I pulled out my phone and began dialing. My whole life had just been turned upside down.
Chapter Five
Aaron
I heard the clacking of her heels against the concrete as soon as she exited the elevator.
“Do you know I was almost married to your boss? That means I was almost your boss. How dare you treat me with such aggression!” her shrill voice demanded.
The anger I’d thought I’d done a good job of suppressing came roaring back and I snatched the door open.
She gasped, obviously not expecting me so abruptly.
“Aaron,” Alicia stated, “this man has been extremely rude.”
I looked from Alicia to the man next to her, Brutus, my head of security. I nodded. He returned it with a nod of his own before turning and walking away.
“Aaron, what is all of this about? And why aren’t we meeting in your office?” Alicia batted those long, false eyelashes at me, forming her red-tinted lips in a pouted moue. I took in her outfit—a form fitting black dress that clung to her lithe body. Her long, brunette hair sat in a bun high atop her head. Her makeup flawless, per usual. It all disgusted me.
“Alicia, have I not let you lead a good life?” My tone was low and I could tell it was menacing by the way she took a step back. “Have I not let you live in peace? In Paris, no less?”
Her forehead wrinkled. “Aaron, what is this about? Why are you asking me this? Why did you have me brought here to you? Why are we not in your office?”
“This,” I extended my arm wide, “is my office for visitors like you. Come in.” I stood to the side, letting her move through the doors unabated, mostly because I didn’t want to touch her. She jumped when I slammed the door behind her.
“You knew,” I seethed, turning to her slowly.
Another confused expression befell her face.
“Answer me!”
She startled. “Knew what?”
“Patience! She was pregnant, and you fucking knew.”
The answer was written all over her face. Her eyes glossed over, and her eyelids drooped in response to my demand.
“I thought she was lying,” she confessed. “You know how some women are. Lying to keep a man.”
“You mean women like you.”
Her mouth dropped as if I’d hit her. “Women like me? She was the whore who was sleeping with my fiancé! That bitch tried to call your cell two months after I found you at her apartment. I answered and she said she was pregnant. I knew she was lying. The skank!”
I took a threatening step toward her until I was in her face. “Don’t ever form your lips to call her that again. Because of you, I’ve missed five years with my children.”
“Children?”
“Twins. She was pregnant with twins. Twins you fucking gave her five hundred dollars to abort!”
Alicia’s mouth opened and closed a few times. “H-how do you even know they’re yours? How do you know you’re the only man she was sleeping with?”
I raised my hand, but stopped just two inches from clamping it around Alicia’s throat. “Don’t ever…You’re making me seriously consider my rule of never putting my hands on a woman.” Taking a step back, I thrust my hands into my pockets. “You’ve cost me time I can never get back. And for that, our deal is off.”
She gasped, but I kept going.
“Forget living in that comfortable little villa in Paris. Good-bye to the nice multi-million dollar bank account. You are on your own from here on out.” I turned to walk away, but she wrapped her hands around my arm. I yanked it away so forcefully she lost her footing, nearly falling. I just stood there, staring.
“What am I supposed to do?”
“Go to hell,” I answered before pulling the door open and nodding again at my security. They had their instructions on how to handle her from here on out. I had much bigger matters to take care of.
****
Patience
“Ms. Sheryl, I appreciate your willingness to stay here in Williamsport with me for the rest of the week,” I told my friend as we finished cleaning up after dinner. It’d been three days since I arrived back in Williamsport, and two days since my run-in with Aaron at the hospital. I was looking forward to ensuring my father’s surgery went well and he was on the road to recovery before getting back to Oakland and my life. Ms. Sheryl’s presence had not only been helpful with the kids, but for me as well.
“Don’t think anything of it. I’ve been waiting to visit the city you grew up. The kids seem to like it.”
I nodded. “They like anywhere there’s a park for Kyle and a library or bookstore for Kennedy.” I laughed along with Ms. Sheryl.
We continued talking a little more about what there was to do in the city with young children. She was going to take them on another venture the next day while I visited my father in the hospital. Just as we cleared out the last of our room service dinners, a knock sounded at my door.
“You order something?” I asked.
“Not me.” She shook her head.
I went to the door, hoping the person wouldn’t knock again. I didn’t want them to disturb the kids who were just settling down for bed. I looked through the peephole to see a man dressed in a brown suit standing.
“Can I help you?” I asked, pulling the door open.
“Patience Theirs?”
I nodded. “That’s me.”
“You’ve been served.” He thrust a large envelope in my hands before quickly walking away.
Confused, I watched him leave, and make his way to the elevator, practically leaping on once it opened. I closed the door, wondering what the hell was going on. Opening the envelope, I pulled out the stack of papers, and began reading over the letter. It was addressed from a Michael Cavalleri, Esq. My heart rate sped up the more I read.
“What?” I whispered, reading the words over and over again.
“Everything all right?”
I looked up to stare at Ms. Sheryl. “He’s suing me for full custody.”
Her eyes bulged. “He who?”
