Baby Steps

Chapter 8 Tom POV

Tom

Maggie glares at me from across the table at my manager's office. I glare right back. It is because of her doing that I missed out on the birth of my children. It is because of her Willa thought I wanted nothing to do with her. I have nothing to say to this wretched woman sitting across from me.

We sit in silence glaring at one another until Phil, my manager walks in,  followed by his assistant. Phil sighs as he takes a seat at the head of the table. His fingers are steepled and resting under his chin as his gaze flicks to Maggie and I.

"Well we all know why we are here." Phil starts.

"Tom is acting like a baby." Maggie replies while she checks her nails.

Clenching my fist I lean forward, "We are here because you withheld important life changing information from me."

Maggie says nothing as she looks out towards the window. Phil opens a manilla folder and pulls out papers. "These are your termination papers for you, Maggie."

"Excuse me?" She shrieks. "This is all because I didn't let some gold digging whore near Tom?!"

I push out of my chair so fast it topples over as I thrust a finger in her face. "Say one more fucking word about the mother of my children and I'll make sure you never work in Hollywood again." My blood is boiling as my chest heaves up and down. Maggie's gaze lowers as she shies away from me. Turning to Phil she pleads for another chance.

"Unfortunately Maggie, your time here with this company has come to an end. We cannot in good conscience allow you to continue working for us when you have gone out of your way to keep something significant from our client."

"But you don't understand. She's lying! I can prove it to you!" Maggie begs with crocodile tears.

"Willa is not lying. Those are my children. And I missed out on their birth and the first ten months of their life. Because of you." I spit out.

"Please gather your things and security will escort you out." Phil says just as two security guards come in. Maggie glares at me with daggers in her eyes. She slings her purse over her shoulder and walks towards the door but before she is out of the room she turns to me, "I hope those kids are yours and then I hope she takes you for every penny you are worth." Then she exits the room.

I sit back down and scrub a hand down my face. Fuck, I'm glad she's gone. But it doesn't erase the damage she caused. Phil allows me a moment of silence before he continues on.

"Listen, I have a few publicists lined up for you to meet with but there are some things I need to talk with you about furst."

I already know what he's going to say.

"We still need to confirm the paternity of the twins." He states.

"No, we don't." My gaze is ablaze as it bores into him. "They are my kids and I will not question Willa. She has never once made me doubt the paternity of my children."

Phil sighs while leaning back in his chair. "I understand this is a delicate situation. However, how will it look to the world the sudden appearance of not one but two babies that an unknown woman is claiming are yours?"

I lean forward, leveling my eyes with his. "Let me be abundantly clear." I say cooly, "I. Do. Not. Need. A paternity test."

I stand from my chair to put space between us. Running my fingers through my hair. "If you so much as go behind my back and order one without my consent I will fire you too." I clip him with a murderous gaze, "understood?"

Phil visibly swallows with a terrified look in his eyes. "Understood." He adjusts his tie before gesturing for me to take a seat again.

"Now, regarding your contract with Ashley." Phil starts while shuffling papers out of the way.

"I want that dissolved."

Phil pauses his shuffling of papers before exhaling a loud breath. "Unfortunately, we cannot dissolve it. You still have six  more months to fulfill."

"I never needed this contract. I was pushed into it by Maggie!" I exclaim.

"Tom, listen." Phil says calmly, "Ashley is good for your image. You are set to play the next Bond. But only if you keep this relationship going to the scheduled end date."

I clench my jaw in frustration. He doesn't understand.

"I do not give a fuck about playing the next James Bond." Scrubbing my hands down my face I groan. "I want out of this contract now. I want to become a family with Willa and our two kids."

Standing from my seat I go to the window that looks over downtown Los Angeles. "I made mistakes in my past with Willa. But I plan on making it up to her for the rest of my life should she have me. But I need this contract with Ashley to dissolve." I turn to face him, "Willa and the twins are my future and I don't plan on keeping them in the dark."

Phil is silent as he drums his fingers on the table. I can tell he's deep in thought. Finally, after what feels like an eternity he nods his head in agreement.

"I'll call her team and see what I can do. But" he pauses and gives me a stern look, "I am not making any promises. This is a legal contract that I am asking them to break. They might not be so forthcoming to the request."

"Then I will talk to Ashley myself." I say. "I won't let anyone keep me from my family."

Phil nods and then leaves the room. His assistant following behind. I feel a twist in my gut knowing that Ashley may make this as difficult as possible for me. But I meant what I said, I won't let anyone keep me away from my family. No one.

Rolling my shoulders back I leave the office and head straight for Willa's house. I have plans to find a place in L.A and hopefully down the road a place Willa and I can share together, as a family.

One day I'll make my way back to London with Willa and the twins. But for now L.A is our home.

Now I just need to call my parents and tell them they are grandparents.