Heart Of Stone

by Lace, Lolah

Why didn’t I know Daniel was Tonio’s brother? What else was there I didn’t know. Did Daniel know Tonio paid me the first time I met him? Of course he knew. He drafted the Non-Disclosure Agreement. Daniel had a fresh copy of the new agreement he fished out of his bag. I guess the one he left with me wasn’t good enough. Joel had his hands on the copy they left for me to review.

  “I can’t wait to hear what the pimp has to say.” Tonio bated my friend. Why was he being a dick?

  “My name is Joel Covington, not pimp. But you know that already.”

  “So what? Are you here to up the price?”

  “I’m not trying to up anything. Stop jumping to conclusions. You don’t have to act. There are no cameras here. This is not a major motion picture.”

  “Fuck you. This is a good deal. Kelby needs to take it. Joel, you being here means I need another non-disclosure agreement.”

  “Stop trying to gag everybody you come into contact with. I’m not sure what makes you think that we are all clamoring to mention you to the gossip rags. No one at this table cares who you are.”

  “If not fame, you want money.” Tonio was visibly agitated.

  Joel leaned into the table. “Look Mr. Hollywood, Kelby got pregnant because you didn’t follow a simple rule, my simple rule— bring your own condoms. I didn’t know I had to teach a class on how to put them on.”

  “Fuck you.”

  “Contrary to your overrated appeal and highly inflated ego— during this entire pregnancy your name never once came up. Not one time. I know firsthand that Kelby only cared and thought about her baby. The entire time her baby was cooking in the oven and after he was born. It was my idea to name him Alexander Jaxson. I thought it was hilarious.”

  “I guess you told me girlfriend.” Tonio snapped his fingers.

  Joel rolled his eyes. “You tried it and you failed.”

  “Look dumbass, she should have never disclosed who the father of her baby was.”

  “That is not in the initial Non-Disclosure Agreement. She didn’t have to tell me. I know whom she had sex with. Only an idiot couldn’t figure it out. What took you so long to realize you had a kid out here? Now who’s the dumbass?”

  “I’m two seconds from punching your gay ass so hard you wake up straight.”

  “Tonio! Tonio! Stop!” I had to put an end to this quarrel. They might actually can to blows and I had no idea who would win that fight. One thing for sure, they would tear my place up and probably get me kicked out on my ass from the condominium board.

  Tonio looked over at me with hot steam in his icy eyes.

  “I don’t want any more money. If you think this is fair, I believe you. I want my son to grow up loved, healthy and safe. Your money can make sure he has good healthcare and education. It can also make sure he has a safe place to live and a safe place to go to school and piano and karate and stuff like that.”

  “And baseball.” Joel added. “Boys need baseball.”

  “Yes, that too.” Tonio finally agreed with Joel on something. “And basketball. He’s half Black.” I glared over at Tonio. Did he just say that dumb shit? “Kelby, I’m just kidding.”

  “You are not giving me a chance to take this in. This is a shock for me. When I was pregnant I dreamed about my son and all the things I would do with him. Those dreams made me happy. I was okay with it being just Alex and me. I didn’t think I would ever see you again.”

  “You have to get some new dreams now— dreams that include me. I’m his father.”

  Don’t remind me. “Signing the agreement means Alex will have money for college.”

  “Yes it does. I’m going to take care of my son. I’m going to give him the things I didn’t have growing up. That is not up for debate.”

  “Daniel tapped the table with his pen. “Kelby was there anything in this agreement that you had a problem with?”

  “No, there isn’t.”

  “You’re fine with the forty-two thousand a month?”

  A year’s worth of salary in one month, I can’t believe this is happening. “Yes, I’m fine with it.” I forced a smile on my face and directed it at Tonio.

  “So there’s the issue of the car. Are you okay with a car worth 60K or more which will be traded in for a new one every year.”

  “Yes, that’s fine.”

  “Can Mr. Lam— Tonio pick the vehicle?”

  “Yes he can but—”

  “But what?” Tonio was eyeballing me and giving me his death stare.

