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When I arrived at Sloan’s swanky office suite, that I helped him pay for, his assistant led me to his office. Sloan was on the phone but motioned for me to sit down. I took a seat on a large black leather chair opposite his desk. It was the kind a man relaxed in with a highball glass of bourbon and a cigar.
“Okay. Tomorrow, three p.m. New York time. Yes, he’ll call her. Yes. I have my client here.” Sloan glanced at me while writing something down.
Sloan ended his call and folded his arms on his desk. He leveled his eyes on me, giving me pause to what would follow.
“Which do you want first—the okay news or the bad news?”
“I’d prefer another choice. But let’s start with okay.”
“Fine. Coco, legally named Erin Russell, was found in London on a movie shoot by my private detective. I pulled some strings with the film’s production head. Did some work for him a few years back. Cheating ex-wife. Standard stuff. If Coco wants to keep her part in the cast, she’ll cooperate with us.” Sloan pushed a paper across the desk toward me. “She agreed to call you tomorrow morning at ten. New York time.”
The things I wanted to say to her. Scream and yell at her. “Sure. Won’t miss this call for the world. Good job.”
“The bad news is Esmé’s birth certificate. You’re not listed on it. Another man is.”
“Shit,” I cursed under my breath. “Her boyfriend.”
“Bingo. A case for legal paternity will start in the California courts on a county level. It could take months to get this sorted, and that’s with greasing as many hands as possible along the way.”
“Find an attorney who understands the state’s laws.” I wanted the one obstacle I could control out of the way. “If there’s any throwback from the boyfriend, give him a nice send-off. Nothing over a hundred grand though.”
“Understood. I’ll keep you updated. Also, let me know how the call goes with Erin. It will likely set the direction for how we proceed from here.”
When I left Sloan’s office, I decided Iron Gate could do without Lucas Shaw today. I had a favorite place to go when I hit rock bottom, and today, I was under the rock.
Once I was outside the building on the sidewalk, I removed my tie and rolled it up, stuffing it in my suit coat pocket. I peeled off my jacket and hooked it on a finger over my shoulder. I found a sidewalk vendor and bought a crappy pair of sunglasses. They’d keep the sun out of my eyes and hide my identity. My next stop was a liquor store. I left holding a discreet pint of whiskey.
I hailed a cab, skipping my driver, and told the cabbie to take me to the Seaport. I had to escape the city and myself the only way I’d ever known how. On the water.
I rented a sailboat and its captain for the day. He didn’t talk much, and that suited me fine. I sipped on my booze and listened to him hum songs like a pirate. When Manhattan’s skyline, in all its majesty came into view, I had no desire to ever go back.
30
Maggie
After Lucas left for work without saying a word to the baby or me, I texted Thomas and confirmed our date for tonight. I asked myself why I agreed to go out to dinner when all I wanted was another man. I didn’t use people or play games of the heart, like trying to make Lucas jealous.
I decided the incident in the kitchen made me reply to Thomas, more than walking out of the apartment without a goodbye. In no uncertain terms, Lucas said he wanted me. I almost threw my hands up in an alleluia too. Then that same dark shadow I’d seen cross his face reappeared, ending what I’d hoped was our beginning.
I needed to move on. Get back in the dating game, especially with a guy like Thomas, who seemed respectful and not just after a quickie. Whatever happened tonight, I would definitely pay for half of dinner and my drinks. I wanted to meet him in person, not lead him on.
If Lucas broke through whatever was holding him back, I’d be there for him in a New York minute, literally. I had to keep that in mind on my date, treat it more like an introduction than a forever. Also, a change of scenery sounded marvelous. I’d never taken care of an infant for this long of a stretch. Those little bundles of joy wiped a person out.
J.J. downloaded a stalker app for Lucas. Sending the info to keep track of me anywhere in the world. I had his child in tow, so that was the real reason for wanting to know my whereabouts.
