Chapter 0026


    The next morning, Kent is working in his office when a knockes at the door.


    “Come in,” he calls, hardly paying attention.


    The door creeks open but no one says anything. Annoyed, Kent looks up, ready to tell whatever


    captain or guard wasing to report to get on with it and stop wasting his time.


    To his surprise, though, Fay stands in the doorway. Kent leans back in his chair with a smirk, curious.


    What on earth could she want now?


    “Yes?” he asks.


    “Um, can Ie in?” she says, anxiously ying with her hair.


    “I already told you toe in, Fay,” he says evenly. Annoyed, she drops her hair and takes two steps


    into the room, pushing the door closed behind her. Then, she leans against the wall, a little afraid.


    Like a kitten in a tiger’s cage. Kent can’t help but smile at the sight of her.


    Today she’s wearing brown riding boots over tight jeans, a green cashmere sweater on top. The green


    brings out the cream of herplexion, the fire of her hair. As he knew it would.


    He’d selected the sweater for precisely that reason, had it sent up to her room with the housekeeper.


    She starts to y with her hair again, and Kent decides that he likes it down better than up. He makes


    a mental note to tell the housekeeper to leave it down more often.


    “Yesss…?” Kent prompts, impatient.


    “I just wanted to talk. Aboutst night.” She hesitates again. “Is it safe to talk in here? About…”


    He sighs and gives her a little re. “Yes, Fay. Go ahead.”


    “I just wanted to offer, again, to help. In whatever way I can. I’m happy to offer my services.”


    “Your…services,” he says, letting his eyes rove over her body as much as they want to, deliberately


    trying to be lewd. If he embarrasses her, she’ll give up, he thinks. As she’s done before.


    She blushes deliciously – he feels a stirring within himself, watching her squirm – and then stands up


    straight.


    “You know what I mean, Kent,” she says. “I could council you, offer some therapies.”


    “I don’t need those,” he says, looking back to the papers on the desk as if they’re more interesting and


    important.


    “We could just try,” she says, frustrated. He smiles and looks back at her, liking the fire he sees in her


    when she gets pissed off. God, but he loves to stir that fire.


    “Why are you pushing so hard for this,” he asks, leaning back in his chair, studying her. He’s genuinely


    curious. Is she trying to get one over on him, use her new knowledge to her advantage?


    She shrugs. “I just want to help – that’s why I got into counseling to begin with. I like to…help people. ”


    “Well that’s nice, Fay, but I don’t need help,” he says, perfectly calm.


    “And maybe –“ she continues, her voice rushing now. “If I were able to help you – to give you


    something – maybe…maybe you’d respect me more. Stop belittling me,” she says, frustrated, looking


    back down at the floor.


    He can’t help the deepening of his smile. Take away his favorite new hobby? He didn’t think so.


    This text is property of N?/velD/rama.Org.


    “Thank you for your offer, Fay,” he says, “but again. No.”


    With that, he turns back to his papers, deliberately ignoring her until he hears her sigh and open the


    door to leave. As he hears her move through the door, he nces up to catch onest glimpse before


    she shuts it.


    Those tight jeans were a good choice, he notes. He’ll repeat that fashion choice again.


    As Fay leaves, Kent turns his attention to the screen on hisputer which holds all of the surveince


    footage in his house. A few clicks allow him to focus the cameras on her, following her path as she


    goes back up the stairs towards her room. She surprises him, though, by passing her room –


    Continuing down the hallway –


    Stopping at Daniel’s room. Kent gives a little hum of interest, leaning back in his chair as he watches


    her tap gently on Daniel’s door.


    His son answers and smiles at her, inviting her in. The girl disappears inside.


    Kent stares at Daniel’s closed bedroom door, working to deny the jealousy that’s roiling in his gut.


    Not giving himself a chance to think about it too much, he leans over to the inte on his desk,


    pressing number 8 for his own bedroom. “Fiona?” he says.


    A few momentster, she answers. “Hey baby,” she purrs.


    “Can youe down to my office, please?”


    Fay flops down on Daniel’s bed, sighing.