Savage

Chapter 22- Love's Effect

*Kendall's POV*

I was at the grand gate that opened on my arrival, because I had ranks in this Broker family. No security questioning for me. It would take at least ten minutes to walk across to the front door, that was just to idealize how huge this place was. There was a really big and beautiful fountain out front, in the middle of the road pathway, so the roads curved around it in a round-a-bout type of style. I make my way up to the door in five minutes instead because I jogged to it. 

The grand varnished door with the fancy meaningless engravings opened right before I put my hand on the buzzer, while I breathed out a bit heavily to brace myself for any greeting to come. I was greeted by Jared's usual bland face and I was just really hurt right now, and I knew he was gonna praise me for what has happened so far. 'Kendall,' he began. 'Well done.' 

He pressed his lips together then formed somewhat of a smile on his face. He nodded to something behind me.

Behind me, a brilliant red E350 Sedan was between one pair of the parking lines, right next to where a familiar black Camry was parked.

Camry? Melanie.

Did she get Andrew here already? He was probably in the holding room with Shay.

'Thanks sir,' I couldn't really hide the astonishment in my voice and I couldn't believe this. I always wanted one of those but it was like a pattern to have dark coloured cars in here, but I wonder what changed his mind. Wow. He placed the keys in my hands. I passed my thumb over it. This was supposed to be really exciting but I only felt half of the happiness that I was supposed to.

Standing behind Jared when I turned back, was a tall woman, with cherry blonde hair, who wore a skin tight black jeans and a loose white top. I couldn't really recognise anything else about her, because her round-framed shades blocked off her eyes, but her lips were full and red, I noticed.

'Hello,' she greeted and extended her hand to shake. I took it and shook it briefly.

'My soon-to be wife,' He nodded in her direction. 'My son, Kendall.' He then nodded acknowledgement in my direction. That was a really short introduction. 'Now if you could excuse me, the decorators would be here any minute.' He nodded sharply and excuse himself from our presence. Then it was only his fiancee Sabrina and I left standing. From the shades and attire, I guessed she was going out.

I just looked at her and pulled of a pleasant smile and she returned it. 'Kendall,' she said.

'Miss...?' I wasn't sure what to call her. I didn't know if she would feel weird if I called her mom.

'Sabrina...you can call me by my first name, I don't mind.' She continued smiling, her red lipstick now highlighted by her white teeth.

'Sabrina..' I showed my teeth too and I had no idea what to say and I couldn't pull off the smile any longer. All the thoughts of the earlier events came rushing back and I didn't realize when my smile was no longer plastered.

'Kendall, it happened for a reason.' Her voice got softer.

'What?' What was she talking about? 'I'm sorry, what are you talking about?'

'What happened earlier,' she spoke in such a hushed tone now. I wasn't sure if I should be picking up on this right now or not. Then when she continued speaking, I realized. 'On the tracks. I made it seem like a kidnapping to her.'

Oh. OH. She did that? What?

I was so conflicted at the moment, all I could manage was 'why?'

'I had seen everything. Through the cameras on the trail, that is. You really love her don't you?'

Did I love Shailene? I just really really liked her. I guess there was more to think, but later on when I try to think of a plan to rectify all that has been damaged in my life. I answered her, 'Well, I guess I do, but why would you do something like that?'

'Kendall, my child, I have seen the way you look at her, and I knew what was about to happen. She would have realized it was you that lead her here. So, I asked your father to alter the plans. And, I did, so you wouldn't look guilty. '

She didn't know me personally, yet she tried to save my guilt and Shay's feelings. Not that I wasn't feeling guilty. I was...and I was drowning in regret.

Wow. Really...wow. 

My new mom, I couldn't believe this. Not only did she become concerned about my life and feelings, but she convinced my hard-headed father, to change a plan. Unbelievable. I couldn't help but ask, 'You actually convinced Jared to change something? That's quite unbelievable.'

She laughed softly. 'Yes, believe it or not, he has changed quite a bit since I first met him years ago. Changed man I say.'

'Hmm, well that's great. Keep it up.' We both smiled again and I couldn't believe that this was all happening.

'Oh, yes and,' she paused and gestured to something behind me. I just turned to take a look back and I didn't know what she was guiding my eyes to. I realized what it was when she continued to speak. 'When we were refurnishing last week to bring a new feel for the wedding, I found a magazine with this Sedan circled off. It was in your pillowcase.'

'Oh...it was a coloured car..He wouldn't have been slightly interested by the idea..I honestly did not expect this, thank you so much mom.' Oh no. 'No, sorry Sabrina, I didn't mean to-' She cut me off. It was an honest slip of the tongue. I couldn't believe I just did that. She was probably going to think I'm clingy or something.

'Kendall, calm down, it's okay, really. But, it's not that I don't want you to call me that. I just think you wouldn't want to.'

Oh. 'Why wouldn't I?' Among all this small talk and discoveries, I wondered which room Andrew and Shay were in...because I needed to find it.

'You'll see. But, I have to go now. Got make sure Jared's corsage is in place. Specially picked out tulips.' 

'That's..cute.' I offered her a smile again. 'Well, I shouldn't keep you any longer, have fun.' She flashed her teeth again. 

'Thanks son. Holding room is Andrew's old room.' With that, before I could even think to thank her, she made her way to the side of the grand building without turning back, where her vehicle was probably parked. She called me her son, but she told me I wouldn't want to call her my mom for some reason? Why?

I played with the Sedan's keys in my hand and I thought for a bit. Wow, she had read my mind about the holding room. I was going to find it...well I had intentions to, but I had no clue what to do or say when I found it. 

First things first, with the guilt wrenching inside me, I realized I needed to do two things. 

Firstly, I needed to talk to Shailene, and tell her the truth. Only because she deserved to know everything..because I'm not used to people caring about me...and she did. The hardest thing to do though, would be to convince her how much I truly liked her after all of my unfaithful and deceitful thinking.

Secondly, I needed to apologize to Andrew.