Page 32 of Until Kendal

I stilled. “Of course. Are you in trouble?”

Once again, my ringer went off. She let me go and said, “You get your phone. I’ll take a shower.”

Kendal avoided the question, but my gut told me whoever it was on the street was the main source of her troubles. He’d been old enough to be her father. If he was, though, why was she afraid? If she owed money, then I could help.

However, I kept that to myself and answered my brother's call. “Arman, what’s going on?”

“Karla tried to set up a meeting with Mom, so I ended things.”

"How did that go?”

“More stressful than I expected. We’d met for drinks twice, and I never touched her. I wish my dating life was easy like yours.”

Nothing about my life seemed simple right now. My gaze narrowed. “Is something wrong?”

Arman’s voice went low as he said, “I sometimes think about the past, but it’s nothing.”

When we were teens, he’d been in love with a girl near the beach. I glanced out the window and scanned the street below. “You mean Maddie, who's long gone and happily married.”

“Not exactly. We were just kids. I’m clearly holding up an unreasonable standard, but that doesn’t matter.”

Now, that was new. I paused, wondering if his confirmed bachelor status was related to his thinking. And Maddie was unique in that she was the only woman I’d ever met who hadn’t latched on to a trillion-dollar heir. It was worse for Arman and the natural-born children of Maman and Pedar, as most people assumed the rest of us weren't full heirs. They could tell we were adopted based solely on our looks. Arman was a good guy with no faults other than his golden spoon. “If you ever want to talk about this, I’m here.”

Arman said, “HR sent me the contract you sent Kendal. Is she coming on board?”

My brother and Kendal both needed an award in avoidance. I let it go and said, “I think so.”

“Are you coming into this dating?”

I closed my eyes, wishing I had a better truth, but I said, “Nothing is permanent yet.”

“Well, be careful, and let’s not jeopardize our business for your heart to get trampled like mine was and set us up for harassment suits.”

“Everything will be fine,” I said quickly, like it was my mantra. I wouldn’t push, but I did want to help Kendal. I’d only ever had my gut to follow, but I wasn’t usually wrong.

After goodbyes, I hung up.

Whoever the man on the street had been, he was the key to Kendal's secrets. So I called security and asked, “Did we figure out who the older man on the street was yet?”

The guard I hired said, “We’re working on it now, sir, and I have a theory I want to explore.”

Then I would know soon enough. “Keep a close eye on Valerie and don’t let anything happen to her.”

“On it.” He replied then hung up.

Arman had nothing to worry about. And I wasn’t wrong. I trusted myself, but for now, I would take this one step at a time.

ChapterTwenty-Four

Kendal

The next morning, my body was warm in places I didn’t normally feel. Joel not only made me orgasm, but also made me laugh. Around him, I could relax, and honestly, he was amazing.

Right now, he was in the shower, and I was finishing putting our breakfast dishes back on the tray for the workers. Joel said we didn’t have to, but it was easy. My mind and body was clear until I saw my mom’s number. I answered and asked, “How is New York?”

“I’m sure it’s great. I’ll get there once I finish packing.”

For a split second, I couldn’t move. Then my heart raced. I sat on the couch and rubbed my forehead. My father was here. We were in danger. I closed my eyes. “Packing? Mom, I wish you’d flown immediately.”

---