CHAPTER 5: THE LAWYER AND THE BABY
937 Words
8:00 AM. Blackwood Law Firm. 55th Floor.
Sophia sat across from Mr. Harold Greene.
Arthur Blackwood’s lawyer. 70 years old. Glasses. No smile.
On the table: Leo’s birth certificate. The USB. The will.
"Ms. Miller," Mr. Greene said. "I’ve been waiting for you to call."
"You knew," Sophia said. It wasn’t a question.
"I drafted the clause myself," Greene said. "At Mr. Arthur’s request. Six months ago. The night you went into labor."
Sophia closed her eyes. "He knew about Leo."
"Arthur monitored your hospital records," Greene said quietly. "He said: `If my grandson is born, protect him from Ethan.`"
Sophia’s throat hurt. "Why didn’t you tell me sooner?"
"Because you were grieving," Greene said. "And because Ethan would have found out. This way, only 3 people knew. Me. Arthur. And now you."
He slid a folder across. "This is Leo’s trust. 100% of Blackwood shares transfer to him on his 18th birthday. Until then, you are the trustee. You control everything."
Sophia opened it. Page after page. Legal language. Power.
"And Ethan?" she asked.
"Has no claim," Greene said. "Unless he contests it. Which he will."
As if on cue, her phone buzzed.
Ethan: `We need to talk. Now. My office.`
Sophia laughed. "He doesn’t have an office anymore."
She texted back: `Conference Room B. 10 AM. Bring your lawyer.`
---
9:30 AM. Blackwood Headquarters. Conference Room B.
Ethan was already there.
With a new suit. New lawyer. Ms. Karen Mills. Shark.
Ethan looked tired. Beard. Dark circles.
Sophia walked in. No lawyer. Just Mr. Greene behind her.
"Where’s your lawyer?" Ethan asked.
"I don’t need one," Sophia said. "I have the truth."
Karen stood. "Ms. Miller, my client is here to discuss custody and financial support regarding a child."
Sophia froze.
"What child?" she asked.
Ethan stared at her. "Don’t play dumb, Sophia. Victoria told me. You had my son."
The room went silent.
Sophia looked at Mr. Greene. He nodded once.
"Yes," Sophia said. "His name is Leo Arthur Blackwood. He’s 6 months old."
Ethan’s face cracked. Anger. Shock. Something else.
"You hid my son from me?" he whispered.
"I protected my son from you," Sophia said. "You told me to terminate the pregnancy. You cheated while I was in the hospital. You don’t get to claim him now."
Karen cut in. "Mr. Blackwood is the biological father. He has rights."
"He has no rights to the company," Mr. Greene said. "Per the will."
He placed copies on the table. The will. The birth certificate.
Karen read it. Her face fell.
Ethan grabbed the papers. Read them.
His hands shook.
"The shares go to Leo," Ethan said. "Not me."
"No," Sophia said. "And you’re fired for cause. You forfeit everything."
Ethan slammed the table. "That baby is mine too!"
"Then act like it," Sophia said. "Starting with child support. And supervised visits. If a judge allows it."
Ethan stood. "You think you’ve won?"
"I think Leo has won," Sophia said. "That’s all that matters."
She turned to leave.
"Wait," Ethan said.
Sophia stopped.
Ethan’s voice was broken. "Can I... see a picture?"
Sophia hesitated. Then pulled out her phone.
One photo. Leo. Sleeping. Dark hair. Her eyes.
Ethan looked at it for 10 seconds.
Then looked away. "He has your nose."
He walked out. No lawyer. No fight.
---
2:00 PM. Sophia’s Home.
Small apartment. Not the penthouse.
Crib in the corner. Baby toys.
Sophia picked up Leo. 6 months. Chubby cheeks.
"Hey baby," she whispered. "Grandpa left you a kingdom."
Leo grabbed her finger.
Her phone buzzed.
Unknown: `I’m sorry. - E`
Another text.
Unknown: `Can I send a gift? For him.`
Sophia didn’t reply.
She looked at PROJECT PHOENIX on her wall. At home now.
Step 1: Take his company. ✓
Step 2: Take his clients. ✓
Step 3: Destroy his reputation. ✓
Step 4: Make the board fire him. ✓
Step 5: Find out who called him. ✓
Step 6: Secure Leo’s inheritance. ✓
Step 7: Protect Leo from Ethan.
She added a new line in pen.
Step 8: Decide if she can ever forgive him.
---
6:00 PM. Blackwood Tower.
Ethan stood outside the building.
Security wouldn’t let him in.
He had a gift bag. Baby clothes. Blue.
Maya walked out. Saw him.
"Mr. Blackwood?" she asked.
"Can you give this to Ms. Miller?" Ethan asked. "For Leo."
Maya took it. "She’s not here."
"Where is she?" Ethan asked.
"At home," Maya said. "With the baby."
Ethan nodded. "Thank you, Maya."
He walked away.
Maya texted Sophia: `He left a gift. For Leo.`
Sophia read it. Looked at the gift bag on her table.
Didn’t open it.
---
10:00 PM. CEO Office.
Sophia was working late again.
Email from Karen Mills: `Mr. Blackwood is filing for paternity and visitation rights. Court date in 2 weeks.`
Sophia sighed.
Her phone rang. Unknown.
She answered. "Hello?"
"Sophia," a man’s voice. Older. "This is Arthur."
Sophia stood up. "Grandpa? You’re—"
"I’m alive," Arthur said. "And I’ve been watching. You did good, girl."
Tears filled Sophia’s eyes. "You’re alive? Why?"
"Because Ethan needed to fall," Arthur said. "And you needed to rise. And Leo needed to be safe. I’m in Switzerland. Medical treatment. I’ll be back in 3 months."
Sophia couldn’t speak.
"Take care of my great-grandson," Arthur said. "And Sophia... you’re a better Blackwood than he ever was."
Click.
Sophia sat down. Shaking.
Arthur was alive.
Leo was safe.
The company was hers to protect.
She picked up her pen.
Day 3 of revenge was over.
Day 4 would be about rebuilding.
And for the first time, Sophia smiled.
For real.
- Writer
