Chapter Twelve
A LOT MORE WORK
Bentley
Work has been kickingmy ass. This company is an even bigger mess than I realized at first, but the bones are there, and the employees have been agreeable to change. While that makes things easier, it doesn’t mean there is less shit to get done.
Between all of my meetings, emails, conference calls, and the fundraiser, I’ve hardly slept in the last week. We only have six more weeks to get everything lined up, and I haven’t done enough for the donations.
I’m sure Joyce will point that out when she asks me for an update during the meeting that’s supposed to be starting any minute. Though, currently, I’m sitting in my car, avoiding going in.
I can already see Kenzie’s white Honda. I’ve avoided her as much as possible. Every time I think of that woman, I get angrier with myself for letting things get so damn complicated.
Her fiery personality and hair to match are hard to get out of my head. I don’t know why. And the less I want to think about the reasons, the more Kenzie’s face appears in my mind.
Her creamy, fair skin. The way her eyes look more green than hazel when she’s angry with me. How her auburn hair falls in subtle waves around her face, and how soft it was to grip when I had her in my bed.
My palm slams against the top of the steering wheel. I can’t do this. Not right now when I have to face her.
With a huff, I get out of the Range Rover and head inside. Joyce’s voice doesn’t greet me like normal, so I move the “closed” sign from where it’s waiting on the counter to the door, then lock it myself before heading toward the meeting room. As I do, I hear laughter, but when I step inside, the room quiets a little too quickly.
Joyce nods at me but doesn’t offer her normal enthusiasm at my arrival. “Looks like we can get started now.”
“Good morning to you, too,” I say lightly to Joyce when I pass by her and gently squeeze her shoulder.
Her shoulders relax some from the contact.
Kenzie is sitting next to her, and I get stuck between Mary and Charlie.
Joyce holds a paper up to her face and then nods at Sam. “I see you have everything on your list complete. How did budgeting go for all of that?”
He smiles proudly, sitting up straighter and giving a quick glance around the table. “I was able to get half of the materials on donation, so I still have a lot left to work with if you want me to do a few other things.”
Joyce tilts her head, and her gaze cuts to me. “Great job, Sam. Maybe you can help Bentley with get going on some of his donations.”
When Joyce looks away, I glare at Kenzie. She must have said something to Joyce already, and that’s not going to work for me. Kenzie can’t keep storming into every aspect of my life and ruining things.
I sit quietly through the rest of the meeting, only answering questions when directly asked and making promises I intend to follow through on, even if it’s just so I don’t feel like a chastised child when we meet again in two weeks.
Kenzie is the first out of the room when Joyce calls things to an end. I try to go after her so I can have a stern talk with her, but Joyce grabs on to my arm and halts me.
“We need to chat.”
Her firm tone leaves no room for argument, and because I respect her so much, I nod and take another seat.
Once everyone else has left, she sits next to me, turning her chair to face me head on. “Have I asked too much of you, Bentley?”
Wrinkles form around her soft eyes, and guilt makes my chest ache at having disappointed one of the few people in this world that I care so much about.
“I don’t know what Kenzie told you, but Iamworking on the donations. I’ve even answered all the questions she’s had and given her access to everything I have,” I say a little more defensively than I intend.
She shakes her head and grabs my hand on the table. “Kenzie didn’t have to tell me anything for me to see what’s going on. I know you’re not normally this involved, and I appreciate you not telling me no when I first mentioned you taking on a bigger role for this event, but maybe it would have been better if you did.”
My brow furrows. “What do you mean?”
She releases her grip on me and leans back in her chair with a sigh. “I have long considered you family, Bentley, so I say this with all the love in my heart, but I don’t think you can handle what I’ve asked of you. At least, not on top of everything else you have going on. I’m going to find another volunteer with event experience this week, and then I’ll have you hand over any communications you’ve already made.”
I shake my head, even though this should be a good thing. I didn’t want to be more involved, but something about backing out now doesn’t sit right with me.