"What you want is irrelevant, Alex," sneered Tad,
"You're here and you can stay with me until the
wedding plans are finalized. "
"The wedding plans?
I don't think you quite
understand, Tad. I'm going back to Ashmore Valley
tonight, as early as possible.
Now, I'm not leaving
until you pick up that phone and repair all of the
damage you've created."
"Who do you think you're talking to, Alex?
You
know better than to sit there and demand anything
from me," Tad bit off, his face turning red with
anger.
Alex slid to the edge of her chair and tossed the
manila folder onto his desk.
The file slammed in
front of Tad, making his heart leap.
Reaching for
the portfolio, he flipped through the pages, his
indignation growing with every turn.
Alex saw the
growing fury underneath his already mottled skin.
"Those statements could ruin any and all chances
you have for being a senator, let alone
President.
Let go of the vise grip you have on
Hasani Industries and all of that will go away."
"You think you can blackmail me," Tad asked
infuriated.
"I know I can.
When we began our relationship
you taught me to have something on everyone.
I
only wanted information on you.
I began to
gather it the first time you hit me," Alex said quietly,
standing up and moving to a window.
Tad looked over the documentation again.
He
knew he was cornered.
She would use every scrap
of paper to humiliate him and destroy his chances
of getting elected.
"Pick up the phone, Tad, and create a solution to
the dilemma you created or suffer the
consequences on the evening news. "
"I want the originals, Alex," he said reaching for the
phone.
"When Hasani gets the money, you'll get the
originals.
In the meantime, I'll hold onto them to
prevent you from making any more power plays,"
Alex declared sitting back down in the chair.
Tad hung up the phone an hour later.
Alex sat
there and watched him negotiate new deals to
cover his butt during that hour, her eyes never
leaving his face.
She watched as embarrassment,
anger, hatred, humiliation, and all of the emotions
she felt at one time or another during their
turbulent association were revealed in him. She also
saw a trace of pride at the ballsy maneuver she had
pulled to win her current position. He knew she had
learned well under his tutelage and would take this
lesson with her when she left Washington.
What
she didn't know was that he wasn't letting her go
this easily.
"When do I get the originals," he asked.
"I'll courier them from the airport before I board my
plane, Tad.
I want to be a hundred miles away
from you when you get your hands on them," she
said heading to the door, before she opened the
portal, Alex turned back to him, "Do me a favor, find
something else to do with your hands instead of
messing with my life," Alex exclaimed finally before
slamming out of the office.
Alex retreated back down the hallway, bidding Julie
and Paul farewell once more, knowing she would
never return.
She returned to her hotel, happy
she wouldn't have to stay the night in the city.
She
wanted to return to James and have him make love
to her, to further erase the memories of
Tad.
While checking out, she handed the
concierge a sealed package to be delivered to
Capitol Hill and a fifty dollar bill.
Smiling, Alex
caught her cab back to National Airport, already
consumed in memories of James.
James was concerned about Alex from the minute
she stepped on the plane.
He considered Tad
dangerous, not only physically but emotionally as
well.
He was sure that Tad had played on Alex's
emotions from the day he discovered her potential
wealth.
Grayson had noticed James' short-temper and was
concerned about Alex's absence and the presence
of the bruise on her face a few weeks
ago.
Although Alex had given him an explanation
and assured him that James' hadn't been at fault,
he couldn't help but wonder.
Grayson decided to
take a stab at talking to James about it, since Alex
was out.
"Hey bud, got a minute," asked Grayson strolling
into James' office.
"Sure, what's up?"
"I want to talk about Alex. "
James took a long drag from his cigarette, "What's
to talk about?"
"The bruise on her face, her absence today, her
potential for leaving all of us in a couple more
weeks.”
James sighed.
He had sensed this coming for a
while, "What did she tell you about her face?
"Why don't you tell me what happened?"
James arched an eyebrow, "Tad came for a visit
Sunday morning.
He hit her.
End of story."
"Where the hell were you," Grayson asked angrily.
"In the stairwell, listening. "
"Listening; she's being smacked around and you're
eavesdropping. "
"I wasn't eavesdropping, Gray.