I blinked remembering that Ms. Sheryl still didn’t know the full truth. I hadn’t told her that the man from the hospital the other day was actually Kennedy and Kyle’s father. I’d never told anyone the full story about Aaron and I.
Before I could answer her question, my cell phone began ringing from the table. Absentmindedly, I walked over to the table to see who was calling. I frowned, not recognizing the number.
“Hello?”
“You’ve received the papers.” It wasn’t a question. He knew I had.
My shoulders sank. “Aaron.”
“I’ll assume that’s a yes.”
“What are you doing?”
“It says it right there on the form.”
“You want full custody of children you’ve never met? Of children you didn’t want to begin with?”
There was a moment of silence on the other end.
“Come to my office at nine a.m. tomorrow morning.”
Click.
I pulled the phone from my ear to see the call had been disconnected.
“So that’s him?”
I blinked, realizing Ms. Sheryl was still in the room.
“Kyle and Kennedy’s father. The Aaron Townsend.”
I remained silent. The answer was obvious.
Ms. Sheryl whistled. “Always knew there was a story behind those twins.” She patted me on the shoulder. “I’ll go put them to bed,” she informed me before heading into the bedroom that had been designated for the children. I simply continued to stare at the papers in my hand, completely dumbfounded.
****
I had a knot in my stomach as I watched the huge man who’d greeted me at my car, punch in a code for the elevator.
“This will take you directly to the top floor to Mr. Townsend’s office.”
I nodded and stepped on the elevator. The papers I’d been served with were in my left hand. I wondered if I should’ve spoken with a lawyer before showin
g up here. Aaron hadn’t given me much more than twelve hours between the time I was served and the time I was supposed to meet him in his office. I hadn’t had time to even contact a lawyer, not that I knew of any family law attorneys in Williamsport. I rubbed my forehead again, refusing to allow myself to feel overwhelmed by everything.
“Ms. Thiers. Mr. Townsend’s office is right this way,” another man welcomed me as soon as I stepped off the elevator.
I followed him through the glass doors and down a hallway to the only corner office that rested on the right side. The sign on the door announcing where we were, Aaron Townsend, CEO, the shiny placard read. The man knocked.
“Enter.”
He pushed the door open and stepped to the side to allow me to walk in. I did so, but jumped when the door slammed behind me. I turned from the door and glared at Aaron who stood in front of his huge office window, arms folded over his chest. He looked like the definition of a power broker, a man on top of the world, in his spacious office. He said nothing. Out of the corner of my eye, I saw movement and turned to see another man. He was inches shorter than Aaron, and a little stockier.
“Ms. Thiers,” the man said, “Michael Cavalleri.” He held out his hand for me to shake.
I narrowed my eyes, gaze trained on his hand then back up to his face. “You’re the lawyer.” He was the attorney who was listed on the custody forms.
He withdrew his hand. “I am.”
I turned to Aaron who still hadn’t spoken. “What is this about?”
“Ms. Thiers, let me explain.”
“Why can’t he explain?” I asked sharply, still staring at Aaron who remained silent.
“Mr. Townsend has instructed me to do the talking on his behalf.”
“So, you’re his puppet?”
Michael Cavalleri’s face tightened, lips forming into a thin line. “No need to throw insults, Ms. Thiers.”
“I shouldn’t be too surprised. Your client has a habit of letting other people speak for him where I’m concerned.” I shot Aaron another look, and although he remained silent, his eyes flickered, frown deepening as he glared at me.
“Ms. Thiers, please. There is no need for the hostility.”
“No need?” I snapped my neck back to the lawyer. “You’re trying to steal my children!”
“Legal custody is not stealing. As the father of the children, Mr. Townsend is due his parental rights.”
“I’ve read every word in this envelope.” I held up the envelope in question. “Three times. He’s not petitioning for sharing of parental rights. He wants full custody.”
“Ms. Theirs, Mr. Townsend has considerable wealth and resources, and as such, he believes the children should be raised with the full advantages of their birthright.”
“Birthri–” I laughed a humorless laugh. “You’re kidding me, right?”
Michael Cavalleri turned his gaze toward Aaron, who hadn’t moved from his spot by the window. I let my eyes roll over to Aaron as well. He nodded at Michael.
“Mr. Townsend is willing to come to a compromise.”
“Oh, how generous of him,” I scoffed, folding my arms.
Michael hesitated for a moment and then shot another look in Aaron’s direction. “My client is more than willing to drop this custody lawsuit under one condition.”
A feeling of foreboding ran through my entire body. I knew I wasn’t going to like this condition. But I had to ask. “And what condition is that?”
“You marry him.”
A laugh burst from my lips. “No, really, what does your client want in exchange for dropping this ridiculous lawsuit?”
I waited.
And waited.
Michael’s face remained placid.
A lump formed in my throat. Slowly, I pivoted my head in Aaron’s direction. His face was set in his usual scowl, jaw rigid.
I took a step backwards.
“You’re serious.”
“Very much so, Ms. Thiers.” Michael moved to the large, shiny wooden table that sat to the far end of the office. “We have two sets of forms here. One is an application for a marriage license and the other is the same custody forms you were served with last night. You can either go with the marriage signature or we will proceed with the custody hearing. And I assure you, my client will win.”
