Unwanted Heat

When we sit down to eat, I sigh in relief that Estelle isn’t seated at our table; in fact, she is completely across the room where she can’t be seen from our table. While Kenzie chats with the wife of a CEO who is sitting next to her, I quickly pull out my cell phone to check on things, just as that woman’s husband is doing.

Preliminary background check will be completed by morning and a more in-depth one within forty-eight hours. C

I want to know everything there is to know about this woman; tell them to leave nothing out. N

If I may ask, who is this woman? C

Kenzie’s grandmother; she approached us earlier N

I know revealing her relationship to Kenzie means nothing to Carter; he knows her ex abused her but doesn’t know anything beyond that. I didn’t think an old woman would be a threat, especially considering she lived completely across the country from us.

Are we considering her a threat? C

Possibly. N

Kenzie doesn’t relax during dinner, in fact, she keeps a close eye on everyone around her. She’s constantly looking over her shoulder like she expects to see that evil woman approaching her again. But, unless you knew her outside of tonight, you would have no idea that anything was going on. She is polite and friendly to everyone at our table, even laughing at jokes that are made. Me, on the other hand, can’t stop thinking about what that woman did to her. I may not know all the ways she hurt her, but I’ve seen the scars that she bears on her back from the time she lived with her. It’s taking everything in me not to hurt that woman; I’ve never wanted to hit a woman out of anger… until now.

“Dance with me?” Kenzie asks quietly.

“Of course,” I take her hand and lead her onto the dance floor where several other couples are dancing. She immediately rests her head on my shoulder when I pull her close to me. I wrap both my arms around her waist, pulling her closer to me as we sway slowly to the music. Neither of us say a word throughout the entire song, but I’m comforted with the knowledge that she asked for this and can only hope the reason for that was because she needed me. I hope that whatever she needs from me right now I’m giving her. I feel like I should say something, but I have no idea what to say. The guard that she put up, seems to have momentarily gone down, which I’m incredibly thankful for.

“Thank you,” she whispers as the song ends and places a kiss on my lips before pulling back from me.

I have no idea what she is thanking me for-I haven’t done a damn thing but dance with her. I should have asked her if she was okay, if she needed anything or at least if she wanted to leave. Instead, the moment her body touched mine, the only thing I could think about was how incredible it felt to have her relaxed again, against me instead of standing stiffly next to me.

When dinner is over, several speeches are made by individuals supporting the candidate before he finally speaks. These types of speeches are all the same: boring, full of promises and requests for money. After the speeches, we walk around again and talk with a few people we missed the first time around. Kenzie’s mask is back up as she constantly searches the room for that woman, but thankfully doesn’t find her. Even though she’s right next to me, I long for the woman who was dancing in my arms a short time ago.

“Mr. Parker, how nice to see you again,” Donald Conover approaches me shortly after we left our table.

“Donald, I wasn’t expecting to see you this evening. Please allow me to introduce my wife-”

“Yes, I read that you were married, it’s a pleasure to meet you, Mrs. Parker,” he shakes Kenzie’s offered her.

“Thank you, it’s a pleasure to meet you as well. Please call me Kenzie.”

“My wife is somewhere around here, I’ll have to introduce you,” he glances around the room quickly, but when he doesn’t see her he turns his attention back to me. “I’m assuming by your presence here tonight, you realize the impact that the tax reform bill could have?”

“The implications are significant,” I confirm. “If he is successful in passing the bill, it will make things much more profitable for companies like yours who are looking to expand to Boston. With the right plan, you could finally get the shipping dock you wanted.”

Two years ago we were close to signing with Donald’s company, which would have been the largest company outside of New York that signed with PFS. He owns a large import/export business and, at least two years ago, was looking to retire. Signing with his company would not only benefit him, but would put PFS on the map-proving that we could manage businesses of all sizes and locations. With the tax issue known, we decided against pursuing Donald’s company because the risk was too great.

“If he succeeds and the tax law is abolished, I’d like to hear a new proposal from PFS, if you’re still interested.”

