Chapter 14
Kennedy
That Monday, I got dressed in my best office wear and drove behind my dad to his office. I was nervous as hell from the second I stepped out of my car and walked with my father inside the building.
This was it. The future my father had planned. The life everyone expected.
People stared as soon as I got inside, and I could hear the hushed whispers as we passed.
Some seemed happy to welcome me, while I could see the disapproval on others' faces.
Some already knew me from days of visiting while I was in college, but it felt like since I was no longer a student, they considered me a threat now.
I wasn't Kennedy anymore. I was Baker's daughter. Competition.
"This is my daughter Kennedy, you remember her," my dad was saying to one of his senior partners who had started to go bald in the middle, the wrinkles on his face more evident since the last time I saw him.
His gaze roamed my entire frame, lingering on my cleavage before finally settling on my face. I held back my frown and put my hand in his outstretched one.
"How can I forget the lovely Kennedy Baker. You are definitely your father's finest work," he said.
My dad chuckled, but I didn't share the same humor, especially when his hand gripped mine for longer than necessary, his gaze still on me in a way that made my blood run cold.
Work. That's all I was to him. A product. Not a person.
"She takes after her mother in the looks department," Dad said proudly.
"Indeed. Very fortunate genetics." His thumb rubbed across my knuckles before I pulled away.
"That she is. Kennedy will be joining us soon. I brought her along with me today so she gets a feel of the place before she starts."
I tugged my hand away from his and offered a polite smile.
"Ah, we'll be happy to have you on board."
"Thank you, sir," I said politely.
"Very happy." His eyes dipped again. "Your father's told us so much about you. Top of your class, wasn't it?"
I cleared my throat, nodding. "I did."
"Sounds like your father back in his day. Good job." He patted me on the shoulder.
The touch lingered. His hand was heavy, possessive.
"Thank you," I said, stepping back slightly.
My dad didn't seem to notice any of this—he was just busy being proud.
Proud of what I'd accomplished. Not of who I was.
"We should have lunch sometime," the partner said. "Get to know each other better before you start."
"That's a great idea," Dad said before I could respond.
"Er, could you guys excuse me for a minute? I have to use the lady's room."
"Sure thing, honey," Dad said, continuing his chat with his friend.
"Don't get lost," the partner called after me.
I walked away but could feel his gaze on my back, though based on his behavior earlier, I could tell it was lower.
I quickly rushed to the bathroom, feeling like I couldn't quite catch my breath.
I rushed inside a stall and sat, my hands on my face while I tried to breathe.
Tears rolled down my face as my thoughts came rushing in.
I was hoping that being here would change my mind about not wanting to start my career here, but I already hated it.
It didn't feel right. I didn't want to do it.
This wasn't who I wanted to be. This wasn't the life I'd chosen.
God, I wanted to stay in that cabin so badly. I wanted to feel the happiness I'd felt there. The freedom.
I sucked in a breath when the door squeaked open from outside, alerting me that other people had entered the bathroom.
I pulled a piece of tissue to blot my tears and was about to step out of the stall when I heard talking.
"I swear, I can't stand the rich, privileged ones. Everyone will bow at her feet just because she's Baker's daughter. She's probably as dumb as a doorpost."
My breath hitched, realizing they were talking about me.
"Well, she did pass the bar exam and graduated top of her class."
The other girl scoffed. "Still doesn't change the fact that she's a nepo baby who's only here because her dad is a partner. How can we even compete with her?"
They were right. I was only here because of him.
"I heard she's starting Monday."
"Of course she is. Probably gets the corner office too."
"Can't really blame them for being born into riches."
The other one scoffed. "Whose side are you on? It's like you're happy a snobby rich girl is here to show us up."
One sighed. "You're right. It sucks."
A faucet turned on, then off. The door squeaked again, then slammed. And then there was silence.
Tears threatened to spill, but I held them back instead, knowing no amount of crying would change my situation or how they felt about me.
But it could change what I did next.
My hands trembled as I stepped out of the stall and searched for Elijah's number. I needed someone I could actually talk to.
Someone who saw me, not my accomplishments, not my father's name. Me.
The call went straight to voicemail. I tried again, but it was the same thing.
"Come on, Elijah," I whispered. "Pick up."
Voicemail again.
I figured he was busy with work. He was a doctor, after all. I called up Jasper instead, and he answered on the first ring.
Relief flooded through me.
