by Ruby Rowe
“Oh, I’m sorry. That wasn’t an appropriate comment,” I say.
“Uh, come on. I’ll introduce you to Rhonda.” Greyson practically shoves me through the doorway, and once we’re out of earshot, he takes hold of my arm to stop me.
“Listen, I’d rather you not tell anyone that you’re staying with me. Terrence and I are friends, so I’ll fill him in later, but otherwise, I’d like to keep it under wraps. I don’t need my staff gossiping or thinking I’m giving you preferential treatment because we’re friends.”
“I’m sorry. I’m not used to having to censor my thoughts in a work environment.”
“I should’ve discussed that with you before we arrived.”
“You think of us as friends?”
“Yes, don’t you?” His crooked smile is heart-stirring, so I feel the heat creep up my neck.
Biting the corner of my lower lip, I reply, “Yes.”
“Let’s go. I need to introduce you to Rhonda.” Greyson taps on a door on the right, and an older woman at a desk lifts her dark brown eyes to look at me.
“Good morning,” Greyson says. “I have some news. This is Sasha, and she’s going to be assisting you to alleviate some of your workload. Sasha, this is my senior paralegal, Rhonda.”
Clearing her throat, she sets her lips in a flat line.
“It’s nice to meet you, Sasha. Mr. Burke, may I have a word with you in your office please?”
“Sure. Sasha, have a seat. We’ll be back shortly.” They both leave the room, so I sit down. My hands are sweating, and my heart is racing.
Every person I’ve met is dressed up. Terrence is wearing a tie, and Rhonda’s in a business skirt. I stare at the picture frame hanging across from me, and it’s her college diploma. I don’t belong here. I’m not smart enough or experienced.
I fidget with my hands … cross and uncross my legs. I need out of here. I’ll thank Greyson for the opportunity and tell him I want to find my own job.
“Sasha, come with me,” he says as he steps in front of the doorway. Rhonda waltzes in behind him, feigning a smile.
“As soon as Greyson is finished meeting with you, I’ll get you started with something to do.” Although I’m glad there’s been a slight change in her demeanor, I’m feeling more trapped by the second.
Greyson leads me to a door at the end of the hallway. I follow him inside another office, and wow … this must be his. Could his desk be any more massive? I walk right over to it and run my fingers along the intricately carved edging. The swirly walnut finish has character.
“This desk is amazing.”
“My grandfather had it custom-made for me. I think it was a peace offering.”
“For what?”
Slipping his hands in his pockets, he shrugs.
“He wanted me to go into the oil business. My brother did–I didn’t. He shut me out for a few months, and I wondered if he’d ever speak to me again.
“I don’t know what changed, but this was delivered the same day he invited me over for a drink. He said he would support me, but he added that one day I’d come to my senses and join my father and Lawrence to run the family business. I was glad we made amends, though, because he died soon after.”
“I’m sorry. Do you think that day will come?”
“Never. I only planned to dabble in real estate and stick with law, but once I got a taste of buying up property, I couldn’t stop.
“It’s challenging to juggle both careers, but my father’s side of the family has always dealt in real estate. I figured Lawrence could carry on our mother’s side, and I’d carry on our father’s.”
I glide my fingers over the wave-like carving again.
“That’s admirable. I wish I had parents who were worthy enough for me to follow in their footsteps. Look, I appreciate this opportunity, but I think I should find my own job.
“I don’t fit in here, and Rhonda didn’t look happy with the arrangement. Then, there’s the whole … what is it called? Conflict of interest?”
He shakes his head. “Rhonda’s happy now. She just needed to hear my intentions. Also, I don’t hire mean people, so once you get to know them, you’ll feel at home.
“And as far as it being a conflict of interest, it’s my damn company. I get to make the rules. I only told you to be quiet about it because I don’t want to hear any whining from my other employees.”
He nods toward the door. “Let me show you the break room, and then Rhonda can start training you.”
“What if I can’t learn?”
“Well, I have faith that you can. If there’s a problem, we’ll deal with it then.”
Can I be the whining employee? All I want to do is go home and hide under the covers. Then, I’d fix a bowl of chicken Ramen noodles and watch reality television that would make my dysfunctional existence not seem so bad.
Instead, I say, “OK. I’ll give it a try.”
Ellis
“Pull over right here, Fletcher,” I say once I spot my contact from the FBI. “I shouldn’t be long.”
“Yes, sir.”
I scope out the area of the Washington Park Boathouse as I approach Lawson, who’s resting his elbows on the railing that overlooks Smith Lake.
“Hi, thanks for meeting me.”
“It’s no problem, but I’m wondering why we couldn’t handle this over the phone.”
“It’s not government business.”
“Shit, what now?” He rakes his hand over his black hair, which considering his career, he keeps longer than he should. I shoot him a sideways glance.
“I’m not the only one who asks for favors.”
He grins cockily. “Here lately, it’s only you, but what do you need?”
“If you’d prefer, I can nullify our agreement and dig for the information myself.”
“No, you stay the hell out of our network. I don’t want to risk the agency cutting you off.”