“We could certainly reevaluate the state of the company at that time,” I try to play off the thrill of what it would mean. I learned very early on in the business industry to have a poker face, and thankfully, I have one of the strongest poker faces around.

“Let’s hope our boy wins the election so we can move forward with this. I’d love nothing more than to retire and take my wife on the vacation she deserves,” he shakes my hand before walking away.

“Kenzie… are you-”

“I’m fine,” her answer is short and she makes it clear she doesn’t want to continue this discussion. “I need to use the restroom.”

“I’ll walk with you-”

“I can go by myself to the bathroom,” she sighs, though I continue to follow her out of the room, where Carter and Hunter quickly join us.

“Gentleman, none of you are coming in the bathroom with me,” she gives us all a stern look before entering the ladies room… alone.

“Any concerns?” I ask.

“None, sir,” Carter confirms.

“Good, let’s keep it that way. We should be ready to leave soon.”

A few minutes later Kenzie is back at my side and we are walking back to our table; the dinner is pretty much over, saying goodbye to a few people is all that remains on our agenda.

“Parker, there you are,” Donald catches up with us, just as we are a few feet from the exit.

As we turn around, Kenzie’s hand grips mine tighter; I know who is with him without even looking up.

“Allow me to introduce you to my wife-” I don’t give him the chance to finish the introduction.

“We’ve already met.”

“Oh, Estelle and I have only been married for… what is it, sweetie, six months now?”

“Just about that,” she confirms.

“Anyway Parker, I look forward to hearing from you once our boy is elected. I think you will be impressed with the growth the company has seen-”

“Unfortunately, Donald, PFS is no longer interested in doing business with you,” I quickly interrupt, knowing that no matter what the price, I would never associate PFS with a woman who thinks it is acceptable to beat her grandchild the way she did to Kenzie.

“What? What happened? I don’t understand…”

“Unfortunately, PFS is not interested in associating itself with child

abusers-”

“Child abuser!?!?!” he hisses, looking around to ensure that no one is near us that can overhear our conversation. “I have NEVER laid a hand on a child!”

“You may not have, but I don’t think your wife can say the same thing-”

“You have no idea what you’re talking about,” Estelle says firmly, straightening her back as she looks directly at me, obviously trying to intimidate me, which of course doesn’t work. “You have no idea what she was like when she came to us. My late husband tried everything to get her to behave, but the stress of raising such a troubled child took a toll on his heart, God rest his soul-”

“Yes, I was such a troubled child that I graduated valedictorian from high school with several scholarships that covered my full tuition for three years of college,” Kenzie spats.

“You were troubled in other ways… just like your mother. I did what I needed to do to ensure you didn’t turn out like her. The woman you are today is because of how I raised you, otherwise you would have ended up dead just like she is.”

“Estelle, what did you do?” Donald asks.

“I did what needed to be done.”

“Your wife,” Kenzie says the term with complete disgust. “Beat me, her own granddaughter, to the point where I have permanent reminders of each punishment. When she didn’t beat me, she threw objects at me. She got rid of me as fast as she could-insisting I marry a man who beat me nearly as much as she did.”

“Estelle-”

“All you needed to do was keep him happy. He would have given you anything; you never would have wanted for anything for the rest of your life. You just couldn’t keep him happy-”

“No man should ever lay a hand on his woman,” I hiss. “Her job was not to keep him happy.”This content provided by N(o)velDrama].[Org.

“Estelle, tell me it’s not true,” Donald begs her.

“She can’t,” Kenzie says before she turns around so her back is exposed to him. Her scars are so light that they can’t be seen from a distance, but there’s only a few feet between us right now, allowing him to see everything he needs to confirm the type of woman his wife is.

“You did that? You did that to your own granddaughter?” he asks, the shock evident in his voice as Kenzie turns around.

“She was an unruly child just like her mother-”

“That doesn’t give you the right to do that, Estelle!” he interrupts her, raising his voice louder than I’m sure he intended. “What did she ever do to you?”

“Her father ruined her mother-”

“You punished her because of her parents?” I ask in complete disbelief.

“Her father…”

“He’s been dead since right after I was born, what the hell does he have to do with anything?”