Page 57 of Something to Believe In
Someone ushered them into the long hallway where they had initially entered the building. Tony reminded them they'd be hanging out in the lounge until after Shona's performance. They could watch her on the televisions in the lounge. Then, there was a press panel to attend.
Axel maneuvered himself to walk with Maddyn. Her smile, man, his chest expanded at the excitement in her eyes. The excitement had replaced the horrors of the past couple of days they shared.
"You were magnificent, Mads."
"Thank you. You were, too. Everyone did such a great job."
As they entered the lounge, Tony popped open a bottle of champagne and handed everyone a glass. "To a phenomenal performance and the meteoric rise of Hart & The Hurricanes."
"Cheers."
He tapped his glass to Maddyn's, and both took a drink at the same time. Then the celebrating began. They laughed and congratulated each other and celebrated a terrific performance and the promise of more just as exciting as this one.
As Shona's last set played, Tony began gathering them together. "Okay, we're meeting the press in the press room on the upper floor. Let's get ready for it. Freshen up if you need to and be ready in five."
He changed into a clean T-shirt. Maddyn stepped into one of the bathrooms. He chatted with his friends as he waited for her; he wanted to enter the room with her.
She stepped out of the bathroom looking fresh as always. She'd changed into a clean black tank top. As she neared him, her smile was mesmerizing. He kissed her lips and took her hand. "Ready?"
"Yep."
A backstage attendant ushered the group to the press room. There were stools lined up on a small stage, and chairs set up for the press facing them.
They took their places. The press smiled as they watched them. He sat next to Maddyn and took her hand in his. The questions began.
They were the usual questions they always got. When did you start? How did you find each other? Nothing new or interesting until a reporter asked about him and Maddyn. He turned to look into her eyes, and she smiled.
He eagerly replied. "We're together. We've loved each other for years but didn't want to break the band's rule."
The questions started coming faster than his mind could comprehend. He saw Carlene enter the room and hang on the fringe. Then a question was asked of Maddyn.
"Maddyn, what do you have to say about the takeover of your social media accounts? And why do you think it happened?"
Maddyn opened her mouth to answer when another reporter stood near the back. "And was it actually a takeover, or were you trying to create attention for tonight's performance?"
Maddyn's eyebrows bunched together, and his anger grew. "She had nothing to do with her account being hacked. Our security manager is the person who alerted us to the issue."
The same reporter, clearly someone looking to create a gossipy piece to get more readers, shrugged and asked, "Do you know who did it?"
Carlene stepped forward at that point. "My name is Carlene Matthews of Shout It Out PR. Since you seem to be asking questions of such a nature so you can write a tawdry article, let me be the person to clear this up. Axel has a stalker. This stalker is targeting Maddyn because of jealousy. Police are looking for this person and know who she is. Axel and Maddyn are doing nothing wrong. Neither is married nor otherwise involved. The mental breakdown of a person who wishes them harm is not their burden to bear."
The room was quiet, and Carlene quietly stepped back into the shadows. He glanced at her, and she nodded.
Once the press panel was over, they stood to leave the room. Axel's hand was on the small of Maddyn's back. He loved being connected to her.
Voices filled the hallway, and he turned to see showgirls with large, feathered costumes nearing them. They were only a few yards from the lounge where their belongings were. He stepped closer to Maddyn as the showgirls, rather than slowing their momentum, converged on them and actually tried to pass them in the hallway. They were jostled and pushed, and he heard Maddyn cry out.
He turned to look at her and saw her eyes grow large as something happened to her, then she slid down the wall. He yelled. "Maddyn!"
Tony was behind them and got to Maddyn first. When he arrived at her side, she was out of it. Her body shook, and foam oozed from her lips.
Tony swore, "Fuck." He jumped up and left, and all Axel could do was hold Maddyn close.
She was cool to the touch, and her skin had grown ashen.
Jami rushed to them. "I called Mitch. Tony ran to the Naloxone Kit."
His anger and fear rose to the top. "She doesn't do drugs."