“I need you to check out this guy.” I pull the envelope from my blazer pocket and hand it to him. “Everything I know is in there. It should get you started.”
“Is there something specific you’re searching for?”
“Mainly older shit. I guess I’m looking for something from his past to confirm my suspicion that he’s a conniving dirt bag. He works for me, and I should’ve checked him out before I hired him.”
Shoving the envelope in his suit pocket, he pulls out a pack of cigarettes and proceeds to light up. We’re overdressed for a visit to the park, and I know the real person behind that suit of his. Lawson’s a badass motherfucker, who I could envision wearing a biker’s cut more than a tailored suit.
“That’s not too difficult of a task,” he replies.
“I need something else...”
He chuckles. “Of course you do.”
“That woman I had you check out a few months ago, Camilla Rose … I need you to investigate her parents for me.”
“I see why you didn’t want to have this conversation over the phone.” He takes a drag off his cigarette. “I should’ve turned her ass in when I discovered her true identity, but I let it slide because of you.”
“It has to stay that way, too. Actually, I want you to wipe out every piece of information that shows she’s wanted by the authorities.”
His head whips in my direction. “Fuck, no. You’re getting greedy.”
“There’s a critical reason I need this from you.”
“Then you better be sharing that critical reason, but my answer’s still no. I’m not losing my whole damn career over you and some chick who broke the law.”
“She’s the mother of my child.”
He squints at me before taking another puff off his cigarette.
“Damn. Why didn’t you mention that before?”
“I just found out the kid’s mine.”
“So, you don’t want to chance her going to prison.”
“Exactly. She’s a good mother, Lawson. Better than good. My son’s extremely attached to her, and Camilla and I can
’t worry every day that she could be taken away from him.”
“And taken away from you?” he hints.
“Can you help me or not? I’m willing to do whatever is necessary to make this happen.”
“Not all the records are electronic.”
“No, but most of them are. It would minimize the risk. Also, I want her identification officially changed to Camilla Rose. Somehow, she managed to get fake IDs, but I want real documents: a birth certificate, social security card, driver’s license and a passport… I want it all for her and her sister. Their information’s in that envelope.”
“Seriously?”
“I know I’m asking for a lot, but I promise to make it worth your while.”
“You know I can’t take a bribe.”
“No, but I can give my friend a gift once he retires, which could be at a fairly young age.”
“You’re straying a little far from the red road, friend.”
“I’ll do anything to protect Camilla and my child. Please, think about it.” Pulling out my phone, I scroll through my photos to find one of Liam. “Here, this is my son, Liam.”
Tilting his head back, he eyes the photo.
“You’re such a manipulative fuck.”
“I like to think of myself as resourceful.”
“Fine, but you’re still a fuck.”
Smiling, I slip my phone back inside my pocket.
“Do it for my kid. He needs both his parents.”
“I’ll see what I can do.”
Camilla
Liam and I are eating lunch in the dining room, and Christopher is joining us. Irene put me on the spot, offering to feed him, too. I’m stressing out since Ellis doesn’t need another reason to be angry with me.
“You’re picking at your food. That means you’re upset about something. What did he do this time?” Chris asks.
“Ellis didn’t do anything. It was me, but I can’t talk about it.”
“He probably convinced you of that. He never takes responsibility for anything.”
“Please stop speaking negatively of him in front of Liam.”
“I still believe you’ll come to your senses and realize I’m the one who would never let you down.”
“Stop. I love him, and you bad-mouthing him won’t change that.”
“Then I’ll let him screw that up on his own. We need to discuss Saturday night,” he adds, refusing to let me eat in peace.
“Which part? The one where you bid over fifty thousand dollars for a painting?”
“Tony left me that painting.”
“Then he should’ve said so in his will or trust, whatever it’s called.”
“I guess he was trusting that Ellis would believe me instead of being a greedy bastard.”
“Bastard,” Liam says.
I glower at Christopher. “I told you to watch your language around him.”
“Sorry.”
Wiping Liam’s mouth with my napkin, I give him a stern look.
“You’re not allowed to say that word until you’re a grownup. Do you hear Momma?”
“I can’t say bastard?”
Chris chuckles, so I swat at him from across the table.
“Stop encouraging him. I need to use the restroom. Can you stay here with him?”
“Of course.”
I walk to the bathroom, and once I’m finished, I grip the vanity and stare in the mirror. How did my life get so complicated? I thought not having two pennies to rub together was the biggest stressor in life, but I’m beginning to think otherwise.
Once I’m back at the table, I eye Liam. He’s looking down at his lap and playing with a cheese cube. I always wonder when he does this if he’s thinking about the food in his hand or something else.
“Sweetie, are you OK?” Nodding, he puts the cheese cube in his mouth.
“Why did Ellis tell his family that Liam is…?” Chris asks.
“I can’t talk about it.”
“You say that a lot.” I don’t reply, hoping he’ll take the hint. “It was ridiculous, Cammy. Are you going to tell Liam a lie his whole life?”
“Stop talking about him. He’s right here and staring at you. Make this right,” I say through gritted teeth.
“All right. Liam, I saw the jungle gym’s finished out back. Would you like me to take you outside to swing?”