“I’ve raised them on my own for five years. No judge will separate children from their mother needlessly.”
Michael pulled at the sides of his suit jacket. “That’s where you’re wrong, Ms. Theirs. Go check the stats on fathers with considerable wealth who fight for custody. They always win. My job is to see to it that my client wins and I’m very good at my job. Not to mention you may not be the dedicated mother you pretend to be.”
Tilting my head, I narrowed my gaze at Michael.
“No judge would like to hear about a single mother who attends sex clubs in her spare time.”
I gasped. “I don’t–”
“No?” he asked, eyebrow lifted. “Were you not in attendance at a club named The Cage in Chicago just a few weeks ago?”
My eyes ballooned and I shot Aaron the harshest look I could muster. “It was one time. He was there, too!”
I turned back to a frowning Michael. “There’re no records of my client ever being there. Besides, even if he were there, he was not aware he was a father at the time. Thus, it cannot be held against him. You, on the other hand–”
“Enough. She understands,” Aaron’s finally spoke up.
I swallowed the lump that had risen in my throat and blinked, trying to remove the tears that’d gathered in my eyes. I wouldn’t look at him. I couldn’t.
“Step out,” he ordered.
Michael turned to leave, and I stared out of the window of the office. I heard movement and felt him nearing me but I refused to look at him.
“I’ll give you five minutes to decide,” Aaron stated firmly in my ear, causing goosebumps to rise along my skin. “Choose wisely.” With that, he turned and a heartbeat later the door to his office slammed shut.
I was left alone to make my decision. Slowly, I walked over to the table, looking at both sets of forms. A pen rested in between the middle. I could pick it up and sign the marriage license, agreeing to marry Aaron, or walk out of here and take my chances at a custody battle. I squeezed my eyes shut before blinking them open. I’d made my decision.
Chapter Six
Patience
“How’d it go?” Ms. Sheryl questioned as soon as she and the kids entered the hotel suite.
I’d been back from Aaron’s office for a few hours, but Ms. Sheryl and the kids had been out and about in the city. I was thankful for that. It’d given me some time to come to grips with my decision.
“Mommy, look! I got a new book!” Kennedy stated proudly, holding up her new book for me to see.
“That’s great, honey.”
“Kyle didn’t want a new book, so Ms. Sheryl got him a new toy.”
I glanced over at Kyle who was already playing with his new action figure on the circle coffee table in the middle of the living room.
“Did they have lunch yet?” I asked Ms. Sheryl.
“Yes, they did.”
I blew out a breath. “Good. So, I have to tell–” I was cut off by a knock at the door. “What now?” I mumbled. I went to the door again and saw a middle-aged woman through the peephole.
“Ms. Thiers? Or should I say, Mrs. Townsend? Good to get used to your new name before the big day, right?”
The woman pushed her way through the door and to my surprise she was followed by two more people—a young woman and a male who looked somewhere in between the two women, age wise.
“Who are you?”
The first woman turned and smiled. “I’m Janet Johnson, your wedding planner. These two are my assistants, Jacob and Stephanie. And they,” she turned dramatically to the living room, “must be Kyle and Kennedy. We have some lovely children’s suits and dresses that these two will look adorable in for t
heir parents’ wedding.”
My stomach plummeted.
“Wedding?”
“Will I get to dress up?” Kennedy asked, eyes wide, jumping up and down.
“You sure will, doll.” Janet smiled at a laughing Kennedy.
I turned to Ms. Sheryl who looked to be in shock.
“So, about that custody thing…” I began.
****
Aaron
“You’re getting married?” my brother, Carter, shrieked, causing me to glower deeper than usual. “What unlucky woman agreed to holy matrimony with you?”
Snickers came from my other two nitwit brothers, while my mother and father simply looked on in stunned silence. I’d just announced at the family dinner at Townsend Manor that I was getting married.
“Carter, don’t be rude,” his wife, Michelle, admonished.
“We’re going to a wedding?” my new nephew, Diego, questioned.
“Looks like it, buddy,” my youngest brother, Tyler, answered. “So, who’s the lucky lady?”
“You mean unlucky,” Carter chimed in.
I snarled at my brother across the table. “You talk too damn much.”
He grinned. “And obviously you don’t talk enough since you’re getting married and we didn’t even know you were seeing someone seriously.”
“What’s her name?” Joshua asked, next to me.
I picked up my glass of seltzer water with lime and took a sip before answering.
“Patience Thiers.”
I sighed against the audible gasps around the table.
“Thiers’ daughter?” my father, at the head of the table, questioned.
I took a sip then took a bite of the lobster tail that’d been served for dinner.
“Care to share how this came about?” Joshua asked.
“No.” I took another bite.
“I just visited Thiers in the hospital and he never made mention of this,” my father queried.
I said nothing.
There was silence at the table until Carter finally spoke up again. “Patience is the daughter of one of my father’s business companions. But she’s been out of Williamsport for quite a few years now, last I heard.”
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