All the Wrong Places

by Jerilee Kaye

  Julianne shrugged. “Come on, let’s not talk about Jin Starck or my father. I plan to enjoy this day. Leave my troubles behind.”

  “Sure. But the day is long. I’ll get you to talk about them eventually,” River grinned at her.

  As she looked out the window, she had no doubt about what he said. River Jefferson was either a shrink or a psychic. He would psychoanalyze her before the day is over.

  18.

  It had been years since Julianne had last stepped on the ice. Today, she felt good about putting her hockey shoes back on. She grew up playing hockey with her brother and her cousins. But since the fateful day her father stripped her of her right to be a part of his family, she had no room for fun and games.

  River was patient with Jared when he taught him how to balance on the ice. Jared was a very fast learner. Only one hour had passed and he was already able to balance himself. He still fell down once in a while, but he was a very brave kid.

  After one and a half hours on the ice, they took a break for ice cream on the stand beside the rink.

  “So, what else is new with you?”

  “I found a…” she looked at Jared and chose her words very carefully. Jared was happily devouring his ice cream and he didn’t look like he was interested in their conversation. “Brownstone on Hyde.”

  “What are you going to need that for?”

  Julianne raised a brow at him meaningfully.

  “Oh,” River breathed, quite surprised. “Why?”

  Julianne sighed. “My father is putting pressure on Justin. Said he shouldn’t meddle with the family’s affairs.”

  “Well, Justin does like putting his nose in his cousins’ businesses. He cares about you, guys. Like a big brother.”

  “I know. But my father is… stubborn. And unforgiving. He said that he lost millions because of my… indiscretion in Paris.”

  “What did he lose?”

  Julianne shrugged, taking a scoop of her ice cream. “I know that he was brokering a very big merger that year I went to Paris. He was talking about it during our family dinners. He was so close to signing the deal. And he was sure he would be the one to get it done. One of the parties was being difficult. But they trusted my father because of his affiliation with the McAllisters.”

  “Oh, I get it. And since you messed up in Paris, your marriage to Patrick McAllister was cancelled. And so his deal was also…”

  “Cancelled, yeah. So, in effect, he also cancelled my membership to the Sanders clan. And he’s working his way to make sure that even the Smith clan throws me out too.”

  “What do you mean?”

  Julianne sighed. She didn’t even know how she felt about this now. Being disinherited and disowned by your family is too confusing, too painful that sometimes your best defense is to turn numb.

  “He went to Justin the other day. He gave him an ultimatum. He will start a war within the families unless Justin casts me out.”

  “Well, your old man obviously doesn’t know Justin Adams very well,” River snorted.

  “I know, right?” Julianne smiled, her heart was filled with love for her cousin. “Justin wouldn’t budge. He didn’t care. Wouldn’t. I wasn’t the first cousin he risked the family’s peace for.”

  “Yeah, Mason was a real trend-setter, huh.” River chuckled.

  “And Justin would never give up on us,” Julianne said. “But I love him and Adrienne too much to risk their safety, happiness or peace of mind. I mean… why do you think I couldn’t tell them the truth about Paris?”

  River nodded. “So, what are you planning to do?”

  “I’m moving out of the Adams Mansion. I found the apartment already.” She beamed at him. “It’s my very own brownstone at Hyde Park!”

  “Did you check on the neighborhood?” There was a hint of weary in River’s voice.

  “Yeah, I did.”

  “What did Justin say?”

  “No, of course,” she replied. “But eventually, he caved in. I don’t know whether it was because of my persuasive speech or because Adrienne’s arms were around him as she was helping me plead my case.”

  River laughed. “Probably the latter. We both know there is nothing Justin won’t do for Adrienne, right? That man just can’t say ‘no’ to his wife.”

  “Their love is too intense, it’s ridiculous!” Julianne rolled her eyes.

  “I didn’t think it was possible for two people to love each other that much.”

  “But they’re living proof of that kind of love,” Julianne said. There was a trace of sadness in her voice.

  Once, she thought, she had the same kind of love. She loved Jas Mathieu with all her heart and even after all these years, she believed that she still loved him. Until…

  Until she found out he wasn’t who he said he was.

  When she looked up at River, he was watching her thoughtfully.

  “What?”

  “I know who you’re thinking about,” he said in a teasing tone.

  “Ha-ha. You have no idea!”

  But she knew her face turned crimson, there was no denying it. How can Jin Starck have this much effect on her?

  “Do you think if you hadn’t left, you would still be together?”

  Julianne shook her head. “No. I highly doubt that,” she replied. “He has responsibilities. His ambition comes first.”

  “You don’t know that,” River said in a low voice. Then he looked over at Jared. “He’s an adorable boy. What father would not want him?”

  “I don’t doubt that he will love his son. In fact, I was afraid he would love him too much. He might take him away from me. And that’s a battle I cannot win.”

  “The courts will favor you.”

  “As long as I’m capable of giving him a good life. But we both know there’s a huge difference between the kind of life I could give him and the kind of life his father could afford.” Julianne sighed. “And now that I’m moving out of the Adams Mansion, I’m finally embracing what I really am now. I’m a single mom, trying to make ends meet to give her son a brighter future… without the veil of Justin’s charity.”

