Page 115 of Lilly

"And what if Katherine tells you to try again?"

"I'll tell her no."

"You better not be lying to me. If you even think of trying this again, well, let's just say I'm already coming up with ideas."

"For what?"

"Your punishment. My father had some good ones. But I'll include a few of my own."

"Stop threatening me! I told you I'd leave her alone. And I'll deal with Katherine."

"Very well. I'll see you at the next meeting. Give Caroline my regards."

Despite his fear of me, I still don't trust him. I'll hire someone to keep watch on him, listen to his conversations, monitor his digital data. I should've done this before, but I didn't think he was stupid enough to try to harm Rachel. He knows I'd kill him if he did, and he's lucky I'm not doing so now. The only reason I'm not is because I don't want to deal with the fallout that would result. Killing him would cause an investigation by the organization and I'd likely be called into hearings with the ruling committee and be interviewed by the higher level members and who knows what else? It would get me far too involved with them, so for now, I'll leave Phillip alone but monitor his every action.

Later that night, Rachel and I watch a movie with Lilly. She hasn't asked me any more questions and she hasn't called Reed yet. She hasn't even mentioned his name. She didn't actually agree to break up with him, so I'm a little concerned that she won't, thinking maybe this will all work out and she won't have to. She's an optimist, like Rachel, always hoping for the best.

On Monday, I leave for New York. Before I left, I made sure Rachel and Lilly were safe and sound at Garret's house. I considered having Rachel come with me to New York but then decided against it. I'll be at William's office all day so wouldn't be with her even if she were there.

She'll be safe with Garret. Over the years, I've taught both Rachel and Garret how to protect themselves and given them the tools to do so. That's why Rachel was able to kill that man. She acted quickly and didn't hesitate. It was the first time she's ever killed someone so she's having a difficult time getting past it. I keep reminding her it was self-defense but I know she'll always feel at least some level of guilt that she took a life.

"Mr. Kensington." Sue, William's assistant, greets me as I walk off the elevator. "It's good to see you again. How have you been?"

"Fine. Although I wish I were here under different circumstances."

She frowns. "I know. I feel terrible for William. I don't understand why they can't find the cause of his illness. He's been like this for months."

Before I came to the office, I stopped by William's house to see him. I only stayed a few minutes because I'll see him tonight after work, but during my brief visit, he seemed very tired and a little out of it. If he continues to feel this way, he'll have to give up his position at the organization, allowing someone else to take his spot. That can't happen. There are only a handful of good people there and those people tend to not want to be leaders. They'd rather lay low and not make waves, which means someone like Phillip will try to take William's position. A power hungry man who strives to turn the organization back to what it was before, a group whose only mission is to obtain power at any possible cost.

"Mr. Kensington?" Sue says, and I realize I'm still standing in the hall.

"Yes. Sorry, my mind drifted for a moment."

"It's no problem. I unlocked William's office so it's all ready for you."

"Thank you."

"Can I get you anything?"

"No, I'm fine."

She smiles and walks back to her desk. I go down to William's office. It's messier than before, with stacks of paper piled up on his desk and folders strewn on the various side tables. William is usually very organized so this is odd for him, but he's probably too ill right now to concern himself with a tidy office.

"I was going to clean this up," Sue says, appearing at the door. "But Mr. Sinclair asked me to leave it as is. If it bothers you, I can at least put things in neater piles so you can more easily work."

"I don't mind. But thank you for offering."

She's a very nice woman but her constant interruptions are a bit much. The last time I was here, I had to politely ask her to stop checking on me every hour. I might have to remind her of that again.

It's late afternoon so I only have a few hours to review the material for tomorrow's meeting. I shut the door and get a glass of water and begin going through the information.

These cross-country trips must tire me because by six I'm so exhausted I can't do any more. I return to William's house and have dinner with him and Meredith, then William and I meet in his study.

"Any news from the committee?" I ask.

"They're still planning to approve Dean," he says. "Phillip told them Dean completed his assignment successfully."

"So Phillip made up a fake assignment to hide the real one."

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