Chapter 66
(25 BONUS.
“It’s alright. Madame Kenway said you’re always busy with work. Sometimes, you work late into the night,” I said, smiling in what I hoped was a reassuring way, though my voice quivered
“Yeah. There’s been a special mission. It’s taking up a lot of my time, but it’ll be over soon, at least,” Soren replied.
“That’s good to hear. Just be sure not to overwork yourself,
“Thank you.”
This was a private road owned by the Kenways, so it was fine for our cars to be parked like this. Even so, I couldn’t help but feel a little awkward.
After a moment of silence, I waved dismissively. “You must be starving from work. You should get back for lunch! I need to return to my office.”
“You’re a hard worker, Taylor.”
“Not nearly as hard as you,” I replied with a chuckle before heading back to my car.
Suddenly, he stepped in front of me and opened the door.
“T–Thank y–you,” I stammered, my cheeks burning with nerves.
Before closing the car door, he called out, “See you, Taylor”
My heart raced. My face burned. Thankfully, he couldn’t see me.
He knocked on the window, signaling my driver to move, then walked back to his Audi.
As the limo brushed past his car, I couldn’t help but glance back. I just wanted to see him one more time.
He was standing by his car, waving at me as though he’d known I would look
My heart skipped a beat as I quickly turned forward again.
It felt as though he could see right through me. Panic, embarrassment, and even shame welled up inside me.
What was I thinking? That man was Soren Kenway.
He had someone he liked. He saw me as a friend–nothing more. He was kind to me because he was a kind person, and that was it.
I
I clenched my fists, repeating to myself over and over that needed to stop fantasizing. I shouldn’t!
I barely had time to fortify my thoughts when my phone buzzed.
It was Soren. This was the first time he had ever texted mel
Soren: [My mom said you’ve got some designs for me to see?]
My heart pounded as I typed.
Me: [Right. Any free time?]
Soren: [This coming weekend. I’ll tell you where.]
Me: [OK]
+25 BONUS
Chapter 66
So much for my earlier resolve.
It was Thursday, so two days felt like an eternity.
Growing up, I had never realized how long 48 hours could feel.
I dragged myself through the sluggish crawl of time until Friday afternoon. By then, I’d completely lost focus at work, my eyes glued to my phone in case he sent more détails.
When my phone finally rang, my heart leaped–a kind of elation only a weary traveler in a desert could feel upon spotting an oasis.
But instead of Soren, it was him–the World’s Most Deadbeat Father.
I froze. Wasn’t he supposed to still be serving time in a cell for 15 days? It had only been a week!
I hesitated but answered. “Hello?”
“Taylor, you bitch!” he roared. “Scheming against your own mother now, after what you did to me? Maddie’s life is at stake, and you’re just going to deprive her of us? What if we don’t get to see her before she passes?!”