  “And you’re not okay with that?”

  Julianne raised a brow at him. “Of course, I am,” she replied. “In a way, I’m excited. I’m challenged. I know I can succeed on my own. I just feel guilty because…” she looked over at Jared. “I know he could have so much better. All I needed to do was tell his father the truth.”

  “And he would ship Jared to Paris. This little man would live in his own mansion.”

  Julianne nodded. “And he’d have Vanessa Bernard for a stepmother. God, she’s a first class beatch!” There was a twist in her stomach at the thought of losing her son or sharing him with Vanessa Bernard.

  That’s why she was sure that Jin Starck couldn’t know about Jared yet. She needed more time. She needed to get her act together so that no court could deny that she was capable of supporting her son on her own.

  Moreover, she needed to prepare Jared too. He needed to be tough and mature enough so Vanessa Bernard would not be able to bully him or hurt him in any way.

  “Are you sure he has no clue about him?”

  Julianne shook her head. “I know him. He’s arrogant and he takes what he wants. He loves kids and he’s fond of Jared. If he even suspected anything, he would ask me and he would not stop until he got his answers. And once he knew the truth, I would be counting the days before he went to court for either joint or full custody.”

  “You’re probably right. It won’t be easy to fight him in court.”

  Julianne nodded sadly. “And me, not having my own place, and always being on Justin’s charity, wouldn’t help my case. The sooner I moved out, the sooner I got my act together, the better chances I would have in that battle. As long as I’m capable, and I could prove that he was safe with me, I would win.”

  “Well, whatever help you need, I’m right here,” River told her, reaching out for her hand and squeezing it.

  “
I’ll remember that.”

  Julianne turned her hand over and squeezed his hand back. She wasn’t entirely confident of what she was about to do, but River’s smile was so contagious, it was hard not to smile back brightly at him.

  “I can do this!” she breathed.

  “Of course, you can. You’re a superwoman,” River said, nodding at her reassuringly.

  ***

  River dropped them off at Adams Mansion after dinner. Jared was ecstatic. He was able to balance himself and skate on his own by the time they left the ice rink.

  “Are you coming back to take us ice skating again, Mister Jefferson?” Jared asked.

  “Of course, kiddo.”

  “Great! I can’t wait to tell Jeffie!”

  River raised a brow at Julianne.

  “Jeffrey. Justin’s first son,” Julianne explained.

  “Oh. Maybe next time we can all go together,” River suggested.

  “Yes! He will like that! We can race around the rink.”

  “Oh no, little man. No racing around the rink yet,” Julianne said, ruffling her son’s head. “Now, say goodbye to Mister Jefferson.”

  “Bye, Mister Jefferson. Thank you for today. See you soon!” To her surprise, Jared extended his hand to River.

  River smiled widely as he shook the little boy’s hand. “The pleasure was all mine, sir.”

  Then Jared turned towards the house, leaving them behind.

  “Well, thank you,” Julianne said to River.

  River nodded, looking into her eyes.

  Julianne stared up at River’s handsome face. He looked so angelic and so good. He was so much the opposite of Jin Starck, who looked devilish and dangerous.

  Right now, she couldn’t decide which one she preferred. The good or the evil. Her mind was telling her that she needed warmth, laughter and goodness in her life. But her heart…

  River reached up and pushed a lock of stray hair away from her face.

  “I had a great time,” he told her.

  “Me too. And thank you for doing that for my son. He needed that.”

  “He’s an adorable little man.”

  She nodded. “He is.”

  Then slowly River leaned his face towards hers. Julianne knew that River was going to kiss her.

  Her heart…

  Oh my God! This was going so great!

  Her heart…

  Do I want him to kiss me? He’s been such a great ally, a good friend—the best friend I had in many years.

  As River’s face inched closer to hers, she closed her eyes and let her heart decide.

  Just as he was only a breath away, she remembered the face of the handsome devil whose lips felt like velvet against hers. And at that last moment, she bent her head down, averting her lips away from River’s.

  She heard River take a sharp breath. Then she felt both his hands on either side of her face before he kissed her forehead.

  “I thought so,” he whispered.

  Julianne finally looked up at him. He was smiling gently at her, telling her that it was okay.

  He was… so good for her. So safe! But her heart…

  But my stupid heart likes danger!

  “Julianne, while you’re getting your act together, do not close your mind to the other possibility.”

  “What possibility?”

  “That maybe you and Starck were meant to be together and you need not worry about losing your son to his father. Because the best future for Jared is if his parents got back together.”

  Julianne shook her head. “Jin Starck is going to marry some hotel heiress. It would be good for his family’s empire. I no longer hold the same status I used to have. I won’t be good enough for him.”

  “Is that why you’re letting him believe that you were some cheating tramp who enjoyed men’s attention? That Jared couldn’t possibly be his because you went on so many adventures before him?”

  “Whatever he thinks of me doesn’t change the fact that we have no future together.”

