What They Don't See

Chapter 3 - Strangers In The Light

After going over the managers' proposed contract, Kate made several changes to the terms before signing and receiving a copy. Once the process was done, she walked both men to her door and calmly shook their hands before they stepped out. All the while Kate fought the instinct to beat both men to a pulp.

As a consequence of her upbringing, Kate did not take well to being challenged. This was a challenge. And these cocky managers had no idea who they were up against. Kate would bide her time. But she would have the upper hand in the end. She was sure of that.

As her mind began to drift to darker thoughts, her phone began to vibrate on the dining table where she had placed it earlier.

Papa! Kate thought with a start when she spotted the 'unknown number' title.

The thought of not picking up the call was a fleeting one that she indulged only for a second. But she knew that if she didn't pick up now he would worry, and that would ultimately have too many consequences. With reluctance, she shut the door and rushed into the living room to pick up the call.

"Salut," (Hi) she said into the phone at her ear.

"Salut mon cher," (Hi my dear) her father's voice replied from the other side.

"Tu veux me dire ce qui se passe?"
(Wanna tell me what's going on?)

With a sigh, Kate relaid everything that had just transpired over the last 24 hours in rapid French. She had learned a long time ago that it was futile to hide anything from Papa.

"Aahh... I was wondering what that picture of you kissing the movie star was about. You know better than that my dear," he murmured with a touch of humor in his tone.

Kate knew that her father had intended the comment as a joke, he had never tried to control who she interacted with after all, but Kate couldn't help but feel a pang of guilt. He was right, she knew better than to get involved with someone in the spotlight. It drew too much attention. Not only to her but to everyone in her life.

"Alright dear," he resumed when she said nothing. "What is your plan for this situation?" The echo on the other side told her she was now on speaker, which meant that other people were in the room, most likely members of the Council, an inner circle of advisors that she had been a part of for the last three years to get a better understanding of the ins and outs of the business.

"Well, I have no choice but to play their game. For now at least. And it will only be a matter of time before the press figures out who I am so be ready for the onslaught on your end. Tighten the security at Delaquor headquarters and at the chateau. Expect journalists so no guns out in the open if it can be helped, please. American journalists are persistent and pick at every little thing. Oh and warn ma mère. They might go looking for her as well.

"But I have no intention of letting them keep the power. I'll play along for now, but I'll need leverage to get the upper hand in this situation. So I'll need you to do a few things for me...."

~

For the rest of the day, Kate sat discussing and plotting every last detail of her plan on her secure line. She was determined to make sure these people regretted ever trying to control her. She was filled with an overwhelming need to show them why everyone that had tried to control her in the past had failed, and why they would be no different. In that moment, it became clear why her father chose her to take over his empire.

Once they had finished and said their goodbyes, all Kate wanted to do was crawl into her bed and sleep. It had been a long day. But it was not over just yet. She had made a deal, and she intended to uphold her end. So, with another heavy sigh, Kate got up from her spot on the sofa and walked over to her bedroom to get ready for the evening ahead.