Chapter 20

Years ago, after their high school graduation party, Kendall and Sabrina had gone back to Sabrina’s place to prepare for their vacation in Italy.

The weekend before they would leave, they’d been summoned to Lucien’s home office because he’d had something to tell them.

“Kendall, I’ve been keeping a close eye on your academics for the past three years,” he’d said. “Every time I checked Sabrina’s, I checked yours."

"Invasion of privacy," Sabrina murmured.

"I think it’s safe to say that you have incredible potential,” Lucien carried on.

“Thank you, Sir,” Kendall whispered.

“What about me?!” Sabrina asked, crossing her arms.

Her father shook his head. “Hopeless."

She gasped. “Dad! I got A's!”

“A’s that your teachers gave you out of fear, despite me telling them to score you based on what you deserved. You don’t study, I know what your real grades are.”

She pouted, rolling her eyes.

Sighing, Lucien had turned back to Kendall. “What does your family expect from you? Is there a company you’re set to join?”

Biting her bottom lip, she’d silently shaken her head.

He didn’t bother asking more questions. “Then you will join my company. You are brilliant, young lady, and my Finance Director is getting old; she’s going to retire soon. Do you enjoy working with numbers?”

“Accounting is her favourite subject,” Sabrina offered. “Isn’t that weird? Those numbers make me dizzy.”

“That’s excellent,” Lucien said. “If you’ll allow us, Ashcroft Capital will fund your tertiary studies until you’re ready to join the company. I know your family is more than capable of putting you through school, but think of it as us putting our bid in to earn your services once you graduate.”

Kendall could barely believe her ears. Well, sure. With the money she had, she could get herself through a few years of university before she’d need to get a job to pay tuition, but why would she want to do that? After paying her fees at the Hawthorne Institute and spending on living expenses for three years, she had just a little over half a million dollars left. Why not save that and get a free ride through school?!

Her eyes were sparkling, her lips pressed tightly together as she tried to contain her joy. He’d never complimented her like this before. The validation had her brain flooded with serotonin, and her heart pounded in her chest as butterflies flooded her stomach.

“Oh,” she let out softly. “I see.”

For the first time since she’d met him, she saw Lucien look mildly anxious.

“Would… would that be possible?” he asked. “Or would I need to speak to your parents first?”

She forced a casual shrug. “They wouldn’t care.”

He tilted his head. “Oh? Why not?”

She didn’t say anything.

“Dad,” Sabrina scolded. “It’s been years, you know by now that Ken’s family are keeping her a secret.”

Raising a hand, Lucien nodded. “Right. My bad. Uh, so… what do you say?”

Kendall smiled. “Yes. I’d be honoured to work for you, Mr Sinclair.”

In Finance. Finance, not as his secretary!

This wasn’t what she’d worked so hard for.

“Sabrina,” Kendall said, shaking her head. “We’re graduating with Master’s degrees in a month. I’m joining the Finance department.”

Sighing, Sabrina pouted and kicked her feet under the table. “I knowwww, but please? Not for too long, just until I find someone I trust to be his secretary.”

“So, why did you make the girl quit her job anyway?!”

“Did you see what she wore to work?! I told you, I won’t tolerate having some random whore as my step-mother—”

“Sabrina, we’re adults now. Has it not registered? We’re not in high school anymore, I have a Bachelor’s and Master’s degree in Finance and International Relations, you have them in Fashion Design and Media, we are twenty-four years old! When will you outgrow this paranoia?!”

Sabrina went still. And then that damned misery filled her eyes. That look where she widened her eyes and filled them with pain and tears.

Sighing, she sat back and looked out of the café windows at the city view.

Kendall inwardly cursed. “Brina—”

“It’s fine. You don’t get it.”

Biting her lip, Kendall held onto every bit of patience she could find. “I do get it. It’s just that I’ve worked hard for this, Sabrina. You know I’d do nearly anything for you, but not this. How can I give up my dream job? To be a secretary?”

Turning back to look at her, Sarbina picked up a serviette and dabbed daintily at the tears pooling on her lower lid. “I understand, Kendall. I’m asking for too much. It’s just that I thought you’d be okay with it. It’s not forever, just a year.”

“A year?” Kendall sighed. “I need to do my training and internship in that year.”

“It’s possible to do it while being my dad’s secretary,” Sabrina said with a pout. “The thing is… I know you think I’m being spoiled and throwing a tantrum—”

“I didn’t say that.”

“You didn’t have to. I can tell. So, let me explain. I’m not being paranoid. I have a reason why I don’t want any woman with my dad.”

Kendall sat back, crossing her arms. “And what reason is that? You want him all to yourself?”

“I want him and my mother to get back together.”

Surprise brightened Kendall’s expression. “I… huh?”

Sabrina sighed, sadly stirring her coffee with the straw. “Remember when we met? And I told you about all the rumours about my dad killing my mom?”

“…yeah?”

“Well, I didn’t believe them because I know they’re not true. My mom’s alive. My parents are just divorced. I’m going to help them get back together.”

Kendall stared at her. “Oh.”

“Yeah. I just need my dad to stay single until then. I might be twenty-four, but I guess I still want to know how it feels to live in a normal household with normal parents…”

She sighed in resignation, taking a sip of her drink.

The weight of those words. The emotion in them.

Kendall stared at her friend’s saddened face, failing to stop herself from sinking into heartbreaking empathy. She knew how it felt.

Swallowing hard, she held back the tears that had been triggered by Sabrina’s soft words. Biting her lip, she sighed.

“How soon can you find her?” she said softly.

Sabrina shrugged. “Traced her to Europe. It’s been narrowed down to France and Russia, so I’m waiting for results.”

“And a year would be enough time.”

Sabrina raised her gaze, hope filling her eyes. “It would. It totally would.”

Kendall sighed, slowly nodding. “Fine. I’ll do it.”