Chapter 19 Kelsey
Kelsey’s hands were shaking so violently that she could barely keep her grip on the steering wheel as she slammed her car into reverse.
The tires shrieked against the pavement of Harrison’s driveway, a sound that mirrored the jagged, raw scream trapped in her throat.
She didn't look back. She couldn't. If she saw him standing on that porch, tall and unyielding with that look of disappointed authority in his dark eyes, she knew she would either collapse into a heap of apologies or say something even more unforgivable.
She peeled out onto the main road, the engine of her car roaring in protest. Her heart was a frantic bird trapped in her ribs, battering itself against her chest. Anger was the dominant note—a hot, white-blaze of fury that he had dared to reach into the one part of her life she had kept for herself—but beneath it, a cold, terrifying heartbreak was starting to seep in.
She had found a sanctuary in Harrison, a place where she could finally stop being the person in charge, yet the moment he touched the reality of her failing business, it felt like a violation of the highest order.
Her phone buzzed in the center console.
Daddy.
The name on the screen sent a jolt of pure electricity through her.
It wasn't just a label; it was a weight, an anchor that she was currently trying to rip out of the seabed.
She reached over, her fingers fumbling with the buttons, and held the power down until the screen went dark.
She couldn't see his name again. She couldn't hear the vibration that demanded her submission.
"I'm handling it," she whispered into the empty car, her voice cracking as the first wave of tears finally spilled over. "I'm handling it, I'm handling it."
But her mind was a carousel of panic. Where was she supposed to go?
If she went back to her apartment, he’d be there in twenty minutes.
If she went to Seven Stones, she’d just be walking into the physical manifestation of her failure, and Harrison would undoubtedly show up there too, probably with a team of accountants in tow to "fix" her life while she watched from the sidelines.
The only place that felt safe—the only place where she could breathe without feeling like Harrison’s shadow was looming over her—was with Savannah.
By the time she reached the apartment complex, Kelsey’s vision was blurred by a steady stream of tears.
She parked haphazardly, not even caring if she was straight in the lines, and stumbled toward the door.
She didn't just knock; she banged her fist against the wood, a desperate, rhythmic plea for entry.
The door swung open, and Barrett stood there. He looked relaxed, a half-empty mug of coffee in his hand, but the second he saw her, his entire demeanor shifted. His brow furrowed, and a look of deep concern settled over his features.
"Kelsey?" His voice was low, laced with immediate worry. "What’s wrong? What happened?"
Kelsey couldn't even form words. She just stood there, her chest heaving. She felt like she was falling apart in real-time.
"Kels!"
Savannah appeared from the hallway, her eyes widening as she took in her best friend’s state.
She didn't ask questions—not yet. She just lunged forward, pulling Kelsey into a fierce, protective hug. Savannah smelled like vanilla and home, a familiar scent that acted like a dam breaking for Kelsey. She sobbed into Savannah’s shoulder, her fingers clutching at her friend’s shirt as if it were a life raft.
Barrett stepped back, his hand moving to the small of Savannah’s back as he gently guided both women inside and shut the door, locking it with a firm, final click.
He didn't hover, but his eyes were sharp, scanning Kelsey for any sign of physical injury.
Finding none, he gave Savannah a meaningful look—the silent communication of a partner who knew his woman needed to take the lead.
"Come on," Savannah whispered, her voice soothing as she led Kelsey toward the stairs. "Let’s go up to my room. We’re okay. You’re okay."
Upstairs, Savannah’s bedroom was a soft, whimsical haven. Savannah closed the door, shutting out the rest of the world, and guided Kelsey to the edge of the bed. They sat knee-to-knee, and for a few minutes, there was nothing but the sound of Kelsey’s ragged breathing.
"Talk to me, Kels," Savannah said softly, reaching out to wipe a tear from Kelsey's cheek. "What did he do? Did you guys have a fight?"
Kelsey let out a broken laugh that sounded more like a sob. "I ran away, Savvi. I yelled at him. I told him to stay out of my business, and I... I slammed the door and locked him out. Then I just packed a bag and left."
Savannah’s eyes went huge. "You did what? To Harrison?"
Kelsey nodded, her face buried in her hands.
She poured it all out—the way Harrison had seen the paper, the way he’d tried to take charge, and the absolute explosion of shame she’d felt.
But even now, in the safety of her best friend's room, she tried to dance around the "Final Notice" part. She talked about financial stress and paperwork, trying to keep the magnitude of the restaurant’s collapse a secret.
But Savannah knew her too well. She reached out, taking Kelsey’s hands in hers and forcing her to look up.
"Kels, look at me," Savvi said, her voice unusually stern. "Is Seven Stones in trouble? Real trouble?"
Kelsey’s lip trembled. The weight of the secret was too heavy to carry anymore. "They’re going to take it, Savvi. The property taxes... I haven't been able to keep up. After Leo... I thought I could manage, but the hole is too deep. Harrison found the final notice in my purse this morning."
