bChapter /bb20 /b

bMaxine /bhanded Jessica an old phone, showed her which number was hers, and then gave the caregiver Kira some instructions before leaving bthe /bhospital.

She had a meet–up scheduled with her bestie, Cleo Wheeler.

Cleo was a gossip reporter at an entertainmentpany, well–connected and experienced. She orice went undercover in a superstar’s neighborhood for three whole months and ended up like a wild woman, all to dig up some dirt.

And boy, did she seed! She exposed that superstar’ste–night meetings with multiple directors, making a huge ssh in the entertainment news

scene.

Maxine was seeking her help this time.

Stepping into the rendezvous, Maxine spotted Cleo fiddling with a long–focus lens.

“New toy?” Maxine asked, taking a seat across from Cleo.

She was about to make small talk when Cleo sighed, “Don’t even mention it. Thest one got busted.”

Maxine was surprised at her words. “You treasure your lenses the most. How did bit /bget broken?”

Cleo then started pouring out her woes. “You wouldn’t believe it. A couple of days ago, I went to shoot some no–name model. First day thereb, /bband /bboom! Her bodyguards caught me! That model has a temper like a firecracker. “She charged at me and smashed my camera to the ground. If bit /bweren’t for bmy /b6’3” partnering along, I might not have made it out alive.”

Maxine was intrigued. “You’re pretty well–known in the biz. Who’s so bold to mess with you in public?”

There was that time with a top–tier wannabe who almost got physical with Cleo. Her fiery temper kicked in, and the next day, she dropped that celeb’s love scandal online.

“That model has a sugar daddy–a pretty famous rich kid, surnamed… Jenson? Seems like he’s the son of the Jenson Construction Group’s boss.”

As Cleo finished her sentence, Maxine’s heart skipped a beat.

“Is he Gabriel Jenson?” she asked.

“Yeah, yeah! You know him?”

Maxine’s hand suddenly tightened, and her face turned gloomy in an instant.

Cleo noticed something was off, put down the camera, and gazed at her seriously. “What’s up?”

“Remember when I told you that I took on a sexual assault case at the beginning bof /bthe month? The defendant is Gabriel Jenson, son of the Jenson Construction Group’s CEO.”

Cleo froze instantly at her words. “Oh my! What about that case now?”

A shadow passed over Maxine’s eyes as she replied, “Lost. The intiffmitted suicide by drowning herselfb. /bI just finished attending bher /bbfuneral /btoday.”

“bOh /bmy God.” Cleo, who usually had a silver tongue, waspletely speechless right now. “So you called me today-”

“After the intiff died, she left behind ba /bfive–year–old daughter bwith /bno one bto /bbtake /bcare of her. bSo /bbI /badopted bher/bb, /bbBut /bbI’m /bbleaving /bfor babroad /bbsoon /band have a bunch of things to handle. “So I thought if I could find this kid’s biological fatherb, /bmaybe he could look after bher /bbfor /bba /bbwhile /bbuntil /bbI’m /bbdone /bwith everything and bcan /btake her back.”

10:45

bTue/bb, /b

bCleo /bfrowned bas /bshe listened, retorting, “Your logic doesn’t make sense–If you can find the kid’s dad, why not just blet /bbhim /btake custody instead bof /badopting her yourself?b” /b

“bIf /bthat man were reliable, how could he let my client raise their child alone? Doesn’t he know how hard it is for single moms? And from bwhat /bmy client initially told me, the father never cared about them at all.”

“But you’re leaving the child in his care? Isn’t that practically throwing the kid into a wolf’s den?” Cleo was even more confused.

Maxine pinched the bridge of her nose, replying, “Maybe if we give him some money, it might work? I just keep thinking that ba /bfather bwouldn’t /bbe so cruel to his own child? Even if he sees the kid as a burden, he won’t have to carry that burden forever.

b“/bThe most important thing is that my client died tragically. I’m really afraid that Gabriel might be nning something new.”