Chapter 9

McKenzie

I was going over some notes when I heard a knock out on my door. I didn't expect him to be standing there.

“ Darius ,is something wrong?”.

“ No. Let's go . There's somewhere I want to take you. Please ”. He had a hopeful look on his face.

“ Okay”.

“ Great,meet me out front, you may want to bring a jacket, it may get cold “.

“ Okay”

I closed my laptop and books and grabbed a parker. He was waiting by one of the SUVs .

“ You ready?” ,he asked smiling,

“ Yes ”.

“ Okay, let's go”.

He held the passenger side open for me so I got in. He got into the driver's seat.

“ Umm , Darius . Do you know how to drive?”. I asked cautiously

“ Yes Kenzie I do. I used to race. So did Grayson. Hey , I'm a great driver. Don't worry the security detail will be behind us“.

“ Okay ”

“ Do you know how to drive McKenzie?”.

“ Umm No I don't ”. I replied quietly,I was too scared to drive.

“ Okay, I'll teach you another day how to drive ”

He said smiling.

Why was he this Happy. This isn't the person I've known for the last three or four months. We left and were driving through Ardwell. When we left Ardwell and got onto the long stretch of road heading south,I became curious.

“ Where are we going?”.

“ Well ,the family house is three hours away from Ardwell and I don't feel like driving that long tomorrow,so we'll stay at one of my place close to the house so it'll be easier for us. Besides, it's a good afternoon for a drive “.

“ But we didn't bring any luggage ” ,I said worriedly.

“ I already bought clothes for you. Don't worry it's what you prefer to wear. You'll have your space in the other house too. Just don't tell the old bat that we have separate rooms or she'll probably rip me a new one”.he said

I couldn't help but laugh.

“ Cynthia isn't an old bat. Stop calling her that. Does she know you call her that?”.

“ No ,and if she knows then I'll know you snitched”.she said.

I smiled and Shook my head. On the way there we passed a sign that said puppies for sale. I couldn't help but wonder. We had passed the sign about ten minutes ago When he made a U-turn.

“ I forgot something ” ,he answered before I could ask.

When he pulled up to the farmhouse, I looked at him.

“ When you saw the sign you seemed happy but sad.

“ Darius , you don't “. I said but I was talking to air. He was already out of the car and opened my side of the door.

“ Come on, or do you want them to sell them off?”. He said smiling.

Darius

I let Ruddy know we were fine. I held her hand and we walked over to the little pen where the puppies were. There was only one remaining.I knew I did something right because she was smiling.

“ He's so tiny and cute. Darius can I have him please “. She asked, looking up at me. I would give her my damn company if she asked for it in that way.

“ Sure baby,if it makes you happy ” , I said. I noticed an older woman walking towards us.

“ Bichon Frise , that's the cutest little thing there is. This one is five weeks old. The mother had six of them but this little one here is the only one that made it. My daughter is sad to see him go but she's going away. He's the last one left. Everyone wants a Big dog. If we don't get someone to take him we'll have to take him to the shelter ” ,The woman said as she stopped next to the pen.

I looked at her .“ Do you want him ?” ,I asked her.

“ Yes ,can I”.she had that hopeful look in her eyes.

“ You can have him”. ,the words weren't even out of my mouth when she jumped up and hugged me. I never allowed anyone to touch me so I was caught off guard.I saw the looks on the faces of the security details, even Ruddy.

“ Thank you”. She said, smiling at me.

“ It's okay baby. Why don't you take him and I'll get everything sorted out”. She opened the pen and took him out and walked off with him. I looked at the woman.

“ Your wife is pretty. I'm happy he's going to a good home. I wasn't really selling them . I gave them away to people I thought needed them and she seems to need him”. She said smiling.

“ She does ” ,I said looking at the woman.

After ten minutes of arguing with her , I paid her Five thousand dollars and ran. She wouldn't take the money. When I got into the car ,the small little fur was curled up in her lap.

“ Is he asleep?” I asked her pulling the car back into the road

“ Yes. Thank you Darius. I always wanted a dog but I.”

I didn't let her finish.

“ Now you do. He needs a name and if he starts chewing anything other than the toys or bones he has I'm shipping his little ass out” ,I said

That made her laugh.

“ I'll take care of him . Can we stop if there is a place and get some stuff for him” ,

“ I'll call Ruddy and have him get some stuff for him”.

“ What should I call him , he's so Small.”.

She said while rubbing his head.

“ You do know he's going to be frisky right?. Running around and jumping up. Seems like this is the perfect revenge for Marlene “. I said

“ Why ?”.

On the drive I told her of all the trouble and trials Marlene put me through. She once quit while declaring no one besides her would ever work for me. At the end of one week I had gone through eight house help, over a dozen broken dishes, a flooded laundry room and burnt food. At the end , Marlene returned with a smug look and since then I've left her be.

She kept laughing throughout my retelling. Fuck , Grayson was right, guess he was getting his Two months vacation. When we pulled into the driveway of my place she was looking outside. Manfred was waiting by the front door.