Kelvin was rewatching the CCTV video again. He propped his elbows on the table, shoved his fingers into his hair and laughed at himself. Now, he could tell the differences between this woman and Leila. The way she moved reminded him all too much of someone else. Someone he couldn't remember at the moment. This woman initiated the kiss first, Leila wouldn't have done that.
What if the events of the last few weeks had not been a coincidence? From the pictures of him and Mia snuggling on his hospital bed to the mugging of his wife on her way back from Freya's house to the gala.
Leila insisted he didn't touch her.
The test result from the hospital confirmed that. He punched himself on the knee again. While he was seething for a crime his wife never committed, she was in the hospital getting tested. The only thing that gave him temporal respite was knowing she wasn't alone throughout the process.
Kelvin closed the laptop and dialled Nate. He needed that man to draw up contracts and sign a great deal with Darren. It was the only way he could repay Freya for her unending support to his wife. He wasn't there when she needed him but Freya was. She was indeed a good friend. It made him wish he had someone like that in his life. Most of his friends stayed back in Europe while he moved across continents to explore and take charge of the other family businesses.
The call didn't go through so he left Nate, the CEO of Index games, a text message.
Amara knocked and he asked her to come in. Kelvin had two more places to visit but before then, he had a lawyer to attend to.
"Barrister King is here," Amara said from the door.
"Let him in."
Amara stepped away from the door and a bulky man appeared. They greeted each other with handshakes and Amara returned to the office with two mugs of steaming coffee. Kelvin dismissed her so they could have some privacy. After pleasantries, King got down to business.
"It's not possible, Mr McKenna," he told Kelvin.
"What do you mean?" He fiddled with the cup holding half a dozen pencils and his finger circled the tip of one of them. King folded his arms on his chest. Kelvin didn't like him so much now. His request was simple. It could be done. "Even if the person harassed your client?"
"The way a restraining order works, only a victim can file for it. A guardian can file on behalf of a minor or a disabled person."
The little hope Kelvin had vanished. Leila wasn't a minor or incapacitated but he wasn't sure he could convince her to file a restraining order against Charles. That was why he tried to do it himself with the intention of telling her when the order was in place. On this matter, he would rather deal with an angry Leila, than an unwilling one. He couldn't let this pass.
Charles drugged his wife. He didn't know how, he didn't have any evidence to back up his claims but there was nothing anyone could say that would change his mind. How would they explain his wife waking up in a strange room? It pissed him again. Leila's calmness to the whole situation annoyed him even more.
"Mr McKenna?" King snapped his fingers in front of his face and Kelvin shook out of his reverie. "I was saying, the person has to file the order themselves. They will have to sign an affidavit. You need to show proof that the person abused you." Kelvin's heart sank. This would not work with Leila. She hated talking about that experience, how much more showing proof. "If the court believes they are in harm, they will be granted a temporary order of protection."
Fuck. He balled his hands into fists under the table.
"No loopholes?" He was desperate to help his wife.
"None that I know of." King's hand ran over his buzz cut. He offered Kelvin a pitiful smile. "But I'll look into it."
Minutes after the lawyer left, Kelvin was still sulking. He texted his wife and he received a reply instantly.
Leila: Bored. I miss you too.
Kelvin didn't reply. It was two hours until the close of work but he cleared his desk. He was done for the day. He gave his assistant strict instructions to handle the rest of today's business on his behalf.
His first stop was the store. The yellow dress was ready. Kelvin smiled at the gown while Bella rambled on a need for Leila to return for fittings. They would do that later. They used Madonna's measurements since the two women were almost the same size minus the hips. He paid for the gown and left. At least one thing went as planned.
The thought of his next destination made his heart beat faster, he called out the direction to his driver and the man turned back to look at him.
"Yes," he repeated. "To the Black's residence."
It had been too long since he visited there. Uncle Luke, Charles's father, was cool but business made it hard to visit as often as he wanted. Being a CEO and the owner of numerous businesses came with lots of money but little freedom and time to enjoy his wealth. It was one of the reasons he spoiled Leila, if he couldn't spend his money, she should on his behalf.