  “Don’t try to intimidate her.” Joel took up for me.

  “Shut the fuck up.” Tonio was being an ass.

  “Make me.” Joel wouldn’t back down and who could blame him. Tonio had said some pretty insulting things to him.

  Just when I believed Tonio’s anger had shifted to Joel he turned and gave me his icy blue-eyed glare. “Did you fuck him?”

  Me? “Oh god, Tonio.”

  “Joel, you better not touch her— ever. I’m not buying this godfather bullshit.”

  “I’m gay dumb ass.”

  “Right, I’m not too sure about your sexual orientation.”

  “That’s homophobic. What, I don’t look or act gay enough for you?”

  “No, I just don’t like opportunist fuckboys around my kid.”

  “You couldn’t know the definition of fuckboy. You are the biggest fuckboy in this country.”

  “Guys, guys, please, this is about Alexander.” Daniel finally said something. Hopefully it would calm the brewing storm. “Let’s set our differences aside and do what’s best for the child.”

  I had enough also. This bickering was just childish. “Tonio, why are you being so rude to Joel. He’s my friend. You and I had sex. I got pregnant. I told you Alex is yours. I have never had sex with Joel. Just because you had sex with tons of women after me doesn’t mean everybody does that. I know you slept with your girlfriend Gigi recently and then had sex with me last night. Jesus, everyone doesn’t just move from woman to woman like you.”

  “I broke it off with Gigi. We’re over. If you watched any entertainment news outlet you would know that.”

  I saw it on TMZ but I needed to hear the truth from him. I wasn’t going to let him off the hook that easy. “You broke up with her two minutes ago.”

  “No, it wasn’t. I checked out of that relationship a long time ago.”

  “When you found out you had a kid.” Joel mumbled but we all heard every single word he said.

  “My love life isn’t any of your business Joel. That goes for you too Kelby.”

  “It isn’t. I don’t care.” I had to make that clear to him. I didn’t want him. He was a flip-flopper. He was a selfish bastard and I had my fair sure of that type of man. “Joel is engaged. Some people believe in fidelity and commitment.”

  The table was silent for what seemed like forever and a day.

  “Joel,” Tonio’s tone had instantly turned warm. “I’m sorry. I’m stressed about this situation and I shouldn’t have accused you of sleeping with my son’s mother.”

  “Whatever, it’s cool.” Joel genuinely shrugged it off.

  “Joel, you could have contacted my people. Man to man, I want to know why you didn’t say anything?”

  I waited for Joel’s answer. “Kelby never asked me to inform you. She wasn’t looking to get anything out of you. It wasn’t my place to tell you. My loyalty is to her. I would never betray her trust.”

  “You didn’t think I would want to know I had a son out here somewhere?”

  “Look Lambrusco, I don’t know your backstory. You paid for a service and I provided it for you. That was where our business arrangement ended.”

  “But Joel, I told you I had never done this before. I never paid for sex. Only with Kelby.”

  “You did but—”

  “The once, twice, I do this— I get her pregnant and you didn’t feel obligated to inform me my sperm created life.”

  “No, I didn’t feel any obligation. I don’t understand why this is important fo
r you. I don’t know how many times you’ve been with escorts. I’m not the only person with an escort business. I don’t know if you have a tribe of children out there that you fathered.”

  “I have never been with any other. Kelby was the only one. Let’s make that clear. I don’t have any other children by any other women.”

  “I don’t know why this matters.” Joel said what I was thinking.

  “It does matter. Did she work for you after me?” He asked Joel just like I hadn’t told him the answer and like I wasn’t even sitting right here.

  “Kelby, Tonio only paid twice and it was for you only. He didn’t see or make dates with any other girls I employ. And Tonio, Kelby only had two dates and they both were with you. She retired from escorting after you. She did not work for me again in any capacity.”

  I had something to say to Tonio. “If you are so worried about me sleeping around why don’t you just get a paternity test?”

  “That’s not necessary.” Tonio blew my request off.

  “No, I want you to know that Alexander is one hundred percent your son.”

