Checkmate

Chapter 8

Keira-Lee

I have spent my entire life trying to get out from underneath the shadow of my extremely successful parents casted over me. For years I have doubted if I would be good enough, if I would ever be able to fill their shoes. But I accepted that I never would be able to do the things that they were made to do, so I just started to follow my own path and tried to leave my own footprints in the snow. Me and Jenna went out to a bar last night but went to her place early to grab a pizza and watch a movie together. I made my way home early the next morning, and expected Kade to be there, but instead the place was empty and a mess as normal. I couldn’t live like this, should I fold or should I leave it like this? I decided to start cleaning up, I wanted to get to know his friends better and I wanted to invite Jenna over. But there was just no way I could do that if the place looked like this, I started in our room. Pulling down the bedsheets and throwing it into the machine. Next was vacuum and washing the restroom, it was a mess and I swear we would be able to catch contagious diseases in this place. I scrubbed and cleaned until I could see myself in the floor and mirrors. I had to still unpack my boxes, but to me it felt like it would just solidify the situation I found myself in. But once again I couldn’t live like this, so I started on unpacking my boxes, I took it room for room. Hanging up his suits that needs to go to the drycleaner, and the things I could I washed. I made my way all the way though up until the kitchen, living room and dining room. I scrubbed and cleaned until my body ached. It was nearly evening and Kade still wasn’t home and even though a part of me became worried I didn’t pay attention towards the feelings. I just pushed harder to get everything done. The place was a pig stain and no normal living person could live in a place like this, by night time Kade made his way home. And by the entrance he saw my hard work for the day, I even dropped off all of his suits at the drycleaners. I guess a small part of me did feel guilty, he nearly died from dehydration. He stood at the door entrance and the place was spotless even if I had to say it myself it looked good, and it smelled nice. I approached him, like you would approach a wounded animal since he just stood there looking around. “Would you like to go shopping with me? The fridge is empty and we need some food.” He turned my way and I knew I must look like a mess; I have been working since I came home. But he could barely look me in the eyes,” no I’m good. I have some work to do and preparation for tomorrow.” He was avoiding me, and maybe I took this one to far. I needed a different approach. “Okay, well I’ll see you later then.” I made my way past him and did not look back; I drove to the shopping Centre and got us everything we might need. From toiletries to food and cleaning supplies since I used all of it already, I had no idea if he had any allergies or his likes or dislikes. So I just grabbed something of everything, I stopped by the liquor store to grab us more beer and finally went home. The security downstairs had to help me get everything upstairs, I started unpacking everything and made my husband a cup of coffee. He was glued to the computer screen and it seemed like he was anxious. Which is clearly something new for him “are you okay?” He looked up but once again didn’t make eye contact. “Just this f*****g presentation is driving me insane, I can be the CEO and run things from the background but presenting someone with exactly what I do is frustrating.” I pushed his chair a little out of the way while he looked at the cup of coffee like it might burn him to pieces. “It’s clean I promise” I took a sip of his coffee “see?” He took a sip and his eyes lit up a little, “hmmm, you brought the right coffee. Oh, I have to give you the money back how much was it.” But I just shook my head, “I live here to” I took a seat on his lap and started reading though the presentation he had going on, it was a mess of bullet points and quite honestly, I had no idea what in the world he was trying to say. But I just graduated college and if there is something I am really good at, it’s working under pressure. I started with pictures and the logo, I added all the best points of the company and what they had to offer, what made them different and why they were the best choice when it came to security. It became more and more clear that even Kade had some flaws, he couldn’t sell you jack. He couldn’t put anything about his passion into words. And maybe that is why he struggled with emotion, and feelings. Because even though I could see him feeling, he couldn’t say the words. And that somehow made me wonder exactly what I was dealing with. Maybe I should start looking at the bigger picture and try to get to know him a little bit better. After hours of typing and putting this whole thing together, I had him read though it, his whole face showed just how impressed he was. I mean even I had to give myself credit, mu best work always came from pressure. Hence the reason my daddy always called me the eye of the storm. Now all he had to do is make the magic happen, read though all of it a couple of times and present this tomorrow like his life depended on it.

