the room.

I shook my head.

On the way over, he'd shown me a picture of Boris from their company website. And so far, none of the men even closely resembled the tall ginger.

The cameraman behind the middle tripod looks over, finally realizing our presence. He looks as if to admonish us for disrupting the scene but stops when he sees us. His face pales, turning a ghastly white hue as he stands there, staring at us through slightly wide-blown eyes.

Okayyy.

Confused by his sudden change, I look away but quickly turn back as his face seems awfully familiar.

He couldn't be...

No! I shook my head, banishing the thought before it could take fruition in my mind. There was no way he'd be in a place like this. Right?

Before I can even process what's happening, my feet carry me over to him. And with each step, I plead to the heavens that I'm wrong and that maybe this is someone who resembles him. But as I get closer, seeing his face dead on, I realize I'm not.

It is, in fact, truly him.

Someone in the background calls for a quick break, stealing his attention away, but I bring it right back.

"Joe," I say.

"Hey, Scarlett. What uh..." He crosses, then uncrosses his arms before planting them on his hips. "What are you doing here?"

"I could ask you the same thing."

He swallows hard and looks off to the side while scratching his head. Further messing the dark strands as an awkward silence settles around us.

But it's broken shortly afterward when Maddox appears at my side. "Isn't this-" He starts, but I cut him off.

"Penelope's boyfriend. Yes."

"Oh, shit, man. Are you lost?" Maddox leans forward and whispers, "You know what type of place this is, right?"

Joe's head lowers, nearly touching his chest, as he softly says, "Yeah, I know."

Maddox steps back and says nothing, the confession hanging heavily in the air between us.

"Oh my god," I mutter with my hand on my head. "Please tell me you aren't cheating on Penelope with porn stars."

"No!" He shouts, drawing looks from everyone before continuing in a much softer tone. "I just work the camera."

"Oh, you just work the camera, do you? I suppose in your mind that makes things better. Well, news flash, it doesn't. What about your family? Penelope. Jaime. How do they feel about you working in a shady place like this?"

His filming X-rated films didn't bother me as much as the legality of it all. Hell, he wasn't my man. That was an issue for Penelope to worry about.

"How do they feel? As long as there's food on the table and a roof over their heads, they're fine. Nothing else matters."

"So wait, was your job not paying enough or what? Cause I don't understand why you would put yourself through this trouble for a few dollars."

He cast his forest-green gaze to the floor. "I lost my job a while back and couldn't find another. Well, at least not one offering enough to cover our bills. So when Boris approached me and told me how much I'd be making, I took it."

From what I gathered from previous conversations with Penelope, I knew he was a sales representative, but for whom and what, I couldn't recall.

I sigh. "Does Penelope know about this?"

"No. I couldn't tell her. I know she won't approve. So I told her I'm hanging out with my friends."

What the hell was this day? In a few short hours, I'd learned not one but two secrets from the significant others of those dearest to me.

Life-altering secrets, at that.

How was I supposed to face them with this weighing on my head? I couldn't just avoid them and pretend I didn't know. Penelope is my assistant. We see each other damn near every day. Surely she would realize something's amiss.

Suddenly Joe's reasoning dawns on me.

"You'd rather her think you're an incompetent dad who bails on his responsibilities than tell her the truth?" I ask incredulously.

Joe opens his mouth to respond, but Maddox stops him with a raised hand.

"Hold on." He says before pulling me off to the side. "Look, Scarlett. I know you're trying to look out for Penelope, but this isn't any of our business. This is something they need to work out. For themselves. Alright?"

"But I-"

"Scarlett." He says, a low warning in his voice.

"Fine." I huff.

"Alright. Now," he turns to Joe. "Where's your boss, Boris Brown?"

He hooks his thumb over his shoulder to the open doorway leading into the main shop. "He's on a call in the back office."

Maddox claps him on the shoulder before making a beeline straight for the office. His stride long and purposeful. We'd come here for one thing. And one thing only. Answers.

And the drama with Joe had momentarily distracted us from that, but now we were back on track.

Arriving at the office, Maddox barges inside without bothering to knock. Boris startles a bit behind the desk before quickly recovering.

He covers the phone receiver with his palm and sharply whispers. "Didn't I say I didn't want to be interrupted? Who the hell are you?!"

