*** Kenzie's POV
[Kenzie: Hey, don't forget to tell me how it goes, after all, you should buy me dinner.] I sent a message to Eli, and within seconds of seeing it, he replied.
[Brother: The meeting has just ended, I'll be leaving in a second send me the address of the place you want to eat at.] He wrote back, and I tilted my head to the side, a little puzzled on why the meeting ended within 45 minutes, usually those meetings took over an hour, as Alex usually gave detailed explanations of what he wanted to happen.
But today seemed different.
[Kenzie: What exactly happened? Location sent*] I added the destination and start walking to the cute little restaurant on the main street, thankful that it was a Friday, so it was kinda busy. Busy was good since I shouldn't be alone in some places since I was kidnapped once.
"Ding!" My phone grabbed my attention, as soon as I pressed the crosswalk button at an intersection, waiting for the light to turn green, so I could walk across the street. Pulling out my phone, I was expecting a reply from Eli, but it was from Jacob.
[Jacob <3: When were you going to tell me you're going over to Paris? Are you dragging that George fellow with you?] I scoffed under my breath, glancing up when I heard a low female voice permit us to pass the crosswalk, shoving my phone in my trenchcoat pocket, I stepped forward, keeping up with the small crowd in my ankle boots.
Stepping back onto the sidewalk, I pulled out my phone, making my way to the pretty resultant, that fried chicken place, a place that I suddenly became interested in, since it's been a while since I stopped at a fast-food restaurant, and it was a type of place that Eli liked to go since he wasn't into those fancy restaurants.
[Kenzie: Of course, I'm taking George, he's one of my bodyguards as is someone who been threatened by you. It's not like he had a choice. As to the Paris trip, it managed to slip my mind, I've been busy with multiple things.] I responded, quickly and waited for his response, but someone snatched my phone from my hand.
I was about to beat the person up when I saw it was Eli, still in a suit, but his hair was ruffled. I widen my eyes, panicking slightly as he held my phone, and I could only pray that Jacob didn't respond, but the heavens were against that.
When the phone went off, I spoke up.
"I wasn't expecting you to be here yet." I smile, reaching for my phone, and he scoffed under his breath, before glancing down at my phone with the notification.
"You're the one that invited me out to dinner, yet you didn't expect me?" He asked and I nodded, still reaching for my phone, but he held it over his head. "By the way, who is Jacob? He must be special if he's got a heart by his name." He asked and I went silent, frozen in spot, waiting for a wave of questions.
Standing there in silence he just chuckled before reaching to ruffle my hair, handing over my phone. "Don't worry I won't tell a soul." He patted my shoulder, and I managed a weak smile, before entering the restaurant finding a table in the corner.
"How was the meeting?" I asked, shifting the subject while glancing down at my phone with an unseen message from Jacob. Eli, ordered food for us, before tilting his head to the side, thinking about what he should start with.
"Father took the bait." He started and I looked up from my phone. "He took your product line, and made it his, however, it seemed Edwards wasn't convinced that it was Alex's ideal." He leaned back in his seat, crossing his arms.
"He decided to come out with a new product line?!" I asked in amazement before I scoffed under my breath. "That unbelievable old man, when I brought the proposal to him he showed no interest in, yet he claims it his!" I growled as the realization hit. "You said Edwards wasn't convinced?" I asked, to see a puzzled Eli.
Reaching for my phone I glanced at the message. [Jacob <3: Should we have a date tomorrow to catch up and discuss what's going to happen in Paris?] He asked and I felt a small smile work its way on my face.
[Kenzie: Pick me up by 6:00 sharp. Your choice of where we are going.] I replied to his message, and he send a thumbs-up emoji, with a smiling one beside it.
"Edwards didn't seem pleased that Father was abruptly asking for a new product line, and the heads of the production team looked shocked by the announcement, as they hadn't heard a single word about it.
"So that old man decided to bring in the fact that all the heirs of the CEO can come to the Chairmen Conferences so they can get used to whoever is inheriting the business, and that made Father so embarrassed that he ended the meeting." He explained and I leaned back in my seat.
"You think Edwards knew that those plans weren't Alex's?" I asked, and Eli nodded, before accepting a plate of chicken, enjoying the life. "Interesting," I muttered, reaching for a piece of chicken, thinking about Chairman Edwards.
Although he's been in our life from the very start -yes he was one of the few that knew Alex had a daughter- as I managed to stumble into his private meeting with my father, and he looked shocked to meet the hidden daughter.
From that day, I tried my best to avoid him, careful to steer away from him because of the way he glared at him. It was like he didn't approve of me being in the household at all, even on the day of my induction, when he came to personally greet me there wasn't any warmth.
"He made it clear to Alex, that all of the heirs are welcome?" I asked, and Eli nodded. "Why?" I asked, and he shrugged.
"I don't know, but he made it clear to our father that all of us should be welcome, gender doesn't matter in the inheritance. As long as they can function in harsh conditions and keep the business strong, they are willing to accept the person. I was surprised when he said that statement, but I was also glad." He smiled and I nodded.
"That old man is interesting," I muttered and he nodded his head in agreement.
"He was one of the few that knew you existed and kept the secret. The strange thing that irritated Father the most was that he wanted your presence like he knew that the product line idea was your, which is scary to think that he knows you well enough." He finished off the chicken and I went silent, thinking about what Eli said.
'During those years that I kept my distance with him, were those the years that he was watching out for an heir?' I asked myself, trying to understand exactly what happened at that meeting.
"Good job, I'm glad that you went, next time I'll go with you." I praised him and he smiled, pleased with himself and relieved that the next time he won't go alone. "Can you do me a favor?" I asked, and he stopped eating the green beans to look at me hesitantly.
"I don't know, the last time I did a favor for you, I was sent to a meeting." He narrowed his eyes on me, and I looked away feeling slightly guilty.
"I'll pay you back." I tried to convenience him, and he thought for a couple of minutes, debating whether it was worth it or not. And when I saw him tilt his head to the side, I held my breath as he was coming to a conclusion.
"Tell what I need to do, and then I'll think about it." He offered and I looked at him with an annoyed look as we just sat there in silence for five minutes as he took his sweet time thinking.
'Have patience.' I told myself.
"I'm going out late tomorrow and I need you to cover for me." I started and he perked, looking at me with an expression that looked like he was excited as well as curious. "I plan on departing around 5:30, and I don't know when I'll arrive back home, it may be late at night or very early in the morning, but I need you to cover for me if Alex asks where I went." I smiled gently and he narrowed his eyes.
"How much are you going to pay me?" He asked and I raised a brow before nodding my head, it was a good start.
"300." I offered and he thought for a second before he shook his head. I frowned seeing how I was going to raise the price, a little annoyed. "350." I offered again, and he shook his head instantly. Scoffing under my breath, I took in a deep breath. "450. My last offer." I ordered and he contemplated for a second before reaching out his hand.
"We have a deal, Madam." He smirked and I shook it twice, letting out a sigh. Just as I was about to leave the table he murmured something that made my cheeks flush. "Enjoy that date, with mister Jacob" He smirked and I rolled my eyes, fighting every urge to whack him.