Toxicity

One

~Five months ago~

Mackenzie's P.O.V.

14 October, 2018

"So Miss Ziegler, I believe you're aware of the fact that Miss Jessica Hawthorne has been missing for one month." Detective Scott starts talking after turning on the camera.

"Um, yeah I know." I keep tapping my left foot on the ground nervously. I don't know why I am nervous exactly, but it really is a bit odd for me to give a statement to the police like this.

"How you and she were connected?" He raises an eyebrow as if I'm the one who is the reason behind Jessica is missing.

"Well, we were friends." I shrug my shoulder a bit. It has been a few months since Jessica and I've been starting to get close. It was actually really good to know her, she's definitely an amazing friend and a human being.

"Alright then. So, is it true that you and Mr. Johnny Orlando had an intimate relationship four years ago?" He keeps interrogating as the question makes me furrow my eyebrows.

"It's my personal matter. Why am I supposed to talk about Johnny? Aren't I here to give a statement about Jessica?" My voice was rougher this time.

"Please Miss Ziegler, answer the question. It is also a part of the investigation."

I roll my eyes and say, "Yes, we had."

"And is Austin Orlando your and Mr. Johnny Orlando's child?"

"Yes. That's right."

"Mr. Orlando can meet with his son once a week per the court's order." The detective continues.

"He can."

"After your graduation, you started handling your father's business. Am I correct?"

"Yeah." I shrug.

"And you've been suffering from a loss. Right?"

"Excuse me?" I narrow my eyes.

"I'll take it as a yes." He says. "And as your business is suffering from a loss, you had been seeking financial help from Mr. Orlando."

"No." I clearly reply. "If you're not aware of it then let me tell you, it's not called financial help. I asked Johnny if he could help me with this problem by investing in my company. We still haven't gone to a final conclusion but it's definitely not financial help."

"Okay, so Miss Ziegler, did you know that Miss Hawthorne was engaged to Mr. Orlando?" The detective throws his next question at me which started to make me a bit confused. Really? They both got engaged and Jessica didn't even tell me? I thought they were just dating.

"No. I don't know about that."

"You sure?" He again asks, as if I'm lying.

"Hundred percent." I quietly mumble. How the hell is Jessica's engagement related with her getting missing?

"And Miss Ziegler, as per as our investigation Miss Hawthorne visited you in your home on 17th September, 2018. Am I true?"

"You are." I lightly shake my head.

"She got missing after that. Means that night after going to your house. Do you know anything about where she went or something like that?"

"No, I don't. After Jessica came to my home, we both just had a couple drinks and talked. And then when my phone rang from the bedroom, I went to grab it. But when I came back to the living room after finishing the call, she was already gone." I recalled everything happened that night and said.

"Was her stuff gone too?"

"Yes."

"Haven't you ever noticed her engagement ring in her ring finger?"

I itch my eyebrows. "No, I actually don't notice that much."

"So Miss Ziegler, after the searching in your house, we found a clue. This-" he passes a plastic bag towards me. "-was found in your backyard."

I take the bag with 'Evidence' written on it and examine it, it was a diamond ring. "What do you wanna say? My backyard?"

"Yes. And it happens to be Miss Hawthorne's engagement ring, given to her by Mr. Johnny Orlando. How did it end up there?"

"I-I don't know anything about it." I stutter. How the hell did this appear in my backyard?! As far as I remember Jessica never stepped there that night.

"Miss Ziegler, we've been thinking that you might have a connection with Miss Jessica Hawthorne's missing case."

"What?!" I swear what he said made the ground slip from underneath my feet.

"Yes, we have proof." He points at the ring in the plastic bag with his finger.

"What? No." I keep the bag on the table from my hand. "Why would I kidnap her?"

"We're not saying you did it. It's just, you're on our suspect list. Till the case is closed, you are not allowed to leave the town."

"Are you kidding me? What the hell makes you think I kidnapped her? Is it only because you found this ring in my backyard? I don't know how the hell it ended up there! And why would I even do it?!"

"Relax Miss Ziegler. If you want to know why we are thinking that you might do it then I can tell you that." Detective Scott picks up the bag from in front of me and keeps it beside him.

"Why?" I cross my arms.

"We are thinking that you again might want to go on a relationship with Mr. Orlando." He swiftly says as if it didn't pin me at all.

"Are you drunk? Why the heck would I do that?" My voice was a bit louder that usual.

"Look, Miss Ziegler we have proof. We have been informed that Mr. Orlando gets a chance to meet with Austin not only once a week but whenever he wants. If you let Mr. Orlando meet his son anytime he wants them why keep the custody to yourself?" He tries to show me his point which is totally useless.

"I have been busy with my business and stuff and all the time Austin only spends time with his nanny. Johnny maybe sometimes stops by to meet him and most of the time I don't even know about it. Austin just," I let out a sigh. "I can't stop Austin to meet with his Dad, he's really stubborn and he hardly listens to me. But I've been trying to make Johnny understand that he has to stop doing it."

"Also Miss Ziegler, you're asking no one else but Mr. Orlando to invest in your company. As far as we know your cousin Mr. Shawn Mendes also runs a business. Why not seek help from him? And there are a lots of company who can help you."

I let out a sigh. I definitely shouldn't have told Shawn that I can handle the business all by myself. Now I can't even go and tell him that I need help. It'd be so damn awkward. "I just asked him cause...I need help as soon as I can. I'm also looking for other companies. And how the hell is it even related with Jessica?"

"You were trying to get close to Mr. Orlando and Miss Hawthorne was in the way. So.." He shrugs his shoulders.

"Oh please, I wouldn't ever think of doing it."

