Contracted To The Beast novel Chapter 78

Chapter 78

Chapter 78

Maddox

Today is the day that has been slated for the meeting with Bella’s legal team. I woke up this morning feeling energized for the day ahead, but I can’t help but worry about Nia.

I wonder if she’s doing okay. She didn’t seem to want to have anything to do with the case. I still can’t believe she wanted me, to withdraw the case.

There’s no way I can do that. Bella hurt her seriously. I can’t let her go scot-free. She needs to pay for whay she did. The outcome of this meeting will determine whether I’ll push the case further or not.

I don’t enjoy legal battles, especially when it’s court-related. But I have to do what I have to, for Nia’s sake.

I haven’t been able to get that photo of her off my head. She looked very helpless sitting soaked by that pool. It still haunts me to this day.

Nia doesn’t know, but I sued all the press companies, media houses, and influencers that facilitated the virality of all related pictures and videos, even articles about that incident.

It can no longer be found online anymore. I had to make sure of that. It’s the least I could do. I owe her that.

Beck and Nia’s mom were absolutely right. Everything that happened to Nia was my fault. I’m the reason she was almost robbed of her life.

Each time I look at her, I can feel the overwhelming weight of guilt crushing at the very core of my being. It hurts me so much that I put her in that state. The saddest part is that she keeps saying it’s fine, but is it really?

How could she be fine? I think she needs therapy to talk all these feelings out. I remember scheduling with a therapist for hér, but she never went, not even for one day. I’ll need to convince her this time. She needs an outlet to get rid of all this piled-up emotion.

Before it swallows her up completely, I worry for Nia. I really do. I got dressed in a tracksuit and a long-sleeved t-shirt. I had practice this morning. I’ll get changed into something more appropriate later on.

I grabbed my duffel bag and was out the door. It was currently 9am. The meeting was for 2pm. I grabbed my phone and texted Nia, letting her know that she should be on time, not early.

Bella is always notoriously late to events, although she will try to be early today. Nia, on the other hand, was an early bird. I want her to arrive after Bella has.

We need to be in control of today as much as possible. We can’t let things get out of hand, especially ours.

I arrived at Rogers Arena, changed into my hockey gear, and got on the pitch.

“Yo, Kane, Liam said as I got on the rink. “How’re you doing?”

“I’m good. You?” I asked.

“I’m great,” he said, trying and failing to hide a smile.

1 frowned. “What?”

“What…what?” he asked.

“Why do you look like that?”

Chapter 78

He laughed and rubbed the back of his neck. “I met someone yesterday.”

I stopped adjusting my gloves.

“You?”

“Yes, me.”

“Who?”

“Natalie.”

I thought about it for a second.

“Nia’s friend?”

His face lit up. “Yeah.”

I stared at him. “That’s why you’ve been smiling all morning?”

He shrugged. “Maybe.”

“How long did you even talk to her?”

He was quiet for a moment. “Like… five minutes.”

I burst out laughing. “You’re kidding.”

“I’m serious.”

“What happened in those five minutes?”

“I don’t know,” he admitted, smiling again. “She was funny.”

“Funny?”

“And nice.”

I shook my head. “You’re gone.”

“I’m not gone.”

“You remembered her name.”

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He rolled his eyes. “Obviously.”

“You remembered her hair color.”

He didn’t answer. “Oh, my God.”

He laughed. “Can you help me?”

“Help you do what?”

“I don’t know. Run into her again.”

“Follow her on Instagram.”

“I can’t.”

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Chapter 78

“Why?”

The fans.”

I paused. “Right.”

“Besides,” he added quietly. “I’d rather meet her properly.”

Before I could respond, coach yelled from across the rink.

“Torres! Kane! Stop talking and skate?

“Coming!” Liam shouted.

He grinned at me. “We’ll continue this later.”

I watched him skate away.

Poor bastard.

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Practice ended after a couple of hours. I walked to my private locker room to take a shower and get changed. It’s almost time for the meeting. I got dressed in black dress pants and a black button-up shirt. I didn’t have the energy for a jacket.

I walked to the conference hall where most people were already seated. Bella, her manager, and her attorney on one side and on the other I, my attorney, Mr. Hale, and Coach. Only one person was missing.

“Can we begin?” Bella said, looking at her nails.

“No, we can’t, ma’am,” her manager whispered not so quietly to her as she groaned.

Fucking brat. I can’t believe I used to like her a lot. Each time I see her, I feel like I’m developing a new batch of hatred for her. I really don’t want to believe that she has always had such a nasty attitude. She had on pink micro shorts and a matching pink flowy top. Her hair was curled up as usual.

I glanced at my watch again.

Two-ten.

She was late.

Not late enough for anyone to call it disrespectful. Just late enough to make everyone in the room wait for her.

Bella sighed dramatically and crossed her legs. Her manager kept checking his phone. Mr. Hale sat quietly, flipping through a file. Coach had given up pretending to care and was staring at the ceiling.

I kept looking at the door.

She said she’d come.

The sound of heels echoed faintly from the hallway.

Every muscle in my body tightened.

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Chapter 78

One step.

Then another.

The door handle turned.

The room fell silent.

Nia walked in.

For a second, I genuinely forgot where I was.

Three days ago, I’d pulled her out of a crowd of cameras, drenched, shaking, barely able to stand. I’d carried her into a hospital room because she couldn’t walk straight on her own.

The woman standing in the doorway looked like she’d never broken a day in her life.

Black pinstripe trousers. Cream silk blouse. Hair pulled back into a sleek bun. Minimal makeup. Small pearl earrings.

She looked… Not fragile. Not scared. Not like the woman I’d carried out of a hospital three days ago.

She closed the door behind her carefully, adjusted the strap of her bag on her shoulder, and looked around the room.

Her gaze passed over Bella. Then over me. No hesitation. No anger. No acknowledgment at all.

She walked toward the table with measured steps, the sound of her heels against the floor impossibly loud in the silence.

I hadn’t realized I’d been holding my breath until she reached the empty seat beside me and pulled out the chair.

She sat.

Crossed one leg over the other. Placed her bag on the table. Then she looked directly at Bella.

“Sorry to keep everyone waiting,” she said calmly.

Bella’s expression tightened.

I tried not to stare at Nia but I failed.

The last time I’d seen her, she’d been soaked through, shivering, with mascara streaked down her face and terror in her eyes.

Now she looked composed. Too composed. The kind of composition that took effort. The kind of composition that worried

She turned her head slightly and caught me looking.

For a second, neither of us spoke.

She turned slightly toward me and lifted an eyebrow.

What?

That look. I’d seen it before.

Usually right before she said something that pissed me off.

I almost laughed.

Instead, I shook my head once.

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Chapter 78

Nothing. For a brief second, neither of us looked away.

Then Mr. Hale cleared his throat. Bella shifted in her chair. Coach put his phone down.

Nia leaned back slightly and finally spoke. “Sorry to keep everyone waiting.”

Nobody answered.

She looked at Bella. Then at the attorneys. Then back at the center of the table.

“Shall we begin?”

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