4. The Kid is My Son

“What did you say, Juli?!” Kate yelled at me on the line. I called her the night after work to tell him I met Ethan. I just couldn’t keep it to myself.

I sighed. “Yes, Kate. That was what happened.”

“I told you! Oh my god… see, I told you, Juli!”

“I didn’t know alright. I was hoping… New York City is big. And the company I’m working for, I thought it wasn’t big, little did I know it’s just part of a conglomerate and the owner is actually a friend of him. If only I know…”

“My goodness, Juli. Your freaking situation is getting to my nerves.”

“I know right. It’s driving me insane and I don’t know what to do. Should I run back there?”

“You dumb woman. You would waste the life you have there now even if you’re uncertain? What if he doesn’t actually care? What if he just wanted to test if you would run to him just because of what happened? And maybe also to check if he got you pregnant. A man like him may be ruthless but I don’t think he’d just dump his own child if he’s sure that its his. And Jacques… that kid is the spitting image of Ethan Ambrose, Juli. If he’d see him, there’s no need for him to have a DNA test to confirm that it is his son. He would know.”

The thought of it sent shivers down to my spine. I couldn’t imagine Ethan Ambrose knowing that I lied to him. Worse, I couldn’t imagine him meeting my son. I can’t trust that he would be a god father to him, or that he wouldn’t try to take him from me.

“As long as they won’t see each other, it will be fine,” I said but it didn’t sound like I was trying to convince Kate. It sounded more like I was trying to convince myself.

The next morning, I told Jane not to bring Jacques outside for the meantime. I don’t think Ethan will be around this area, but I just don’t want to bet on my luck when it comes to Jacques.

At work, I went straight to my team’s office. I was about to greet Miss Anne when I realized that it wasn’t just my team who were there, and why there was strange silence in the room.

The folders I was holding almost slipped from my hands when I saw Ethan Ambrose standing beside my chair, leaning on my table with his hand at the edge of it while the other was on his slacks’ pocket. He shifted his weight when he saw me and stood straight.

I couldn’t move.

None in my team dared to talk. I figured it’s because how intimidating and dark Ethan looks today.

Scared that the others might think something else, I composed myself shortly and went to my table even my heart was pounding like crazy. This is not good. Why is he here?

I put my things on my table and turned to face Ethan. I left a safe distance between us.

“Hello, Mr. Ambrose. Do you have some business you would like to discuss with us?” I glanced at Miss Anne.

She cleared her throat. “Uh, Juli, Mr. Ambrose said earlier that he’s waiting for you.”

I pursed my lips tight as I clenched my teeth in silence. What is it this time? What the hell does he want? Can’t he just act like that never happened and leave me alone?

“Mr. Ambrose—”

“Follow me,” he said after he grabbed the brown envelope in my table and went to the door.

My team looked at me like with confused faces. They mustn’t be thinking that something is going on between us, right? Because that’s obviously not possible.

My head was like floating in air the whole time I was following Ethan. I don’t know what he’s up to this time but I have a bad feeling about this. It feels like something’s going to happen. And that made me more anxious.

He went to the elevator and I followed him. I was dying to ask him what is his business with me, but someone went in so I didn’t have the opportunity.

When we reached the basement, I followed him absentmindedly. When I was sure that it was just the two of us, I stopped.

“What is this, Mr. Ambrose? What do you want from me?”

He stopped to glance at me. The look in his eyes was full of menace. He looked like he was ready to kill.

“Let’s talk inside my car.” Then he walked towards a sleek black car with double R in its logo. Rolls Royce. The invisible gap stretched wider. I sighed, growing more anxious by the second.

“Get in,” he demanded coldly before going inside.

I felt a hollow in my stomach. Should I just run now? What does he want to talk about that it seems so serious? This feeling of anticipating the unknown is killing me.

I went in, silently praying that this matter is just about us and not about Jacques. How he would know about my son anyway? I’ve told him that he didn’t get me pregnant. I’m pretty sure I sounded convincing enough when I said that.

Ethan threw the brown envelope on my lap. He looked utterly serious.

“What’s this?”

“The proof of your lies.”

My mouth fell open. I felt colder but I still managed to open the envelope. My hands trembled when I saw what it was all about.

No.

“How dare you lie to me.”

My eyes remained at the papers I was holding. He did a background check on me and found out about Jacques!

Why didn’t I even think that he could do that? He has the power and connections, of course it would be easy for him.

“Now don’t you dare tell me that he’s not mine. I’m not some dumb man you can fool. That kid is my son,” he said so silently that it sounded even more threatening.