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“I don’t recall seeing the surname,” Natalie said, confused, “I was told to meet Ms. Loxton at the house at a certain time and that is what I did. I never had any idea that Ethan was your son.”
I sat down and she sank down into the sofa across from me.
“Well, this is something,” I said, buying myself time.
Trying to figure this out.
“Hey, buddy,” I said to Ethan. “How’re you doing?”
Ethan didn’t look up, didn’t acknowledge me. This wasn’t unusual though; he often didn’t respond when he was spoken to.
“Ethan, your daddy says hello,” Natalie said, leaning down to speak to the boy. “Ethan?”
After a moment, he briefly said, “Hello,” without glancing up.
I was blown away. I couldn’t believe that she had managed to get him to talk to me.
“I’ll go get my things,” Natalie said, her eyes kept low. “This is a mistake, obviously,” she got up and started walking out of the room.
“Wait,” I said.
I was completely in control of myself now. I gave the smile I had ready for clients and colleagues.
“I am sure we can work something out.”
“I don’t think we can,” Natalie muttered.
Her hair was longer than I remembered her wearing it at college. She looked young. I tried to think how old she must be now, maybe 24? She was so innocent back then, a freshman, barely out of school.
“You’re good with him,” I said, pointing to Ethan. “That is what’s most important to me. I can double your rate.”
She looked up quickly, and I felt the flush of victory.
Money talked, didn’t? It spoke a beautiful language everyone understood, no matter where you were from or how you were brought up. I had always loved how it managed to open doors, solve disputes, make all unpleasantness go away. It was the way of the world. Once I had managed to grow my business into a national success, found myself on the cover of magazines, even called the city’s most desirable billionaire in one article, oh, how everything had changed. Life had become so much easier. I could have anything I wanted. Anyone I wanted. It was not exactly true, but I would not even allow the whisper of any contrary thought to enter my mind. It was mostly true, almost completely. Even a girl like Natalie, who never had gone much for material things or worldly possessions, could not resist the lure of money.
“Double it?” she repeated, and I could see her thinking, adding the numbers up in her head.
“Would that help?” I tried to sound caring and considerate, as if that came naturally to me. I knew it was called for in this situation.
“But… wouldn’t it be weird, awkward? I mean… you and I… after all, we did….”
I cut her off right there.
“What’s past is past, isn’t it?” I pulled out the big smile again, the winning smile. “No need to haul out all that, is there? It’s long gone, water under the bridge!”
She seemed uncertain, though.
I had to convince her.
Suddenly, it was very important to me.
It had nothing to do with Ethan, even though that, of course, was very convenient.
But no, the real reason was that I didn’t want her to leave.
I wanted her, right here, under my roof. Close.
“We’ll hardly see each other,” I said. “And I will keep out of your way.”
