Page 72 of Boss with Benefits

"Derrick, nice to meet you," he said, his smile bright and white. "I'm eager to hear what you had in mind. Your message took me by surprise."

"I..." Rachel faltered. "Um, I'm the producer for a show called ‘Who Are You’ and your name came up while researching one of the guest's family heritage."

Rachel and I had decided this would be the best approach.

"Oh," Brad flicked a curious gaze back at me. "That's not what I was expecting."

"Do you remember a young woman named Jessica Lin?" Rachel asked, a slight tremble in her voice.

Brad's face went pale, and he sat back slowly, his eyes never leaving Rachel's. "Jessica ... Sure, I remember her. What is this about again? Who's the guest?"

Rachel took a deep breath, swallowing thickly. "Did you two date in high school?"

He frowned, shifting in his seat.

"Yes," he answered hesitantly. "Is she the guest? Is she here?" He glanced at the door as if she would walk in any minute.

"No," I said, jumping in. "She passed away last year."

"Oh." Brad's shoulders sank, and his face went slack. "Really? How?"

"Cancer," Rachel said.

Brad blinked, shifting in the chair. "I haven't thought about her in years."

"Were you her boyfriend in high school?" I asked, using my don't-fuck-with-me detective voice.

"I...we...why is that relevant?" Brad's face shuttered, and years of interrogations told me we were about to lose him.

"Do you want to continue?" I glanced at Rachel, trying to convey that it was up to her. We could end this right here if she wanted.

Rachel took a steadying breath, her eyes never leaving mine, like she was siphoning courage. Then she gave the tiniest of nods. I turned my attention to Brad, ready to jump in if he reacted in any way that might threaten Rachel. I had also learned over the years that people were very unpredictable when they received a shock.

"I don't know how to say this without startling you," Rachel said, chewing her lip like it was dinner.

Brad straightened his shoulders, swinging his eyes back and forth between us suspiciously. "Just say it. You obviously brought me here under somewhat false pretenses."

"I'm so sorry about that," Rachel hastily said. "The thing is, I think you're my father."

The words hung in the air. Rachel's eyes were wide and fearful, and it took everything in me to stay behind my desk and not go to her. That no matter what he said after this, she'd be okay. I'd make damn sure of it.

Brad on the other hand looked stunned, his mouth gaping open. He glanced toward the door like he might run.

"I-I don't understand," he stammered. "Jessica and I never...except once...and a few months after that she just disappeared. She left school and I never saw her again."

"She was pregnant, and her family pressured her to give me up," Rachel explained, leaning forward, a spark of hope in her eyes. "I was telling the truth when I said she passed away recently. From breast cancer. Everything came out and her family tracked me down. I just found out about you. About her. I'm sorry. I know this is unexpected."

Brad leaned back, his eyes filled with a mixture of shock and sorrow.

"I had no idea. Jessica and I were in love, young love, and then she ended things so abruptly. I always wondered why. How did you find me?"

Rachel glanced at me, and I smiled encouragingly.

"Her niece has been helping us gather information, and we did some digging into old yearbooks and the school's Facebook page and found a photo of you two together."

"And you searched for me online and found my LinkedIn page," Brad finished. "What do you want from me?"

"Nothing," Rachel quickly said. "I'm just trying to find answers."

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