Chapter 5

5

KENNETH

T uning out the presentation about the correlation between increased growth and employee satisfaction, I pull out my slim laptop and power it up. No one else at the long table gives it a second thought, but they don't know that the last thing I'm doing is taking notes.

In truth, I can't stop thinking about Kasey's interview. It's like a worm burrowing into my brain, gnawing away at my concentration. I've thrown myself into work to try and forget about it, but every time I glance at my phone and don't see her name there, I feel this sickening mix of anger and anxiety.

I can't believe she would even consider leaving me for some other job. Wasn't she happy with me? Wasn't I enough? And who the hell who offered her the interview?

My own company is what I should be concentrating on, but it's impossible. It takes less than a minute to figure out that Kasey is interning at a rival firm—Bradshaw Investments—and I clench my jaw at the knowledge. Mark Bradshaw isn't as successful as I am, but his company does well enough. That being said, he's an asshole, and I've disliked him more and more each time we've had the unfortunate chance to be in the same room together.

Still, we aren't actively antagonistic towards each other, so I swallow my pride and send him an email that, under any other circumstances, I would never stoop to doing. The lie rolls off my fingers and onto the keyboard effortlessly, and when I hit send, I can only hope he doesn't fact-check anything I've just said.

Mark, the email reads. A friend of the family, Kasey Mulligan, has told me that she received an interview offer for a significant jump in position at your company—from intern to web designer. She said that tuition reimbursement is being offered, but that it would require a move, which naturally makes her nervous. I was wondering if you could send me a sample of the employment contract she would need to sign so I can have my legal team look it over for her? I'm sure everything is above board, but just to make her more comfortable. I'm sure you understand. The girl is more than capable, but she seems flustered because she doesn't remember even applying for the position, but feels positively about it nonetheless. I'm sure you understand.

Kenneth

It doesn't take him long to get back to me, and the presentation I'm still sitting at is wrapping up as I read his response, my confusion only growing with each line that I take in.

Kenneth,

No problem. The contract is attached. Yes, she's a bit young, and we normally only offer tuition reimbursement for employees pursuing their masters, but she attached numerous letters of recommendation and her cover letter that came with her resume was so compelling that I figured we'd give her a shot. Let me know if I can do anything else for you.

Mark

So she did apply on her own, which means she lied right to my face. I close the laptop, forcing myself not to slam it shut, and pull out my phone, typing out what I plan to be the final message I will ever send to Kasey. I may care for her deeply and be so attracted to her that it short-circuits my brain, but I can't abide a liar.

Even if, lying there under the stars with her, I had been ready to tell her that I loved her.

Fuck. I will never, never get involved with anyone again. In no small part because no one will ever compare to her, liar or not.

Talk to Mark, I type, He says you sent him your resume, complete with cover letter and letters of recommendation. Not sure why you felt the need to lie to me, but here we are. Enjoy the rest of your stay in the suite. Don't try to contact me again. I hope it was worth it.

Shoving the phone back into my pocket, I close my eyes, feeling my blood pressure pounding in my skull. Kasey responds immediately, but I ignore her calls and texts, not even bothering to look at the screen. I just can't, even if I can feel the vibration of my phone in my pocket, the constant reminder of her presence.

I'll get through the rest of the week, and then I'll go back to New York and be the successful, immovable man that I've always been. Now, there is no other choice for me.

I head to the resort bar after work, hoping to lose myself in a sea of strangers and booze. Maybe I'll be able to stop thinking about Kasey by instead thinking about the bottom of a glass. But even as I order my first drink, I know it's a lost cause. I can't stop thinking about her. The way she looked last night under the stars. The way her eyes lit up when she talked about the constellations. The way she felt in my arms.

How she sobbed my name when she came for me. The way she tastes.

The way her face had fallen when I rebuffed her once she told me about the interview. How she looked shattered, broken, like she had trusted me and I'm still letting her down. Could I be wrong?

