Later that evening, I helped Anothony make dinner, which was spaghetti with meatballs, garlic bread, water, and wine for the beverages. He enjoyed the aromatic smell in the kitchen, as he worked hard to make a homemade meal since, he could tell that it was my last night here.
However, when he pulled out the seasoning, I was trying to fight a series of sneezes, as my sense of smell was sensitive. Occasionally, I moved out of the kitchen, to the pantry for any snacks, and to get some fresh air.
When dinner was finished, Anthony dished out three bowls of spaghetti and a slice of garlic bread for each person, knowing immediately who wanted wine and water, before dismissing himself, quickly escaping the house.
"Kenzie, you're going to talk to him right?" Rhonda came from the living room, avoiding Jacob as he was finishing up a paper, but he said he was going to be here in a minute. Looking at the witch, I let out a small tired sigh, before looking out the backdoor.
"I don't have a choice, and to get what I want out of this situation, we both have to compromise," I whispered back, waiting for him to walk into the dining room, and within seconds of wishing for that, he stepped in, with a smile on his face when he meets my eyes, but when he glanced at Rhonda he frowned slightly.
"Shall we eat? He asked, taking the seat at the head of the table, and I took the spot to the right of him, and Rhonda took the spot next to me, sipping on her red wine, ignoring our presence as she was deep in thought.
Waiting for him to take the first bite, I tried to think of a compromise that he would agree to. "Jacob." I started, meeting his curious teal eyes, as he was taking a sip of the red wine. "We both know I should return, preferable tomorrow." I bluntly said, and he stopped what he was doing, setting down his wine glass on the table.
"And which world are you returning to first?" He asked, and I looked down guilty knowing that he wasn't going to like that I was going back for the Mafia's sake. Even Rhonda stilled beside me, as she was curious about how this was going to go.
"To be honest, it's for the mafia, but my appearance will start at the business level. For me to make a dominating presence, I needed to show them that I'm not afraid of what will be thrown in my direction. What my father is currently trying to do, is hurting not only our mafia as it shows that our strength isn't the best but the business image as well. We can't keep hiding." I picked up my fork, twirling it to get a bite of the spaghetti, feeling his cold gaze on me.
"What are you going to do when you arrive back?" He asked, and I glanced at Rhonda who just stared at her plate, unsure if she should involve herself in this conversation, not that she was needed. "When you return to Birmingham, what are you planning to do?" He repeated the question and I took in a deep breath.
"I need to evaluate the current situation before I can answer your question. I need to see what Alex has done so far and whether we can make a business statement to the cause. It's obvious that the person was just a messenger, and although the messenger didn't harm me, he did bring harm to another person.
"And when the witness described him, none of the CCTVs showed anybody of that description. Unless Alex found something that he's not telling me, then we have no choice but to tell the public what happened. This is also the time that you can have some of your pack or mafia enter our company to protect me in case this incident happens again." I explained, offering a deal, and he leaned back in his seat, with his arms crossed debating my offer.
"You know how much they'll distaste that, working at a foreign company, it only proves that the Young family is incapable to protect you, especially since you're one of the last Female lycanthropes." He replied in a harsh tone and I narrowed my eyes, seeing how he was spitting fire at my family, even though he was talking about facts.
"I do see how the Young family is incapable of protecting, me, someone of great importance, and that's why I'm suggesting that you put some of your people in the company to have another backup while you're unable to protect me.
"We can't continue like this where I hide, because there is a major threat out there. Sometimes you have to step into the chaos to get some of the answers that you need. I'm not saying that I'll go out of my way to get my answers, but I do have to be on the edge a couple of times." I reached out to gently take his hand, looking into his dark teal eyes.
"It's dangerous." He replied and I rolled my eyes, glancing at Rhonda who managed to finish her meal and was watching the two of us, with disgust in her eyes.
"WIth me by her side, I'll make sure that she doesn't do anything too crazy." Rhonda interrupted, taking the chance that I was offering her, and since she was older than the two of us, and a witch who was on my side, Jacob had to trust her words, whether he likes it or not.
"And?" He encouraged her.
"Kenzie is making sense, if you do have some of your people enter into the company, I'm sure they'll be quick to adjust, but that's another set of people that a trespasser has to get passed, to get to her. Although the Young family is strong, apparently they weren't strong enough to protect someone of great importance, and if you don't want the incident to happen again, then put some of your people in.
"For the mafia reasons, you are aware that there are people that we can trust. And with that trust, we can request them to bring us the information that we want. This is the perfect opportunity for Kenzie to get used to being involved in both of these career fields, she needs to work to gain the trust of those mafia groups, and for the business, she needs to make it clear that not only she is okay, but she's not someone to back off easily." Rhonda defended me with ease while meeting his cold gaze, and when he nodded agreeing, we let out a sigh of relief.
"When you return, don't do anything foolish. Stay low until I have some of my people in your company. Have Miss Rivers, be by your side at the business and that annoying fellow called George when you start getting involved with the mafia business." He shifted his cold gaze onto mine, and it softened slightly.
"Got it, I'll make sure to observe before I get involved. And that I won't do some things alone." I promised and he let out a tired sigh, before interlocking our hands, resting it on his thigh, as he finished his wine.
Rhonda left at the first chance that she got, leaving with a disgusted face, and I had to hide a chuckle as she escaped the room. Jacob waited for me to finish my meal, before dragging me up to his room, where we fell asleep to the calming light rain.
***
The next day, I woke up in his arms, it was about five in the morning, and the first thing that I saw was his teal eyes gazing at me. Jumping slightly, I put my hand over my heart, as I was shocked that he was awake, even at this time. He raised at brow seeing my reaction and I could feel my cheeks grow warm in embarrassment.
"You could have said something, you almost gave me a heart attack," I complained, and he tried to fight a chuckle, seeing me in this state. "What are you even doing?" I asked, taking a couple of minutes to stretch, waking me up for the say.
"I was watching you in the morning light." He replied and I smiled, reaching to pat the top of his head.
"Why, I'm sure I had drool coming out of my mouth." I got out of the bed, glancing at the pillow to indeed see the drool on it.
"Either way you're cute when you're asleep," Jacob spoke in a cool voice, and I looked at him with a look that said that although I'm flattered, sometimes he took it too far.
"Ahh, somehow I see a lie in the midst of that. I look like a mess in the morning." I brushed off his statement and he stood up walking around the bed wrapping his arms around the front of me, resting his head on my head. "Are you going to see me off?" I asked, gently setting my palms over his, as he smiled looking into the mirror.
"I have no choice dear, I can't rest easy unless I send you back myself." Looking down at my feet, feeling my cheeks grow warm once again.
"Again with the 'dear'," I muttered spinning in his arms, to look at his face. Stepping on my tippy toes, I placed a small peck on his cheek, taking advantage of how the small cage that I was in loosened, and took the chance to escape the room.
Eventually, I returned to my house with Rhonda beside me, ready to face my father, who greeted us with a huge frown on his face, upon seeing me.