“Chris, stop,” I say.
“There’s a swing?” Liam asks.
Lord, things keep getting worse. “Christopher, that was a surprise from Ellis. He’s going to lose his mind.” With my elbows on the table, I rub my forehead with my hands.
“Shit, I didn’t know.”
“Chris said another bad word, Momma. Boss!” I hear him shout. I jerk my head up, and Ellis is standing at the far end of the table, leveling Christopher with a dirty look, which is nothing new.
“Boss, Chris is taking me outside to swing.”
“He thinks so, huh?”
“Ellis, I didn’t know it was a secret.”
“Right. I only told you that a few times last week.”
“Christopher,” I admonish. He tosses his napkin on the table and stands.
“I forgot, OK, and it’s not like it’s the end of the world. You can still show it to him yourself. I’m going back to work.”
“That’s wise of you. I left a file on your desk. I need you to see if there’s a backdoor on that website.”
“Sure,” he replies sarcastically. “I want to speak with you later.”
“After I take Liam out.”
Christopher marches off, and the tension between the two of them couldn’t be stronger.
“I had nothing to do with him eating with us. Irene invited him.”
Ellis takes his seat at the end of the table next to me, and Irene steps up with his plate. Her eyes dart to mine, and I realize she overheard me.
“It’s fine, Camilla.” He gives his housekeeper a reassuring smile. “Irene has always been kind and fed my employees, too. Speaking of employees, where’s Emma?”
Returning a smile to Ellis, Irene leaves the room.
“I called her yesterday and gave her the day off since we were at the hotel,” I say.
“Oh, right. I’m sorry I messed with her schedule. I’ll pay her regardless.” Ellis takes a bite of his roasted chicken.
“I wike Em and her shoes.”
I snicker. “He likes her pair of Converse because they have superheroes on them.”
“I’ll get you a pair, Liam.”
“Ellis, you can’t buy him every single thing he wants.”
“Don’t tell me what I can’t do, especially in front of him. It’s a pair of shoes.” Wiping his mouth, he stands up. “I’ve lost my appetite. Liam, are you ready to see your surprise? Well, your jungle gym?”
“Yes!” His arms shoot in the air before he hops off his chair.
“I want to take him by myself,” Ellis says.
“Are you going to tell him now?”
“Yes, and I’d rather do it alone. You can talk to him about it afterward.”
“Oh, OK. I’m behind on my assignments, so I’ll be in my office if you need me.” I give Liam a hug. “Have fun and be careful.”
My stomach sinks as I leave the room. In two sentences Ellis managed to make me feel unneeded. Before Saturday night, I thought we’d be telling Liam this news together, sealing our fate as a family.
Instead, he’s defensive, obviously bitter that he missed out on time with his son. I can’t fault him for that, but I don’t think I’m the one who should be on the receiving end of his anger.
For those first few years of Liam’s life, I didn’t know Ellis Burke was a good man, and I sure didn’t know he was my child’s father.
I guess he views the situation differently. I want to believe the time he asked for will heal his heart, but I can’t help but wonder if it’s too late.
CHAPTER NINETEEN
Ellis
Liam skips ahead of me to go out the back door
. He runs across the patio and into the yard. His feet dig into the grass as he forces himself to stop a good forty feet from the wooden jungle gym.
“Wow, it’s so tall.” Looking over his shoulder at me, he grins. “This is all mine?”
“Yes, I had it built just for you.” He runs over and surveys it, jogging around each side to get a good look. His smile is radiant, his silky hair shining from the sunlight. He’s in a yellow t-shirt, too, that only adds to his brightness.
I experience a pang of guilt for not inviting Camilla out with us. Her smile would be radiant, as well, from seeing Liam excited. I’m angry with her one minute, not the next. This whole situation is fucked up, and I need it resolved.
“Thank you, Boss. Can I swing?”
“Of course. I’ll push you.” Liam skips over, meeting me at one of the three swings. He gets in the seat with no trouble, and I begin to push him.
“There’s no kids here,” he says.
“No. This isn’t like the park. You have your very own playset.” He’s quiet as I push him. “Do you wish there were kids here?”
“I like playin’ with kids, but I wike that I have my vewy own swing and slide.”
“When you go to preschool in a few months, you’ll have other kids to play with. You’ll make friends then. Would you like for a kid to come over here and play with you?”
“Yes. That’d be fun.”
“Liam, do you know what a father is?” Besides the swooshing sound after my push of the swing, it’s quiet. “How about a dad?”
“Kids at the park come with their daddies. Miles on my show has a daddy, too.” Grabbing hold of his swing, I bring it to a stop and step around to face him. Here goes… I crouch in front of him and suck in a breath.
“I want to tell you something.”
“K. Then, can I slide?” Just like his mother, he bites his lip.
“Sure. Uh, you know how kids have mothers and fathers?” I avoid an eye roll. “I mean mommies and daddies?”
“Yes.”
“Well, Camilla is your mommy, and I’m your daddy.” Putting his finger inside his mouth, he looks to the ground. “I didn’t know I was your daddy before, but now I do, and it’s important for you to know that I’ll always be here for you.
