Chapter 29: Chapter 7: Retirement Party

NATE

I woke up at the start of the week hoping it would be less eventful than the past few months. I took over for Dad at his business, Maxwell Industries. He still comes in, but most of the work is done by me now.

During the week, I stay at the apartment in the old building and work in the new one. This year I turned the big twenty-one.

I can’t believe how far we have come with the business. We have become one of the biggest empires around. So big that people fear us and always move out of the way.

When we go out, at least one relationship is broken that night. Most times, guys see the true colors of their girls and just walk away. My guys have to keep the girls away, so when we go out, we go out with plenty of security.

Tonight we are going out to celebrate. Dad hates it, but I don’t overdo it because I know I can never let my guard down in this line of work.

Today is Eva’s first day of sophomore year, and I can’t believe how old she’s getting! Pretty soon she will be at the business and also staying in the apartment.

I slowly peel the covers back and walk to the shower to get my day started. I quickly wash up and jump out to dry off. I look at myself in the mirror.

My hair has gotten dark brown over the years, and I have green eyes and a sharp jawline. I am now a whole two hundred and sixty-seven pounds of pure muscle with ripped abs. Being in this line of work, I have to be in top shape.

I have tattoos that cover my arms and chest, barely visible around my collar. I quickly run a brush through my hair as I walk to my closet to get dressed.

I pull on my gray suit and after getting my shirt and pants on, I throw my holsters under my suit jacket. Grab my socks and shoes and sit on the bed to put them on.

I throw on some cologne and as I exit the door and head downstairs, I hear Dad yelling at Jocelyn to get her ass up. I chuckle to myself because I was the same way.

I quickly walk down the stairs into the kitchen to grab some coffee and head toward the front door. As I walk up to my dad, I see Jocelyn come flying down the stairs.

She quickly gives me a hug, gives dad and mom a kiss, and grabs some food from Frankie as they head toward the door to go to school.

The moment they exit, my dad turns to me and says, “All right, son, you’re off now? Do not get into trouble tonight!”

“I know, Dad. You know me, I only have one beer and that’s it.”

“I know, but I always worry. Now have a good week. I’ll be by soon for the retirement party. Call if you need anything. I gotta go wake up your little brother.”

I give him a hug and turn to head out. I know my guys are waiting by the car.

Jace is my little brother and was born five years after Jocelyn. He’s starting fifth grade at the moment and will soon be in junior high. He has some features from my dad, like his eyes and nose. Everything else is my mom, without a doubt.

I slowly exit the house and see my boys Kyle, Jessie, Luis, and Carlos. We all train together and party together, and these guys are as big as I am, so to say we are intimidating is an understatement. These boys have my back, and I take care of them so they are loyal.

We all load up and drive toward the new office building which we now own. Maxwell Industries is now in a sixty-story building and is the front for our side business, if you will.

We own half the fucking town now, so we don’t get shit from anyone. Not the police or the mayor because, frankly, we make sure everything runs smoothly in this town. How did the mayor get into office? Secrets are never shared.

The hour-long car ride seems to go quickly, and we pull into the garage under the building. After we park, Kyle jumps out and opens the door. Luis gets out ahead of me, and Jessie gets out behind me. Carlos jumps out of the driver’s side and comes around to meet us.

We stand there chatting, and there seems to be a crowd of girls outside the garage jumping up and down trying to get my attention. Ever since that article came out last month in the paper about being the most eligible bachelor, they are everywhere.

We don’t bother because we know they are here for the money, and most of the time, they are already taken. We just shake our heads when we enter the building and head up to my office, which is on the fifty-eighth floor.

When our floor comes up, the doors open and there she is! The lady of the day: Mrs. Connie. I rush out of the elevator and pull her in for a tight hug. She is finally retiring and calling it quits.

She has already trained her replacement, who I still haven’t officially met yet. I saw her like twice as she was running around learning the ropes.

“All right, Connie! Retirement party is in an hour, right?”

“Yes, in the meeting room. The new secretary is in your office getting your files ready for the day.”

“Oh, perfect. What’s her name again?”

“Mandy.”

“That’s right! Mandy. Okay, we will be in the meeting room in a little bit.”

I quickly turn on my heel with my guys behind me, and I make my way to my office. They have desks in the area just outside my office.

We approach the door, and they go to their desks as I open the office door and walk in, closing it behind me. I look at her and just freeze.

My goddess—she is beyond gorgeous! She looks to be about twenty years old. Maybe be five foot, nine inches with dark brown, almost black, hair hanging straight down her back. Looks like she’s a hundred pounds wet—I don’t know if it’s just the way she is or lack of food. But damn, man, my pants just got a little tighter.

“Oh my gosh, I’m so sorry, sir! I was just dropping off your files and will leave now.”

She quickly rushes by me and is clearly frightened. I step in front of her and ask her to stop for a minute.

“Please, sir, I don’t want any trouble. I just want to get my work done.”

She starts getting teary-eyed and quickly looks down. I can’t think what I have possibly done or what she’s heard to think I am a monster.

“Please, Mandy, just wait, okay? Please don’t be scared of me. I don’t know what you have heard, but I am really a nice guy.”

I look down and see her fidgeting with her hands and can see bruises peeking out on her wrists. I reach out and grab her hands, moving her sleeves up so I can look at her wrists. I can see she has tried to hide the bruises by putting on some makeup.

I hold her hands, and I can feel her start to shake as I slowly inspect them. I release a hand and place my finger under her chin to lift up her face to look at me. She has tears streaming down her face as her baby blue eyes pierce mine.