"Hey, beautiful. For a moment I thought you'd forgotten me."
Never. I could never.
"I'm sorry," I said, leaning against the sink. "Life has been a bit hectic. I have a lot on my mind."
"I understand that. Are you okay?"
My lips quivered again. "Not really. Can you meet me somewhere? I'm in the city."
"What happened?"
"I just... I need to see you."
"Say no more. Where are you?"
"My dad's office. Downtown."
"Sure, I'm there now too. There's a café on East Main, just a block from the courthouse. We could meet there. I could buy you lunch."
"Sounds great. I'll be there in fifteen."
"I'll be waiting, beautiful."
I quickly escaped from the building before my dad noticed. I didn't even go to get my purse. My phone was all I needed—plus, I had some change stashed somewhere in my car.
Running away. Again. But this time I was running toward something, toward someone who wanted me.
Once I got into my car, I sighed and started the engine. The café wasn't far from my dad's firm. We'd eaten there a couple of times before in the past. It was less than ten minutes away.
My stomach fluttered as I thought about seeing Jasper. It had only been a couple of days, but it felt like a lot more.
Once I arrived at the small café, I pulled down my mirror and looked over my face.
I brushed the strands of hair from my face before stepping outside.
I stepped inside the small café and paused to look around to see if he was already here.
I spotted him toward the back, his hand in the air, waving me over.
He stood to greet me as I approached him.
"Hi," I said, walking into his arms as he wrapped his large hands around me. I rested my head against his shoulder and breathed in the scent of his fresh shirt, the soft musky haze of his cologne.
Safe. I was safe here.
"You okay?" he murmured into my hair.
"I am now."
When we broke apart, I nodded. "Thanks for coming. I really appreciate it."
"Don't mention it."
"You didn't have to drop everything."
"Kennedy, you called. That's all that matters."
We ordered and were served a few minutes later. I ordered a ham sandwich while Jasper chose a cheese danish since he wasn't hungry.
"So tell me, what's going on?" he said, sipping his coffee.
I sighed lightly, telling him about the two women I'd heard gossiping in the bathroom. About the senior partner who'd looked at me as though I were property.
"What did he do? The partner."
"Looked at me like... like I was something he could buy. Held my hand too long. Suggested lunch."
Jasper's jaw tightened. "Your dad see any of this?"
"He was too busy being proud."
"Fuck. I'm sorry, Kennedy."
"You shouldn't listen to them. You got where you are by working hard."
I nodded. "I know, but they're right in a sense. My dad's firm is one of the best in the city. I doubt I'd be there if I wasn't his daughter."
"Maybe. But you still earned your degree. Passed the bar."
"I guess."
"You can't blame yourself for having certain perks." He raised a brow.
"True. But I don't even want to work there. People will always see me as Baker's kid there, and I'll always be in his shadow. I want my own identity."
I wanted to be Kennedy. Just Kennedy.
"So leave. Tell him you don't want to work there."
"It's not that simple."
"Why not?"
"Because he's my father. Because he's been planning this my whole life."
I ran my fingers through my hair.
"Kennedy, you can't go through life wanting to please people and neglecting your own wants and needs."
"I just don't want to disappoint my parents."
"What about disappointing yourself?"
I paused, struck by the question.
"They'll come around eventually. That's what parents do."
"You really think so?"
"I know so."
"You're right. Now tell me about you. How's work going?"
"Trying to change the subject?"
"Maybe."
He grinned. "Fair enough. I have a few gigs pending, but apart from that, there's not really much to it. Y'know, being at that cabin showed me there's more to life than parties and a bunch of girls."
I raised a brow. "Yeah?"
"Yeah. I'd usually do my job, find the nearest bar, pick up some girls and have the night of my life, but I guess my focus has shifted a little."
"Yeah? Why's that?"
He shrugged. "I don't know. I guess being with you at that cabin... it felt different than the usual shit."
"Different how?"
He met my gaze, something vulnerable flickering in his gray eyes.
"Last night, hearing you with Elijah... we've done the threesome thing before, but this time I actually gave a shit.
" He paused, seeming to search for words.
"Look, I'm not the relationship guy—that's Elijah.
I'm the one who gets bored, who moves on.
But I want to keep this going. We both do. "
I swallowed hard. "What are you saying?"
"I'm saying I don't want this to end. The cabin, us, whatever this is."
"Jasper..."