“No problem. I figured you were tired.”
“I was, but I still should have called.”
“Don’t worry about it.”
“How has your day been thus far?”
“Great, but I’m running late for a meeting, so I’ll have to call you back.”
“Call me on my cell,” Ethan said, disappointed, before hanging up.
His private line rang. He hit the speaker button. “Hello.”
“My man, what’s up? I got your message,” Frederick said, sounding worried.
Ethan picked up the receiver. “Guess who’s back and trying to wreck havoc in my life?”
“Is Sarah up to her no good antics again?”
“This time a child’s involved.”
“What the…”
“I told you about her calling. As big as Dallas is, I keep running into her. I saw her last night at Pappadeaux and she handed me a picture of a baby.” Ethan pulled out the picture of the baby and began to stare at it.
“Awe man. Is the kid yours?”
“I don’t know. I guess I should show it to Mama and see if he looks like one of us when we were babies.”
“I don’t envy you at all.”
“I finally meet a woman that I want to spend my life with and now this.”
“You sure Madison’s the one? Anybody who will lie to her family probably can’t be trusted too much either. You sure know how to pick them,” Frederick critically said.
“Trust me. Madison is nothing like Sarah.”
“For your sake man, I hope it works out.”
“Me too.”
They talked for a few more minutes until one of Ethan’s other lines rang.
“I have another call I need to take. I’ll call you later.” Ethan clicked over to his other line. “This is Ethan.”
Sarah’s screeching voice was on the other end. “Daddy, how are you?”
Ethan tried hard to control his temper. “What kind of game are you trying to play?”
“This is no game, sugar. You’re a daddy and I’m back to collect.”
“We haven’t been together in over a year.”
Sarah seemed to ignore his comment and said, “Christopher recently celebrated his first birthday. He’s the reason why I moved back to Dallas. I decided he needed to have a relationship with his father.”
“Until a DNA test is done, I’m not claiming Christopher, or whatever his name is, as my child.”
“You can fight it all you want, but when the test results come back, be prepared to pay out of your pockets.”
Ethan balled up his fist. “It’s always about the money with you isn’t it? If he is my child, I’ll make sure you never see a dime or him either for that matter.” He slammed the phone down.
I promised myself I wouldn’t lose control, he thought as he stood up and paced the floor.
He picked up the picture and placed it in his jacket pocket. He then briskly exited his office.
“Joyce, I’ll be leaving for the rest of the day. Take messages, “he said before leaving, “and if anything urgent comes up, call me on my cell.”
Chapter 18
Madison’s mind was elsewhere during the entire team meeting. Eddie Bates, the Director of her department, walked in with a petite woman with straight blond hair. Madison paid attention when she looked up into the face of the woman she had almost clashed with a few days before.
Eddie smiled before making the introduction. “Good afternoon. I want to introduce you to one of the newest members of the team. This is Sarah Spain and she’ll be taking Jack Patterson’s spot. She has over five years of marketing and management experience.”
Madison sat expressionless. I can’t believe this mess, she thought. How in the world am I supposed to work for Ethan’s ex? It’s time to look for another job.
Madison watched Sarah as she gave more of her background. Sarah’s eyes found Madison and their eyes locked. Madison could tell she was thrown off balance for a minute. Madison smiled. Sarah rolled her eyes and then went back to her professional mode.
I wonder if anyone else noticed how she rolled her eyes at me. Madison looked up and noticed Owen looking between her and Sarah. The king of gossip would see that.
The meeting ended after Sarah’s introduction. Madison tried to leave the room without having to come face to face with Sarah. It didn’t work because Eddie pointed to her and called her name. “Madison, come here please.”
Madison regrettably stayed behind. Sarah extended her right hand out. Madison had no choice but to shake it. “It’s nice to meet you, Madison. Eddie tells me you’re the best in your area.”
“I try to be,” Madison said, forcing a smile.
“Put me on your calendar for lunch next week. I’ll email you and we can coordinate the time,” Sarah said with a fake smile.
“Sure.”
Eddie placed his hand on Sarah’s back. “Unfortunately, I’ll be out of town next week, so I’ll have to take a rain check.” He continued to say, “Sarah, I want to introduce you to one more team.”
“Okay,” Sarah said as they walked out. She looked back at Madison with the fake smile still plastered across her face.
Madison wanted to slam the door. Before she could head out the door, Owen rushed in and shut the conference door.
“What was that all about?” he asked.
“I don’t have time for this.” Her voice shook as she spoke.
“I saw how she rolled her eyes at you. She acts like you stole her man.”
Madison used her left hand to move Owen out of the way. “I will not entertain this.”
She opened the door and left Owen standing in the conference room by himself. She made her way to her desk and immediately picked up the phone. She dialed Ethan’s number as soon as she got to her desk. Joyce informed her that he would be out for the rest of the evening. She tried calling him on his cell phone several times but his voice mail picked up each time.
“Ethan, this is urgent. Call me at my desk,” Madison said into the receiver. “If I’m not here, call me on my cell phone.”
