23 Mine to Protect

[P.O.V. Kendrick Ryans]

Sitting in the conference room talking with a small business owner, along with his partner. They traveled all the way from New York. To ask if my company will be a partner with theirs. To help them make more money and build their company up. They have been begging for a meeting with me for a year. I finally gave them a chance to pitch their partnership; their business is Robotics. The small business owner's name is Hamish Brickson, and his partner is Carson Jackson.

"If we were to make this deal, then Mr. Brackets and I would need to see it for ourselves. Also, understand what it is what you do exactly. What do you think, Mr. Brackets?" Telling them my expectations then asking Nolan.

"I agree with Mr. Ryans."

"I wouldn't expect less from either one of you." Mr. Brickson agrees.

"Then it is settled, Mr. Brackets secretary and mine will talk about days we can come. They will get back to you and see what works for you as well." Finalizing the conversation, we all stand up and shakes hands.

"It was a pleasure meeting you, gentlemen," Mr. Jackson says.

After saying our goodbyes, Nolan stays behind and pours him a glass of water. Both of us taking a seat back into our chairs.

"Well, that went better than I thought it would," Nolan says

"Same here." Agreeing with him.

"I think this would be a great opportunity not just for us but for them too."

"This does have a lot of potential in it. Before we give them the big 'yes,' I want to make sure it is as great as they pitch it."

"I agree." My phone is going off in my pocket. Pulling it out, It was a text message from Jennifer.

*Hey, on my way to Cassidy apartment will text you when I get there.

Don't text and drive.* Sending a text back to her.

*I'm not the car is still parked.

Quit texting and talk to you later.* Putting my phone down with a smile on my face, she doesn't respond. Nolan just gave me this weird look.

"What?" Asking him and the smile disappears.

"Nothing." He puts his hand up in defense.

"Hmm.." Sure, it's nothing.

"I gotta go, man. I will see you on Monday." He gets up out of his seat and walks towards the door.

"See ya." Once Nolan was gone, I get up and go to a secret meeting. This meeting has nothing to do with our company, it between me and someone I dislike.

Going to a nice restaurant, I let the greeter know who I was. She shows me the table I was supposed to go to. Taking me into a private room, there sat my ex-fiance, Lucia. Taking a seat at the table, she has a look like she was pleased.

"I was surprised that you made this meeting with me, Kendrick. I have already ordered something to eat, by the way." She says while eating ladylike.

"Were not here for a pleasant conversation Lucia. We are here because you have recently contacted my Wife." Telling her in a serious cold tone.

"Such a lovely woman, your Wife, is." She says with sarcasm.

"You are going to stay away from my Wife."

"And if I don't?"

"Well then, I guess the truth about You, Me, and Zach will have to come out. Meaning that your Husband's business reputation will be hurt along with yours." Her family would see her as a disappointment. It would be hard for Zach to make deals, for most people in the business world would see him as untrustworthy. These things seem unimportant, but to live in the world that she and I do, these things are important.

"It would hurt yours as well."

"Yes, but not half as bad as You and your Husbands."

"Are you really willing to take that chance?" She asks rudely with a little worry. The server places her bill in the middle of the table. Taking it, I place eighty dollars inside. "Why?"

"Because I'm not afraid, I rebuilt my reputation once from your doing. I can do it again."

"You don't threaten people unless someone matters to you..." She got this look of realization on her face, not a happy one either. She had a small look of hurt as well. "Your falling in love with her."

"It doesn't matter why I'm doing it." Telling her coldly.

"It does to me." She says more angrily.

"Why does it matter to you?"

"Because I still love you, and I know you love me."

"I did once, and you treated as it was nothing to you. Like I was someone that you could play with. Did you really think that you were that irresistible? That I would come back to you if I had found out? No, the truth is you're not that irresistible, and the man who did love you died when he found you with another man. In the bed and home, he shared with you."

"You are just saying this because you are still angry."

"No, this is me saying this to you because I am ready to move on. And you are right; I am falling in love with my wife more than I could have ever loved you."

"You are a cold-hearted man Kendrick Ryans." She says with hate as tears were brimming in her eyes.

"I'm fully aware." Taking a stand to get ready to leave. "You will stay away from my wife. If not, I promise you I will take you down even if I have to fall with you to protect her from you. And knowing you, you are going to tell Zach what I threaten you. All I got to say is, tell him I know for a fact he will agree about you staying away from my wife. Have a pleasant night Lucia." Taking my leave from the restaurant, I head home.

The rest of the day and night was long. I haven't heard anything from Jennifer since she texted me earlier today. I had this awful heavy feeling in my chest. It was making me more grumpy than normal. My phone rings; looking at the ID, it was Nolan.

"Hey, have you seen or heard from Cassidy and Jennifer?" He sounds exactly like I did.

"No, and by the sound of the way your asking, you haven't either."

"No, I haven't. Cassidy said that they might go to a nightclub later, but she never let me know for sure. " Hearing that doesn't settle anything down that I'm feeling.

"Fuck... Meet me at Cassidy apartment."

"Isn't that against their whole girl talk code?"

"I could give less of a fuck about their code."

"See ya there." Hanging up the phone, I tell Mr. Hollows to give me a ride to the apartment.

Getting to the apartment, Nolan was standing outside, waiting for me. That wasn't the only thing that was outside. One of my cars that Jennifer used was outside as well. Telling Mr. Hollows to head home, I get out of the car. Nolan and I went inside the building, going up the stairs to the apartment. Getting to their floor, an older woman was banging on their door, telling them to quiet down. She had the robe and curlers, and even the old woman smell the best part. She had an orange-colored cat in her arm.

"What? did they call you to come to join their party?" The older woman snips at us.

"No, mam, we here simply to check up on them and to get them to stop their little party," Nolan replies

"Good luck. I have been pounding on that door for a while now. Their music is so loud I don't think they can hear. "

"Well, lucky enough for you, mam, I have a key."

"Well, use it and get them to shut the hell up. Mr. Crackers and I have to get our beauty sleep. If they're not quiet in ten minutes, then I'm calling the police!"

"Yes, mam right on it." She walks back into her apartment, mumbling, and slams the door.

"Well, if I ever needed someone with old people skills, I know who to call." Telling Nolan sarcastically. "You were one hell of a kiss ass."

"Shutup." He replies while opening the door. "I wasn't kissing ass, just being polite."

"Whatever." He opens the apartment door. Jennifer and Cassidy were singing in the karaoke machine. Singing the end of Just Another Girl by the Killers, they were very drunk.

"Well, at least we know they're safe," Nolan says. "You grab yours, and ill grab mine." Nodding my head with agreement.

Even though I know now she was safe, and the heavy feeling left my chest. I was still feeling mad, even more knowing Jennifer was drunk. I wasn't mad because she was having fun. The main reason is that the woman and I have been having unprotected sex. She could be pregnant for all we know.

"Look, Jennifer, our guys are here." Cassidy coed. Jennifer started to coo with her. I was so damn mad I marched in there and picked Jennifer up over my shoulder. Nolan tossing me the keys to my car I marched Jennifer right out of there. Straight to the hospital to make sure she wasn't pregnant. This woman was mine to protect.