Professional Disaster

Chapter 35

"I can't be the only one uncomfortable with this," Jenkin stressed as he threw himself down into a seat.

Ethan sighed with a nod. "I have to agree with Jenkin, I don't like this. It doesn't seem safe at all."

"Oh come on, I can handle myself." Arabella had received an offer to visit Damon at his house to discuss strategy. Aribelieved it sounded like a great way to find out more about Damon's plan and a way into his mind.

Kimberly frowned. "It's not that you can't handle yourself, darling." She had guilt written all over her face. She began wishing she never had gotten her daughter involved. She stood behind the seat Robert was occupying, playing with his hair as they all discussed the matter.

Ari spun around to face her mother. "It is! You'd let Jenkin if it was him!"

"Don't shout at your mother," Robert warned. He stood from his seat and took his daughter's hands in his. "Look, you're very precious to us, especially after Parker, we all-"

"Don't bring that up! That doesn't mean I can't defend myself, I was sixteen and woke up to him on top of me! That's not a fair competition." She yanked her hands back and crossed her arms over her chest.

Robert raised his voice slightly in frustration. Arabella had always been more stubborn than Jenkin. "Why won't you understand? He could potentially be worse than his father and uncle. I am not willing to lose-"

"You worry over nothing! I'm more than capable! Why do you treat me differently to him?!" Her voice continued to get louder and louder as she pointed at Jenkin.

Jenkin huffed and threw his hands in the air, growing more and more frustrated with his sister. "Why do you feel the need to constantly bring me into it?! Arabella, I love you but you're making it hard for me to be fair here, I only worry for you, just like everyone else in this room."

"It's true! You're just treating me differently because I'm a girl! You've always stopped me from what I want, but when it comes to Jenkin you let him do wherever he wants!"

An animalistic growl erupted from Robert's throat. "Arabella May Mitchell! I don't know who you think you're speaking to but as your father I expect you to show me respect like I show you! I don't stop you because I love Jenkinmore if that's what you're getting at, I just can't trust you to do it right! You aren't capable of doing something so important!"

"Charming! I might as well fucking join Damon! At least he'll treat me as an equal!"

Ethan was sat with his hands on his head, rubbing his temples with one hand, the other at the back of his neck. It's not as if he hadn't seen Arabella that way before, because he had, a lot, but he could see the situation escalating yet he couldn't do anything about it. Sure, he could shout for Robert to stop yelling, but the only reason Robert began shouting was because Arabella was shouting first.

He just waited it out, much like Kimberly.

Robert stepped closer to his daughter and ducked his face down to hers, his face mere inches away from hers. "And if you did, you'd be one spiteful little bitch."

"Robert!" Kimberly yelled in shock.

Ethan was already at his feet, dragging Arabella away from her father within seconds."Absolutely not."

"What the fuck is wrong with you?!" Jenkin didn't think twice before shoving his hands against his father's back.

Robert turned to face the boy, nothing but shock plastered on his face.

The whole room watched stunned as Jenkin raised a fist and punched his father clean across the jaw. It didn't make sense how it happened. One minute Jenkin was stood there, chest rising and falling with rage, and the next he was pummeling punch after punch at his father while Robert just took it.