I look at how gorgeous she is, but then I can make out a faint bruise around her eye. Wait, what? My jaw instantly clenches as I am fuming. She can see my reaction, and she knows that I see it.

“Please, sir. You aren’t going to let me leave, are you?”

“Mandy, love, please, I know this will be hard, but please go into my bathroom and wash your face.”

“Please, sir…please don’t make me do it. I don’t have my makeup in here. It’s at my desk.”

“I will get your makeup, don’t worry. I won’t let you leave without it covered. I want to see how bad it is, so wash everything off, please. I will go get your purse with your makeup and bring it in here.”

She slowly nods then heads into the bathroom. I walk out my office door to the front desk.

“Connie, where is Mandy’s purse? I also need a blank business card.”

She just nods and hands me the items, and I walk back to my office. I walk in, closing the door behind me.

I wait for Mandy to finish, wondering just how much makeup she has on. Mandy slowly opens the door walking out of the bathroom to see me standing there. My heart breaks for this girl.

She looks like she was used as a fucking punching bag. I slowly step forward and can see the damage up close. She even has fingerprint bruising on her neck, looking like she was choked.

“Mandy, I will ask you a question, and I am praying you will be honest with me. Do you have any other bruises elsewhere that I cannot see?”

“Yes, sir, I do.”

“Who did it?”

“Please, sir, I don’t want to say.”

She covers her face, sobbing, and my heart goes out to her. I remember my mom being so scared to say anything when we were with Scott. She knew what the consequences were if anyone found out.

I quickly walk up to her and stand in front of her. “Who the fuck did this, Mandy?”

“My boyfriend.”

She loses control and just cries, holding her face still. I wrap my arms around her, feeling her flinch under my touch, and it brings up so many memories.

One hand holds her head while the other rubs her back. I wait till she calms down then I stand back from her. I just nod my head, giving the purse to her so she can redo her makeup. She goes back into the bathroom and shuts the door.

I sit down at my desk, pull out the blank business card, and write down my cell number. When she comes out to my office, I motion for her to stop before she leaves.

“Mandy, I will not get involved, but I will give you this. Put that phone number in your phone under the name ~Angel~. If things ever get too rough and you want out, text me 911, and I will get you out.”

She slowly takes the business card and nods then heads out the door. I motion for my guys to come in and when they enter, I have everyone sit down.

“Just so you boys know, that girl out there is in a bad spot. I want every piece of info you can find on her and her piece-of-shit boyfriend.”

“Did you find your goddess?”

“Yes, Kyle, I did! She will be mine!”

“Did you give her your card?”

“Yes, Luis. Yes, I did. We should probably start heading over to the party for Connie.”

We all get up and walk out of my office, heading down the long hallway to the conference room in the back. When we walk in, there are tons of people walking around, giving hugs to Connie and making small talk. I see my dad and mom and walk up to them.

“There’s my son!”

“Hey, Mom, Dad, I have to tell you—I found my goddess.”

“Really? Here in the business? Did you give her your card?”

I nod my head, then I see Mandy get up and walk over to us in the corner. She shakes my parents’ hands and walks up to me, holding her phone.

“I put the number in my phone.”

I wrap my arm around her shoulders, pulling her against me, and kiss her temple.

“I told you I won’t get involved unless you want me to. I do want you to know that I would do nothing but protect you with my life. Never would you have to want for anything.”

She nods her head as I lower my arm, and she walks away. My parents are staring at me with their eyes wide. My mom covers her mouth, and I can see her eyes starting to well up with tears.

“Did you see her face and neck? Oh my goodness, Nate, that poor girl! Who is doing it?”

“Her boyfriend. I already have my boys digging everything up on her and him.”

I just smile at my mom and dad, then I walk over to Connie and her husband, giving them both hugs.

“Connie, my parents and I wanted to do something special for you both. So here is our gift to you.”

I hand her an envelope, and the moment she opens it, she covers her mouth, starts to cry, and sits down in her chair. Her husband, Joe, looks at me, puzzled, and grabs the envelope. I can see him trying to keep it together as it sinks in what we did.

We paid off their mortgage and are sending them on a cruise to the Bahamas. They both jump up, giving me a hug, then run over to my parents, giving them both hugs.

I remember coming to the office with my mom, and Connie would let me get away with anything. Playing on the phone, making paper airplanes…anything and everything.

I get up and walk out of the conference room to head back to my office so I can get work done. When I enter my office, I sit down and just look out the window. What if she never calls? What if she decides to stay with him?

As the questions run through my head, I can feel myself getting more irate at the situation. I slam my fists down on the desk, throw off my jacket, and walk to my bathroom.

I see remnants of her makeup, and my stomach instantly turns. How anyone can do that to another human being is beyond me. Treat them like trash. I must have made a loud enough noise because my guards and Mandy come running in.

I yell out that I am fine, then I turn on the water to splash some on my face. I do it a few times, then reach for the towel to wipe my face off.

When I remove the towel and look in the mirror, I see Mandy standing there. I turn around, leaning against the counter, and motion for her to come to me. She slowly walks over and stops right in front of me. I just look at her.

“Mandy, I am begging you to please text me if it gets too bad. I cannot stand to think of you in that situation, and it kills me knowing you will be going home to it.”

I try to keep my emotions out of it, but I feel the tears starting, so I look down quickly to try and hide them. I see the top of her head come into view as she wraps her arms around my waist. I instantly throw my arms around her and hold her close.

“I promise, Mr. Maxwell. I will text if it gets too bad.”

“Please, Mandy, just call me Nate.”