Page 34 of Wild King
“It seems,” Nathan says in a low voice. “Is there anything I can do to help?”
I smile and shake my head. “I don’t think so, but thanks. I imagine most of your job will involve guarding the door. I don’t know what Matthias is thinking his brother is going to try, but it seems since he hired you he believes something will happen.”
“Mr. King told me what to do. I’m not here to intrude on your job, so you don’t have to worry.”
That’s a relief, although I have a feeling his presence here isn’t going to help things improve between Kellen and me. I’m not used to being hated by a client. It’s even worse since he and I were together and now he treats me like I’m his enemy.
“Okay. Would you like me to show you where the bedrooms are?”
Nathan shakes his head. “No need. I’ll look around and see what’s what. If you need me, just yell.”
He turns and walks out, ducking so he doesn’t slam his face into the doorframe. I wish Matthias had given me a head’s up that he was sending Nathan. Not that I don’t appreciate the attempt to make things easier for me, but I think his gesture just made it ten times harder for me to cultivate any working relationship with Kellen.
Sighing, I return to the desk and flip my laptop open again. I need to focus on monitoring all mentions of him. I watch the alerts hit over and over. Damnit! For the second day in a row, the number is increasing.
Okay. People aren’t ready to forgive him just yet. That’s fine. I just have my work cut out for me.
I know if people saw the playful side to Kellen they’d see he’s not the monster he’s being made out to be in the media. I have to devise a plan that will showcase that side of him.
Thank God no one can see how he’s acting today. Even his biggest defenders would have a hard time with his behavior out on the patio and in here once he found out what Nathan’s job is.
In truth, I can understand his frustration and anger. I don’t believe Matthias is trying to make his life difficult with all he’s done, but I can see why Kellen resents what’s happening to him. It’s one thing to have the world against you. It’s entirely another when your own flesh and blood seem to turn on you.
Maybe if I talk to him he’ll see that none of us are against him. That we just want to help.
I make my way up to the second floor and see only one bedroom door closed. I think it’s a good guess that’s his room. I pass Nathan putting away his clothes and knock on Kellen’s door.
But I get no response.
“Kellen, can we talk? I want to explain something I think you should know,” I say to the door, hoping he’s listening and willing to hear me out.
Still no answer.
“Kellen? I really was hoping we could talk.”
The door flies open, and a moment later, there he is standing in those black shorts and nothing else staring at me with pure hate in his eyes. Seeing that unnerves me, but I take a deep breath and prepare to say what’s on my mind.
Except he beats me to it.
“So now you want to talk? Why? Because you have that gargantuan guy here to protect you? Let me guess. You two are planning to do your own version of Beauty and the Beast while we’re all here. Good for you, Salem. Don’t let me get in your way.”
I hate seeing him so unhappy, especially since he believes I had a part in making him feel this way. “I told you I didn’t know anything about Nathan being hired to come here. I don’t think it’s necessary, but I don’t have a say in that. Your brothers are the ones who decided he should be here.”
Nothing I say seems to have any positive effect on him. He simply continues to glare at me like I’m his mortal enemy and he can’t remember anything good about me.
“I really don’t want us to be at each other’s throats the entire time I’m here, Kellen. I’m working very hard to change the perception of you in the public eye. Just give me a little time. I know I can fix this for you.”
That only serves to infuriate him more, and he steps forward so we’re practically touching one another. Leaning down, he gets in my face and says in a low voice tinged with rage, “You aren’t doing this for me. This is for Matthias and my other brothers. Not for me. I don’t give a damn what people think of me. It’s them who care, not me. So save yourself the effort of trying to convince me you’re the good guy here. You’re not. You’re just a smaller version of my new jailer.”
He steps back and a second later slams the door in my face. Feeling like a complete failure, I begin walking back to my office, but Nathan steps out of his room and stops me.
“Do you need any help?” he asks before glancing down the hallway toward Kellen’s closed door.
“No. Thank you. You know, Kellen isn’t anyone you have to protect me from here. He’s just unhappy he’s stuck in this house with us. Don’t take it personally, though.”
Nathan smiles. “Oh, I won’t, but I hope you don’t.”
I nod and continue on my way downstairs to the office. As much as I don’t want Nathan to take what Kellen says and does personally, I’m finding it difficult to follow that advice.