The Affair

Chapter 6

The ride back to the office was thick with silence, but it wasn’t the comfortable kind. It was the kind that hummed with something unspoken, something dangerous.

Kendra kept her eyes trained on the passing city, trying to focus on anything but the man sitting beside her—the way his presence filled the space, the way the air felt heavier with him so close.

Then, she felt it.

A light, barely-there touch.

Mark had shifted, moving his hand so that it now rested against her leg.

It was subtle, almost like it had been an accident. But it wasn’t. They both knew it wasn’t.

Kendra’s breath caught in her throat, her fingers gripping the hem of her skirt as if to steady herself. Her first instinct should have been to pull away, to put distance between them. But she didn’t. Instead, her body betrayed her, her leg shifting ever so slightly closer.

It was the smallest movement, but it said everything.

Mark’s fingers flexed just a fraction, his own breath deepening. He didn’t move, didn’t press further, but he also didn’t pull away.

The world outside the car blurred into nothing.

For a moment, it was just them.

Then—

The door opened.

Neither of them had even noticed they had arrived back at the office.

Mark’s hand jerked away as if burned, and Kendra exhaled, finally releasing the breath she hadn’t even realized she was holding.

The driver stood outside, waiting, oblivious to the moment that had just slipped through their fingers.

Kendra quickly stepped out, her heels clicking against the pavement, needing the fresh air to clear her spinning thoughts.

Mark followed right after, adjusting his jacket, his expression unreadable.

Without a word, they walked back into the building, side by side, both pretending nothing had happened.

Both knowing it had.

The elevator ride back up to the office was painfully quiet. Kendra kept her eyes fixed on the glowing numbers above the door, counting down the seconds until she could escape back to her desk.

Mark stood beside her, his hands shoved into his pockets, his jaw clenched tight. He was trying to compose himself, trying to push away the ghost of her warmth still lingering on his hand.

The doors slid open, and they stepped out, walking through the hall like nothing had happened. Like they hadn’t just crossed a dangerous line neither of them was ready to acknowledge.

Linda was at her desk when they arrived, glancing up over her glasses. “Ah, you’re back. Mr. Bennett, you have a conference call in ten minutes.”

Mark barely nodded. “I’ll take it in my office.” His voice was even, unreadable, but Kendra caught the tightness in his shoulders as he walked away.

Linda turned her gaze to Kendra, offering a small smile. “How was lunch, dear?”

Kendra hesitated for a fraction of a second before forcing a casual shrug. “It was fine.”

Linda nodded knowingly. “You’ll get used to his… presence. He has a way of making people a little nervous.”

Kendra let out a forced laugh. Yeah, you have no idea.

She returned to her desk, sinking into her chair with a quiet exhale. She had only been working here for a few hours, and already, she felt like she was drowning.

Not in paperwork.

Not in responsibility.

But in him.

She needed to get a grip.

She powered on her computer, determined to focus, to block out everything else.

But just as she settled in, her phone vibrated against the desk.

A message.

From Mark.

Kendra, come to my office when you have a moment. We need to talk.

Her heart slammed against her ribs.

She swallowed hard, staring at the words, knowing that whatever was about to happen next…

It wasn’t going to make things any easier.

Kendra took a deep breath, smoothing her skirt before hesitantly stepping toward Mark’s office. Her pulse quickened with every step, her mind racing with possibilities. Was he going to bring up what had happened in the car? Was he going to tell her this was a mistake? That working here was a mistake?

She lifted her hand and knocked lightly.

“Come in,” Mark’s deep voice called from the other side.

Kendra pushed the door open and stepped inside, immediately feeling the weight of the room. His office was massive—dark wood accents, floor-to-ceiling windows overlooking the city skyline, and a sleek, modern desk that suited the powerful man sitting behind it.

Mark was leaning back in his chair, his sleeves rolled up, his fingers steepled together as he studied her.

“Kendra, sit,” he said, nodding toward the chair across from him.

She swallowed hard and did as he asked, bracing herself.

“I need your help with something,” he started, his voice measured, professional.

Kendra blinked in surprise. “My help?”

