Page 25 of Grave Kisses
I stay quiet long after they have helped me get dressed. Bellamy brings dinner up to us, and I pick at it before inevitably claiming that I have a headache. Somehow, I manage to get them to let me be alone. Only once I am curled up under the blanket, surrounded by darkness, do I let myself grieve losing them before I ever even have a chance to call them mine. I let myself feel every second of a breakup that has yet to happen. If I face it now, it won’t destroy me later.
Chapter Eight
Kendra
Two Days Later
All day yesterday, Iwas quiet and managed to stay on my laptop most of the time. I made up excuses about deadlines and bugs to work out of a system update. I did work, but only on future projects that I have yet to introduce. They gave me space and just let me wallow in my own self-pity. Only, they don’t know I am breaking apart at the seams. I plaster the fake smile on my face that I mastered years ago and pretend, despite feeling like my soul is in agony.
When we got to the office today, I went straight to my office to be alone. I know Julie will suspect something, but this is myproblem. Archer is after me, not them. I have to do what I can to keep this company safe so that when he does kill me, Alan’s legacy stays intact. I am planning to talk to Jesse today about a will. When I die, I am making sure that Marcus and Bellamy get everything. It will be split evenly, so they won’t have to worry about bringing anyone else in.
My plan is simple. I want to draft the will and finish the project I am working on, then when it launches, I will go to Archer. I refuse to play this game of cat and mouse. I’m going to handle my shit and face the music, so to speak. Realistically, I can fix everything within the next month. So long as I am alive and I am near them, they are in danger. Everyone who gets close to me dies, and I refuse to let any of them die for my selfishness. My birth parents and Alan died, but luckily Martin survived his heart attack a few years ago. They didn’t think he would live through it for a second. Having seen Alan meet his demise, it’s best that I get away from everyone before I am their downfall as well. One of the more selfish reasons I am doing this is that I simply cannot lose another person. Finding the only father I’ve ever known dead on his couch broke something inside of me that is irreparable.
In the meantime, I am going to avoid contact with Marcus and Bellamy. I don’t want to lead them to believe I can be anything more than a business partner. It’s going to break my fucking heart, but I’ll just have to lie. I’ll get a hotel room and only have what I need to get through the month. I have everything Noel got for me in my vehicle, so that is handled at least. On the off chance the cops find Archer first, I’ll just sign everything over to the guys like they wanted and move.
“Morning,” Julie says cheerfully as she walks into the office.
“Morning,” I say simply as I continue working.
“How was your weekend?”
“It was fine,” I say. “Yours?”
“I just watched Netflix all day yesterday. Where are the guys?”
“No clue,” I say. “Probably in their office. We have a meeting in a bit.”
“Oh, okay… Are you alright?”
“Yeah. Just thinking about the apartment fire,” I lie.
“Yeah. Shit is crazy,” she says. “Well, let me know if you need anything. You don’t have to face anything alone, hun.”
“I know,” I say as I look up at her with a fake smile. “I appreciate that.”
“Morning, ladies,” Martin says as he walks into my office.
“Morning,” Julie says with a smile.
“Hey,” I say, glancing up at him.
“Julie, I’ll walk with her to the meeting. You go on ahead,” Martin says.
“Okay. See you there,” Julie says before leaving the office.
“What do you want?” I ask Martin.
“What’s wrong?” he asks me.
“Well, my rapist blew up my home,” I say, sitting back and looking at him. “My dad died. I have an entire company to look after. And now… I have you in here interrupting me.”
“Do I look stupid to you?” Martin asks seriously.
“That’s not my problem. I can walk alone,” I say as I stand up.
“Kendra. Will you just talk to me?” Martin asks with a sigh.
“There’s nothing to talk about,” I snap and snatch my tablet up from the desk. “Now, if you’ll excuse me, I have a meeting to go to.”
