The Start of an Era

Chapter 16

Is it a good something or a bad something? I walked down the stairs and their heads snapped towards me. “Like the room?” Christian asked. “Sure.” I said, continuing to walk down the stairs. “So we probably need to get your stuff as it will be dark soon.” He walked towards the door and I followed him. We got back into the Supra and he went to Armand’s place. “Uhm... most of my stuff is not here.” I said, not wanting to anger him. “What do you mean?” he asked, looking at me. “Well, my stuff is at my place. You know...where I live.” I said and did not mean to sound rude. “Well then why did you stay with Armand if you have a place?” well this is awkward. “I got into some trouble and was planning to go on a bit of a run but you know... you messed that up.” I said, not looking at him. I do not have to discuss my personal life with him. “Where is your place?” He asked and I gave him the address. I guess that he got the point that I did not want to talk to him. “What kind of trouble?” Or not! “Well, it is really complicated and I do not want to talk about it.” I said. “Well you do not have a choice now. You are telling me or the deal is off.” He threatened,. “I was forced to marry someone that I did not know at that time, so I ran away.” I said in hopes of keeping my friends safe. “Who was it?” he asked, trying to hide his smile. “I told you what you asked I am not going into the details with you. But now that you mention it, that was quite pathetic of me to up and run away.” I said, laughing a little. We soon got to my building and went up to my penthouse. When I opened the door I was shocked. “No way!” everything in here was thrown in different directions. It was a huge mess. It kind of looked like someone was looking for something. “You got some pretty mad enemies,” Christian said from behind me. “Yeah.” I walked over the mess and went to my bedroom only to find that everything in there was also a huge disaster. I sighed and started to throw my clothes in some suitcases. I did not really take any of the big stuff because now I would not need it. I packed my laptop and tablet into their bags and got my toiletries. When I went back to the living room with all my stuff, I saw Christian holding something in his hand and he was staring at it. I walked to him and saw that he was holding my picture from back at the fight club. In the picture, the ref was holding my hand in the air and Christian stood in the picture with his head low. Even though you could not see either of our faces, I knew it was him because he was my very last fight before I left the fight club. “You know, after this match I searched for you everywhere. Even though I did not know who you were or what you looked like, I wanted to find the only fighter who ever beat me.” He said, handing me the photo. I threw it onto the sofa. If I was starting over, then I could not take anything from my past. “Cool. Are you ready?” I asked him and he nodded, taking one of my suitcases. I walked out of the penthouse first and then locked the door behind him. The ride back to his place was silent with only the music playing. This is why I never talk about myself, because it always leaves the situation awkward. “So when do I start?” I asked, smiling at Christian. “Tomorrow morning. We have a meeting with Estelle at 8 regarding the attack and then we have to take care of business at one of my suppliers.” He said, looking real professional. “OK cool. Do I have to go with you?” I asked because I did not want to go to Estelle as we had some unfinished business. “Yes, that is the work of a personal assistant and wear something decent.” He said, giving me a playful look. “What, you don’t like my sling and stitches. I think it makes me irresistible.” I said and he laughed at my comment. I kind of like this Christian. “Oh yes. I can barely keep my hands off of you.” He said and we both laughed. “But to be serious. I have a reputation to uphold, so please...” he gave me puppy dog eyes and I mean come on. Who was ever able to resist those eyes? “In that case, I do not think it is a good idea that you take me along.” I said. He looked at me with a weird expression. “You do not look that bad.” He said, giving me a reassuring smile. “Oh no you misunderstood... I am beautiful, but remember my arranged marriage?” he nodded. “Well, she wanted me to marry Jay. Of course, I did not know who he was. I only knew that he was some playboy who would never settle down. She still does not know where I am.” I said and looked at Christian to see that he was thinking about something. “Well, now that he is probably back with his mother, he can tell her that he does not want to marry you and all will be good. Besides, you are mine now and I am not getting rid of you that easily.” He smirked. “You know that I am not an object right and I can leave anytime I want and you will never see me again.” I said and for a moment I thought I saw hurt in his eyes. It was gone as soon as it came. “But you will not because we have a deal.” He said. “Yeah and unfortunately I stick to my word unlike you.” With that, he pulled into the driveway and we got out of the car. There was a girl on his porch with a baby in her arms. What the hell? He did not seem to notice them, so I cleared my throat, making him look at me. “Mister Boss, you have got company.” I said, pointing towards the girl. He turned around and I heard him curse under his breath. “Great, well, I will deal with that and then I will see you tomorrow?” I nodded and he walked towards the girl.

