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ChapterFive
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The numbers are in gold and the door is painted black. There’s a tiny peep hole indicating the occupants inside can see who’s outside their door. I blink a couple of times at the numbers, frozen in my spot because I’m still having a hard time coming to terms over why I’m here today. A couple of days ago, I was hoping to be standing outside of this door, praying for a second chance with the woman who I’ve been missing—not standing here, about to see if she’s been hiding my own daughter from me.
Fuck, how is this my life right now?
“Cal?” my mother questions softly. I don’t know why I’m stalling the inevitable. Maybe because there’s nothing happy about the circumstances. Either the child is mine and has been kept from me all these years or she’s not mine and this is all a publicity stunt. Either way, I was lied to, and all signs are pointing at Jenna being the culprit.
It makes me fucking furious.
I close my eyes and try to tone down my anger. Needing to get this over with, I silently count to ten. When I’m done, I nod my head at my mother and then knock on the door.
No one answers right away, but we can hear whispering on the other side of it. Jenna knows it’s me standing out here because she had to give the front desk security guard permission to let us upstairs. Impatience rears its ugly head and I’m about to pound the living shit out of the door when it finally swings open and a pair of whiskey-colored eyes—the same ones that I’ve been dreaming about—stare back at me.
I drink her in, not caring that she sees my gaze wandering from her head down to her toes. Jenna looks as beautiful as ever, even with no makeup on and her hair in a ponytail. Her body is encased in workout clothes, and I notice that she seems thinner than before. I stare at her legs, briefly remembering a time when they were wrapped around my hips in only high heels as I deliciously pounded into her, the screams of her orgasms echoing through my mind.
Fuck, have I missed her.
“Hello, Jenna,” I murmur, my voice huskier than I intend it to be. Seeing her for the first time since Las Vegas opens the floodgates of memories of how incredible our time together was. Her eyes are sizing me up as well and I briefly wonder if she’s remembering the same things I am.
“Cal,” she nods curtly, her voice cool and her eyes cold when they finally meet mine. “How kind of you to show up without calling.”
Her sarcastic demeanor washes away our steamy memories and my defenses are now on high alert. I’m not used to this version of Jenna, and it makes my blood pressure rise at the animosity radiating from her stare.“My lawyer did try to call your work line, but no one answered.” I equally match her cool tone, telling myself that I’m here for business because this sure as fuck is not going to be the happy reunion I was hoping for.
“We’ve been bombarded with calls from reporters, so that line goes straight to voicemail. Nice to see that you’re finally doing your own dirty work for once by showing up in person though.”
I’m immediately taken back by her words. I frown in confusion at her jab, not understanding what she means or why she’s so angry. If anyone should be angry, it should be me. My eyes narrow at her, trying to figure out what her game is, but her attention is now directed at my mum.
“Hello, I’m Jenna. I’m assuming you are Cal’s mother?”
“Oh yes, Rosalind Harrington, but please call me Rose,” she responds to Jenna, thrusting out her hand for her to shake. “Thank you for accepting to see us on such short notice, Jenna. I’ve seen so many pictures of you the last two days, and I must say that you are even prettier in person.”
Of course my mother would compliment her, being the proper British woman that she is. But I’m done with the pleasantries. I’m done with any games, and I want the answers I came here for.
“You were wondering if you were going to hear from me? Cut the bullshit, Jenna, how could younothear from me? This story is everywhere, and your timing of planting it is brilliant. I brought my mother here to be a witness for the paternity test and then we will be leaving. My lawyer will be in touch with you once the results are in.”
Her mouth drops open and she stares at me as if I just physically slapped her. “Excuse me, but did you just accuse me of selling this story to the media?” she questions in disbelief.
If she’s acting right now, she’s a fucking brilliant actress because she actually looks shocked.Stay focused, Cal.“Bloody right I am and don’t lie about it! I know your business has been doing well, and that this piece of information can bring your company into the spotlight you have been hoping for.” The rage inside of me is mounting and I can’t keep my disgust at the situation buried any longer. “One week together never brought out your calculating, manipulative, bitch side.”
“Calvin! There’s no need to be rude until we get the facts straight,” my mother chides, looking appalled at my behavior, and a part of me is disappointed with myself, but I can’t take back what I just said. Her attitude toward me is insulting and I refuse to be played.
“How dare you!” Jenna hisses at me, her fists balled up at her sides. Her eyes are wild, and she looks like she’s holding herself back from raking my eyes out with her nails. “How dare you come to my house, accuse me of lying and planting this story to boost my business! I would never use an innocent child like that! Unlikeyou, I don’t want the spotlight and I never wanted the story to be made public. Once you refused to be part of her life, I was done with you and your games. I never wanted to hear or see you ever again!”
“What thefuckare you talking about?” I growl out in frustration, not understanding again what in the hell she’s accusing me of. “I never knew about a baby until you went to the tabloids. I would never refuse to see my own child!”
“Look who is lying now!” She yells in my face, stunning me speechless at her fury. “How convenient that you have forgotten the email you wrote me stating that if the baby was yours, you have no time in your life for it. You even copied your assistant on it.”
“Valerie? When did you talk to Valerie?” I question in confusion, a knot of uneasiness forming in the pit of my stomach at the mere mention of her name. It had to be Valerie because my sister was not my assistant during my time with Jenna.
Something feels terribly wrong about this if Valerie was involved.
“When did I not talk with Valerie? I was always talking with Valerie because you never picked up the phone yourself. Did you forget that you told me that she handles your phone calls when you are on set working? Every single time I called you, she picked up the phone. She even started to respond to my emails when you stopped. You were too much of a coward to talk to me,” she spits out furiously and points her finger in my face. “Never again, Cal! I’m done with your bullshit and lies! You can talk with my lawyers.” She’s about to shut the door in my face, but I quickly react and place my foot in between the door and the frame, blocking her from shutting it.
I feel the color draining from my face as her words sink in.Valerie. Valerie was involved with this? So, Jenna did call me. This whole time I thought Jenna never called. I hear my mother gasp and I briefly glance at her, her eyes telling me she’s thinking the same thing I am.That fucking bitch.What has she done?
“Jenna, there seems to be a misunderstanding,” is all I can mutter out in shock at this new development in an already fucked up situation.
