Chapter 18

Kobe

“WHAT’S UP, brO?” AXEL said as I stood there watching the love of my life storm off.

“Dad is ruining my life. That’s what.”

“Always the melodramatic,” he said as he palmed the football. “Come on.”

“Nah,” I said as I walked away.

“Bro, you need to get some backbone. If something is really important, stand up for it. Stand up to Dad and tell him what you want. Dad’s an alpha, so you should know he pushes us because he wants to toughen us. You have to understand that about Errol King. He’s a tough MF, but when it comes to mom or family, he’s got a soft side. I’ve seen it before.”

“You don’t know what he’s done, Axel,” I said.

“Katrina Lee?” Axel asked. “Yeah, that’s a tough one. She’s a tough one. Same with her roomie, Layla. Bullying them to drop out didn’t work. Layla’s gotten under my skin like an itch I couldn’t stop. I guess Kat’s the same way with you. Looks like we’re both growing up, Bro. And we have our own ideas on who to let in our school and into our love lives. So, show him you’re a man now, Kobe, not a little boy anymore. Haven’t you had enough of being that little boy?”

I shook my head angrily, “I’ve had enough. I’ll catch you later.”

I wandered off and walked around aimlessly. My school project was dead. My romance with my girl was over, and my relationship with my dad was tenuous at best.

What the hell, Dad? What the fucking hell?

I walked around campus and passed in front of Kat’s dorm house at least three times before I finally headed to my dad’s office. It’d taken me some time to figure out my next move, but now I knew. I had to find proof that my father was not playing fair. Confront him with evidence so he can see how wrong he was about Kat and her family.

“Hello again, Kobe,” his secretary said. “Here to see your father?”

“Yeah,” I said, a little too bluntly. “Is he in?”

She shook her head. “Sorry. He left a while ago for a late lunch. I’m not sure he’ll be back before the end of the day.”

I glanced at his office door and knew she wouldn’t let me in. “Um, well, you see,” I said, trying to find an excuse. “You know when I was here earlier...”

“Yes.”

“I forgot the small notebook that I’d brought with me. It’s really important for the project that I’m working on. Do you think I could go take a look to try to find it?”

She smiled sweetly. “Sure thing, Kobe. Go ahead.”

I walked into my father’s office and sat behind his desk. I looked at the documents on his desk... boring school business stuff. I opened a few of the drawers, flipped through a few of the pages, but found nothing of interest.

What are you hoping to find? A note that spells it out? Vandalize Ginger!

Truth was, I had no idea what I was looking for. But there was something about sitting in my father’s chair and trying to see things from his perspective. No matter how I looked at the situation, nothing justified his actions.

A knock at the door pulled me out of my deep thoughts.

“Mr. King,” Dad’s secretary called before opening the door. “I’m sorry, but... Did you find what you were looking for?”

“Ah... no.” I stood. “I’m sorry. My Dad might have thought it was nothing and he tossed it.”

“I’m about to close up here,” she said.

“What?Already?”

“It’s past five, Kobe. Almost six.”

I looked at my watch. I’d been sitting there sulking for hours. “I’m sorry. I’ll get out of your way.”

I felt lost as I walked out and once again walked the campus. As the sun began its descent toward the horizon, I paced in front of Kat’s dorm house, hoping to see her.

But as darkness fell, and no light came on in her window, I realized she wasn’t there at all.

Shit!

I rushed to the parking lot and looked for her car. “Maybe she’s in the other parking lot.” I went to my car and drove from one parking lot to the next. Kat’s car was nowhere to be found.

She’s out there. Shit! She’s with him. Why the hell didn’t I think of that sooner?

Shaking from an unfortunate blend of uncomfortable emotions, I gripped the steering wheel and looked at the clock in my car. Just past nine o’clock. It was way too late for her to still be out there... unless.

I choked at the thought of her with him. Backing the car out, I tried to wipe from my mind the sight of her in his arms. That bastard didn’t deserve to breathe the same air as Kat, never mind caress her skin.

The road was long and torturous, nothing like the morning’s ride with Kat. Filled with joy and song, that ride had been the highlight of my day... only to have this ride completely destroy this same day.

I finally pulled into the darkened parking lot and got out of my car. The place was closed so my investigation would be limited to the exterior. I walked around the outer perimeter of the building. No broken windows and no sign of forced entry anywhere.

So, how did you get in, Dad?

Setting my hands on my hips, I looked around. There had to be something.

A light suddenly came on inside. Someone was in there after all. But that couldn’t be. There were no cars in the parking lot. Maybe it was the vandals coming back for more destruction.

Cupping my hands to the window, I looked inside. It was dark despite the one dim light, but I could make out the silhouette of a slim and petite... Holy crap! It was Kat!

Her silky skin glowed under that romantic light marred only by Trent’ skanky hands all over her.

I wanted to pound on the window and shout my objection, but what good could it do? I didn’t matter to her. She didn’t care what I thought or what I felt.

Nonetheless, my fist was poised to pound on that window.

Control yourself.

Yeah, but she’s making a big mistake.

No. I had to accept that it was over, and she was already moving on.

I backed away before they could see me. Trent would just love to boast about his conquest... and my defeat. The thought of him rubbing it in made me rush to my car to beat it out of there.

But as I reached my car, I was suddenly struck with a realization. No door or window was broken. There was no breaking and entering... just entering.

That means the vandal had to have a key to the place. Ginger was closed and locked up every night. Surely Trent as the manager made sure he locked up every night.

And he had the key to open up in the morning.

He had a key. He was the only one out here who had a key.

No one from the Academy had one. Most of all, Errol King would not have one at all. My father was a passionate man, known to follow his heart, but he was a smart businessman who made a fortune from his hard work. He came from nothing but became a culinary success. He wouldn’t stoop so low as to physically destroy a restaurant just to get at a rival and risk everything he’d built.

No, something like this was amateurish. Immature, like the work of someone having a childish tantrum. Someone who didn’t think about consequences.

My dad was right. This was too unsophisticated. Too beneath what a King would do. And Dad would never sign his name off on something so sloppy.