No, I can't think like that. I shake my head, trying to clear my thoughts. The only thing I regret about last night is the last biting insult I had to get in about her using me, just like Devin said, but looking back on it, I know it was a bridge too far.

Kasey wouldn't do that. She's not like that. But then, why did she have to go and apply for that job? Why did she have to leave me wondering if she was going to abandon me for a better opportunity?

I down my drink in one gulp and order another. Maybe I'll just drink until I forget about her. But deep down, I know that's not going to happen. Kasey is too deeply ingrained in my heart now. I can't just forget about her, no matter how much I want to.

It's not a crowded bar, for which I'm thankful. Everyone is out at the poolside bar, drinking and celebrating. If it wasn't for that fucking interview, I could be out there with Kasey, too. Showing her off, letting everyone know that she's mine. These thoughts swirl in my mind, making me angrier and more frustrated by the second.

Suddenly, I hear someone sit down next to me. I turn to see Devin, and I frown. Seeing my son brings my temper right to the surface, and I open my mouth to tell him to get the fuck away from me if he wants to avoid trouble. But before I can even say a word, he holds up his hands, a peace offering.

"I don't want to fight anymore, Dad," Devin says, his voice calm and steady. "Will you hear me out?"

I wave to the bartender to bring me another glass and, despite my better judgment, add on a second for Devin. "I'll give you five minutes, Dev, and if I don't like what I'm hearing, I have no problem hauling you out of here. Do you hear me?"

His eyes widen but he nods. "Yeah, I hear you. Look, Dad, I…" He sighs, pinching the bridge of his nose. "I know I messed up here, over and over again. First by bringing a girl here and then dumping her first thing, publicly, at an event you set up for the company. Then, for being angry that she found a connection with someone else, even if that someone is my dad. I guess…I guess it's really none of my business what you and Kasey do. It just pissed me off, you know?"

I narrow my eyes, searching his face for any sign that he's lying, but from what I can see, he's being genuine. It surprises me. "I'm not mad because you weren't happy about Kasey spending time with me. I know it's uncomfortable for you. What I'm mad about is how you treated her like she's disposable, and then continued to tear her down to other people. I can work with uncomfortable. I can't work with disrespectful. And that's what you're being."

"I know," he sighs. "I know. Listen, I don't want to lose my job, okay? And I want the chance to earn your respect back. I'll deal with…whatever you and Kasey have going on."

I can tell the last few words leave a sour taste in his mouth, which makes the fact that he said them even more meaningful. This is the Devin I envisioned taking over the company. The truth is, I've already lost Kasey, but if it shakes out that Devin learns to be a good man by losing her too, then there is at least some silver lining. I'm not ready to tell him that we're not speaking, though. Let him squirm and deal with the idea of his Dad dating his ex for a while longer.

"Fine," I tell him finally. "You prove it to me, and I'll keep you around. But you have no strikes left, boy, and as I've proven to you, I have no problem reprimanding you in public if need be."

Devin rubs his neck, remembering how I had held him by his collar, and smiles sheepishly. "Yeah, you've made that perfectly clear, Dad."

We start talking, recalling old times and reminiscing about our successes together. I wanted to be drinking alone, but having my son with me, especially now that he's repentant, isn't so bad. For a moment, I forget about Kasey and the way she's betrayed me…betrayed the new-found love that I have for her.

But then, three drinks in, Devin lets something slip that makes me freeze. It becomes immediately clear to me that he's much more drunk than I thought, and while he slurs his words, I'm able to hear enough of them that my hackles go up instantly. "You're a good man, Pops. To hell with that job interview. Kasey should be giving you her full attention."

I feel my blood boil, my fury rising like a tidal wave. "What job interview?" I demand, my voice low and dangerous.

Devin looks taken aback like he didn't mean to say that out loud. "Uh, nothing, forget I said anything."

But I won't let it go. "No, you said something about a job interview. How did you know about that, Devin?"