Maddox leans forward with his hands on the desk, leveling his gaze with the man's. "Someone burning with questions. And you're the only one that can answer them. Now hang up the phone."

My stomach flutters at his low and controlled tone. This is the first time I've witnessed him in action other than stakeouts. And it was stirring up emotions that weren't ideal for the situation.

Boris seems to have an exact opposite reaction to me. His light brown eyes narrow in challenge at the demand. "Look, this is my office. Mine! And I don't take orders from anyone. Especially not from some random ass man that just waltzed in off the street. So, any questions you have for me, I suggest you make an appointment."

"An appointment?"

"Yes, an appointment!" He slowly enunciates the word as if speaking to someone with a learning disability. "Now get the fuck out! And close the door behind ya'." He makes a little shooing motion with his hand before bringing his phone back to his ear.

Maddox stares at him before slowly straightening and rounding the desk until he stands directly beside Boris.

"No, see. Afraid I can't do Mr. Brown." He sits on the desk with his hands clasped together in his lap. "Now you can answer my questions here or down at the police station after I phone in with a hot tip about a local auto repair shop that doubles as a porn shoot after hours. Your choice."

"Go ahead. Call 'em." He sneers. The move drawing attention to the smattering of freckles across his nose. "I'll probably just get a fine or, worst case, a slap on the wrist. But three meals a day and a cot ain't so bad."

"Got it all figured out. Huh?"

"Yeah, I do. So fuck off."

My eyes nearly burst from their sockets when Maddox actually listens to this scumbag. He gets up, head hanging low, and starts for the door. Everything inside me is screaming at me to go over and shake some sense into him.

Because this isn't the man I know, and lo...

I know.

The man I know wouldn't give up this easily. And he sure as hell wouldn't be bested by someone like him.

As I open my mouth to tell him exactly that, he tracks back to Boris.

"What about your dad? Hmm?" He asks, grabbing the silver picture frame off the corner of the desk and plunking it down in front of him. He taps the glass before retaking his previous seat. "What will he think?"

And just like that Maddox's got his full attention. The phone call is all but forgotten as his cell hangs halfway from his ear.

"Or maybe you don't even care." Maddox continues. "He'll probably lose this place. But oh well, right?" He laughs, punching Boris's shoulder hard enough to make him wince. "You'll have your three meals and...cot."

Boris visibly swallows, eyes dropping to the photo in the frame while quietly pondering Maddox's words. After a few seconds, he says into the phone, "Hey, John. Let me call you back." before ending the call.

"Come on, man!" Boris throws his hands up, falling back against the seat. "What's this all about?"

"Aria White." Maddox simply says.

Boris shifts in his seat, smoothing his navy tie. "Who?"

"Aria White. The girl you were pressuring to be in your sleazy films."

"I never pressured anyone."

"Oh yeah? Cause I have witnesses that say differently. And they tell me things got pretty heated the last time you spoke with her. So you want to tell me about it," He slips his phone from his pocket. "Or should I make that call?"

"Alright, alright." Boris grabs his arm as he goes to dial but quickly retracts his hand as if burned by the touch of his skin at the hard look Maddox levels on him. "Yes, we argued. I thought offering her more money would convince her to be in a video, but it only backfired. She was deeply insulted. And pretty much told me, me and my offer could go to hell because there was no way she'd ever accept it."

"And then?"

"And then..." He scrubs a hand down his face and blows out. "I may have told her this was the best offer she was ever going to get and that without it, she'd be a failed model working dead-end jobs for the rest of her life."

"And how did she take that?"

"She said better a failed model than someone who sold themselves out for fame." He reaches into his desk drawer, setting Maddox on immediate alert. He goes for the gun tucked into the back of his pants. But once the pack of cigarettes comes into view, he eases. "Then her bus arrived, and she left."

"Uh-huh. And what did you do?"

He stops with a cigarette halfway to his lips. "Me?"

"Yeah. You. It couldn't have felt good getting rejected again. And let's not forget if this video was successful, it would've helped you, too. So what did you do?"

"Nothing, okay! I admit I've done some dumb things in the past... and now," he amends at the pointed look Maddox sends his way. "But I'm smart enough to realize when something's a lost cause. And this was one of those times. So I got in my car and left. That's it. I swear."