Page 21 of The Trouble With Bad Boys

Hoping to defuse the situation from descending into another shouting match, I say, “To be honest, I do need some way to reach the outside world. I’m going to be monitoring him for at least three months, and from what I’ve seen here tonight, I think that’s going to mean I need to stay with him to ensure he doesn’t undermine any work I’m trying to accomplish with rehabilitating his reputation.”

As his brothers begin to bicker around him, Matthias finally loses his cool. “Enough! I’ll get Wi-Fi at my grandmother’s house. It’s not as bad as Kellen’s making it out to be. Whatever you need, just let me know and I’ll get it for you. Does that work?”

I nod, happy he’s willing to support my efforts. “Thank you. I think we’re going to be fine there.”

He shakes my hand, but on my right, Kellen simply glares at me. “Is no one going to ask me if any of this works for me? I am the one who has to endure living at Grandma’s, after all.”

Finally tired of hearing his complaints, I say, “I’m willing to stay away from my home for three months to ensure you can someday walk into parties without people verbally abusing you or your company forcing you to quit. I’m doing all the work here. All you have to do is not offend people anymore. Can you do that?”

The room falls silent as we all wait to hear his answer. After what feels like forever, he lowers his head and sighs.

“Yeah. I can do it.”

“Great! I’ll get started on the Wi-Fi as soon as possible. Do you want to wait until it’s available?” Matthias asks me.

“No. I’ll be fine for a few days. I’ll handle everything the old-fashioned way by phone until you get it installed. I think we should begin staying at your grandmother’s immediately. I can drive into the city and be there tonight, assuming that’s okay with you.”

Kellen sighs again. “Tonight? Jesus, I already miss my place.”

Pleased by how this meeting has gone, I turn to him and smile. “See you there, roomie.”

Matthias and his brothers shake my hand again and thank me, but Kellen doesn’t say another word. That’s fine. I don’t need to hear any more from him.

The look on his face tells me all I need to know.

As I walk down the stairs, I have to remind myself I can’t use this job to get payback like he thinks I will. It’s tempting, though, and who deserves it more than Kellen King after what he did to me back at that villa?

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