They drove on in silence, he contemplated telling Leila his destination but changed his mind. They would talk about it on his return. The purring of the car lured him to sleep, he opened his eyes to the giant black gates of the Black's residence. Charles lived somewhere in the city, far from his family but Kelvin hoped his father could talk sense into him. This was his last chance.
Someone opened the door of the car for Kelvin before he could do it. He hadn't called to give them prior notice but they acted like his arrival was expected. His driver stayed behind while the butler directed him into the house.
The house was quiet. They passed through long corridors, stopping in front of a room with tall doors.
A minute or two passed. A maid went into the room, she came out minutes later and whispered into the butler's ear. The whole process made Kelvin uneasy but he acted unfazed. The maid disappeared soon after.
"Mr Black will see you now."
The butler turned and left, leaving him standing alone and a bit confused. He opened the door and stopped. Charles was here with his father.
They were seated at a round table discussing what looked like properties. Charles shuffled the sheets of paper and put them away, his instant smile made Kelvin nauseous and the one thing that stopped him from swinging his fist at Charles's nose was Uncle Luke's presence. He adored the man.
Uncle Luke who was seated at the head of the table stood to welcome him. They shared a manly hug and Kelvin took the seat on the left of him since Charles was seated on his right.
A knock followed by the door opening and the maid from earlier walked in with a tray. She dropped it in front of him and rushed out before he could refuse.
"No, uncle. I'm not here for this."
"Oh, please. I haven't seen you in ages."
Uncle Luke was an older version of Charles. Kelvin kept in touch with him mostly because he once helped his mother. It surprised him how someone as vile and vicious as Charles could come from a good man like his father. For the sake of courtesy, Kelvin sipped from the cup of foreign tea. It tasted delicious and his uncle laughed when he nodded.
"My wife got it on her return from China," Uncle Luke provided.
"It's very lovely." Silence fell over them as he tried to come up with his next words. Kelvin didn't know how to start, he didn't know if his uncle would pick his son's side over a distant relative. In the end, Kelvin started by saying, "Uncle, your son drugged my wife."
Charles tried to speak but his father held a hand up. Kelvin repeated the words Leila told him, mentioning the CCTV tapes to back up his claims and the misleading videos and pictures he sent using Leila's phone. Emotions flashed across Uncle Luke's face but he masked them as fast as they came.
Kelvin stopped. The two Blacks were staring at him, one with hate and the other with concern.
"We have lived on good terms for so many years but I will not condone any form of harassment to my wife."
Kelvin flattened his hands on his table, the nerves that had lodged in his joints were gone. He was doing this for his wife and he would go to war with all his family members if it was the only way to ensure her safety.
"Family first, uncle. You know that but your son doesn't. He has constantly harassed her without any regard for me." Uncle Luke's lips pursed, and Kelvin stared at Charles, the man sitting across him. He wondered how many women this guy had molested and had been forced to keep quiet for fear of losing their job. Unfortunately, he messed with the wrong woman. "I hate to say this but if you don't watch your son, I will."
"Motherfucker," Charles screamed. Jumping to his feet, his chair collapsed and he slammed his fist on the table. "How dare you? You think you can come into our house and threaten us?"
"It's not a threat. It's a promise," Kelvin replied with his eyes locked on Charles's. "If you don't watch yourself, I will. Stay away from my wife."
Charles appeared beside Kelvin so fast and grabbed his collar. Kelvin wasn't thinking when he swung at the bastard's face. The crack accompanied by the sound of fist meeting flesh broke Kelvin out of his trance, he adjusted his jacket and took a step back. All he wanted to do was beat this pathetic fool to a pulp but he had to respect his uncle. Charles straightened up with blood coating the edge of his nostrils. He swiped at his nose and paled at the sight of blood.
"You broke my nose," he screamed while staring at his hands. "You fucking broke my nose, you bastard."
Charles charged for Kelvin again but he never made it. A voice rang out in the room. "Charles Alexander Black." It was uncle Luke. A look passed between father and son, Charles's hand lowered and he backed away from Kelvin. With a small smile on his face, uncle Luke told Kelvin, "He won't be bothering you again, son. Happy married life."