Thirty minutes later, I pulled up in front of Samson’s mansion and got out, taking the elevator up to the top floor. It was almost seven PM, so Jessy was preparing dinner in the kitchen, while the kids were probably sleeping in their room, judging by how peaceful the entire house was. I met Samson perusing some paperwork in his study. He glanced up when I walked in. “Have a seat, please.”
I rolled my eyes as I plopped down on the swivel, leather chair across. “Make it snappy, I need to go rest. What did you want to discuss with me that you couldn’t wait till tomorrow?”
He smirked, then gestured to the leather couch at the corner. “Father?”
I jumped in fright when I detected a movement in the darkness, Dad’s mischievous face was the first thing I saw. “Holy fuck. Good evening, Father. Didn’t see you when I walked in.”
“It’s fine,” he nodded, placing a hand on my shoulder. I stand still as he turned and sauntered over to the window, taking a peek out at the vast compound below. “How’s work coming along? You don’t look so bright.”
I paled, shoulders sagging with a sigh. Nothing ever got past him. He always had a knack for figuring out my true emotions. “It’s nothing serious. Just tired. Today’s work was hectic.” I frowned at Samson now. What the hell was this all about?
He shrugged. “If you say so. It might interest you to know that I ran into your girlfriend at the park where I normally take Maxwell and Effie to.”
I clenched my fist, whipping furrowed brows to Samson. “Oh, really?” I replied, disinterested in the details. “That’s nice.”
“Yes, she was also at the park for some air. She looked kind of… stressed.”
I remained silent, my gaze on the floor. “And you’re telling me this because…”
He whirled around sharply, his blue eyes shimmering with an emotion I couldn’t quite decipher. Had something happened?
“Because I saw her with a child. Her son.”
Ugh. I rolled my eyes, rubbing my temples. This was awkward on so many levels.
Samson recoiled in shock. “Wait a minute. Are you both trying to say that Elaine has a son? All this while?”
“Yes,” I replied flatly. “She finally summoned the courage to tell me about him just this morning. I think he’s for her ex. The one we met in Ohio last weekend.”
“How well do you know this girl, son?” Father queried.
I blew out a breath, deflated. “Well, as it turned out, she fooled me. So, I don’t know her as well as I thought. I didn’t know she’d be capable of keeping away something as serious as this. I’m pissed at her as I am with myself.” I picked up a book on the desk and began flipping through idly. The silence stretched on for a few minutes, then Father spoke up again. And this time, he dropped a bombshell.
“He looks like you, Max.”
I glanced up with a frown. “What?”
“I don’t think Elaine had that child for her ex. He’s yours. I can swear my life on it,” He husked defiantly, his jaw set in determination.
I huffed out a laugh. “That’s bullshit, Dad. Absurd. Impossible…”
“You can’t be serious here, Jake,” Samson butted in, his face mirroring my shock.
“Didn’t you say you met her in Ohio five years ago and the both of you had a one-night stand?”
“Yes, but…”
“Good. She told me herself that the kid is four. Which means she fell pregnant that same year she met you at that club. Both of you lost contact and she couldn’t inform you. You need to see this boy, Max. He bears a splitting image of you and Samson’s son, Maxwell.”
Oh, fudge. I placed a hand lightly on my forehead as the floor tilted beneath my feet. “No… that’s not possible. It’s false,” I stuttered.
“Take it from me, it’s the truth. He could pass as Maxwell’s twin if they were both the same age.”
“Well, then maybe they are twins because I’m absolutely certain that I wore a condom that night. This just doesn’t add up,” I yelled.
He snorted, folding his hands over his chest. “Why are you so stubborn? The truth is right in front of you.”
“No, it’s not. You’re wrong,” I cried. “I’m pissed that you made me come all the way here just to feed me this… this bullcrap. How can I have a son I don’t know about? Tell me, how can that be? Fuck,” I pressed my hands to my temples, the room spinning faster and faster. “Ugh. This is useless.”
Samson held my arm. “I know it’s a lot to take on, Max. But you need to calm down.”
I shrugged him off, glaring at him menacingly. “And you need to go fuck yourself. Both of you. Is this the only thing you called me up here for? Is there something else, something more befitting of my time you’d like to discuss than Elaine and her bastard?”
“Max!” Father roared. “Do not speak of your blood like that.”
I scoffed in disgust, storming out the door. “See you later, then. I’m done here.”
“Max, wait,” Jessy tried to intercept but I shoved her aside gently and ambled into the elevator.
“Not now Jess.”
I hurried to my car, the sound of furious blood pumping hard throughout my body was startling. When I’d gotten in and shut the door, I buried my face in my palms and tried to regain my bearings, while working the math silently in my head.
When exactly had I met her in Ohio?
I tried to think back to that night five years ago, but the memories were fractured. It was only the good sex I remembered after I’d saved her from that asshole. And also, our painful parting. Everything else was a blur. I wasn’t even sure if I’d truly worn a condom. Whipping out my phone, I tried to track down the numbers of the people I’d called to help me find her. I got the number of the owner of the editing firm she worked for and my last call to the lady, was dated five years ago exactly.
I frowned. I’d met Elaine sometime in February, and Father said that her son was four.
I sucked in a deep breath as my walls came crashing down. Damn.
Reversing my car out of the compound, I meandered through the bustling streets blindly with only one location on my mind.
Elaine’s place.