Page 31 of Wild King
“I’ve arranged for meals to be delivered each day since I wasn’t sure if you’d want to be cooking while you’re working. A housekeeper will be sent over once a week, and if you need anything, all you have to do is call. Since the baby is due in only a few months, I’ve been working at home a lot, so I’m literally only a few minutes away if you need me for anything.”
I sense he’s nervous about what we’re doing, so I try to calm his nerves. “Thank you. I’m sure we’ll be fine. As long as Kellen stays out of the public eye for a while, I can get to work rehabilitating what people think of him. Trust me. I’ve done this before with far worse cases.”
Matthias breathes a sigh of relief. “I hope so. I worry if we can’t get him back on track, he won’t be able to return to King Industries. He’s not this person. I know you probably think I’m biased, and I guess I am, but Kellen’s a good guy. He’s just been making some bad decisions recently, which I know you understand firsthand.”
His reference to being abandoned by his brother on an island in the tropics makes my chest tighten for a moment, but I can’t let myself fixate on that. Yes, he screwed up, but that’s not what I care about with this job.
“Ava said the same thing to me yesterday. I got the feeling she felt a lot of what’s happened has to do with your brother’s passing.”
Sadness fills his expression, making Matthias look years older than he did just a moment ago. “It’s been hard on all of us, but yes, I think she’s right. He’s still mourning Theo, which makes it harder for him.”
He forces a smile and says, “Okay, the rest of the bedrooms are on the second floor, but I wanted to show you my grandfather’s study. I thought you could use it as an office.”
I’m curious about which room Kellen will be staying in, but I don’t ask and follow Matthias as he walks to a room with a darkwood floor and walls painted deep blue. It’s the manliest place I’ve ever seen, and if there was an animal head hanging on the wall, it would definitely be the most masculine room ever.
A large cherry wood desk sits over near a bank of floor-to-ceiling windows, and bookcases in that same dark wood cover the wall nearby. I get the sense this room hasn’t been remodeled, but if it’s any indication of how beautiful the home was before being redone, I’m impressed.
“Okay, well, that’s about it. Again, if you need anything, please call. I think I should apologize in advance for Kellen’s behavior. I hope he doesn’t make you regret taking us on.”
“Not to worry. I’m on the job,” I say with a smile.
I walk with him outside and after he leaves, I venture around the house to get a feel of the property. It’s a spring afternoon with temperatures in the sixties, so it’s a perfect day to be outside. With the sun warming my face, I check out the backyard and see there are no homes behind this one. I don’t know how far the woods go, but I imagine they were the perfect hiding place for mischievous little boys.
An old swing set sits right before the trees start, and what looks like a sandbox that’s been almost completely swallowed up by the grass is to the left of it. The yard could do with a good mowing, but I’m sure Matthias will see to that.
Turning to walk back around to the front of the house, I see Kellen reclining on a chaise lounge on the patio just off the rear of the home. He’s wearing only a pair of black shorts and sunglasses and has a bottle of beer in his hand.
I figure it’s best to start off this working relationship we’ll have for the next three months by saying hello, so I walk over and stop a few feet away from where he looks like he’s sunbathing. Like at the resort, he looks incredible lying there without a shirt on. For a moment, I get lost in the memory of running my hands over his tanned, broad chest and chiseled abs.
God, he’s gorgeous. If only he wasn’t such a jackass.
“Hi. I just got here a little while ago, and your brother gave me a tour of the house. It’s a beautiful home.”
He turns his head to look at me and lifts his sunglasses so I can see his entire sullen expression, complete with the angry eyes staring at me. “It’s a fucking prison, but I’m glad you like it.”
I watch as he readjusts his sunglasses and goes back to enjoying the sun, ignoring me once again. Okay. Not a good start.
“Well, I just wanted to say hello. I figured since we’re going to be living together in the same house for a while that it would be the polite thing to do.”
I honestly don’t know why I’m explaining myself to this man. He made it quite clear when he left me alone in his villa that he didn’t give a damn about me or being a decent person. I doubt he gives a damn that I’m here at all trying to help him.
After giving him a few moments to be polite and say something, I turn to walk back around to the front of the house. I don’t get far before he starts talking again, though.
“Don’t think I’m going to be chatting you up while you’re here. You and my brother can go to hell for making me stay in this house.”
So much for a pleasant workplace environment. He may not be guilty of sexual harassment, but he’s definitely a surly bastard to be around. That’s for sure.
CHAPTER FOURTEEN
Kellen
I watchher walk around the corner of the house and wish I didn’t remember the time we spent together back at that resort. There she was fun. Well, after she got over being uptight and hating me for being rude.
Now she’s just a co-warden with goddamned Matthias.
Leaning back, I let the sun warm my skin and work on my tan. Why not? There’s nothing else for me to do here at King Penitentiary. My brothers seem to think this is going to be some vacation for me, but this is nothing of the sort. Vacations happen in beautiful locations with sun and sand. Or in the mountains full of snow. Or in faraway places people only dream of going to.
All I have here is sun. And beer. Thank God for that. I don’t think I’d last here a day if I didn’t have something to help me forget the fucking mess my life has become.