Chapter 13: Controlled Drive

James

Richard stood from the booth, buttoning is suit jacket again and turning to James, his usual composed demeanor shadowed by concern. His eyes flicked between Kai and James, then lingered on her face a moment too long.

“I’ll notify HR that you’ll be taking medical leave,” he said, his voice cool but clipped. “Take the time you need. This is non-negotiable, Kai.”

Kai’s lips parted in protest, but before she could speak, Richard turned to James. “I’m trusting you to stay close. Keep me updated if anything changes.”

James gave a curt nod, his body language already radiating ownership of the situation. "I’ve got her."

Without waiting for a response, Richard gave Kai a brief nod and turned on his heel, leaving the gym with swift, precise steps.

Kai watched him go, her jaw tight. She hated this—being seen as weak, being handled. But she didn’t resist as James gently guided her toward the exit

"You're not going back to work are you," James’s voice was firm, cutting through the tension in the air. His gaze never left hers as he crossed his arms over his chest, his stance commanding. "You can barely stand. You’re going home, I’ll drive you."

Kai’s eyes narrowed, and her chin tilted up in defiance. "I’m fine. I’ll wait for my friend. She’s on her way, and I don’t need you to drive me anywhere."

James stood his ground, his expression unreadable. "No. You're not staying here alone, and you’re not driving yourself. Not with that injury." His voice dropped, a low, dangerous note entering it that made it clear there would be no negotiation. "You can either accept that, or we can make this a bigger issue."

Kai's eyes flashed with irritation, but the sharpness in her tone faltered. "I said I’m fine. It’s fine."

James raised an eyebrow, his lips curling into a half-smirk. "Fine, huh? Fucked up, insecure, neurotic and emotional, sure it’s fine. You think I can’t see how bad it is? Don’t even try to bullshit me. You’re not getting away with this one."

Her jaw clenched, but she didn’t argue further. She knew he was right—there was no way she could hide it from him anymore. The way she’d been moving, the look in her eyes—it was clear to him that she was in pain, despite the stubborn front she was trying to put up.

"You’re going home. Now. End of story."

She shot him an exasperated look, then sighed. "Fine. But I’ll be fine once I get there. You don’t need to babysit me."

James could feel the little war of wills beginning to take shape, the push and pull of their personalities. Kai always wanted to be independent, to handle everything on her own. And while he respected that, it wasn’t going to fly this time. She needed someone who could rein her in, someone who wouldn’t let her run herself into the ground. And right now, that someone was him.

Before she could say anything else, he added with that unmistakable tone of finality, "No more arguing. Get in the car, Kai.

The car ride was quiet at first. James’s fingers gripped the steering wheel tightly, his mind working over the events of the day. Kai, however, was still silent, eyes out the window, her posture stiff. He could feel the walls she was putting up, the defiance in the way she carried herself.

Finally, he spoke, his voice calm but firm. "I’m still waiting for an explanation, Kai. How did you get that injury?"

Her fingers fidgeted in her lap, the slight tremor in her hand giving away how much pain she was really in. But she didn’t look at him, didn’t answer right away.

James’s jaw tightened. His Dom side, the side that usually stayed hidden, began to rise, and his patience started to wear thin. He usually didn’t sign up for this stubborn, evasive behavior. She is a brat through and through; he didn’t usually do brats. He was trying to be reasonable, trying to help, and she was making it impossible.

He let the silence drag on for a moment before speaking again, voice low and full of authority. "You’re not going to make this easy, are you? You know, I could just bend you over my knee and redden that stubborn little ass of yours until you learn how to speak."

The words hung in the air between them, sharp and loaded with unspoken tension. Kai’s head snapped toward him, her breath catching in her throat. The challenge, the danger, the need to push back—it all rushed to the surface, igniting a spark inside her that she couldn’t ignore. He smirked sideways at her because he wasn’t trying to out her, but she also wasn’t denying anything.

"You don’t get to say things like that to me," she replied, her voice hushed but firm. But there was something else there—something raw. A hint of some deeper emotion in her eyes that hadn’t been there before.

James smirked wider, his grip tightening on the wheel. "Maybe not, but you sure make it tempting. Now, are you going to tell me how you got hurt, or do I need to make you talk?"

Kai’s lips pressed together, the defiance still there, but this time, she didn’t look away. She was holding back—he could feel it. He was getting closer.

"I... I slipped. Got caught off guard during a fight. It wasn’t anything major. Just a misstep."

Her voice wavered slightly as she spoke, but James could tell she was still hiding something. There was more to it than she was letting on. He wouldn’t stop until he got the full truth.

"Misstep, huh?" His tone was sarcastic, but there was an edge of seriousness to it. "That’s not what it looks like. I don’t think a slip would leave you looking like this."

Kai looked out the window, her voice quieter now. "Ok It wasn’t just a slip. But I... I’m fine, though. I’ll heal."

James glanced over at her, his lips pressed into a thin line. "You’re not fine. And I’m not letting you pretend you are. You should’ve stayed home today."

She didn’t answer right away, and the quiet tension between them stretched out further. She still wasn’t telling him everything. But he knew she was lying. The walls she’d built around herself would crumble eventually—he would make sure of that.

As they neared her house, James shifted gears. His Dom side was still in control, but he softened his tone. "I’m not letting you go back to work. Not like this. You need to rest, and I’m going to make sure you do."

Kai shot him a glare, but the sharpness in her eyes had dulled. "I don’t need you to look after me, James. I can handle my own life."

His smirk returned. "I’m sure you can. But you’re not handling this on your own. Not anymore."

When they reached her house, James parked and turned to her, his gaze intense but not unkind. "You’re taking time off, Kai."

She opened her mouth to protest, but he was already out of the car, coming around to open her door. The fight was already out of her, and she didn’t have the strength to argue anymore. She was too tired, too broken to keep pushing.

As they walked toward the apartment, James’s voice was quiet. "We’ll meet again on Wednesday. You’ll have time to meet the project managers. Until then and after that, you’re off. No arguments."

Kai didn’t respond, but the weight of the situation pressed down on her. She wasn’t ready to let go of the reins just yet—but James was right. She was far from ready to get back into the fray.