  “I know he is.” He blew me off again like paternity wasn’t his concern.

  “No, you don’t. Take a test.” I was staring at him and he just looked away from me and over at Daniel. What was I missing?

  “Kelby, he knows Alex is his son.” Joel addressed me when Tonio wouldn’t. “He wouldn’t be here if he wasn’t 99.9 percent sure.”

  “What? You just met Alex yesterday.” Why was he so sure? “He has blonde hair and blue eyes but that’s not proof.”

  Tonio exhaled. “I’ve taken a DNA test.”

  “What? How?” What was he talking about? He just laid eyes on Alex yesterday.

  “I got some of Alex’s blood and had it tested against mine. I know he’s my son.”

  “You just got some of my son’s blood? How?”

  “Money can buy you anything. I have a lot of it.”

  “Oh.” I didn’t know if I should be impressed or horrified. “I want this to be over. I want to raise my son.”

  “That’s what I want. I want to give you money to take care of my son.”

  No— my son. He’s not yours. “Do you want me to sign this new agreement?”

  “Yes please, sign this agreement. I’m going to Dubai. I would feel better knowing you had the money to take care of Alex. I’m going to be far away. I need this to be finalized.”

  “Fine. I’ll sign it.” Hearing him now made me believe he was almost being sincere. I could never totally believe him because he was an actor and somehow I thought he got off on deceiving and conquering me.

  Tonio got up from the table and he took the pen that was on the table beside Daniel. Alex started crying through the baby monitor.

  Joel hopped out of his chair. “I got him.” Joel rushed out of the room to tend to my son. Joel was good with Alex and he had even babysat him a few times when I needed to go somewhere that wasn’t baby friendly.

  I put my John Hancock on the stupid paper. I initialed every single thing that Daniel pointed out for me. He was talking and I wasn’t listening. All I heard was blah, blah, blah. Tonio watched me intensely and the scrutiny was unnerving.

  When I was done I leaned back in my chair and felt a wave of panic. I had signed my name and I was bond by secrecy and tied to this man for probably the next two decades.

  The time would fly by and I would be fine as long as he made three or four movies per year. He would always be out of the country or on location. He was based in Los Angeles and that gave me great comfort. Tonio was in my face as soon as I looked up from my lap.

  “Don’t worry. This is going to work in your favor. Now you can look for a house somewhere nice. I’ll have a car sent over in a few days. I’ve narrowed it down to the Lexus LX, the Mercedes Benz GLS and the BMW X5 M.” When did he do that? “Is there one you would prefer?” He waited for my response but I didn’t know a damn thing about cars.

  “I don’t know about cars.”

  “These are SUV’s, but it’s okay. I can help you pick what you like.” He put his hands on my legs and then held my arms and started rubbing them.

  “Tonio.” Daniel interrupted whatever Tonio was trying to do. I was happy he was here to curve Tonio’s overt flirtation with me. “We have to get going.”

  “Yeah, pretty girl.” Oh shit, there he goes. “Daniel wants to see Alex before we go.”

  “He does?” I looked over at Daniel.

  “He’s his uncle.”

  “Yeah right.” All of this was happening too fast for me to catch up.

  “Daniel has two daughters. He can handle a baby.”

  “Okay, I’ll go get him.” I struggled to stand with Tonio holding onto my arms. I scurried from the room just to seek air that I could breathe on my own.

  I walked into the baby’s room and Joel was holding Alex against his chest. The crying had stopped and Joel was pacing and bouncing my comforted son in his chiseled arms.

  “Did you sign?”

  “Yes.”

  “Did they leave?”

  “No, Daniel wants to see Alex. Did you know that the lawyer was his brother?”

  “No hon, I didn’t know that. Antonio is shady.”

  “I agree.” Alex reached for me and I took my son in my embrace.

  “I don’t trust this guy. Do not let him break your heart again.”

  “I’m not. I’m not under his spell anymore.”

  “The money is great but if he tries anything fishy I can get some lawyers for you. My client list is extensive.”

