Page 89 of Needing to Fall
I breathed out, remembering the “what ifs” didn’t matter in the grand scheme of things. It was going to be what it was. He would either like the fact that I had come to see him, or he wouldn’t. If he didn’t, this would be the only time I would ever see him.
In a way, I felt bad for him not knowing I had existed and wondered, if he had known, would he have taken me in with his family, or would he have left me with my mother. Again with the “what ifs.”
The bell on the elevator dinged, and I stared at it as the doors opened into a very bright, open space.
Lynx kissed the top of my hand and pulled me out of the elevator.Cheeseman Enterpriseswas etched into the glass on the wall with a large, dark, wooden desk below it. A beautiful woman with long, blonde hair looked up, her eyes scanning mine then doing a double-take on Lynx.
Jealousy raged through me. I wanted to pull him to me and yell at her, “He’s mine,” but no way would I do that.
“Brody Lynx and Reign Owens to see Mr. Cheeseman,” Lynx told her as her eyes turned lustful.
Bitch.
“One moment.” She picked up the phone, her eyes never leaving Lynx as she spoke into the receiver. Then she set it down and addressed Lynx, not me. “Through those doors. He’s expecting you.”
This was it, the moment when I met my father. My insides were in a twisted knot. I tried not to let them choke me down. I could do this. I was going to do this.
Lynx opened the door, and I walked inside. At the desk, a man’s head popped up. His dark brown hair was combed to the side with lots of hairspray or something keeping it from moving. His eyes were blue, which matched his suit that had pinstripes running down the length of it. He rose, buttoning one of the buttons on his jacket, and came around the desk swiftly.
I halted, causing Lynx to run into my back. He rested his hands on my shoulders, giving them a reassuring squeeze.
“Mr. Cheeseman,” Lynx said while Mr. Cheeseman stood in front of his desk, staring at me up and down.
I didn’t like the appraisal. It made me more nervous and uncomfortable.
“Please, come in.” He had a very deep voice, authoritative, like he was used to giving out directions and orders. I guessed you would have to be like that to run a company like this. “Reign?” he asked hesitantly.
I dug deep. “Yes. I guess I’m your daughter.” I couldn’t believe I had said it like that. This wasn’t the time to joke, but it had just come out, and when I heard his soft chuckle, I felt my body relax just a bit.
“That is what I hear,” he said.
Lynx reached in his pocket and pulled out a manila envelope, handing it to the man, who opened it and looked it over.
“I’ll have you know that the housekeeper you had get this information from me has been fired.”
I gasped at the news. “Don’t take it out on him or her or whoever.”
“Reign, to be in business, you have to trust the people who work with you and for you. She crossed a line. Whether it be for money or influence, it doesn’t matter. You don’t steal from someone, especially if that someone writes your paychecks.”
I felt bad for the woman. She shouldn’t have had to lose her job just so I could avoid being hurt. I hated that and felt like a shitty person for it.
“Sorry,” I whispered.
“So your mother was Rebecca Jameson. I remember her. I’m sorry to say this, but it only happened once when I was weak. I told my wife about it immediately because I felt so damn guilty for it. Long story short, after about twenty years, she forgave me.”
My gut twisted. “You think she’ll forgive you for this?”
He smiled, and it was a very handsome one. “After the phone call from Mr. Lynx here, I spoke with her and my children. Life is too short. We’d like you to come to dinner tonight at our home, get to know us, meet your two brothers and sister.”
Tears welled in my eyes.
“Mr. Lynx here didn’t give me a lot to go on with your life. He only warned me that you weren’t the touchy-feely type and to keep my distance.”
I smirked. Lynx was always taking care of me.
“I’m guessing by the terrified look on your face that there is a lot you need to fill me in on … when you’re ready, of course.”
I didn’t know if I would ever be ready to spill everything to this man. Sure, he was my father on paper, but to me, he was a stranger. It would take more than one meeting and a dinner to make me open myself up to him.