Devin looks uncomfortable, but then he admits it. "I might have applied for that job for her…her account is still logged in on my laptop from when she used it a few weeks ago. I, um…thought it would be a good opportunity for her…?"

"When, Devin?"

He swallows, eyes flickering around nervously like he doesn't want to look at me. "Oh, I don't know?—"

I slam both my hands down on the marble bartop, standing. Rage burns off any lingering effects of what I've drank, and my mind is crystal clear. " When, Devin?"

Devin's gaze is fixed firmly on the wall of liquor over my shoulder. "Right after someone told me they saw you two having breakfast together."

My vision goes red, every muscle in my body tensing, but I have to see this through. I have to know the truth, and I can't very well beat it out of him. "And what exactly did you expect to gain by doing that?"

He shrugs, and I can see that he's shaking. Good. "I figured if she was in Seattle, she couldn't come between us. It's just too weird, Dad, she's my?—"

"She's NOTHING to you!" I roar, sweeping my arm across the bar and knocking both our glasses to the ground. They shatter into a million pieces, and the silence left in the wake of the crash is deafening. "She never was and she never will be! Whatever twisted bit of fate that brought her into your life was just so she could get to ME! Kasey is MINE, Devin."

"But, but–" he sputters, standing unsteadily and backing away. "You're my Dad. You're supposed to put me first."

"You're a grown fucking man, Devin. I'd die for you, you know that. I'd kill for you. I love you. But you're a grown man, just like I am, and now is the time in your life when you're supposed to be building yourself up to be the best man you can possibly be. Not acting like a child, not being coddled by your father, and certainly not being a manipulative little shit when you see someone else getting what you want."

I step forward, clenching my fists. "Kasey makes me happy, did you ever stop to think about that? I've given you everything, and you'd deny me this bit of happiness because you're selfish." I shake my head, fury and heartbreak warring with one another. "Get out of here, Devin. I never want to see your face again."

He sucks in a breath, his face going pale. Devin looks hurt and confused, and I swear I see a sheen of tears in his guilt-filled eyes. He's crossed a line, and I won't forgive him for it. At least not anytime soon. "Dad…" he pleads quietly, but I shake my head and point at the exit, stone-faced and stone-hearted.

As he walks away, I sit back down at the bar, my mind racing. She didn't lie. She didn't lie and now Kasey, my beautiful sweet Kasey, is slipping through my fingers. All because I didn't trust her or even listen to what she had to say.

I have to make this right or I will regret it for the rest of my life.

I pull my wallet out, cringing at the sight of the broken glass on the bar and floor, knowing that I let my rage get the best of me. The bartender is standing in the corner, washing dishes with a cloth and looking frightened, probably waiting for me to leave. I pull out five $100 bills and slap them onto the bartop. There. Hopefully, that will make up for the scene I just caused with my son.

Heading to the resort's main building, my mind is racing with thoughts of Kasey. I'm consumed by them. What have I done? How could I be so stupid? I can't believe I let my ego get in the way of our relationship like this. I should have trusted her. I should have been there for her, supporting her. Convincing her that I can provide everything she needs, that I will pay for any degree under the sun that she wishes to gain, as long as she stays with me.

Instead, I pushed her away, and now she's more than likely leaving.

I don't even bother texting or calling her. This is important enough that I need to say it face to face, and there is no time to waste. As I approach Kasey's suite, adrenaline is coursing through me like liquid fire. I'm hoping against hope she'll forgive me and stay. I know I messed up, but I'm still confident we can make this work.

There has never been anything on this Earth I haven't been able to accomplish when I put my everything into it.

I knock on the door, waiting for her to answer. When she does, my eyes can't drink her in fast enough. Her sparkling emerald eyes are ringed with red as if she's been crying, her pale gold hair piled on top of her head in a messy bun. Nothing in the world has ever been as beautiful.

Kasey looks cautious, half her body still behind the door as if she doesn't trust me. Frustration flares at the thought. I won't have that. "What do you want?" she asks hollowly.