“Yes.” He sat forward, resting his elbows on the desk. “We have a high-profile client flying in from London tomorrow. His name is Richard Langley. He’s considering bringing a large portion of his business over to the U.S., and if we land him, it’ll be one of the biggest deals we’ve ever secured.”

Kendra nodded slowly, not sure where she fit into this.

Mark continued, “Richard is… particular. He likes things a certain way, and he values a personal touch in business. That’s where you come in.”

She frowned. “Me? What could I possibly do?”

Mark exhaled, his gaze locking onto hers. “He’s bringing his daughter with him—Vanessa. She’s about your age, and she’ll be shadowing her father during the trip. If you can keep her company, make sure she’s entertained, and help her feel comfortable, it might give us an edge in closing this deal.”

Kendra’s brows lifted. “So… you want me to babysit a rich girl?”

Mark let out a low chuckle. “More like be her friend for a few days. Show her around, keep her engaged. Langley values family connections, and if he sees that his daughter is enjoying herself, he’ll be more inclined to trust us.”

Kendra hesitated. This wasn’t exactly in the job description. But if it meant proving herself, proving that she belonged here—not just as Rebecca’s daughter, but as a capable assistant—then maybe it wasn’t the worst idea.

She sighed. “Alright. I’ll do it.”

Mark’s lips twitched slightly, as if he were suppressing a smile. “Good.” He reached for a folder on his desk and slid it toward her. “This has everything you need to know about Richard and Vanessa. Go over it tonight, and be ready first thing in the morning.”

Kendra picked up the folder, nodding. “Got it.”

As she stood to leave, Mark’s voice stopped her.

“Oh, and Kendra?”

She turned back.

His expression had shifted—still professional, but something else lingered in his gaze. Something unreadable.

“About earlier…” He hesitated. “Let’s keep things simple. No distractions.”

Kendra’s heart pounded, but she forced a smirk. “That depends… are you easily distracted?”

Mark’s jaw tightened, but there was a flicker of amusement in his eyes.

“Goodnight, Kendra.”

She spun on her heel, walking out with her head held high.

But as she closed the door behind her, she let out a slow breath.

This job was going to be a lot more complicated than she thought.

Kendra sat cross-legged on her bed, the soft glow of her bedside lamp illuminating the thick file Mark had given her. She flipped it open, skimming through the neatly organized pages detailing Richard Langley and his daughter, Vanessa.

Richard was exactly what she expected—an older businessman, sharp and calculated, with a reputation for being both ruthless and charming in the corporate world. He had built a financial empire overseas, and now, he was looking to expand into the U.S.

But it was Vanessa’s file that caught Kendra’s attention.

The first thing she noticed was the photo attached to the top of the page. Vanessa Langley was beautiful—flawlessly so. Long, honey-blonde hair styled in loose waves, big blue eyes framed by thick lashes, and lips that always seemed to be curved into a practiced, camera-ready smile.

She looked like she had just stepped out of a high-end fashion magazine.

Kendra sighed, already feeling exhausted.

She continued reading. Vanessa was twenty-two, just a year older than Kendra, and had spent most of her life bouncing between London and Paris. She had attended the most prestigious private schools, had an extensive social media following, and, according to the notes, was an aspiring fashion influencer.

Great.

Scrolling through her attached bio, Kendra saw that Vanessa loved shopping, luxury spas, exclusive parties, and yacht trips along the French Riviera.

Kendra glanced down at her own attire—an old college T-shirt and a pair of sweatpants.

Yeah, this is going to be a disaster.

She wasn’t the “girly girl” type. She didn’t do designer brands or high-maintenance beauty routines. She was more of a jeans and sneakers, low-effort kind of woman. Hanging out with someone like Vanessa felt like throwing a cat into a swimming pool—completely unnatural.

There was also a section about Vanessa’s personality—described as charming but “opinionated.” Kendra translated that in her head as spoiled.

She groaned, tossing the folder onto her nightstand.

“Babysitting a rich brat. Just what I signed up for,” she muttered.

Still, this was her job now. Mark was counting on her to handle this, and if she wanted to prove herself, she had to at least try.

Sighing, she rolled onto her side, staring at the ceiling.

Tomorrow was going to be interesting.