Professional Disaster

Chapter 10

"Nice one. Now do target A, E and G." Jenkin quickly spun around, shooting the targets each two times, once in the head and once in the chest.

Robert clapped, impressed at his son's quick movements. "You're good, Son."

"Better than you?" Jenkin smirked.

"Never." Robert shook his head and chuckled. "How're you feeling?"

Jenkin shrugged. "I'm aching."

"It's to be expected. You'll be thankful for all this training when you're the new Mr. Mitchell. Believe me, I started off of nothing." Robert picked up a towel and on instinct began to wipe the sweat off his son's face.

Jenkin took the towel from his Father with a smile and rubbed it over his hair. Sometimes Robert forgot just how old his little boy was and that it could be a bit embarrassing for Jenkin to have his Father pat away his sweat while in his twenties. "I bet. I can't imagine shit going down for the first time. Everything is so much safer than what It used to be for you."

Robert had told Jenkin many stories of the business antics to get Jenkin ready, and to say he was shocked was an understatement. until he was seventeen he had no idea just how badly injured his parents had been. He had even completely forgotten about that time his mother had been mugged in front of him.

"It's a lot calmer now," Robert paused for a moment. "It never does stay calm, and it has been for a while now."

"But we have the island, we're safe." Jenkin shrugged as he packed up his training bag.

"That sort of thinking will get you killed." His Father tutted. "You need to be thinking about everything all the time."

"Okay," Jenkin sighed nervously. He could feel a pit of anxiety arising in his chest. I have to be ready. He needed to be ready but how could a person know when they were ready for something they had never experienced before? Could be really look after the company like he claimed?

"Anyway, don't let that stop you from having fun, you're still young. Do you have any plans tonight?" Robert finished packing up, not noticing his son's anxiety.

"Actually, I was going to ask if I was okay to go out drinking tonight on the mainland with the guys?"

Robert laughed. "Of course you can. You know my rules. Follow them."

Jenkin often asked permission to do things he was more than aware he was allowed to do, even from a young age. However, as he got older it became clear that it wasn't about getting the answer, but more about showing his parents respect. "Thank you. Could I sleep in your office for he night? Cole and Elijah already gave Ethan and Jackson the go-ahead."

"Yes, Jenkin. You don't need to ask. Soon enough it'll be yours. Just please, keep it clean."

*****

Jenkin and his friends were out of the house and Arabella was already fast asleep even though it was only midnight. With the house quiet Kimberly and Robert lay in bed, a book in Kim's hands and an iPad in Robert's. No matter what Robert Mitchell was doing he always looked concentrated, but with his right pinky-finger brushing up against Kimberly's bare thigh she knew that with a clear of her throat his attention would be hers. She flipped the page in her book and puffed out her cheeks in boredom.

After closing the book and setting it down on her nightstand with a bookmark she rolled into Robert's side. She stared up at him silently, watching as his eyes flicked between her and his device. Kimberly also glanced at the screen. It was forms, nothing exciting. She lifted her hand so her fingers could trace his neck before she peppered kisses against his warm skin.