Mine After Office Hours

Chapter twelve

Three days earlier.

     "Something is not right." Damien paced up and down his office.

     "What do you mean by that?" Julian asked tiredly. Ever since he left Richardson's, it had been stress upon stress. He had had it up to his neck. He had grown beards, there were bags under his eyes and his stomach churned every now and then.

     Damien held the picture up close. "This picture..."

     Julian snatched the picture from him and looked at the photo. "I do not see anything wrong. Remember, we confirmed the pregnancy from the doctor, the antenatal, postnatal, scans, everything!." He sighed and dropped the picture. "The only thing not right here, is the fact that I do not have my son here with me. That what's not right!" He felt uneasy.

     "Calm your tits Julian. I know....... of course, no child of this family will be left away from home. But come to think of it. This woman is devious, I think it doesn't make any sense that she was pregnant and didn't say a word all this while." His brother sat down.

     "Hell, I don't know Damien. She sent me a letter yesterday, asking me to meet up with her at a restaurant this evening." He pulled on his tie.

"And you agreed?" Damien looked skeptical.

     "Of course, I agreed. The woman has my child." the statement sounded odd coming from his mouth.

     "Just be careful Julian, that woman can lie for the whole of America."

     "To think I came here to settle things in Zendco." He laughed bitterly.

     Damien rubbed a palm over his face. "I believe everything will turn out well in the end." He sat back and twirled his chair around. "What about little Miss personal assistant?"

     Julian felt something squeeze in his stomach. "I haven't spoken to her ever since I got here." He admitted. Evelyn was all he could think about. But, he hadn't been able to bring himself to call her.

     "What? But why?" Damien asked.

     Julian sighed again. "I do not know okay..., I just don't know what I would even say to her, considering my situation."

     "And you think by keeping quiet, it would all go away? That's just postponement, and believe me, it will only get harder. Besides, you do not even know if this whole thing is true or not." His brother looked concerned.

     "I can't face her now, if I have a child, I don't even think she will want to have anything to do with me. I mean, raising a child is a huge commitment." He wouldn't blame her if she wouldn't want anything to do with him. His heart ached at that thought. "And, I do not really think Gwen can lie about something as big as this." He said.

     "Well, let us see then."

     It was one of the top French restaurants in the city. Of course, Gwen wouldn't settle for any less, especially if it was his pocket doing the paying. Julian waved at Eric and watched the man drive away.

He stepped into the restaurant and was greeted by a waitress who ushered him down, into a private room. A woman was sitting on the only table in the room, with her faced buried in the menu so that, only her straightened blond hair could be seen. The waiter left and Julian took a seat, opposite her.

     She dropped the menu and Julian saw her face. Gwen. He expected to feel something, anything, hate, even love? But, all he felt was anger. She looked at him and gave him a bold smile, flashing her white teeth. Julian felt irritation claw through him.