The Affair

Chapter 25

Mark led Kendra down the sidewalk in silence, his arm still wrapped securely around her waist. His grip was firm but not forceful, grounding her in a way she hadn’t realized she needed.

Kendra’s heart was still hammering in her chest, but it wasn’t from fear anymore. It was from the way Mark had moved—controlled, precise, utterly unshaken. He had barely broken a sweat putting Jake in his place.

As they reached Mark’s car, he finally spoke. “Are you sure you’re okay?”

Kendra let out a shaky breath. “Yeah… I just—” she hesitated before shaking her head. “I didn’t think he’d actually put his hands on me like that.”

Mark’s jaw tightened. “Some men think they can do whatever they want without consequences.” His voice was low, dangerous.

Kendra turned to look at him. The streetlights illuminated his face, highlighting the sharp lines of his jaw, the furrow in his brow. “Thank you,” she said softly.

Mark’s eyes met hers, and for a moment, neither of them moved. There was something thick in the air between them, something unspoken but undeniable.

Then, as if remembering himself, Mark cleared his throat and stepped back, his hand dropping from her waist. “Let’s get you home.”

Kendra nodded and got into the passenger seat.

The car ride was quiet at first, the weight of the night settling between them. Kendra stared out the window, her mind racing with everything that had just happened. But then her gaze drifted to Mark’s hands gripping the steering wheel—strong, steady, the same hands that had just defended her without hesitation.

“You didn’t have to do that, you know,” she murmured, breaking the silence.

Mark exhaled through his nose, keeping his eyes on the road. “Yeah, I did.”

Kendra studied him for a moment, a small smile playing on her lips. “So, what, you just happened to be nearby?”

Mark’s grip tightened slightly on the wheel. “I might’ve been… keeping an eye on you.”

Kendra raised a brow. “Keeping an eye on me?”

Mark glanced at her briefly before looking back at the road. “Call it a gut feeling.”

Kendra smirked. “Sounds a lot like stalking.”

Mark chuckled, shaking his head. “If I was stalking, I wouldn’t have let you see me.”

Kendra laughed, the tension in her chest easing slightly. But the moment of lightness didn’t last long. As they neared home, reality started creeping back in.

Mark pulled into the driveway, shutting off the car. Neither of them moved to get out.

Kendra turned to him. “You’re not going to tell my mom, are you?”

Mark looked at her, his expression unreadable. “No. But if that asshole ever comes near you again, I will.”

Kendra let out a breath of relief. “Thanks.”

Mark reached up, brushing a loose strand of hair from her face without thinking. His fingers barely grazed her skin, but the touch sent a shiver down Kendra’s spine.

They both froze.

Mark swallowed hard and pulled his hand back quickly, his voice low. “You should go inside.”

Kendra hesitated, her pulse racing. She wanted to stay. She wanted to reach for him, to pull him in like she had at the bar. But she knew better.

So instead, she nodded. “Goodnight, Mark.”

Mark exhaled slowly, his gaze lingering on her. “Goodnight, Kendra.”

She opened the car door and stepped out, her legs feeling unsteady beneath her. As she walked toward the house, she could feel Mark’s eyes on her.

Kendra walked inside, the warmth of the house a stark contrast to the cold knot in her stomach. As she shut the door behind her, Rebecca’s voice called from the kitchen.

“How was dinner with Jake?”

Kendra hesitated for a split second before forcing a casual tone. “He never showed up.”

Rebecca appeared in the doorway, frowning. “Aw, baby, I’m sorry.”

Kendra waved her off dismissively. “It’s fine. It’s probably for the best—he was a… douchebag anyway.” She forced a small laugh, but it felt hollow. “I’m just gonna head to bed. I’ll see you in the morning.”

Rebecca gave her a sympathetic smile. “Alright, sweetheart. Sleep well.”

Kendra turned and climbed the stairs, feeling her mother’s eyes on her back. She didn’t stop until she was inside her room, door shut firmly behind her.

She let out a shaky breath, her hands gripping the edge of her dresser as she stared at her reflection in the mirror. Her cheeks were still slightly flushed, whether from the adrenaline of the fight or from the way Mark had touched her face afterward—she wasn’t sure.

Mark.

The image of him dodging Jake’s wild swings with effortless precision kept replaying in her mind. He had been so controlled, so powerful, like he barely had to try. And when he had looked at her afterward, his touch soft against her skin, something had cracked inside of her.

For the first time in her life, Kendra felt herself truly falling for someone.

And that someone was not just her boss.

Not just her mother’s fiancé.

It was Mark.

Her future stepfather.

The week went by in a blur. Friday was in full swing, and Kendra spent most of the day running around the office, delivering memos about the upcoming gala in two weeks. Everyone was buzzing with preparations, but Mark had barely left his office, buried under back-to-back calls and meetings.

A DoorDash delivery arrived with food for Mark—a small surprise Kendra had arranged since he hadn’t had the chance to eat all day. She peeked her head into his office, finding him on the phone, his voice sharp with frustration.

Not wanting to disturb him, she grabbed a pen and scribbled a note on a sticky pad:

“Don’t forget to eat, Boss. Don’t worry—the day’s almost over.”

At the bottom, she doodled a winking kissy-face emoji before placing the note beside the bag of food and slipping out quietly.

Inside the office, Mark slammed the phone down and ran a hand through his hair, exhaling heavily. He turned in his chair and noticed the bag on his desk. His eyes caught the note, and for the first time that day, his tension eased. A small smirk tugged at his lips.

As the day wound down, Mark grabbed his jacket, preparing to leave for his usual Friday dinner with Rebecca. Before stepping out, he noticed Kendra still at her desk, typing away.

“Need a ride home?” he asked, lingering by her desk.

Kendra barely looked up. “Nah, I still have some work to finish. I’ll catch a cab.” She gave him a small smile. “Have fun at dinner. See you tomorrow, Boss.”

Mark pressed his lips together. He didn’t like the idea of her taking a cab alone, but she was stubborn.

Before he left, he turned back toward her. “Thanks for the lunch.”

Kendra smirked and gave him a lazy salute. “Don’t mention it.”

Mark pulled up to the restaurant and parked, his phone buzzing just as he stepped out of the car. His stomach did an involuntary flip when he saw Kendra’s name on the screen.

But then he spotted Rebecca inside, already seated at their table, waving at him with a warm smile. Guilt crept into his chest. He took a deep breath and silenced his phone, shoving it into his pocket.

As he entered, he made an effort—kissing Rebecca deeply, trying to force himself to focus.

They talked about work, about Ethan, about wedding plans. He listened, nodded, but a bad feeling gnawed at his gut. His phone buzzed again in his pocket, but he ignored it.

Then, after about an hour, Rebecca’s phone rang.

She answered, her expression shifting from confusion to pure horror. Her hand flew to her mouth, her eyes instantly welling with tears.

“What is it?” Mark asked, alarmed.

Rebecca’s breath hitched. She looked up at him with panic written all over her face.

“It’s Kendra,” she whispered, her voice trembling. “She’s at the hospital.”