One Night Stand With My Husband’s Brother

As Charlotte went silent after hearing Mackenzie’s words, Felicity stepped out of the kitchen, already carrying the kids’ lunch on a tray. She was just about to feed them and prep them for their afternoon nap.

When she saw Mackenzie, she smiled, “You’re back.”

“Yes.” Mackenzie said solemnly, then she looked at both of them. “There’s going to be a change of plans concerning Calista and Cameron’s schooling. They won’t be going to school for now, we can take turns teaching them, since they’re just four years old. Their school work is pretty easy at this stage.”

“What?” Felicity and Charlotte both echoed in confusion.

Mackenzie sighed. “I know, but this is for the best, trust me. And it’s only temporary. I have experience with teaching, so I can do it. Charlotte, you can also help out when I’m not around to teach them.”

Her paranoia had been triggered with full force after her meeting with Chase Axford. She could not stop thinking of how easy for her to never see, or gave access to her precious kids ever again if she let anyone take them from her.

So she had to keep them hidden, until she could figure something out.

From the possessive words Chase said to her in his car, she knew he would be keeping an eye on her. Especially when one of his drivers had already picked her up from home yesterday. Meaning, her address was not even a secret anymore.

She wouldn’t want him to discover her kids.

If he does, their cover and protection she had tried so hard to build, would be blown.

Felicity shook her head softly, “But why all of a sudden?”

“I noticed you were acting different ever since you returned today, Kenzie. What in the world happened?”

“We’ll talk about it.” Mackenzie said. “I just need to take a shower first, okay?”

She gave them both a small smile and turned away. Felicity and Charlotte exchanged worried glances.

Felicity sighed and moved on to meet the kids, carefully placing their food down in front of them. She smiled sweetly, “Come on, sweeties, come eat up!”

“Why is mommy sad?” Calista suddenly asked Felicity in her tiny voice.

“Yeah… she gave us a tight hug when she came in, like she was scared. What is mommy scared of, Aunt Felicity?” Cameron looked up at her as if she held the answers to everything.

Felicity stared at them in surprise, not sure if how they even noticed the change of atmosphere in the house. Not wanting to make the kids bothered, she smiled brighter and answered,

“Your mom isn’t sad, okay, sweeties? She’s just very tired from work today. Now eat up your food, okay?”

They both nodded.

**************

In the next few days, Uncle Maverick called again. It was good news.

“Really?” Mackenzie gasped, brushing off the wood carvings on her work apron. She was at the back of the apartment, working on her designs.

“Yes, Kenzie. It’s a large furniture company, who want to hire a fresh mind like yours to boost their production. They are extremely enthusiastic.” He explained. “They forwarded a bunch of information and details to me, and even detailed your appointment letter already. This is the real deal!”

A big surge of hope rushed through Mackenzie. Finally, someone had appreciated her designs!

“When do they want to meet?” She asked eagerly.

“Tomorrow.” Uncle Maverick replied. “I will get the appointment letter and other documents delivered to you. They should get to you by evening. Then, I’ll forward the emails over to you.”

“Please do.” She grinned. “Thank you so much, Uncle Maverick, for all the help you have been to me, my kids and my friends. Especially with this job hunt, despite how busy you are, you still make out time to handle it for me. I can’t thank you enough.”

“Come on, Kenzie.” Uncle Maverick said warmly, “Anything for you. Besides, it’s your skills that are doing all the work. Your designs will be noticed and appreciated more with time, so just get ready for the meeting tomorrow. I wish you all the best.”

Mackenzie smiled fondly. “Thank you.”

***********

The next day, the cab pulled up in front of the gigantic building that boldly bore the name, DarkWood Furniture Company. She paid the cab fare and stepped out, heels clacking against the concrete ground.

That familiar feeling of panic and paranoia from being in the heart of Greensville slowly bubbled inside her. But she found her calm and sucked in a deep breath.

“I can do this.” She whispered to herself, clutched her handbag tighter and stepped forward.

At the entrance, a man in a dark blue suit was waiting for her. He waved her over, and nodded politely the moment she was close enough.

“Good morning, Miss. Torsney.” He extended his hand for a handshake.

“Good morning, I’m so glad to be here.” Mackenzie took his hand with a smile, accepting his firm handshake.

“We are delighted to have you, Miss Torsney, your designs are impeccable. They stood out among the rest so effortlessly, and that is why the management decided we meet you and make you one of us, as soon as possible.”

Her heart was jumping with happiness. “I’m so glad to hear that, sir. It would be an honor to work here.”

The man grinned jovially, “Ah, please, Miss Torsney. Do not call me sir. You might be my superior by the time you are done meeting the management. Please come with me.”

Mackenzie followed him in with a smile playing on her lips.

The atmosphere here in DarkWood Furniture Company seemed a little less uptight than how it had been in the Axford Hotel. Granted, the Axford Hotel was not one of its kind, it was a global chain of billion dollar businesses and companies that had fingers dipped in every industry.

Hotels and suites was just one of the many industries the Axfords commanded.

So it was partly understandable that the professionalism over there would be very uptight. And ruthless.

She still remembered how smoothly she was outsmarted into signing that contract. It was cold and dangerous how Chase Axford orchestrated it all.

The man in the blue suit led Mackenzie up a private elevator into a waiting room that was all dark browns and shiny furniture. He turned to nod at her.

“Please have a seat, and make yourself comfortable, the CEO is on an important call right now. He will be joining you soon.” He said.

“Alright.” Mackenzie nodded and settled down on a seat.

“Will you like some coffee?” The man asked.

She declined politely. “Thank you, but I already had coffee this morning.”

He nodded and walked through a door at the far end.

Mackenzie let out a breath, staring at the door he just walked through. She had high hopes of getting this job, because her savings would not last for that long anymore.

The cost if living in the city was high, bills were pilling up and the savings from North Dakota paled in comparison. It just had to work. And with the eager way she was received, Mackenzie was sure she had gotten the job.

All she need now, was to sign the contract.

Five minutes passed. Ten minutes passed. Half an hour passed and nobody had come back to her in the waiting room. She was getting agitated that this point, wondering why there was a delay.

Was the CEO not done with his call yet?

A whole hour passed, and Mackenzie was tempted to get up and go knock on the door herself. But then, the door opened and the man in the blue suit stepped out with his shoulders slumped forward.

She sat up, suddenly relieved to see him again. She forced a smile up on her face, waiting for him to usher her in. As he walked closer, she got up to her feet, clasping her hands together.

He came to a stop in front of her, pulling his thin lips up to form a tight smile. “I deeply apologize for the delay, Miss Torsney.”

Mackenzie dismissed it with a wave, saying, “Oh, it’s fine. Is the CEO ready to receive me now?”

The man suddenly looked uncomfortable. He averted his eyes from her hopeful hazel ones and swallowed, the motion making his Adam’s apple bob nervously.

He lowered his voice into a confidential and sympathetic tone, saying, “I regret to inform you, Miss Torsney, that the job has been given to another candidate.”

Dead silence blasted deafeningly through Mackenzie’s ears as he said those words.

So many emotions rushed to her at the same time in that moment. But then she managed to ask with a hoarse voice,

“W-hat? But why? You invited me here to sign the contract, didn’t you?” She reached into her bag and pulled out the documents. “These are the ones you delivered to me ..”

Hopelessness was crushing her like a boulder to a bug.

The man gave her a solemn look. “I am sorry. That is the order.”

Her hands holding the papers fell lifelessly to her side. She stared at him, with despair, confusion and exasperation written all over her face.

She had never felt this defeated in a long, long time.

How could the CEO change his mind so quickly?