Protecting Fate

Lights and Camera

Kathryn nervously shook in her seat as she waited for Agent Ford to finish talking on the phone outside of the car. They had parked in an empty random car parkade ten minutes after they lost the black van that was chasing them, or her in particular. As the driver's door suddenly opened, Kath let out a frightened squeal as she was still on edge over what had just happened.

Agent Ford looked over at Kathryn and saw just how shaken up she was over what had happened. Seeing her shaking in just her lace crop top and skirt, he shrugged off his black leather jacket and draped it over her shoulders.

Kathryn gave Agent Ford a small smile as she fixed the jacket over her shoulders. "Thanks," she said in a quiet whisper.

Agent Ford gave Kathryn a tight smile and nodded his head as he looked over at Kathryn wearing his jacket. Something in him ignited seeing her wearing it. 

Get it together, Daniel, get it together. 

Taking a deep breath, Daniel looked ahead at the empty parkade.

"Boss said the President is waiting for us. There are other agents waiting outside the parkade to escort us back to the house. Once we get there, we need to go straight to the office," Daniel explained as he started up his car and slowly drove out of the parking garage. Once leaving, Kathryn looked back to see two black SUV's following along behind them.

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Once they arrived at the gates of Kathryn's house, a collection of reporters and TV news stations that were waiting outside the  gates started surrounding Agent Ford's banged-up vehicle. Lights were flashing left and right as reporters caved in yelling questions trying to peek through the car windows.

Kathryn looked left and right with fear and wide eyes, wrapping Agent Ford's jacket tighter around herself. Passing by the reporters Kathryn looked back at all the flashes with dread and fear for what was about to happen. 

Flinching when her door opened, one of her father's security guards held out a hand for her to take as she walked next to Agent Ford past the front doors towards one of his father's secretaries.

"Agent Ford... Miss Bernardo... The President is inside his office waiting for you."

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

"Look at this!" the President yelled out as he handed an iPad to his security guard to hand to Kathryn.

Kathryn took a look at the gossip website with her pictures of herself drinking at the bar and dancing promiscuously. Feeling blood rush to her cheeks and embarrassment flood her face, Kathryn looked down at the ground feeling the wrath of her father coming. Again.

"What the hell do you have to say for yourself? You don't study, you don't have a job, you're always causing trouble. I did not raise you up to be such a disgrace," the President said as he furiously paced back and forth behind his desk.

Clenching his jaw, Daniel watched as the President belittled his only daughter. Yes, Kathryn was a handful but she was misunderstood. Hidden behind that rebellious facade was just a girl waiting to be noticed by her father. He was raised by his mother to respect any woman no matter what situation they were in.

"Mr. President, if I say something?" Daniel said, clearing his throat and speaking up.

"No need Agent Ford, I'm sorry that you have to deal with her. She's done this many times before. Now if only she can finally learn from her mistakes then maybe she won't be such a disgrace. She is to not leave the house at any time during my campaign,"  The President shouted as he threw his hands up in the air. He walked past Kathryn and Agent Ford and out the door with his army of bodyguards following behind.

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

Agent Ford watched as Kathryn walked towards her room with her shoulders slumped over in defeat. Her father may be a very busy man but Kathryn didn't deserve that. Kathryn was looking for her father, not a president. Sneaking out and causing trouble seemed like it was her cry out for her father to notice her or anyone to notice her for that matter. Daniel shook himself from his thoughts. Now was not the time to get personal. She was a part of his job.

Suddenly hearing something smashing and glass breaking, Agent Ford rushed into Kathryn's room to find her on her knees sobbing with her whole vanity a huge mess. Glass was scattered everywhere, delicate items were thrown on the ground, the large mirror was now shattered by a picture of a younger Kathryn with her father.

Seeing Kathryn in such a vulnerable position made Daniel snap. She needed to getaway and being prisoned inside the mansion for a few weeks wasn't going to cut it. Her safety's his priority and being around so much negativity wasn't safe. While he opening her closet, Kathryn looked up through her tears and watched as Daniel looked around for her duffle bag and threw it on the bed. He turned toward her, carefully walked around the broken glass and picked her petite body up in his arms effortlessly.

"I can't take this anymore. I can't do this. I just can't."  Kathryn cried as she hooked her arms around Daniel's neck and held on for dear life. 

"Hey... Hey... We're going to pack you a bag, okay? This is bullshit. We're leaving. You can't stay here."

AUTHOR'S NOTE: Yes, I'm alive!!!!! Got a sudden spurt of inspiration to write :)  I have no idea when the next update will be but like I promised, I will finish this story.