Savannah’s eyes filled with tears of her own. "Oh, Kels. Why didn't you tell me? I knew things were tight, but I didn't know it was like this. I’m so sorry. I should have stepped up more after Leo died. I should have been there helping you with the books instead of just being the floor manager."
"No, Savvi, stop," Kelsey insisted, her voice gaining a bit of strength. "It is not your fault. It was never your responsibility to save the place. You’ve given me so much love and support—that’s what I needed.
I just... I didn't want to fail. I didn't want everyone to look at me and see that I couldn't hold it together. "
The two of them sat there, crying together, a pair of best friends huddled in the middle of a bed.
"But Kels," Savannah said after a moment, sniffing and grabbing a tissue. "You yelled at him? And then you ran? Harrison isn't like other guys. He’s... well, he’s a Daddy, Kels. A serious one."
Kelsey winced, the reality of her actions starting to settle in now that the adrenaline was fading. "I know. He told me I was in trouble before I even left the house."
"I bet," Savannah whispered, a shudder running through her. "If I did something like that with my Daddy—if I yelled like that and then pulled a disappearing act? Kels, I wouldn't be able to sit comfortably for a long time. Barrett would have me over his knee before I could even finish an apology."
Kelsey felt a cold shiver go down her spine. She knew she deserved it. She knew her behavior had been disrespectful, petulant, and entirely against the rules they had established. But the anger was still there, flickering like a dying ember. "He had no right to look at my things."
"He cares about you," Savannah countered gently. "And he's a fixer. You knew that when you fell for him."
A soft knock at the door made both women jump.
"Savannah? You girls doing okay in there?" Barrett’s voice was muffled but kind.
Savannah hopped off the bed and walked to the door, opening it just a crack. "We're good, Daddy. Just having some bestie time. We’ll be down in a bit."
Kelsey looked up, giving a small, shaky nod to Barrett as he peered into the room.
Her eyes were puffy and red, but she tried to offer a small smile to show she wasn't dying.
Barrett seemed satisfied with that, his gaze lingering on her for a second longer with a look of quiet understanding, before he nodded and stepped away, closing the door.
The two friends stayed close for just a little while longer, the conversation quieting into a heavy, shared silence. Kelsey clung to Savannah, trying to find the strength to face the inevitable, while Savannah stroked her hair, offering the only comfort she could.
Then, there was another knock.
It wasn't like Barrett's knock. It was three slow, heavy thuds that vibrated through the wood and straight into Kelsey’s bones.
The air in the room seemed to vanish. Kelsey’s eyes widened, her breath catching in her throat as she gripped the duvet. She knew that knock. She would know it anywhere.
Savannah stood up, her own expression turning wary, and walked to the door. When she pulled it open, Harrison was standing in the hallway.
He wasn't yelling. He wasn't red in the face. He looked calm—frighteningly, perfectly calm. He was in his jeans and the shirt he’d thrown on, his jaw set in a hard, uncompromising line.
His eyes went straight to Kelsey, bypassing Savannah entirely.
The sheer weight of his gaze felt like a physical pressure, pinning her to the bed.
"Let’s go, little girl," he said, his voice quiet but carrying that unmistakable edge that demanded obedience. "Barrett’s office. Now."
He didn't wait for an answer. He turned and began leading the way down the hall toward the office. Kelsey felt a surge of pure, unadulterated panic, but she found herself moving anyway. She slowly stood, her knees trembling, and stepped out of the bedroom.
As Kelsey started down the hallway, she saw Barrett standing by the top of the stairs. As Savannah emerged from the bedroom to join them, Barrett reached out and placed a grounding hand on her shoulder.
"Savannah," Barrett said softly, his voice leaving no room for argument. "Give them some space. Come on."
Savannah hesitated, her gaze lingering on Kelsey’s retreating back, but she eventually gave a small, reluctant nod. "Okay, Daddy," she whispered, turning to follow Barrett down the stairs.
Kelsey followed Harrison into the office, and he shut the door with a soft, final thud.
The silence in the office was deafening.
It was a masculine space—heavy wood, clean-lined leather chairs, and the faint scent of sandalwood and expensive aftershave.
Harrison didn't move toward the desk yet.
He just stood by the door, his hands at his sides, watching her.
The tears started fresh for Kelsey, a slow, silent stream down her cheeks.
She felt so small and exposed standing there under his unwavering gaze.
"You really thought leaving was the answer, Kelsey?" Harrison asked, his voice a low, vibrating growl that made her stomach flip. "You thought that if you just drove away, I would stop being your Daddy? That I would stop caring that you're drowning?"
He began to walk toward her, his stride slow and predatory, and Kelsey knew that the time for running was officially over.
She backed up until her legs hit the edge of Barrett's large oak desk, her breath hitching as Harrison stopped inches from her, the heat of his body radiating off him.
He was serious. He was stern. And he was ready to show her that she belonged to him, no matter how hard she tried to hide the truth.