"Kasey," I say, my voice shaking a little. "I'm sorry. I was an idiot. I swear I'm going to make it up to you."

She hesitates and I grab the door, push it open, and enter the suite before she can even think of denying me. I close it behind me, standing in front of the door but not pushing Kasey any further. I'm not going to let her run away, but I won't crowd her either.

She sniffles, looking down at the ground, fingers twisting at the oversized t-shirt she's wearing. "I've tried to call you all day…"

"I know. Kasey, it was my idiot son that set this all up, but it shouldn't have taken finding that out to make me hear you out. I should have trusted you, but I can't go back in time and change that. All I can do is make it up to you now. Will you let me do that?"

Kasey looks at me for a long moment, and blood roars in my ears. Will she forgive me? Or is it too late?

"Kenneth, I…" She inhales slowly and blows her breath out. "I gave you so much of me. I trusted you with my body and my heart and now I feel lost. It's hard to just let that hesitation go now."

I school my features to be neutral, not wanting her to see that her answer is frustrating me so much. It's like she wants some sort of display from me, some demonstration of how I will take care of her the right way from here on out. All I can see is her, the rest of the room stays faded in the background, and then suddenly an idea comes to me.

Oh, and it's a fun idea, too.

Kasey's mouth turns down at the corners as she sees the look coming over my face, and her eyes go wide.

"I can help you let go," I tell her, stalking forward until her calves bump into the edge of the bed and she has to stop. "I can help you let go of everything Kasey. Take those tight little shorts off and the panties too. Let me show you what I have in mind."

Her mouth falls open in an ‘O' of surprise, and there's a quick flash of indignation in her eyes. I like when she's fiery. "You're not going to just come back in here and expect me to–"

Closer and closer, I get to Kasey with each step until it's just inches between us. "Take them off, I said. Now."

She clamps her mouth shut, eyebrows drawing together, but she doesn't tell me no. Kasey tilts her chin up stubbornly, but I could roar from triumph as she hooks her thumbs into the waistband of her bike shorts and tugs them down her long, tanned legs. A pink pair of panties follow, and all the blood that has been pounding in my head rushes to my cock.

Her shirt is long enough that I can't see her pussy, but I know she's bare for me, and that's more than enough to get me hard.

"Step out of them and turn around," I command. Like the good girl that she is, she listens. As much as I want to pull her shirt up right away, I instead undo my belt, but I don't remove my pants once it's off. Instead, I lean over her, rumbling into her ear, "Hands out in front of you, and hold them together."

Kasey turns her head around to look at me, her breathing fast. "What? Why?"

"So I can help you let go, baby girl. Give yourself over to me, completely. Hands together."

Again, Kasey obeys. I know she must be able to feel my hard cock against her ass as I fix the belt around her wrists, but little does she know that isn't what I plan on giving her right now. Later, yes, but we have a business to attend to first.

"Kasey, I need you to do something for me, okay? I need you to just breathe. It will make this a lot easier."

She stiffens as I grab a handful of her shirt and pull it up, finally revealing her shapely ass and the lips of her pussy peeking out from between her legs. Damn, she's so beautiful, and it takes real self-control not to fuck her right here and now.

"Easier?" She chirps nervously. Instead of an answer, I give her the first of many smacks on her ass cheek, and she yelps. "Kenneth!"

"Shhh," I caress where my hand struck her with just enough force to sting, but nothing more. Her outrage is from surprise more than anything else. "Just let go."

I spank her again, and then once more, and Kasey squirms on the bed, hissing with each spank. I rub soothing circles on her flesh until her sounds of shock melt into sighs of pleasure. As soon as she relaxes, I spank her again, moving closer to her pussy each time, so when I rub the pain away, I'm getting closer and closer to touching her where she clearly needs it most.

