The King’s Favorite Sin

The Unseen Side

Kendra’s POV

I grabbed my keys and headed for the car, the city already alive with the frantic pulse it has in the mornings. My stomach churned. Not with hunger, but with anticipation. Today was the start of something big. My first real day as a psychologist. And my first patient…

Scott Fischer. The Mafia King of the city.

I should’ve felt the excitement of the job, the thrill of finally stepping into my role. Instead, all I felt was nerves. A man like him didn’t belong in my world. But I had no choice. The paperwork was clear, and my job was clear.

I started the car and headed to the café where my boyfriend, Caleb, was waiting. We’d been dating for a month now, though I still couldn’t believe how fast we’d fallen into each other. We met in a bookstore, of course, it was a bookstore. I was browsing the fiction section when he slid the novel I’d already read into my hands and asked if I thought it was any good, and just like that, we clicked.

I turned into the parking lot just down the street, hands tightening on the wheel.

You’ve got this, I told myself, but the words felt hollow. This wasn’t a normal session.

I parked and took a second to steady my nerves. I forced my face into a neutral expression, grabbed my bag, and headed inside.

The door chimed when I walked in, and there he was, sitting at the table by the window, his phone in hand. My heart lightened just seeing him.

He looked up when I approached, a smile stretching across his face like he was already pleased to see me. "You look beautiful today, Ken," he said in a low voice.

I felt the heat rush to my cheeks and quickly looked down at the table to mask the flush. "Thanks," I muttered, my fingers tracing the rim of the empty coffee cup in front of me. "But honestly, I’m not really excited. I don’t think I’m ready for today."

He leaned in and took my hand, his thumb brushing across my knuckles. “You’ll be fine. You’re ready.”

That was when I noticed the silver watch on his wrist. The glass face caught the light, and I saw little sparkles beneath it.

“Are those… diamonds?” I asked, blinking.

Caleb looked up at me with a slight smile, not saying anything.

I bit my lip. The watch looked expensive. And that’s when I really looked at him. He wore a dark green polo that clung just enough to show the lean lines of his chest and arms, tucked into black jeans that looked freshly pressed. He always dressed nicely, but this was different.

I was just a broke grad student.

Was he rich?

There was movement over Caleb’s shoulder, and I looked up instinctively. My eyes widened. A middle-aged man stood a few feet away, staring directly at me. His hand slipped into his jacket, and for a brief second, I saw a gun tucked neatly into the waistband of his pants.

“Caleb,” I whispered, leaning in, trying to keep my voice calm. “Let’s get out of here. That man over there… he’s about to pull out a gun.”

To my surprise, Caleb glanced over and stayed completely calm. He didn’t flinch. Didn’t panic. Just turned back to me and said, “Nothing to worry about. He’s my bodyguard.”

“What?” The word left my mouth louder than I meant. Heads turned. People stared.

Caleb straightened in his seat, then spoke clearly to the room. “Nothing happened here. You can all carry on.”

And somehow, they did. Like his voice carried some power I didn’t understand.

I turned toward the man, and mumbled, “Sorry…”

Caleb guided me back to the table like it was just another Tuesday morning.

“I don’t understand,” I said, still trying to catch up.

“That’s Philip,” he said with a small laugh. “My dad gets overprotective. Honestly, he’s so stressed about safety, he could probably use a shrink like you.”

He was trying to lighten the mood, but I was still stuck on the fact that my boyfriend had a bodyguard. There's still so much I don't know about this guy.

I muttered something under my breath, nervously playing with my hair as my thoughts raced. I couldn’t stop thinking about the gap between us; his wealthy world and my barely-scraping-by one.

The barista walked over and asked, “Can I get you anything else?”

Caleb and I both looked up at him. He was handsome, with a soft smile and an apron tied neatly around his waist.

“No, thanks,” I said, already thinking about the time.

“Actually,” Caleb cut in, “can we both get refills?”

I glanced at the clock on the wall and tucked my hair behind my ears. “Oh, actually…” I hesitated. If I didn’t leave now, I was definitely going to be late for my first day at the prison.

“She’ll take hers to go, then,” Caleb said smoothly. “Here, I’ll help you.”

He stood up from the sofa and followed the barista toward the counter.

I was in the middle of packing up my bag when Caleb’s phone buzzed on the table. The screen lit up, signaling an incoming call. The number disappeared, and I saw a family photo on the home screen. Without thinking, I leaned in closer.