She logged on to her email and shot Charlotte a quick email about the new chain of events. She looked around to make sure no one was looking and logged on to Monster dot com and updated her resume.
I’m serious about finding me another job, she thought. There is no way I can work with one of his exes. I won’t work with one of his exes!
***
Ethan saw Madison’s number on the display but decided not to answer the call. He pulled into his parent’s driveway. He needed to talk to his mother before talking to Madison, or anyone else for that matter.
He rang the doorbell, although he had a spare key. He didn’t want his mom to have a heart attack because of his surprise visit.
An elderly woman wearing glasses opened the door.
“Dear, what are you doing here?” his mother asked.
They hugged and he kissed her on the cheek. “I thought being your favorite son I didn’t need a reason.”
“Don’t let your brother hear you say that.” His mom blushed.
Ethan walked toward the kitchen. “Something sure does smell good.” He picked up the top of one of the boilers.
His mom lightly slapped the back of his hand. “Now you know I don’t like people over my food while I’m cooking.”
Sounding like a little boy, Ethan said, “Yes, Mom.”
“Have a seat and I’ll cut you a piece of cake, then we can talk.”
He poured two glasses of milk while she cut two thick slices of the lemon pound cake.
“Where’s Dad?” Ethan said as he sat the glasses down at the kitchen table.
“He’s out playing golf. I hope he wins, because when he loses, I have to hear about how such and such cheated.”
Ethan tried to hide his anxiety with laughter as his sat down at the table.
“You didn’t come over here to talk about the family,” his mom said, joining him. She looked him stra
ight in the eyes and asked, “What’s going on with you?”
He reached into his jacket pocket and handed her the picture.
“This is a cute little baby.” She stared at the photo. “Is this your child?”
Ethan let out a deep breath. “I was hoping you could shed some light on it for me.”
“Now I can do a lot of things, but paternity tests aren’t one of them,” she said shaking her head while staring at the baby in the photo.
“Does he look anything like us when we were kids?”
She studied the photo before answering. “He’s cute, but not as cute as my babies were. I can’t see any resemblance, but that doesn’t mean anything.”
“That’s what I was afraid of.”
She turned the photo over and saw the name on the back. “Don’t tell me Sarah is this poor child’s mother.”
“I’m afraid so.”
His mom raised her hand up in the air. “Lord, I told him messing around with her would be a big mistake.”
“I’m sorry, Mom. I hadn’t planned on telling you like this. I didn’t know where else to turn.”
His mom rubbed the top of his hand. “Dear, you can always come to me. Have you gotten a blood test done?”
“Not yet. I’ll contact her and get it done as soon as possible.”
“If this is your child, you know you must do right by him.”
Ethan looked away. “I will, if it’s mine.”
She got up and from the table and walked over to Ethan and put her arm around his neck. “I know my baby will do the right thing. If it’s yours, you don’t have to worry about a thing. We’ll make sure he grows up loved.”
“Thanks, Mom. I do have something else I want to talk to you about.”
“I’m listening. I need to check on my food.” She took one of her cooking utensils and stirred in one pot.
“I’ve fallen in love. I think she’s the one.”
His mom looked over the rims of her glasses. “Is this the one I heard Frederick telling your cousin about?”
“Who doesn’t know about Madison?” Ethan said, throwing his hands up.
“You know how your brother is.”
“Mom, she’s good for me. I never thought I could feel so strongly about someone after all the stuff Sarah put me through.”
“Have you talked to her about your situation?”
“No.” He took the last bite of his cake.
She cut him another slice and placed it on his saucer. “Don’t let her find out from anyone else.”
“I’ll tell her. But only after I find out whether or not he’s my son.”
“When do we get a chance to meet her?” she asked as she poured yellow flour meal and other ingredients into a bowl.
“Let me check with her and I’ll let you know.”
After talking with his mom for another half-hour, Ethan knew what he had to do.
“Mom, I’ll call you this weekend.”
“You better,” she said as she walked him to the door. He hugged her and kissed her on the cheek before leaving.
Chapter 19
Madison left work early after the Sarah bombshell. She talked to Charlotte via cell phone as she drove home. “I know I might be overreacting, but if that cow rolls her eyes one more time, I’m going to stick my foot straight up her behind.”
Charlotte laughed. “Calm down. Like I said in my email, you don’t report to her, so you probably will only see her in passing.”
“With all I have going on, this is the last thing I need.”
“I know girl,” Charlotte sighed with sympathy.
“And Owen is so nosy. There’s no telling what kind of rumor he’ll start.”
“Give him some credit.”
“I do. I know he loves to get stuff started and play the innocent role.” Madison’s phone beeped. “Char, hold on.”
She clicked over. “Hello.”
“Madison, it’s me. Sorry it took me so long to return your call,” Ethan said.
She had an attitude when she responded. “Hold on.” She clicked back over to the other line. “Girl, this is Ethan, who’s been MIA, missing in action, for the last few hours.”
