Page 2 of Dissension

Kara inhales as slowly and deeply as she can, gripping her steering wheel reflexively. It’s just past six in the morning and Dietrich Bittinger is being absurd. She’s not even had time to have a coffee yet, considering she rolled straight out of bed for him and drove out to the suburbs to his estate.

The drive is long, even without traffic. She’d gotten out of the city just before it got too congested, even for a Saturday. The city never quite sleeps, after all. He’s far in the northwestern burbs, full of sprawling landscapes and beautiful forest preserves, gated communities for the ultra-private. The ultra-rich.

Old, old money.

Kara would be lying if she said shedidn’tlike his estate. It’s quiet, peaceful. She’s missed that, living in the big city these past few years.

It’s been four months since she went with him to the dreadful, nightmarish party at the Calais, Vickers, and Yates office. Four long, painful months. Not only is Dietrich completely uncaring of her emotional state on the matter, considering the situation with Nick and the situation with her father, but Dieter is about as demanding as an infant.

Which, it turns out, isvery.

While Gale has been down in Arizona intermittently to help cover Kara’s absence with her father and his embezzlementdrama, Kara has been putting in more hours than she cares to count with Dietrich. She has more phone calls with Gale than ever before, having to ask for advice surrounding the many situations that continually pop up, scanning documents over to her, and spending long hours studying incessantly.

Legal contracts. Petty litigations. PR representation.

At this point, Kara almost feels like she’s gained three years of hard experience in just a few months. It’s taxing and she’s finding herself mentally exhausted to the point of continual fatigue.

But, think about how marketable you will be in the future. Look at how much you’ve learned. Working for Dieter has taught you more than working for Derrick Benson, and the money-

She dismisses the thought as she pulls up to the extremely long driveway, hidden amongst trees on the road. It’s long, and winding once she gets past the gate, crawling nearly an acre away from the street itself.

When the main estate comes into view, Kara glowers at it. She’s exhausted and without a stitch of caffeine; he better have a good reason for hollering at her to come see him at this time in the morning, driving an hour out.

The house itself isn’t really a house. More of a mansion, all stone and brick on the outside. The architecture is a mix of old elegance and modern style. A massive five-car garage sprawls to the left and a stone path leads around the back, towards the onsite barn hosting Dietrich’s horses. He’s got several acres of land behind the main building, lovely green grass and full of trees.

Shutting her car off, Kara grabs her purse and strolls towards the double-wide front doors, decorated tastefully with elegant stone pedestals on either side. Graceful statues stand nearby, holding out lights for the front at night.

Kara isn’t dressed for work; she simply doesn’t give a hoot at this point. He’s more of a bratty-childish-friend than he is her boss, so she’s not going to get all dressed up for him. Not this effing early.

Using the gigantic brass door knockers with a certain agitation, Kara waits to be let inside. A chill morning breeze catches her, straight through her thin sweater.

The front door swings open quite suddenly, one of the maids allowing her inside. Maria looks anxious, waving Kara in.

“He’s in a mood, I suppose,” Kara says in greeting.

Maria silently nods, not wanting to verbally say anything against her employer.

As she steps into the rich marble entryway, Kara wonders what the fuss is about this time. From the top of the grand bridal stairway, the reason for Kara’s misfortune appears like a bad omen. “There you are.” He’s waspish, his tone just as bad as it was on the phone. “Took your sweet time-”

“You know I live nearly an hour away!” Kara replies angrily as she watches him descend the stairs, shifting her glasses up so she can rub her tired eyes some more. “I can’t change time and space.”

“Then movecloser. I need you to fix this situation, now. I woke up and saw his resignation notice in my inbox and then realized there would be no goddamn breakfast this morning.”

“What are you on about now?” Kara isn’t up to date on the issue at hand. “Whogave you their resignation?”

His peridot eyes flash, as if the answer is absolutely clear and Kara is a nitwit. There’s no exhaustion in his face, his gaze sharp and alive, pale hair neatly coifed, clothes flawlessly Hampton Social in style. As always, he looks like perfection and it’s vastly annoying. “The chef!”

Kara stares at him, feeling like she’s inside another dimension of craziness. This bastard did not,absolutely did notcall her here because another one of his house staff quit.

It’s completely beyond Kara’s wildest imagination as to why a man of his means cannot simply order in breakfast. He’s stubborn and incredibly spoiled, so that probably contributes to it, as she’s come to learn these past few months working for him.

Horribly spoiled. Beyond rotten.

She’s also learned that telling Dieter he’s being a child isn’t going to help anything at all. In fact, against all odds, Kara’s learned a far more interesting technique, one that practically makes her gag. “I understand this is…very trying…for you, Dieter, but-”

She doesn’t understand whatsoever, but shemust fake that she does.

The painfully handsome man, even lovelier in the morning light, stops his frantic pacing to give her a scowl that only seems to enhance his attractiveness. “Trying?Trying? You will fix it, immediately!” He scoffs, eyes viciously green. “If you’d gotten here sooner, you could already be knee deep into making the proper calls and checking candidates.”

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