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“Kennedy, this is Laughlin Atwater, Morgan Carter, and Bentley Delroy.”
Father releases his hold of my arm, permitting me to approach each man so we may shake hands. Once I finish shaking the last man’s hand, I sit in a wing-back chair as far away from the three men as possible.
Remembering my deportment classes, I sit on the edge, ankles crossed and slightly tucked, keeping my hands folded in my lap and my back ramrod straight.
Assessing each man, it is obvious they enjoy life. Laugh lines are visible on each of their faces, each man handsome in his own way. My mind wanders, considering what each of their sons looks like.
“Kennedy!”
Father’s voice causes me to jump and my smile to slip. Pasting it back into place, I address the men, ignoring my fuming parent.
“Please excuse me for being impolite. Sleep did not come easy for me last night. My mind is slightly distracted by the upcoming semester.”
Mr. Delroy looks like he sucked on a lemon, wishing he could be anywhere else—his glare aimed at my father.
Mr. Atwater seems the more relaxed. His features are rugged, shoulders wider than the others, hinting at more physical labor and time spent outdoors instead of being in an office.
Mr. Carter is a little more difficult to read. It’s as if he has perfected the same restraint as my father when it comes to blanking his expression. Surprisingly, it is Mr. Carter who speaks first.
“Kennedy, Hastings tells us you will be a sophomore at a local college in the fall. What is it that you are studying?”
Figuring this is as good a time as any to drop my new idea, I respond with a genuine grin taking over my face.
“Finance is my major. However, I am adding statistics as a double major.”
Refusing to look at my father, my eyes stay on the men before me. Noticing a shared look, I try to brush it off. The formality of this whole thing comes across as a job interview; sweat starts running down my back, and it isn’t from the heat.
“My son is also a finance major and a sophomore. He has been interning at my company this summer.” He takes a breath, his mouth quirking up on one side. “He is minoring in accounting, but it seems the two of you have quite a bit in common.”
Holding in a groan at the blatant sales pitch for his son, my mind drifts to what working in my father’s company would be like.
Would he hover over me?
It is obvious he either doesn’t trust me to do something like this or just never thought of it.
Mr. Delroy’s phone rings, halting all conversation. I heave a sigh of relief and start to relax before catching myself and straightening back up.
Mr. Delroy swipes at his phone. Once the ringing has stopped, he shows Mr. Carter and Mr. Atwater his phone, causing both men to chuckle.
Rising to his feet, Mr. Delroy addresses my father, “Hastings, is there somewhere private I can take this call?”
“Yes, you can use my office. Please, follow me.”
Leaving to escort Mr. Delroy away, silence falls over the three of us, but it doesn’t last long. Mr. Atwater addresses me this time, speaking softly as if he doesn’t want Father to hear.
“Kennedy, what do you do in your spare time? With your friends?”
His question may be easy to answer for some, but it’s not so easy for me. Heat begins spreading up my neck and face. Staring down at my hands, I pick at my nail polish.
How do you explain that you have no friends?
That your father has you on such a short leash that adding a second major to my courseload is a way to escape him.
Clearing my throat, embarrassed that my answer sucks, my voice squeaks out.
“I, uhm, read…a lot.”
Both men wear confused looks, resulting from my answer. Father enters the room, and I jump to my feet.