“Calm down, girl. What did our mommas tell us? Never let them see you sweat.”
“Whatever. Bye.” She clicked over. “Hello.” She heard nothing but silence. “Ethan!”
“I’m here. I was adjusting my earpiece,” he said.
She raised her voice. “I’ve been trying to reach you all evening. Something happened and I need to tell you about it.”
“Calm down. I’m on I-35 right now. I can jump on LBJ Expressway and be over your way in about thirty minutes.”
“Please do, because we need to talk.”
“Will you give me a hint?”
“You’ll see when you get here.” She turned into her driveway. “I’m at home, so I’ll see you in a few.”
“Bye.”
She rushed through the door because she had to use the restroom. Afterwards, she decided to take a quick shower to relax her nerves. She put on a pair of white shorts and a white Las Vegas t-shirt. She threw on her slippers and waited in the living room for Ethan to arrive.
I know he has no control over his ex, she thought, but he may be able to shed some light on this situation for me. I’m not prepared to leave my job right now.
***
Ethan waited outside for almost five minutes before making his way up the walkway.
I need to tell her about Sarah and the baby, he thought to himself, but she seemed like she has a lot going on. Okay…I’ll tell her after she tells me her problem.
He was surprised to get a long tantalizing kiss from Madison when she opened the door.
“I can get used to this,” Ethan joked.
She grabbed his hand and led him to the couch. “I know you can. Have a seat.”
“You’re working those shorts,” Ethan said, followed by a whistle.
“Get your mind out the gutter, because we need to talk.”
“I heard the urgency in your voice when I called.”
Ethan’s cell phone rang, but he didn’t answer it.
“You’re not going to answer it?” Madison asked.
“No. Whoever it is can wait. I’m more concerned about you right now.”
“I need a hug.” She leaned in as they hugged each other.
“What’s wrong, baby?” Ethan asked as he brushed her hair back.
“They hired a new manager and she’s your ex.”
Neither spoke for a moment. Ethan broke the silence. “Which ex?”
Madison removed herself from his embrace and looked him in the eyes. “Sarah. Who else?”
“Is she your manager?” There were other questions he wanted to fire out, but he refrained from doing so.
“Not directly, but we’ll be in some of the same meetings and she’ll be my manager’s backup.”
A sign of relief washed across his face. “What are you worried about?”
“I forgot to tell you, she rolled her eyes at me during the meeting.”
“She what?”
“Yes and it wasn’t my imagination, because one of my coworkers noticed it too,” she pouted.
“I don’t know what to tell you.”
“You don’t have to say anything. I went on Monster dot com and updated my resume. I guess I’ll be looking for another job.”
“Don’t you think that’s a little drastic?”
“Answer this. If she got a job at your company, would you want to work with her?”
“Hell no!” Ethan was quick to say.
“Then why should I?”
Ethan knew this was the perfect time to tell her about Christopher. That way everything would be out in the open and she would know exactly what she was dealing with.
Looking at Madison and her vulnerable state made Ethan want to do everything he could to protect her. He decided to wait until after the paternity test and prayed that Sarah would be on her b
est behavior in the meantime.
“I can’t change the situation, but I’m here. If she does anything to disrespect you, let me know and we’ll deal with it together.”
He wrapped his arms around her and they fell asleep on the couch.
Chapter 20
The sound of Madison’s telephone ringing the next morning woke Ethan. Madison still slept. He carefully moved her before getting up to answer the phone.
“Hello,” Ethan whispered.
“Hi. Sorry, to wake you. This is Adrienne. Is my sister awake?” she said.
“Hold on. She’s asleep, but I’ll try to wake her for you,” he sluggishly said. He shook Madison several times before she woke up. “Telephone.” He held the phone out to her.
She wiped the sleep out of her eyes. “Who is it?”
“Adrienne.”
She stretched before taking the phone from him. “Girl, why are you calling here so early?”
“Because I had this bad dream last night and I needed to make sure you were okay.”
“I’m fine.”
“I see your husband is in town this week.”
“Yes and I’m enjoying every minute of it.”
“That explains why you’re still sleeping at seven in the morning.”
“Seven. I’m really running late. I’ll call you from my car.”
Ethan waited for her to finish her conversation and hang up the phone. “I guess we were both worn out,” he said. Ethan bent down to kiss her.
She held her hand over her mouth. “I’m warning you. I have dragon breath.”
“Come here, girl,” Ethan said. “I could care less. Give me some sugar.”
After rushing to get ready for work and seeing Ethan off, Madison couldn’t find her car keys. It took her fifteen minutes to realize that she had left them in the restroom when she had rushed in the evening before.
While driving to work, she switched the radio station between Skip Murphy and the Morning Team and The Steve Harvey show. She was laughing at one of Steve’s jokes when her cell phone rang.
“I forgot to call Adrienne,” she said out loud when she saw her sister’s number on the display. She clicked the speaker button. “Hey, sis.”
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