The Affair

Chapter 10

Dinner was filled with light conversation, mostly her mother asking about work and gushing over how proud she was of Kendra for handling Vanessa so well. Kendra played along, answering just enough to satisfy Rebecca while avoiding any mention of Mark that wasn’t absolutely necessary. Every time his name was brought up, she felt her pulse quicken, the memory of his hand on her leg in the car, the way he looked at her in his office, the tension between them—it was too much.

Ethan, of course, picked up on her unease. His sharp eyes flicked between her and Rebecca, as if he was waiting for Kendra to slip up and say something interesting. But Kendra wasn’t going to give him that satisfaction. She kept her cool, finishing her plate while tuning out most of the conversation.

After dinner, Kendra excused herself, claiming she was exhausted and needed to get some rest before another long day at the office. As she made her way upstairs to her room, she could still hear her mother and Ethan talking in the kitchen.

“You could be a little more supportive, you know,” Rebecca scolded.

“I’m just saying, Mom,” Ethan replied lazily. “Something about all this seems a little… off.”

Kendra rolled her eyes and shut her bedroom door behind her.

She tossed her purse onto the bed and collapsed onto the mattress, letting out a deep breath. Her mind was still spinning from the day. The shopping trip, Vanessa’s nosy questions, Richard’s knowing looks, Mark’s touch…

Kendra groaned, rubbing her hands over her face. She needed to get a grip. This was her job. He was her boss. And more than that—he was going to be her stepfather.

The thought made her stomach twist.

She sat up and reached for her phone. A notification from Mark was sitting on the screen.

Mark Bennett: You handled Vanessa and Richard well today. Thank you.

Kendra stared at the message, her fingers hovering over the keyboard. It was a simple text, professional, polite. So why did it feel so… personal?

After a moment, she typed back:

Kendra: Just doing my job.

She hesitated before hitting send, then shook her head and turned off the phone.

She needed to sleep.

Tomorrow was a new day.

And she needed all the strength she could get to survive it.

The next morning, Kendra stepped into the office and was immediately met with chaos. Phones rang non-stop, employees rushed back and forth between offices, and the sound of rapid-fire typing filled the air. It was as if the entire building had been thrown into overdrive.

Linda, sitting behind her desk, barely looked up as she greeted Kendra. “Ah, welcome to your first Friday. Brace yourself. It’s always like this.”

Kendra raised an eyebrow. “What’s going on?”

“Fridays are overhaul days,” Linda explained, flipping through a massive stack of papers. “Everyone’s scrambling to finish projects, finalize reports, and close deals before the weekend. It’s basically survival of the fittest.”

Before Kendra could respond, Mark’s office door swung open. He stepped out, already looking tense, a coffee in one hand and a file in the other. The moment his eyes landed on her, his expression softened—just slightly—but it was enough for Kendra to notice.

“Kendra,” he said, motioning her over. “I need you with me today.”

She quickly grabbed her notepad and followed him into his office.

From that moment on, Kendra was thrown into a whirlwind of work. Mark had back-to-back meetings, PowerPoint presentations to review, financial reports to finalize, and emails that required immediate attention.

What surprised him most, however, was how effortlessly Kendra handled it all.

At first, he had expected to spend half the day explaining things to her, but within the first hour, it became clear that she didn’t need much direction at all. She was sharp, quick on her feet, and incredibly organized. She picked up on details he hadn’t even noticed, pointed out inconsistencies in reports, and even restructured one of his presentations to make the data more digestible—all without him having to ask.

By midday, Mark was thoroughly impressed.

At one point, while reviewing a contract, he leaned back in his chair and studied her. “You’re smarter than I expected,” he admitted.

Kendra glanced up from her laptop, arching an eyebrow. “Gee, thanks.”

Mark smirked. “I don’t mean that as an insult. Your mother led me to believe you might need some… guidance. But you clearly don’t.”

Kendra resisted the urge to roll her eyes. “Yeah, well, my mom still sees me as her little girl. She forgets I went to college and actually learned a thing or two.”

Mark’s gaze lingered on her for a moment longer before he returned his focus to the contract. “Well, she’s not the only one who underestimated you.”

A strange feeling settled in Kendra’s chest at his words. She wasn’t sure if it was pride or something else entirely.

Before she could dwell on it, Mark stood and grabbed his suit jacket. “Come on,” he said. “Let’s grab lunch. You earned it.”

Kendra blinked. “Wait, I thought Fridays were too busy for lunch?”

Mark smirked. “They are. But I don’t care.”

And with that, he was already heading toward the door, leaving Kendra no choice but to follow.

Kendra followed Mark out of the office, her heels clicking against the polished marble floor as they made their way to the private elevator. The office was still buzzing with frantic energy, but Mark moved through it all with a commanding presence that made people step aside without him having to say a word.

When they entered the elevator, Mark pressed the button for the underground parking garage. As soon as the doors slid shut, the space was filled with an almost unbearable tension.

Kendra kept her eyes forward, determined not to acknowledge how damn good he smelled—like expensive cologne and something uniquely him. Mark, on the other hand, stole a quick glance at her, admiring how effortlessly put together she looked. The burgundy lipstick she wore only made it worse for him.

As the doors opened to the garage, his sleek black car was already waiting. A driver stood by the door, holding it open. Mark gestured for Kendra to get in first before sliding in beside her.

The ride was silent at first. Kendra kept her focus on the view outside, watching the city pass by in a blur. But she could feel his presence beside her—his warmth, his intensity.

Finally, Mark broke the silence. “You really impressed me today,” he admitted, his voice smooth but sincere.

Kendra turned to him, slightly surprised. “Oh? You didn’t think I was capable?”

Mark smirked. “I knew you were capable. I just didn’t expect you to handle the pressure so well. You have a sharp mind, Kendra. It’s a rare thing.”

A strange flutter stirred in her chest at his words. She quickly masked it with sarcasm. “Wow, high praise coming from the great Mark Bennett.”

He chuckled, shaking his head. “Don’t let it get to your head.”

A few minutes later, they pulled up to an upscale restaurant. The driver opened the door, and Mark stepped out first, offering his hand to Kendra. She hesitated for just a moment before taking it, feeling a small jolt of electricity at the contact.

The restaurant was dimly lit, elegant, and filled with high-profile businesspeople and socialites. Mark led her to a secluded booth near the back, where they had more privacy.

As they settled in, a waiter appeared almost instantly to take their drink orders. Mark ordered his usual—a scotch—while Kendra went for a glass of wine.

As soon as the waiter left, Kendra leaned forward. “Okay, so what’s the real reason we’re here? Because something tells me this isn’t just a reward for my hard work.”

Mark smirked, swirling his glass once it arrived. “Observant as always.”

Kendra rolled her eyes. “Obviously.”

He sighed, leaning back in his seat. “I wanted to talk about something… off the record.”

She arched an eyebrow. “That sounds serious.”

Mark studied her for a moment before speaking. “I need you to be careful.”

Kendra frowned. “Careful? About what?”

His jaw tightened. “This job. The people in it. Business can get ruthless, and I don’t want you getting caught up in things you’re not prepared for.”

Kendra folded her arms. “Mark, I’m not some naïve little girl.”

“I never said you were,” he replied, his voice lower now. “But you’re young. And being young in this world can make you a target.”

She tilted her head. “Are you warning me… or protecting me?”

Mark held her gaze, something dark and unreadable flickering in his eyes. “Maybe both.”

Kendra swallowed hard, suddenly feeling like she was playing with fire. And for some reason… she didn’t want to stop.