That next morning, I laid in bed watching him as he got ready for work, his whole-body language was stiff and uncomfortable as he got ready. He acted confident but I could see right past the façade, it was a big day for him. I got up and helped him with his tie, I folded it with perfection and let my fingers trail down smoothing it out. I looked up into his eyes, the blue completely faded and behind those beautiful baby blues laid so much insecurity. But he quickly masked it with a small smile, “thank you, nothing I should expect today? No pranks? Turning another shade or shitting out my intestines?” I gave him a smile “go get them tiger” his smile widened a little. “Will do.” He turned to leave but gave me a small peck kiss against my forehead and I felt my cheeks redden. He winked at me and left, I heard the click of the door closing and I turned towards the mirror looking at myself questions arouse. What if daddy forced me to take over the company and I wasn’t given a choice following my own career and what if he never tried so hard to keep me and mom out of the spotlight? Would I be different? What if I never had my grandparents to keep me humble and grounded? Would I be different, rebelling with ink covering me from head to toe? Would I sleep with everything that moved? What if I didn’t grow up with people who truly cared and loved me, would I seek for closure and love in the arms of strangers? Who would I be and what would my life look like, maybe I have been judgmental without truly counting my blessings? I decided to be the hero today, and go to his company and give the presentation instead of him. I have never had a problem with preforming in front of crowds or people before, so I grabbed a shower and started fixing myself in corporate wear. Tying my hair back and settling on a form fitted blue dress, which came to just below my knees. I paired them with black heels, a black bag and a black jacket. I barely recognized myself in the mirror my different color hair all of the sudden not fitting the corporate hair. But I didn’t care, he needed someone. And he is my husband so I paraded my ass out of the door and into early morning traffic. Here goes nothing.

I arrived at the big glass building and made my way upstairs; I now knew exactly where to go. I walked the same way I did on Saturday straight towards my husband’s office, had a piece of paper in hand pacing from left to right and back again. I couldn’t help but smile, he was freaking out behind his castles closed doors. I wanted to smile, “hey, are you okay?” he suddenly turned and his eyes raked over me from head to toe. He stood there frozen I walked over and gave him a slight kiss on the cheek, taking the papers I saw it was the presentation I had typed out last night. “I’ll take this, it seems like you might do with your wife’s help” He shook his head and wanted to smile “I hate speaking in front of people, I am not good at selling s**t to anyone. I mean, if you want something nobody would sell it to you anyway, right?” I wanted to start laughing at that one “no, they know they want and need security what they want to know is why they should choose your company, there’s a really big difference” He broke eye contact,” I need to tell you something” he barely had time to finish his sentence when Collin knocked against the door announcing the meeting was about to start. “Later” I winked at him this time and followed them towards the big board room. The whole place was flooded by people, I made my way behind my husband introducing myself as his wife. Everybody focused on me and I couldn’t help but smile. I was going to own this, I placed everything the way it should be ready for the presentation selling the living f*****g daylights out of my husband’s company. By the time I started talking more about the company I had every single eye on me, making my way around I knew I had their full attention. I told them why they should choose Collins security and Co. and what made them unique. After finishing I looked towards my husband and saw pride not just his eyes, but his whole body. His shoulders were squared and his chest puffed out like a peacock, questions were flying from left to right. And where Kade lacked some information, I was not scared to take initiative and answer a couple of them myself. I did my thesis on the company back in college and had an interview with some of the staff who clarified some objects that the press did not even know about. There was little I did not know about the business and part of marketing a company you should be prepared for some of the more uncomfortable questions. Especially questions revolving your risk factors, problems and finances. Some you might want to redirect the questions into something else especially in a way where they do not even realize it out, others you can be open and honest about but I always prefer to state that there honestly are no problems, we have challenges but as a team always find solutions. That is why we have a close bond and friendship with our clients, so that we could find a solution which works both ways. And benefits both parties. I saw the way Kade looked at me and his face was filled with admiration and adoration. At least he isn’t mad at me anymore. I saved his ass, but I learned more from him today than I did since the day we got married, maybe I shouldn’t be so damn judgmental. I don’t really know his story.