I was on my way
downstairs because I heard glass break.
When he
hit her, I was there.
He got his back."
"What about where she is today?"
"Why are you so concerned about it," James asked
curiously.
"I'm concerned about, Alex.
I told you not to hurt
her," Grayson declared.
"I'm not hurting her.
She's on Hasani business
today, end of subject. "
Grayson's eyes narrowed as he measured James,
"We've known each other for five years,
James.
Killed a lot of booze in that time, nailed
our share of women, kicked a few asses, we've
always told the other the truth. "
"You're saying I am not telling you the truth now?"
"No, I believe you.
I just don't want to think the
worst.
You know I'm in love with Alex.
I'd do
anything for her and take care of her if she ever
asked.
I don't want to see her driven off into the
sunset with the wrong man. "
"Do you think I'm the wrong man," asked James.
"I hope not," replied Grayson, removing his glasses
and rubbing the bridge of his nose.
"James, I need to see you," said Francine as she
came through the door ignoring Grayson.
James looked at his watch, lunchtime, "Come on in,
Francine. Grayson, are we finished?”
Grayson looked at Francine and tried not to think
the worst, "Yeah, we are now.
Just remember
what we talked about.”
James nodded.
Grayson left closing the door
quietly behind him, but didn't go far.
He heard the
lunch buzzer sound in the background, but kept his
position.
"So Francine, what's up," asked James after Grayson
had left.
He noticed that she shut the door to the
center office and locked it, "You can open that back
up, please. "
"I need to keep it closed.
This is personal and I
don't want anyone else to hear. "
"Okay.
Unlock it though. "
Francine did as James asked then sat down in the
arm chair that Grayson had just vacated.
"I'm pregnant. "
James reeled back in his chair as if he had been
struck.
Exhaling the remaining nicotine from his
lungs he questions, "You're sure?"
"Yes," Francine replied, "I just got off the phone
with my doctor. "
"Dammit.
How could this happen?"
"Excuse me?"
"How could this happen, Francine? You told me you
were couldn't have children. "
"Well, I guess they were wrong.
Don't get pissed
off at me, James," Francine declared, "You were
involved in this as well.
It's not like I forced you to
have sex with me. "
James took a long drag on his Marlboro, exhaled
heavily and ran a hand through his hair, "What are
we going to do?"
"The question is what are you going to do? How are
you going to explain this to Alex."
"I'll figure out a way to explain it.
Have you given
any thoughts as to adoption agencies or if you're
keeping it," James continued, but then stopped
short, "Francine, how can I be sure? I mean, how do
I know this just isn't all a lie. "
"James, this is a child, we're talking about," Francine
said smiling, "Why would I make this sort of thing
up?"
"Because, Francine, you weren't too happy when I
broke off our relationship.
This could be a simple
act just to get back at me. "
"How could you be so cruel, James? I'm the mother
of your child. "
"Proof, Francine.
Then we'll discuss the options,"
James demanded.
"Fine," replied Francine, reaching for James'
phone.
James watched as she dialed a phone number then
put it on speaker phone and adjusted the volume to
keep it as quiet as possible.
"Dr. Cumming's office," answered a nurse.
"Hi, this is Francine Malone," she said into the
speaker, "I'm calling to get the results of my
pregnancy test. "
"But we just called you with them, Ms.
Malone,"
replied the nurse.
"I know, but I'm so excited, I wanted to make sure I
heard you correctly. "
"Ms. Malone, according to the tests you're
pregnant. "
Francine smiled at James, thanked the nurse and
disconnected the call, "What more do you need?"
"Francine, I'm going to need time to think about our
options. "
“Options? I only see one option available, James.
I
want our child to grow in the love we share. "
"Francine, there is no love between us.
I thought
you understood that.
Our relationship was based
on sheer lust and the inability to control our
hormones.
Now, if you decide to have this child, I
will support you in that decision.
Money, health
care and a name; but I refuse to leave Alex to be
your husband.
