Page 64 of Playing the Game
I nod and take a deep, cleansing breath. My nerves are shot. “Do you have anything in your suite to drink?”
“Take whatever you want.” She gestures to the beverage station.
I walk to that area and sift through the selection. I find a small bottle of Jack Daniel’s. “Do you want one?”
“May as well.” She goes back to her spot on the couch.
I fix us two Jack and Cokes and take them to join her.
“What can you tell me about my mother and this stupid wish of hers for me to have a child?” I hold Ava’s drink out.
She takes it and sips on her cocktail a little longer than expected.
My eyes narrow. “Tell me what you’re trying to decide whether you should keep from me.”
She places her glass on the coffee table. “I left something out that could be helpful, but you can’t jump down my throat when I tell you.”
“Wonderful. It sounds like I should be seated for this.” I sit near the end of the couch.
“When your mother and I first made this arrangement, she gave me two choices. One, agree with her and get something in return. Or two, go against her and face the consequences. Obviously, I agreed with her.”
“And what did you get in exchange?” I place my drink down.
“You need to remember I was barely twenty, so her arrangement didn’t seem so horrible.”
“Get on with it, Ava.”
“I… She… Once I had our baby, I promised to give it to her.” The words come out barely above a whisper.
My pulse spikes and I’m off the couch, towering over Ava. “You what? Why would you even consider that?”
She gets to her feet, going toe to toe with me. “Because you had hurt me with Helena. I figured I could give your mom your child and make you feel the same pain I did.”
“You said you were never going to go through with that plan.”
“I wasn’t going to keep blackmailing you. Not until your mom got involved. And her plan was always for a child. I thought I could get out of the deal. But as time went on, I realized I couldn’t. I thought giving up a baby to her was better than being dead.”
“For the love of God, Ava. Your logic still makes no sense. Did you not think about how you would bond with the baby while pregnant?”
“I figured the money your mom was going to give me would help with any feelings I had for a baby I shared with you. If you remember, I didn’t want to be tied to you because you had humiliated me over the years.”
My chest rises and falls in quick succession. Ava’s words start to register.
I take a step back and tilt my head. “What do you mean, the money my mother was going to give you?”
Her gaze drops to the floor. “Once I delivered the baby and your mom took it, she was going to pay me one hundred million dollars.”
The realization that my mom is willing to pay for a child of mine has my blood leaving my body.
“Oh, Ava. How naïve you were.”
She straightens. “Just how was I naïve?”
“Do you really think she would’ve paid you?” I huff a laugh. “She would’ve killed you before she gave you that kind of money.”
“I was young and didn’t think of that. Besides, if she wanted me dead, she would’ve done it before now.”
“Well, there’s still time.”