  “Do you have any clients that are hitmen? I may have to kill him if he tries to take my son away from me.” I was joking. I think I was joking.

  “Funny.”

  “Yeah, please stay until they leave.”

  “Why? Are you afraid you’ll end up naked and pregnant by a super famous Hollywood actor? Oh shit, you’ve been there and done that.” He sarcastically joked at my expense.

  “I didn’t try to have sex with him last night. He was all over me. He won’t take no for an answer.”

  “I don’t blame you. Assholes are usually very attractive. Did you use protection?”

  “No.”

  “What are you doing?”

  “Does it look like I know? I have no idea what’s going on. I need a Plan B pill. Is it too late? Can I take one?”

  “It’s not too late. You have seventy-two hours. After the bonehead brothers leave, I will run out and get one for you.”

  “Thank you so much. I need to get this over with. I’m so nervous.”

  “Don’t be nervous. You signed the contract and if he flakes on it, threaten to see him in court. He doesn’t want any of this to go public. He thinks his career would take a hit. He can’t save the rain forest and all that other humanitarian shit he does and then turn his back on his only son. The public would crucify him. You are the boss. You call the shots. Make him think he’s the boss but clearly you are the one holding all the cards.

  Everything Joel said made sense but Tonio was intimidating. He was an unwavering force. Shit, and he was sexy as hell. I didn’t love him or anything but sex with him was so amazing. I just need to keep my head on straight. Right now, it feels really crooked.

  CHAPTER 5

  KELBY

  I’m not sure why I thought he might stay away for a day or two. My sanity wasn’t something he gave a damn about. I got the phone call and then he was knocking on my door. He staggered into my condo looking hot and handsomely disheveled. He had been drinking. I could see it in his bloodshot eyes. He wrapped his arms around me and latched onto my neck like a vampire.

  “Pretty girl.”

  “Drunken man.”

  “Haha.” He started groping me like a fumbling teenage boy on prom night. “Kelby, I’ve been meaning to ask you. Why do you always look like you want to hit me?”

  “I don’t want to hit you.” Damn, I was lying. In the moment I realized exactly what was going on h
ere. I was being kept. I was like his side chick when there wasn’t a main chick. He intended to come and go as he pleased. He planned to fuck me whenever he wanted. How did I feel about that? I don’t know yet.

  “Tonio what are you doing here?”

  He raised an eyebrow. “My cock is hard. What do you think I’m doing here?” He snickered. I didn’t like his drunken snicker.

  “You can’t just show up and expect to have sex with me.”

  “You’re so funny and pretty and sexy.”

  “I’m smart too.”

  He smiled that smile that graced the screen of so many of his movies.

  “Yes ma’am. You are smart.”

  “You can’t just show up here and seduce me.”

  “Of course I can. You belong to me.”

  “I don’t belong to anyone.”

  “I just paid for you.”

  “First you did not pay for me. You paid to take care of your son.”

  “No, I pay child support to take care of Alex. I pay the extra money to have you spread your legs whenever I want to fuck your pussy, fuck your mouth, fuck your asshole and choke you unconscious.”

  I could’ve laughed but laughter was just a fleeting thought. A kick in the dick was the more prominent thought swirling around my brain.

  “Do not joke about choking me.”

  “Oh so, you’re still acting like you didn’t like it.”

  “I’m not acting.”

  “Ummmm— yeah you are. I was there. You loved it.”

  “No I didn’t.”

  “Huh, well I think you need an agent. You’re really a good actress. I’m almost convinced.”

  “Fuck you. Fuck the extra money. Just child support is all I need. I don’t need your extra, incidental hush money.” I wrenched my body out of his drunken grip.

  “You can’t give it back. It’s already in your bank account.”

  What? Was that true? “I just signed the stupid papers.”

  “I move fast. You should know that by now.”

  “Your money doesn’t buy me or my body.”

  “Of course it does.”

  “Stop being an asshole. Stop disrespecting me.”

  “I’m drunk, cut me some slack.”

  “Did you drive over here drunk?”