Unwanted Heat

There’s isn’t much more to her background check exempt a list of previous employers which include a coffee shop, a restaurant and a bank. A brief medical summary was included, indicating that there have been no major medical issues in her life. She was in a passenger in a car accident once and then fell down a flight of stairs requiring an emergency room visit but nothing suspicious.

I review the draft contract next. It’s similar to the one that Bridget presented me when she first discussed this arrangement with me. This contract has been drafted with my name and Kenzie’s, with an effective date of this Saturday for the gala as Bridget indicated it would be. The contract is pretty straight forward: all arrangements must be made through Bridget, contact between parties cannot occur outside of prescheduled dates and times, physical contact is limited to basic touching, there is no set number of dates/events and either party can terminate the contract at any time.

The last part makes me a little nervous; I need this contract to remain in effect for at least several months so the media gets the idea that Kenzie and I are a couple and they get off my ass about my personal life. What happens if Kenzie cancels the contract after a couple of dates? I will be in the same situation I’m in now only the media will probably rip me a new one for being able to keep a woman for, a short period of time. As I down my glass of scotch, I decide to sign the contract, even with the risk of this backfiring. Weighing the pros and cons of the situation, if Kenzie decides to end the contract quickly, the PR department will just have to find a way to put a positive spin on it so I don’t look like an even bigger ass to the media. The risk of not doing something, letting my integrity be further destroyed, is too big of a risk. If things go well after a few dates with Kenzie, I will find a way to insure that she realizes that staying in the contract is in her best interest. Kenzie:

“Bridget, it’s Kenzie; I’m returning your call from earlier. I apologize but I was working at the bakery this morning-”

“Of course, I apologize for calling you then. I’ve made a note in your file to only call in the afternoon; hopefully I’ll remember that.”

“It’s fine Bridget, really.”Content property of NôvelDra/ma.Org.

“I’m calling to confirm the details for the New Beginnings Gala tomorrow night. I understand you have already obtained your dress and accessories for the event.”

“Yes, I have everything.”

“You have an appointment at the salon tomorrow at one, again the expense will be charged to my account so there will be nothing for you to take care of while you’re there. A car service will be outside of you apartment-”

“Wait, I thought we were meeting at your office?”

“You are meeting Mr. Parker here, Kenzie. The car service is from me, not Mr. Parker. I don’t see it being feasible for you to take the subway to get to my office in a ball gown. It doesn’t seem practical therefore, I have arranged a car service to bring you to my office. The same car service will meet you here after the gala to bring you home. I will not be here as I will be getting ready to attend the gala as well. However my security team will meet you and Mr. Parker in the lobby before and after the event. Mr. Parker’s driver will transport you and Mr. Parker to the Gala and back to my office. Did you receive my email yesterday?”

“Yes, I’ve reviewed the information you included about Mr. Parker and where he stands on various topics.”

“You don’t have to agree with any of his beliefs or stances, however what is key is that you do not verbally disagree with them while at an event. If they start talking about something you disagree with, either keep it to yourself or excuse yourself to use the ladies room.”

“I understand, Bridget.”

“The back story, should anyone ask, is that you and Mr. Parker met at a coffee shop a couple of months ago and have maintained contact with each other since.”

“Okay.”

“Oh and Kenzie, Mr. Parker’s parentsv are hosting the event so his family will be in attendance. They are unaware of this arrangement.”

“Of course.”

“Good luck, Kenzie, and try to enjoy yourself. I will be there if you need me but otherwise I will not act as if we know each other.”

“Thank you Bridget.”

Kenzie

“You’re a fucking bitch! You can’t do anything right, can you?” he screams at me.

“I’m… I’m sorry,” I cry as he grabs my hair in his hand and pulls it hard so I fall onto the floor.

“I ask you for one fucking thing! One thing! Is it too much to ask for a hot meal to be on the fucking table when I get home? I work all day to keep a roof over your fucking head, to keep food on the table and what do I fucking get in return? A fucking cold dinner?”

SLAP

I wake up covered in sweat, my heart beating erratically as I frantically look around the room expecting him to be standing there. When my brain finally catches up to reality, my breathing finally begins to slow down as I realize he isn’t here and can no longer hurt me. I haven’t had a nightmare in a couple of weeks; they seem to come at random times and always without warning.

Tonight’s nightmare was more of a flashback, as most of them are. It was the night he hit me for the first time. I remember every detail as if it were yesterday. He left that morning requesting I have dinner ready when he gets home, as was the request every day before he went to work. He told me that day he would be home by 6:30 and that he expected dinner to be on the table when he walked through the door. I did just that: I had dinner hot and on the table by 6:25 in case he was early. He didn’t come up home until after eight that night and then was mad because dinner was cold. His screaming and yelling at me was nothing new-it had started a couple months ago but that night he slapped me for the first time. I still remember being in such shock that he hit me.