Page 28 of Passion and Deception

The man in question growled more like a panther than a kitten, but he didn’t say anything until they sat down to discuss the proposed business plan.

Several hours later, after the business details were ironed out and sent off to the lawyers, Ramit led everyone into the dining room for dinner.

“How are things going at the club?” Ramit asked, knowing that Edward was also a member. They all sat down and the waiters immediately strode in, placing a salad in front of each man.

Levi sipped his wine, then answered, “Good. The schedule is tight, but Maggie comes back next week, so things should smooth out. The other wait staff have been covering for her.”

Ramit’s hand froze, his knife nearly tumbling from his fingers. He turned, trying to feign casual interest as he asked, “What’s wrong with Maggie? She seemed like a vigilant employee when I visited last year.”

Levi glanced at Ramit with amusement. “If you’d come back more often, you’d be up to speed on the gossip. Maggie had a baby a few months ago. There are bets on who the father is, but she won’t tell us.”

Ramit’s body went cold at that news. “What are the odds on Todras being the father?”

Levi burst out laughing and slapped his knee. “I doubt that Todras is still capable of fathering a child. Not after what Maggie did to him last year. And then, a few months later, both Todras and his annoying buddy, Mathis, were attacked. They were mugged and beaten pretty badly.” He took another sip of his wine, shaking his head. “Plus, the banks foreclosed on both of their homes. From what I’ve heard, they’ve both been mooching off of acquaintances for a place to stay.”

Ramit was aware of the knowing silence from the other two men at the table, but he had to know. “What happened to Maggie? What did she do?”

Levi looked surprised. “Todras tried to corner her in a hallway last year. He wouldn’t let her pass and was making insulting innuendos. So, Maggie kneed him in the groin. He was down for the count and my security guards had to literally haul him out of the club.”

Ramit absorbed that information, his fingers tightening on his knife and fork as he pictured Maggie being pinned to the wall. Had he completely misread the situation?

Clearing his throat, he tried to concentrate on the…he had no idea what he was eating. All he could think about was Maggie, her soft, brown eyes as she’d glancing pleadingly at him in the hallway so long ago. What the hell had he done?

“So who are the other men that could potentially be the father?”

Levi shook his head. “That’s the thing. Maggie never showed a preference for any of the club members. Emily, the club manager,” he explained for Falk, “mentioned that Maggie was really excited about some guy she’d met at an art museum last year, but apparently, he betrayed her somehow, but she refuses to tell us what happened.”

A litany of epithets blasted through his mind. “Why is she so close mouthed?” Ramit demanded, hearing his voice rasp and unable to control it.

Levi took another sip of his wine and shrugged. “No one knows. Maggie never mentioned his name. She was pretty sad for a while, but she was happy about being pregnant. And she’s an amazing mother. Emily and Ann, her best friends at the club, go to her house all the time to help out. They both say that Maggie is literally glowing. She’s exhausted, but happy. My wife Clarissa has visited as well and says that Maggie and the baby are thriving.”

Edward chuckled. “I’m guessing that she’s been inundated with gifts from you, Matteo, and Sean?”

Levi shrugged. “I might have sent over a few things.”

Edward and Falk laughed, seeing the truth behind the man’s casual tone. Maggie had probably been smothered with gifts from the club owners.

“It’s not just me,” Levi defended. “All of the club members have sent her stuff. She’s one of our best employees and everyone misses her.”

Ramit was vaguely aware of the rest of the meal being served and he might have eaten some of the food. But after he took his leave from the men, he had no memory of what had been served or what they’d talked about beyond the news of Maggie’s pregnancy.

Could it be…? Could he be the father? He’d been the man at the art museum. And she’d been happy afterwards? So happy that her co-workers had noticed and commented on her happiness? Then Levi’s other comments came back to him. Betrayal? How the hell had he betrayed Maggie? Simply because he’d shown up at the club?

That didn’t make any sense!

Still, he couldn’t get rid of the nagging suspicion that Maggie had given birth to his child!

He walked into his office later that night and sat down in his leather chair, contemplating the possibility. So many questions popped into his mind. The first one; if he was the father, why hadn’t she called him? She had his private cell phone number. If he was the father, then she should have told him!

The second idea was just as infuriating. If that was his child, then the babe needed protection! Holy hell, the babe might be in danger! The thought sent him surging from his chair and storming into the security office.

“I might have a child!” he announced to his head of security.

Nittan stared at Ramit for a long moment, too stunned to speak. Then he shifted into gear. “Who?” he demanded.

“The woman I met at the art museum last year. She gave birth to a child several months ago. How soon can you find out if the child is mine?”

Nittan lifted his cell phone and dialed a number. “I need you to get DNA from a child.” A moment later, he gave Maggie’s address, which he’d pulled up on his computer. “As soon as you have the DNA, send it to me. I need it by tonight.”

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