"See? It feels good, doesn't it?" Smack, smack. All Kasey can do is moan in agreement, moving her bottom half so my wandering hands get closer to her core. Her pussy lips are swollen with need, and lucky for her, I'm about to give her exactly what she wants.

I lose track of the number of times I spank her, and her ass cheeks are a bright, rosy shade of pink by the time my fingers slide down between her ass cheeks and finally over the mound of her pussy. I keep the touches here brief, until the soft sounds she's making take on an edge of frustration.

"Tell me what you need, baby girl, and I'll give it to you."

Kasey pants, licks her lips, and finally gives in. "I need to come!"

I chuckle darkly, my fingers parting her lips and finding her engorged clit in seconds. "I think we can make that happen."

Her entire frame jerks as I circle that bundle of nerves with one set of fingers, while I dip two into her channel with my other hand, expertly finding the secret spot inside her that, with a crook of my two fingers, has her almost sobbing in pleasure.

Kasey is already close, her body having gone from resisting the spanking to enjoying it immensely, so my touch finds her soaking wet and close to the edge already. She says my name like a prayer, her legs shaking as I put pressure on her g-spot while swirling around her clit over and over.

She shatters for me in minutes, her inner walls squeezing my fingers hard, her bound hands scrambling at the blanket while she cries out. Kasey arches her back, pushing into my hands and rolling her hips to get as much contact with me as she can while she soaks my fingers.

I stay with her, touching her just how she needs, until she starts to come down from her high and her body relaxes bit by bit.

I reach over her and undo the belt, flipping her over with a little coaxing and pulling her up to sit so I can kneel in front of her and massage her wrists. "Feel better?"

Her eyes heavy, Kasey nods. "Actually, yes."

"Good. Get comfortable because I'm not done with you quite yet, but I'm going to get us both some water first."

Kasey gives me a tired smile, and I kiss her gently before standing, planning to go to the mini-fridge and get us both some chilled bottles. Now, though, I see what is piled by the door that I missed before, being so focused on Kasey and nothing else.

It's her luggage. All of it, packed and ready to go, already on the cart to be taken downstairs. I feel my chest get tight, and a headache starts to build at the back of my neck. "Kasey…" I start, not even bothering to turn and look at her. "What is this?"

She hesitates. "I hadn't heard from you all day, except that mean text you sent me, and…"

I close my eyes, nostrils flaring and muscles growing tense. "You were giving up after less than a day?"

"That's not fair," she whispers. "This is all so new, and–"

I turn, cutting my hand through the air to make her stop. Seeing her sitting there, cheeks still flushed from pleasure, in nothing but a shirt waiting on me is both the best and worst thing I've ever seen in my life. We were almost okay. Almost. "And what, Kasey? So new and not worth the fight?" I search her gaze, but she looks away. "Do you still want to leave?"

She exhales shakily. "I just…need some time to think, okay? You didn't even give me time to explain myself, to tell you that I need to go home and get some space before you had me half-naked! I wasn't trying to deceive you, Kenneth, things just happened so fast…"

"Yes or no, Kasey. Do you still want to leave?"

"Yes. But I still want to see you when we get back. I really wasn't trying to hurt you more–"

All the hope I had, all the happiness I had allowed myself to feel once more, all becomes numb. I sigh. "I know it was a mistake coming here to see you. I won't make it again."

"Kenneth, wait!" Kasey cries, but my longer legs have me at her door in two strides, and I'm shutting it behind me as I reach the hall before she has a chance to stop me.

It feels like my insides are turning to stone, my heart included, and I fucking welcome it. I can hear her rushing to get dressed, so I skip the elevator and take the stairs, knowing I'll be long gone before she's finished.

If she wants to leave, fine. But as far as seeing me in New York? Not if I still am made of stone by then, a statue of a man. If that's the case, then I hope to stay hardened like this for the rest of my life. Better that than to let her in again.

"Goodbye, Kasey," I breathe to no one but myself as I reach the bottom of the stairs, looking back up to where I know she's looking for me. "Goodbye, baby girl."