Chapter 5 - The Shield of the FamilyWithin two hours of Victoria’s warning, I was sitting in Eleanor Kensington’s executive office downtown.
The room was sleek, modern, and bathed in natural light overlooking the bustling Dallas skyline. Eleanor listened in absolute silence as I recounted Victoria’s warning about Marcus Vance. When I finished, she didn't panic; instead, a cold, predatory gleam entered her silver-streaked eyes.
“Marcus Vance,” Eleanor murmured, tapping a pen against her mahogany desk. “A bitter, third-rate corporate fixer who survived on the fringes of his family’s illegal operations. He thinks he can intimidate a Kensington-backed executive?”
“He’s targeting my son, Eleanor,” I said, my voice shaking slightly despite my best efforts to remain composed. “I don't care about the corporate shares. I don't care about the money. I just want Noah safe.”
Eleanor stood up, walking over to place a firm, reassuring hand on my shoulder.
“Elena, listen to me. Noah is a national asset to this firm, but more importantly, he is family to us now. Nobody touches a Kensington, and nobody touches the people we protect.” She picked up her desk phone and pressed the intercom button. “Grant, get in my office immediately. Bring the top security detail protocols.”
Within minutes, Grant Mercer, the formidable head of Kensington Global Security, stood at attention in the office.
“You called, Ms. Kensington?” Grant asked crisply.
“We have an amateur stalker attempting to harass one of our junior researchers—Noah Clarke,” Eleanor commanded. “I want a twenty-four-hour perimeter established around their home, a plainclothes detail assigned to Noah’s school camp, and I want Marcus Vance’s digital footprint tracked, intercepted, and neutralized before he can even purchase a plane ticket to Dallas. If he comes within five miles of that boy, ensure he spends the rest of his natural life answering to federal probation officers.”
“Consider it done, ma’am,” Grant said with a sharp nod, turning on his heel to execute the order.
I exhaled a breath I felt like I had been holding for hours. Tears of profound relief stung the corners of my eyes. For the first time in my life, I wasn't alone. I didn't have to carry the weight of the world on my shoulders while trying to shield my child from the cruelty of powerful men.
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“Thank you, Eleanor,” I whispered.
“Don't thank me yet,” Eleanor smiled warmly. “Thank your son. Smart boys who dismantle criminal empires tend to attract very loyal protectors.”
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