  River took a step away from her. “Jin Starck may have a reputation of being ruthless, being a monster even. But I know he has a heart. And I think that heart still beats for you, Ian. Given the chance, he just might change his mind about marrying that heiress.”

  “You don’t know Jin Starck,” Julianne said.

  “I don’t. But I’m a man too, Ian,” he countered. “I know how a man would react when he had given his heart and soul to a woman and found her gone the next morning. And I know how a man would feel when after all these years, he still couldn’t let her go.”

  Julianne shook her head. “I just hope he can leave me alone. I just want to raise my son to be a good man and give him a good shot at a bright future. I have a long way to go.”

  “Why would you want him to let you go? Jin Starck will always be in your life. You have a son that’s part him and part you. Well, actually, maybe ten percent you and ninety percent him.”

  “My son is not a monster,” she muttered.

  “Jin Starck is not a monster, Ian. Because if he was, he wouldn’t have fallen in love with you. Don’t you think maybe you’re the reason why he became the ruthless man that he is now?”

  Julianne bit her lip, considering what River said. She knew there was a possibility of that. She remembered the wonderful man she met in Paris. He was full of charm and he stole her heart in less than twenty-four hours. Her romance in Paris seemed like it was pulled out from the pages of a romance novel. But they were young then. They were fierce with their passion. And now they both had to deal with the sudden twist in their fates and live with the aftermath of their actions. And she had to do it with the least pain and damage to the person who was the fruit of that passionate night they shared in Paris—Jared.

  “I hope you look closely into your heart, Ian,” River said. “Because until you get him out of there, I am hopeless to come in.”

  Julianne smiled at him sadly. She wanted to deny what he said, but she knew that he was right. Any other day, she would have been over the moon at his confession. But right now, she knew she couldn’t reciprocate his feelings.

  Tears rolled down her cheeks. “I’m sorry, River. You’ve been so good to me. And I don’t want to be haunted by him anymore.”

  “I know.” River nodded. He pulled her to him and gave her a hug. “But you still are. And I am not going to deny that. If we try to force this, we might end up hurting each other too. I am too fond of you now. I want to keep you for good… even if it means, I get to keep you only as a friend.”

  She took a deep breath and hugged River back. “Oh, God, River. Right now, I want nothing more than to return your feelings.”

  But how? How could she fall in love with River when after all these years, Jin Starck still haunts her? She still couldn’t get him out of her mind… and out of her heart.

  She gently pulled away from River. He looked down at her and gave her a reassuring smile. “In another lifetime, I would have been rushing you to the altar right now,” he said, and then shook his head. “But in this life, I think you belong to Jin Starck.”

  “It’s like you are telling me I am doomed to be miserable for the rest of my life.” She giggled humorlessly.

  He shook his head. “Things will fall into place in good time, sweetheart. And until then, I will be here to hold your hand.”

  Julianne smiled at him. “Thank you. I’m gonna need that.”

  River leaned forward and kissed her forehead again. “Put me on your speed dial, okay?”

  She nodded.

  River reached down her hand and intertwined their fingers. She gave his hand a gentle squeeze.

  “And I will forever be thankful for you,” Julianne said. She leaned forward and gave him a kiss on the cheek. “You’re a good man, River Jefferson.”

  “Angel is my middle name,” he teased.

  “Could be true actually.” She laughed. Then she released his hand. “See you later.”

  River nodded. “Good night.”r />
  Julianne went into the house. She felt good and bad at the same time. Good because she knew she found a true friend in River. Bad, because she knew that her problems with Jin Starck were far from being over.

  19.

  Jin Starck was in the foulest of moods when he sat in one of the chairs in the gazebo in the Adams Mansion. He wasn’t expecting the turn of events that day.

  First, he wasn’t expecting to see Julianne that afternoon, looking more beautiful than the last time he saw her. She looked fresh, without a hint of makeup on her face. He didn’t expect to see her with the adorable kid who looked nothing like her, like she didn’t give birth to him at all.

  But more importantly, he wasn’t expecting to see that handsome gentleman picking up both of them for an afternoon date.

  River Jefferson, he said his name was.

  Fifteen minutes after Julianne left, his phone beeped. A stream of emails flooded his mailbox, all with information about River Jefferson.

  He’s the CEO of RJ Holdings. Son of shipping tycoon Robert Jefferson. He was a product of his father’s affair with stage actress Tiffany Ronson. He wasn’t recognized by his father until his father’s wife and son died in a tragic car accident. After that, he was taken into his father’s custody and became the latter’s legal heir.

  He went to Harvard, that’s how he met Justin. His company handled several of Adams Industries’ shipments in different countries.

  Jin looked at the list of assets that River Jefferson stood to inherit from his father, plus the assets he was slowly acquiring on his own. His net worth may not be as huge as his or Justin’s, but the figures Jin saw were still impressive. River Jefferson also deserved an A-list status.

  River had only two serious relationships. One in high school, which ended because his father took him into custody. The other one was after college, which ended because the woman relocated to Europe. He didn’t have any criminal record, no child out of wedlock, no gambling or any form of addiction. The only time he ever went to a shrink was before college, after his father took him in and he was finding it hard to cope with his new status in life.