"It's kind of odd how you and Miss Hawthorne became so close friends. I mean, how can you be friends with your ex fiancè's present fiancée?"

"Come on! I didn't even know that Jessica was engaged to him. And I and Johnny was engaged for like, twelve hours I guess. So how the heck-"

"Relax Miss Ziegler. We're still haven't finished investigating. Just know that you cannot leave town until we allow you to. You may leave now." The detective cuts me off and with the roll of my eyes I take my purse and rush out.

What a total wastage of time! These police won't be able to find the real culprit so they're trying to frame me. I wish I could-

"Hey, watch where you're going." I rub my forehead after I step back from the person who just bumped into me.

"Or should I say, watch where you're going." I look up as I hear a familiar voice.

"You were not watching." I try to correct him.

Johnny rolls his eyes before he again looks at me. "Look Mackenzie, just stop playing games and tell me where the hell is Jessica."

"How would I know?!" I yell. "Why the heck would I kidnap her?"

"I don't know. But as the police is suspecting you, perhaps you have some connection. Or... are you trying to get revenge? You know, for what I did to you years back?"

I quietly laugh. "As if I have time. And how do I know that you didn't kidnap her?"

"Why would I do it to my own fiancée?" He crosses his arms.

"Cause you want to frame me in this abduct so I go to jail and you get the custody of Austin!" I almost yell out loud.

"Wow, really Mackenzie? You thought-"

"Mr. Orlando," Detective Scott interrupts. "I need to talk to you."

"Sure." Johnny gives me a death glare before he walks away with the detective.

I let out a deep breathe, trying to calm myself down. But no matter what happens, until this case is finished, I don't think anything good is gonna happen.

"Hey, everything fine?" As I get into the passengers' seat of Matt's car, he asks.

"Just drop me home. I'm so tired." I rest my head against the seat as he starts the car.

"Is everything really good Kenzie?" Matt again asks and I sigh. He wouldn't just stop asking if I don't answer.

I glance at the backseat as I find Austin sleeping peacefully with his doll or bunny or whatever he calls that toy. "I took him to have ice cream and he wouldn't just stop asking about why you were in the police station." Matt says.

"They're suspecting me that I kidnapped Jessica." I look at him.

"What?" He confusingly asks.

"Yes." I roll my eyes. "And they've made some stupid theory that I again want to go on a relationship with Johnny and that's why I did it and blah blah blah!"

"Did you do it?"

"Are you kidding me? Really?!" I almost shout and groan. I literally have to do something for it.

Matt reaches out to hold my hand and gives a soft squeeze to it. "Look, everything is gonna be fine. Okay? They're gonna find the real culprit."

I keep quiet for a few moments before I speak, "Do you think any company would really pay attention to my one? Who would want to invest in my company?"

"Come on," he tucks my hair behind. "you told your manager to handle it, right? I'm sure she would be able to do it quiet well."

"If the police starts to investigate my Dad's hotels and other properties too, what would happen?" I sigh. "The hotel's are already in lose, I'm sure after that no one would dare to come stay at any of them."

"Everything is gonna be fine. Just focus on your business. All right?" He gives me a soft smile as he parks in my driveway.

"I hope so." I quietly mumble and he gives a small peck on my lips.

"Bye." I give him a smile and get out of the car. After I pick up Austin from the backseat, Matt drives away.

Then after I settle Austin in the bed and take a long ass hot shower, I also dug my head in my pillow. These days have been going really tough for me. Matt has been helping me a lot to stay calm and strong. Or else I think I would've run for the east a long time ago.

After I met him in the college, my wrong concept for men had changed. There are actually some good guys left in the earth. He's loving and caring. And most of all, Austin likes him too. Probably he's way more much of a good boyfriend than I deserve.

"What now?" I quietly groan as I hear my phone ringing from my purse. I reach my hand to the bedside table and find it from my purse. As I see it's my manager Ella calling, I receive it.

"Good news?" I eagerly ask.

"Guess what? Three companies showed interest in investing in our company." Ella said in such a voice like she has achieved a medal.

"Are you kidding me?" I jump up on my bed. "Seriously?"

"Yes. You might check the email I sent you. Goodnight Mackenzie, sleep tight."

"Thank you very much Ella." I almost cried out in happiness as I cut the call. I quickly take out my laptop and check the companies name and details Ella sent me.

But in a few minutes I found myself again calling Ella.

"What happened?" She asks after picking up.

"Really? Did the Westphall Industries also showed interest? Or are you joking me?" I confusingly ask while reading the details.

"I knew it you would be surprised that such a big company showed their interest. Probably they think that investing in our company would be beneficial. So they wants to give it a try."

"Oh, I get it.." I quietly mumble.

"I had a conversation with the COO of this company. He said if the CEO confirms it then we can have it. But for that we need to arrange an appointment first."

"Then why don't you do it? Uh - tomorrow? It'd be great I guess. The sooner the better." I tell her.

"You wanna try them out first?" Ella says as I hear a noise from Austin's room. Is he awake?

"Why not? Just try to fix the appointment."

"Alright."

"Okay. Bye." I cut off the call and turn off my laptop. The moment I was about to get off the bed to go to his room, Austin steps into mine.

"Mommy, can I sleep with you?" He quietly says.

"Why baby? Is anything wrong?" I kneel down in front of him.

"My room is a mess. And I don't want to sleep there." He yawns after finishing his words and I pass him a smile. When the police came home today to investigate, they even looked in Austin's room. And obviously they made a quiet big mess with the toys.

"Sure honey." I take him to the bed and put him to sleep.

Sometimes I look at Austin, it makes me remind of Johnny. And I hate myself for that.