Chapter Seven

IRENA

AFTER the limo had been rolling for a minute, Irena sat up. Anger flooded her body as the woman's last words ran through her.

Does Sage know what his dad did? Is she stupid to think he knows nothing? She shook her head. Of course, he would lie. He's rich.

The feeling of wetness on her hand pulled her out of her train of thought. She squealed and looked around. Her breathing became hoarse as she stared at the dog's face the day before. He was sitting among the parallel benches in front of her. His heartbeat coincided with the beat of his tail hitting the ground.

"W-Why are there dogs here?" she cried, her voice choking with each word.

As if talking to her was the key to liberation, the dog stepped forward and pressed his face against Irena's face. She shouted and raised her hands. Ever since she was attacked by a German Shepherd as a child, she has been terrified of dogs. And this fear has not faded with age.

The dog's wet nose rubs against its skin. She shivered as she leaned back in her seat and tried to open the door and throw herself out of the moving car.

"Uh, any help?" she whispered to the driver. He was on the other end of the line and didn't seem to notice her horror.

She leaned against the door and took a deep breath. The dog doesn't seem to want to bite her, which is a good sign. Gathering up her courage, she reached out and grabbed the metal charm that was hanging around her neck.

TITAN is stamped in large letters. He stared at her making her heart race.

"Titan?" she whispered. Fear choked him.

He tilted his head to the side, then barked and leaned toward her.

She screamed as he rushed over. But, instead of feeling like giant teeth were ripping through her skin, the warm, wet sensation from before ran through her skin, paralyzing her. Titan put his feet on either side of her legs and climbed into her lap.

If she could curl up in the fetal position she would, but the weight of her body pressed against her legs, pinning her to the chair. She is squirming and swaying. Anything to bring the giant dog away from him.

Sage's smug face returned to him. She should have known he was behind it all. Why would this unbearable man leave his dog in the limo? Who does this?

"Sorry." She raised her voice, hoping to attract the driver's attention, but the dog's large body and shaggy coat absorbed her call.

Before sinking into despair, the limo stopped. Titan was still on his knees, but he turned his attention to the movement on the other side of the window. The driver got out of the car and went to his door. When he opened it, sunlight flooded inside.

"Help," she squealed.

"Titan!" growled the driver.

"What did he do?" Irena would recognize Sage's gruff voice anywhere.

"He's sitting on Miss. Derrick."

Sage laughs. "Well, he's a good boy."

Irena opened her mouth to say what she thought of the man, but a hiss filled the silence.

"Come on, boy," Sage called.

Titan gasped as he jumped off Irena's lap and out the door.

She's sitting there trying to calm down. Now the smell of dog saliva surrounded him.

She stroked his cheek, trying to get rid of the feel of his tongue against her skin. A shiver ran down her spine. The silhouette of Sage filled the doorframe as he leaned in.

"Well, are you coming?"

She was sitting there staring at him.

"Did you send the dog to pick me up?"

He shrugged.

"Joseph brought me Titan. I think you two would get along."

She stared at him.

"Don't you think that's inappropriate?" She thought about telling him she had a terrible fear of dogs but gave up. There was no need to give this man more ammo to fight her.

"No," he said.

Irena clenched her jaw. Words that the rules didn't apply to flashed through his mind. She is helping him, and how does he treat her? On the same level as his dog.

"If you've stopped panicking now, the plane is waiting for you." Sage stepped out of the limo.

Irena took a deep breath and quelled the burning thoughts.

Being a journalist means she can give sarcastic answers at any time, but now is not the time. Peter wouldn't be happy if she was fired from this assignment. From the look on his face yesterday, things didn't go as well as the magazine described. There was despair and worry in Peter 's voice.

She muttered her thoughts under her breath as she slid into the chair to the open door and out.

Joseph took her to a small hangar where a jet was parked. Side doors open and a staircase is in front.

She was about to get her luggage out of the limo, but Joseph took it and put it at the door.

"Need any help?" he asked, nodding toward the suitcase and then toward the plane.

She grabbed the handle.

"No. I think I can handle it from here."

"Sounds good," he said, smiling at her.

She returned it. In the end, the only person in Sage Kennedy 's world who treats her like a human, and he's the hired maid. Amanda almost turned her nose at him, and Sage seemed to care more about the four-legged creatures than anyone around him.

"Are you coming?" she asked Joseph, pointing at the plane.

He laughs.

"NO. I have to stay here. I'm still driving Miss. Massey."

Irena stared at him.

"Amanda," he corrected.

She leaned forward.

"I'm sorry."

Joseph looked at her confused and shook his head.

"Oh no. The Kennedy family has always been nice to me."

Irena looked at it but didn't push it any further. The Kennedy family didn't care about anyone but themselves. That was evident in the findings. Recently about Sergio Kennedy.

As she reached the stairs, the opening line of her article began to swirl in her mind: To the Kennedy family, the rules didn't seem to apply.