Corruption - Leigh Lennon Page 0,65
time in the kitchen. I bang on the door, not sure anyone will hear me from the back part of the house.
It takes a couple of minutes, but through the paned glass of the kitchen door, the older version of Jewel approaches me. Her smile is just like her daughter’s as she pulls it open.
“We don’t normally get company through the side door. How can I help you today, sir?”
I straighten my tie and button my suit jacket. “Yes, Mrs. Atkins. My name is Maddox Sobota. I’m your daughter’s boyfriend, and I was hoping to chat with you and your husband.”
“Juliana. Is she okay?” She turns herself to the side. “And please come in, Mr. Sobota. Have a seat. I’ll start us some coffee.” She busies herself in the kitchen as coffee begins to brew and turns back around because I haven’t answered her concerning her daughter.
“So Juliana, is she okay? Is she safe? Happy?” She wrings her hands together with a look of fright on her face.
“Yes, she’s doing well, all things considered. She misses you a lot. And was of course upset at the way her father treated her. But she’s good. I’d like to share more with you when your husband’s able to join us.”
She rubs the top part of her forehead, and the wrinkles around her face tighten. “I’m not sure how this conversation will go. Her choices go against everything she’s been taught and rebelling on her father like this has really changed him. He’s so angry. Before I call him down here, can you give me something about her, her new life with you. Do you treat her well? Is she happy with you?”
“We live a normal life, Mrs. Atkins. I love your daughter very much. I can tell you she started school today. I’ve made sure she can attend college, and she’s chosen music as her major. I’ve made a little music room off our kitchen for her and a study nook, too. I know she’d love to see you.”
She wrings her hands together again. “Oh, I can’t go against my husband’s wishes.” I somewhat understand her dilemma. She may not want to admit this, but she and her husband are in a D/s role, too. They just won’t see it as this.
“Give me a second, let me get Roger.”
She stands at the steps, looking back into the open kitchen. “Roger, honey, we have company. Can you come down here, please?”
She walks back toward me, fixing two cups of coffee, bringing me one and setting the other in front of the open seat. She sets down cream and sugar, and I add a lump of sweetness to my coffee, waiting for the unexpected, because this should have happened after he placed his hands on my sweet Jewel. However, she needed me more than I needed to deal with her father.
“Rebekah, who is this?” He points at me and then back at his wife, standing over me as though he’s going to intimidate me. I stand because I won’t put up with his scare tactics.
“Mr. Atkins, my name is Maddox Sobota. I’m Juliana’s boyfriend.” The first thing I notice about Roger Atkins is he’s tall. Mrs. Atkins is tiny, and this must be where Jewel gets her height. However, it’s where all similarities end. When the name and the title hit him, a redness forms on his face, and his lips instantly turn to not just a frown but a vicious and mean scowl. I don’t have to know the guy to understand an anger so pure, I can feel the rage melting off him.
“I understand,” I begin, before he most likely will kick me out, “you aren’t happy with Jewel’s choices, but if you can just hear me out, I’ll be on my way as soon as I’m done.”
His grimace swings to his wife, then back at me. “Rebekah, you let this man into our house after he turned our daughter against us?”
Her crying is similar to Jewel’s, where she tries to hold back the swarm of tears, but a few escape, and in her face is the same anguish Jewel carries around as a direct result of being separated from one another.
“Please, Roger, she’s our child, and I miss her.”
He stares at his wife. “We raised a whore, and I blame you.” He points his finger back at me, his face so close to Rebekah Atkins, her voice quivers.
“Mr. Atkins.” The pitch of my voice catches his attention. “This is your house,