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I shove everything I can into every bag I can get my hands on and stumble back down the stairs with my whole life wrapped in my arms.
Magdalene is at the foot of the stairs, holding a crying Jacob in her arms.
“Where the hell do you think you’re going?” she asks.
I stomp by her and head for the front door. “I quit,” I say. “You can have Asher, but I won’t work for you or be in this place for a minute longer.”
“Don’t you walk out on me!” she yells. “You have a job to do!”
Magdalene is on my heels as I rush out of the place and my finger furiously jabs the button for the elevator repeatedly. Once inside, I hit the button to close the doors right in Magdalene’s face across which flashes anger and then fear. Jacob, sensing the emotions, starts to wail.
I hate to leave Jacob alone with her, but I have no other choice.
Alone within the quiet solitude of the elevator, I finally breakdown. My shoulders shake as my entire body tenses and I sob loudly into the palms of my hands.
I don’t deserve this. Nobody deserves this.
Every waking moment I’ve spent with Asher rushes to the forefront of my mind. I doubt everything and believe nothing now.
Lies. Everything has been one big lie. What kind of monster toys with another human being’s feelings like that?
As I think back to our first date, his odd behavior suddenly makes sense now. While I didn’t press the issue at the time, I figured he was reluctant to be out with me because he knew Heath or something. One thing I never could have fathomed is that Magdalene would be the connection that tore us apart. He was with Magdalene, of all people? She clearly has a type… rich.
I don’t want to stay anywhere near here longer than I have to, but I didn’t think about where I planned to run off to. I regret not having a backup plan, but it’s not like I’m exactly thinking rationally.
Maybe I can crash at Rachel’s place until I can figure this shit out?
The elevator reaches the lobby and I don’t even let the doors open all the way before making a mad dash for the parking garage across the street. I have tunnel vision with one thing on my mind, and that’s getting the hell out of here as quickly as possible.
Chapter 28
ASHER
My luck has clearly run out and my time is up. This is the long-awaited moment of truth that should have taken place ages ago. I pace the lobby nervously waiting on Jade to come over so I can talk to her. My palms are sweaty and I’m starting to develop a pounding headache.
I should’ve told Jade the truth from day one. It’s bad enough I had anything to do with Magdalene, but adding in the possibility of Jacob being my son make me certain this relationship could be heading over a cliff.
After a slow breath, fighting my lightheadedness, I look to the glass door. I’ve gone over my speech hundreds of times, but I’m still not mentally or physically prepared for this conversation.
What if she blows up before ending things abruptly?
My heart sinks considering the possibility of never seeing Jade again. I’ve had a million chances to tell her the truth and it will serve me right if she does decide to walk out of my life.
Maybe I should call her and break it to her now?
I’m not sure I can handle whatever her reaction is with her standing right in front of me. I know how pain and anger looks on her face and I don’t want to witness it firsthand again, especially knowing it’s my fault.
I’ll burn a hole into the floor if I keep pacing around like this, but I don’t know what else to do because standing still is not an option. I need to get in touch with Nathan and have Jacob’s hair analyzed as soon as possible.
I really hope these few strands are enough to run the test. Nathan said after he looked into the DNA issue that hair with the root was easiest and fortunately the strands I caught in my fingers and from the baby’s top appear to have a bump at the end. I hate that I had to go to such extremes, but I can’t trust Magdalene to tell the truth and be upfront. She’s denied that I’m the father numerous times, but the dates are too close for me to accept that answer without proof.
I mull over the things I need to do as a familiar blonde blur surges in my peripheral.
Jade?
Running out of the door as I fail to catch her, I holler for her attention. Even with her arms loaded down with bags and clothes, she’s still ten times faster than me, getting further away by the second.
