Jacquelin Thomas - Five Star Desire

“I’m not seeing anyone seriously, so it might be a while.”

Kellen laughed. “Mom’s going to be so disappointed.”

His brother chuckled.

The band, La Chapelle Rhénane Orchestra from Paris, kept the dance floor packed all night long.

Kellen finished the last of his champagne. “You know...I don’t think I’ve ever seen Harold dance.”

Dreyden glanced over at his brother and said, “It’s his wedding day. He’s having a good time.”

“So what’s going on with your love life?” he asked Dreyden. “I can’t believe you haven’t met anyone special.”

“I’ve been so inundated with work that I haven’t had time to build a relationship. However, there is this girl that I think is special. She’s a workaholic just like I am. Only she’s in Hong Kong. Her job transferred her there eight months ago.”

“Bro, you need some downtime.”

“I know. I am going to take some time off in a couple of months. I’m thinking about going to Hong Kong.”

“I think you should, especially if she’s special to you,” Kellen advised.

“If I do that, I’m not sure I’ll have a restful vacation.”

He laughed. “I guess you’re right about that.”

“What about you?” Dreyden inquired. “Have you left anyone special behind in Atlanta?”

Kellen shook his head. “I’m not looking to get serious with anybody. I want to get my career on track first.”

He accepted a second glass of champagne from a passing waiter. “There is a sea of gorgeous women here,” he said. “It’s been a while since I’ve seen so many in one place like this.”

Dreyden agreed.

They stopped to chat with a couple of friends who were in attendance. Kellen smiled at the daughter of the couple he was conversing with. She smiled back and gave a little wave, but it was Dreyden who seemed to have captured her attention.

When they walked away, he said, “She was pretty. I saw the way she kept looking at you.”

Dreyden chuckled. “Maybe I should ask her to dance.”

“I think you should,” Kellen encouraged. “Go on...have fun.”

He watched his brother make his way back over to the young woman. They made their way to the dance floor.

“What’s this?” Blaze asked as he joined Kellen at his table. “I guess Dreyden’s feeling much better. He’s out there dancing.”

“He needs to have some fun. The man does nothing but work.”

“What about you? When was the last time you had a date?”

“It’s been a while,” Kellen responded. “I didn’t want to be tied to anyone since I was moving out here right after graduation.”

“So you’re ready to break some hearts in Los Angeles.”

He grinned. “I’m definitely not going to get mine broken.”

“I can’t wait to meet the woman who steals your heart, Kellen.”

“Hey, I can’t, either. She’s really going to have to be something special to get me to want to settle down.”

* * *

Kellen drove to Dreyden’s condo the next day. He was looking forward to watching a basketball game with him. He was a Lakers fan while his brother favored the Atlanta Hawks.

“Hey, I just got off the phone with Ari,” Dreyden announced. “He’s bringing pizza and beer.”

“Great,” Kellen replied. He took note of Dreyden’s grayish pallor and the dark circles beneath his eyes and the way his clothes hung loosely on his frame. “Hey, when was the last time you saw a doctor?” he inquired.

“I think it’s been about two years,” Dreyden responded with a slight shrug. “I think I may have a virus or something, but I don’t think it’s anything serious.”

“I don’t agree,” Kellen responded. “This has been going on for a while now. I’m not the only one who has noticed how much weight you’ve lost, and that you haven’t had much of an appetite lately.”

“The whole family has said something.” Dreyden was quiet for a moment. “If it’s that noticeable, then I guess it’s time for a checkup, at least.”

“Make the call to the doctor’s office.”

“Enough about me,” Dreyden said as he settled back in his chair. “Let’s talk about you. How was your first week on the job?”

Kellen shrugged in nonchalance. “It was okay. I spent most of the day in technical workshops and the rest getting familiar with some of our current projects. I haven’t been able to touch anything yet.”

“So what do you think of the new Special Projects Director?”

“When did you find out that Addison was getting the position?” Kellen asked.

“I think Ari may have mentioned it a couple of weeks ago.”

“Why didn’t you tell me?”

“Dad didn’t want us to say anything,” Dreyden responded. “He wanted to be the one to discuss it with you.”

Kellen gave a short laugh. “There was no discussion. Dad straight out told me that he had given the job away. He didn’t think that I could handle the position.”

Dreyden took a long drink of his bottled water. “You’re still upset with him, I see.”

Shrugging in nonchalance, Kellen responded, “I don’t agree with his decision, and I never will.”

“Dad wasn’t trying to hurt you.”

“That may not have been his intention, but he did,” he stated. “He clearly has no faith in my abilities.”

“You’re taking this the wrong way.”

“I don’t know any other way to take it, Dreyden. Dad didn’t even consider giving me a chance to prove myself. He just gave the position to someone else.”

“Kellen, do you honestly think that you could have gone to another company and walked into a director position with no experience?”

“I’m really tired of hearing that. Maybe I should put some feelers out there and see,” he countered.

Dreyden scratched his arm before folding them both across his chest. “Maybe you should. Who knows...it may work out for you.”

Kellen eyed his brother for a brief moment, noting the way he was scratching his skin.

“Dad would probably see it as a betrayal of some sort.”

“No, I’m pretty sure he would understand,” Dreyden uttered. “Dad has always allowed us to make our own choices. You’re free to do whatever you want.”

“I don’t know what to do,” Kellen said with a sigh of frustration.

“I would give the job six months,” Dreyden stated. “If you still feel the same way, then start sending out your résumé.”

He nodded in approval. “I can do that.”

“I think I need to change the soap I’m using or something. My skin is dry and itchy.”

Kellen chuckled. “I’ve told you about buying that cheap stuff. You need to stop being so frugal.”

“And you need to start putting away some money for the future,” Dreyden advised. “God bless the child that’s got his own.”

“You don’t have to worry about me, big brother. You, Blaze and Ari have been good role models for me. I’ve learned from all of your mistakes.”

“But have you learned from your own?”

Kellen laughed. “The jury’s still out on that.”

* * *

“Charles will provide leadership for all team members throughout the life of this project to ensure continuity, meaningful collaboration and clear communication,” Addison stated Monday afternoon. “Kellen, I would like for you to shadow the team.”

He gave a slight nod, but did not respond otherwise.

Kellen had been with the company for almost three weeks now and hadn’t been able to touch a project. She could tell that he wasn’t happy with her decision, but this project was too important to the company—Addison was not willing to risk placing a novice on something like this.

After the other employees left the room, she said, “I get the feeling that you’re upset about my decision to just let you shadow the team.”