Next to Caleb, in the photo, was the most beautiful man I’d ever seen. I couldn’t stop staring at him. He had dark hair, sharp features, and a confident smile. He had to be Caleb’s dad.

The phone rang again with the same number. My curiosity got the better of me. On impulse, I grabbed the phone, slinging my bag over my shoulder. I turned toward the coffee counter, intending to give it to Caleb.

“Caleb, you’re getting a phone call…” I said, but then I looked around, confused. There was no one at the counter. I could’ve sworn I saw both of them head this way.

Suddenly, I heard a noise; a strange, muffled thump and a moan. I froze. What the hell was that?

I took two cautious steps forward and peeked around the door to the storage room. Maybe they both went in there? But when I looked inside, I froze.

“Oh my God,” I whispered under my breath.

Less than two feet away, Caleb was pressing the barista against the wall of the storage room, his fist wrapped tightly in the fabric of the guy’s shirt, kissing him with so much intensity that it made my stomach twist.

The barista’s eyes were closed, his hands fumbling at the button of Caleb’s pants. His belt was already undone, and I could hear him whispering Caleb’s name, each word making my blood run cold.

What the f**k were they doing?

I didn’t even think. I just… I hurled the phone at them.

“Kendra!” Caleb’s voice snapped, both him and the barista jumping apart.

I saw red.

“f*****g cheater!” I screamed, not even caring who heard me. My fists were already moving before my brain could catch up.

I stormed over to Caleb and the barista. Without a second thought, I punched the barista right in the face. He stumbled back, falling to the ground, and I turned to Caleb, my heart racing in my chest.

“How could you do this to me?” I slapped him hard, and the impact of my hand on his face echoed through the small storage room. The room fell into an eerie silence. Caleb's face was frozen in shock. He opened his mouth, his eyes filled with regret, but all he said was, "I'm sorry, Kendra."

My heart pounded in my chest. "So all this time, you were playing with me?" I asked, my voice trembling.

He looked down at the floor, embarrassed. His silence burned me. He wasn’t even trying to defend himself. Anger surged inside me, and without thinking, I raised my hand again. Another sharp slap landed on his cheek.

"Speak!" I demanded, my voice cracking.

He rubbed his sore cheek, but before he could respond, the barista slipped out of the room. Caleb started to say something, but I wasn’t listening.

"It’s complicated, Kendra. I…"

The door swung open, and Caleb’s bodyguard appeared, towering in the doorway. Caleb fell silent, his face draining of color.

"Is everything alright?" the bodyguard asked, his deep voice filling the small space.

Caleb's eyes locked with mine, and for the first time, I saw something like pleading in them. He didn’t want me to expose his secret.

I didn’t care anymore. I slapped him again, not caring that the massive bodyguard was standing just inches away from me.

"f**k you, Caleb!" I shouted, my voice raw with emotion.

His face twisted in shock, and I could see the struggle in his eyes. Tears welled up in mine, but I didn’t let them fall.

I turned and stormed out of the room, heading for the exit.

"Kendra!" Caleb's voice called out to me, his voice desperate. He spilled out onto the streets behind me, catching up to me.

"You don’t understand!" he pleaded, grabbing my arm and yanking me back toward him.

"I really like you. You’re amazing, Kendra. It’s just… my family wouldn’t understand. They wouldn’t approve…"

"So, you thought you could use me?" I spat, yanking my arm out of his grasp. "Hell no! I will not be your beard!"

"Please, Kendra. Please!" he called after me, his voice trembling with desperation.

I didn’t look back.

"How much do you want?" He pulled out his checkbook, his hand shaking. "One million? Three million? I can…"

I stopped in my tracks, turned to face him, and shot him the most venomous look I could muster.

"How much do I want? You can shove your money where the sun doesn’t shine!" I yelled.

"I don’t even know who you are, Caleb!"

His face fell. "Ken…"

I cut him off. "I’ll keep your secrets, you just don’t need to pay me off. I don’t want to see you again."

I turned and walked away, this time without looking back.

And just like that, my fairy tale with Prince Charming is over.

I hurried down the street, my steps quick, my heart pounding in my chest. Angry tears burned at the back of my eyes, but I refused to let them fall. The whole damn world felt like it was spinning out of control, and I had no idea how to stop it.