Chapter 2
This time, Kenneth didn't give me a chance to say a word.
He got in the car, slammed the door shut, and hit the gas, all in one smooth motion.
He left me all alone in the garage, standing there and watching his car disappear down the driveway.
I'd lost count of how many times Kenneth made me give in.
He never seemed to notice how unfair it felt to me.
Out of the corner of my eye, I spotted the jar of jam that had gone missing, lying right next to the trash can.
I walked over, wiped the smudge off the jar, and picked it up.
With the jar in my arms, I turned and headed back inside.
That was when I found out the back door had been locked.
I started banging on the back door, but the maid pretended not to hear me at all.
With no other option, I carried the jar and walked around to the front door.
But no matter how many times I rang the bell, there was no response.
That was when it hit me.
Sheryl had done this on purpose.
I raised my hand again, but let it fall in defeat.
The icy wind whipped right through my thin pajamas, and I couldn't stop shivering.
I didn't have my phone, and was only wearing pajamas that couldn't keep me warm.
Every step felt impossible in the freezing cold.
With no other option, I braced myself and ran straight to the security office.
The guards were shocked when they saw the state I was in.
"Mrs. Beaumont, what happened to you?" one of the guards asked.
While speaking, he quickly wrapped a blanket around me.
The warmth spread through me right away, chasing away most of the cold.
I didn't know what to say.
So I blurted out the first excuse that came to mind. "I was in such a hurry, I forgot my keys. And just my luck, I left my phone at home too."
One of the guards handed me a cup of hot coffee. "Is there anything else we can do for you? Or maybe we could call a locksmith for you?"
"No, really, it's okay," I blurted out.
Remembering what Kenneth said, I shot down the offer without thinking.
The guards stared at me, looking totally baffled.
"Changing the locks is way too much trouble. I'll just call Kenneth, and he'll have his secretary bring the keys over," I said.
It was really just about getting the keys.
I didn't want Kenneth to get into another argument with me over something this minor.
A guard immediately handed me his phone.
I dialed Kenneth's number like it was second nature.
He picked up almost instantly.
"Kenneth, I forgot my keys when I left this morning..." I started.
As soon as he heard my voice, his mood instantly shifted.
"Tara? Didn't I tell you I have an important meeting this morning?" he cut me off, sounding annoyed. "Look, I don't have time for this right now.
"Whatever it is, we'll talk about it when I get home tonight."
Not once did he ask why I was calling from a different number, or bother to find out what had happened to me.
He hung up on me before I could even finish.
The security office went dead silent.
Everyone pretended to be busy, avoiding eye contact.
But I still tried to act calm and sent Kenneth a message.
It said: [I didn't mean to bother you. I just forgot my keys. Could you ask your secretary to bring them over when she has time?
[I'm waiting at the security office by the villa.
[From: Tara]
But it was like tossing a message into the ocean. There was no reply, not even a single sign he'd seen it.
I waited at the security office from morning all the way until the evening shift.
I could hear the guards whispering about me, passing along my story in hushed voices.
One of them even came over, kindly asking if I wanted to call a friend for help.
I could only manage a bitter smile and shake my head.
Kenneth was the only person I knew in this whole city.
The guards kept refilling my coffee, but no matter how many times I drank, the warmth never reached my heart.
With every new cup, I felt my heart grow a little colder, a little more numb.
Finally, as the last rays of sunlight faded away, I heard one of the guards shout, "Mr. Beaumont, you're finally back. Mrs. Beaumont has been here all day, waiting for you."
Kenneth paused for a moment, then immediately got out of the car.
He marched right into the security booth.
When he saw what a mess I was in, his face darkened with concern, brows furrowing hard.
He instantly put two and two together.
He didn't say a word. He simply slipped off his coat and wrapped it around my shoulders with familiar ease.
Then, he picked me up and carried me straight back to the villa.
Even when we ran into Sheryl in the stairwell, Kenneth didn't slow down for a second.
He gently laid me down on the bed, then went to the bathroom to run a bath.
Once the water was just right, he picked me up, clothes and all, and set me down in the tub.
He helped me warm up, making sure the chill was gone from my body.
Kenneth started to say something, but all that came out was a long, weary sigh.
"Tara, what am I supposed to do with you?" he said at last.
I looked up at him blankly, and saw how much it hurt him.
After holding it in all day, I couldn't hold back anymore. Tears spilled out before I knew it.