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“Do you even know what a suitable period of time is, Neal?”
Neal stood up in frustration.
“You were never George’s lover,” he exclaimed. “You were never his!”
“You and I know that,” Elena said patiently, “but the world does not, and it can never know, if you want to keep your company, and if this is going to work – we need to start believing the lies we have told, instead of holding on to the truth.”
“Meaning what?”
“Meaning I have to raise your brother’s child,” Elena said softly, “and you have to concentrate on being a good uncle.”
“And what if I want to be a father one day?”
“You will be a father,” Elena told him, “without the title.”
“The title’s important,” Neal said softly.
“It’s the price you have to pay.”
Neal dropped his head in defeat. Elena was right. He had started them down on this path, and now he would have to follow through with it no matter how hard that was.
After Neal left, Elena sat by herself for a little while and cried. She cried for the conversation she and Neal had just shared, for their lost future and their innocent child who had been dragged into all of this. When she was done, she wiped away her tears and walked to the kitchen to have a glass of water. After that, she cleaned the living room, dusted, vacuumed, and then finally sat down to a movie but she couldn’t seem to concentrate on it.
Housekeeping had done a better job of keeping her mind busy. Just then, the doorbell rang and Elena abandoned her movie to answer it. She opened the door to find a tall, older gentleman standing there. He wore a kindly expression and a half smile.
“Hello?” he said. “You must be Elena?”
“I… yes I am.” she answered.
“I’m Cliff Stanley. It’s a pleasure to meet you.”
Elena tried to block the entrance, but he seemed unconcerned with her obvious discomfort. He swept past her and walked into the house without an invitation. Neal had mentioned Cliff to her a few times now, and never in a very favorable light.
“Neal is at work,” she said, wondering what he was doing at the house instead of at the office.
“I’m not here to see Neal,” he said coolly. “I’m here to see you.”
“Why?” she said immediately sensing danger.
“I was curious,” he replied. “What has he promised you?”
Elena said nothing.
“Money I suppose,” he went on. “You’ll be taken care of your whole life, and so will your child. I suppose I can understand why you agreed to this.”
“I don’t know what you’re talking about,” Elena said forcefully.
“Oh, I think you do,” Cliff said with a sly smile. “We both know that the baby in your belly is not George Hargrove’s.”
“It most certainly is George's. The paternity test-"
“Was a fake and we both know it. I am not a stupid man, Elena. I didn’t get rich by swallowing every ridiculous story I was fed, and Neal – well, he isn’t the smartest tool in the tool shed. He was very transparent, right from the beginning.”
“Don’t!” Elena said fiercely.
“Ah,” Cliff said with raised eyebrows, “so protective. Am I to assume that this has become more than a business arrangement?”
“Get out,” Elena said, staring daggers at him.