That would be unfair to all of us,
including this child," James continued, "Frankly;
given your habit of never finishing anything you've
started I doubt you'd be a good mother.”
"What did you just say to me," Francine burst out.
"You heard me.
I would prefer that you give this
child up for adoption. "
"I will not abandon my child to strangers,
James.
Not to convenience you and keep poor
little Alex from being hurt. "
"This isn't about Alex.
It's about what's best for
this child. "
"This child? This child is our child.
Just once I'd like
you to acknowledge the fact that you're going to be
a father. "
"Francine, until a decision is made, I refuse to
acknowledge anything. "
"I've made my decision, James.
You can't make
me get rid of this child.
It's our love that grows
inside me," she cried standing up.
"Francine, listen to me," James said coming around
his desk, "Until a decision is made, I will decide
when and what to tell Alex.
I won't have you
blurting this out to her in the middle of this office.”
"It's always about Alex.
Always.
Just once, I wish
you'd consider my feelings as well. "
"I am, Francine.
Trust me, I am.
But I will not
have you making decisions regarding this child
without my input.
It is mine, isn't it?"
A loud crack rang through the office as her hand
connected with his face, "How dare you question
me? I will decide what is best for my child. "
"Like hell you will.
Francine, stay away from Alex
until we've decided what to do.
I will be the one
to tell her. "
"Fine, James.
Just keep her out of my
way.
These mood swings of mine are a killer,"
Francine huffed finally and slammed out of the
office.
James' phone picked that moment to ring and after
a quick glance at the doorway he answered it,
"Hasani Industries, James O'Reilly. "
"Hi, it's me," said Alex's voice over the static.
"Alex!
Hi; where are you," James all but yelled.
"I'm in the cab heading for the airport.
I'll be in
Ashmore Valley around 2:30. "
"Great.
I'll pick you up and we'll go to dinner. "
"I need to go home first and shower. "
"Alright.
I'll see you in a few hours. "
Grayson had moved just in time to avoid getting hit
by the door.
James burst through it, hung a left
and retreated into the plant, away from his
office.
He sought out Jeff and requested the
afternoon off, then left the plant.
Grayson had heard the complete conversation.
He
couldn't have chosen a better time to
eavesdrop.
The stairway hid his presence from the
others and the lack of machine noise had made
James and Francine's voices clear.
He shook his
head in frustration.
This was the exact thing he
didn't want to happen.
Grayson knew that Alex
would be devastated when James told her, if James
told her.
As he headed back to the machine shop, he
wondered if James would tell Alex tonight or wait to
see what Francine would do.
Either way, there
were bound to be repercussions and he vowed to
be the one that Alex came to when the time was
right.
Francine got the hint from James and returned to
her desk.
She had just sat down when the phone
rang, "Hasani Industries, this is Francine, can I help
you?"
"Is it done," asked the voice.
"Yeah; it should be over by tonight. "
"Good," the voice replied and hung up.
Francine replaced the receiver and smiled.
By
tonight, everything she ever wanted would be hers
and nothing could stop her.
Chapter 19
James arrived at the airport at 2:15.
Just early
enough to calm his nerves and be relaxed by the
time Alex appeared on the jet way.
He had taken
the afternoon to decide that he would tell Alex
about the baby as soon as possible.
If Francine
decided to beat him to the punch, it would be the
end of their romance.
Telling her now was his only
option, no matter what Francine decided to do.
Alex stepped out of the jet way and rushed into
James arms.
She almost crushed the roses that he
held in his hand and presented to her after a
lengthy kiss. "Thank God you didn't spend the
night, James smiled down at her.
"I know.
I don't know how I would have gotten to
sleep," Alex replied, inhaling the fragrance of the
red blooms.
James hefted her overnight bag and led her to his
car, "Did everything go alright," he asked once they
were inside.
"Yes.
Tad made all the arrangements before I left
the Hill.
He won't be giving us anymore
problems.”"I don't know how you did it, Alex,"
James chuckled.
"I just asked nicely, James.
It really wasn't that
hard. "
"I'm just glad to have you home. "
"It's nice to be home. "
James reached across the span between the two