I got my stuff out of his car and struggled a bit to get it all inside, but once I did, a girl came and helped me. “Thank you.” I said and smiled at her which she returned. “No problem Miss.” She said formally. “Oh no I think you have me mistaken with someone else I am Skylar or just Sky.” She chuckled at my words. “Nice to meet you Sky I am Jill.” She said. She is so adorable. I wonder how old she is. “The pleasure is all mine, Miss Jill.” I said, and she laughed even harder. We got to my room and placed my stuff in front of the bed. “Well, Sky dinner will be ready in about two hours.” She said, turning to leave. “Thank you.” I said as she left. I quickly packed away all my clothes and then set up a little work station at the desk. I know that most of the time I would be working with Christian, but this would be where I would do my other mafia work, hopefully, without Christian finding out. When everything was set, I started my work but got distracted by screaming and shouting down stairs. Well, that is convenient. I went down to see that it was that girl and Christian using some very foul language. I walked down the stairs unnoticed. “I only slept with you once. How can this be my child?” he asked, looking at the baby boy in his arms. “What are you saying? That I sleep with a lot of people?” she shouted back at him.

I just stood there watching this play out. Well, I guess if you cannot keep it in your pants you have got to accept the consequences. “No but how can I be sure that this is my child?” he asked, and I took a look at the baby. He has Christian’s hair and eyes. The baby looked at me and then he reached out his hands toward me, wanting me to take him. What the hell? The girl and Christian were both looking at me now. Well, thank you little baby, now I cannot watch the show in peace.

“What are you doing here?” the girl asked me rudely. “I live here,” I said, giving her a fake smile. “Well, can’t you see that we are having a conversation over here?” this girl really is rude. “Yeah I think the next town over knows that you are having a ‘conversation’ here.” I said and then looked toward Christian who just looked at me and holding the baby as if it was something that would explode any moment. I walked toward him, the baby reaching for me the whole time. I stood next to Christian and turned toward the screaming girl. “I do not know who you are and I do not want to, but what the hell are you doing here and what is your plan with the baby?” I asked. She looked at me in disgust. “I do not want it and I thought that maybe his father would take care of it because I do not have time for him and I don’t want it.” How cruel can she be. This is totally disgusting. She made the mistake of getting pregnant and now she is the innocent one? “Well great. Christian good luck with this. I am going to take little baby unknown here and get out of here because your language is not child friendly.” I took the little baby from him and he seemed happy somehow. This is really a little miracle. A little human being that has his whole life in front of him. That reminds me... “How old is he?” I asked. “Two months old and here is his bag.” She gave it to me and I turned back to Christian. “Good luck.” I said as I walked to what I think was the kitchen. There were people cooking in the kitchen and when I walked in everyone seemed to stop what they were doing and turned towards me. I smiled at all of them and they smiled back. An older man approached me. “Good evening Miss. I am Harry. How may I help you?” he asked in a soft tone. “Evening Harry, I am Skylar. I do not know this Miss of whom you speak. But this little guy looks hungry, don’t you think? I am just going to make him a bottle and then maybe put him to bed once his parents figure out what to do with him.” I said, smiling at Harry. “Okay, Skylar let me show you around the kitchen.” We walked in the kitchen and he introduced me to everyone here and showed me around. He is the head butler here, so he knows almost everything. “Harry, if you don’t mind would you hold Mister Cuteface for a moment while I make his bottle?” I asked and he chuckled at my nickname for the baby and took him while I looked through the bag. I took out a bottle that had not been washed. There was only one bottle with two nappies. I dug deeper in the bag and then took a little packet out of the bag. No way! In my hand was a packet of heroine.

What the hell is wrong with that woman? She has a child and she does drugs? I threw it down the drain while I scrubbed the bottle clean. I found a little bit of formula and made a bottle for the baby. That is really getting annoying. He has to have a name. I guess for now I will call him CJ for Christian Junior. I took him from Harry and he greedily drank the bottle.

“Wow you were really hungry.” I said, smiling down at him. I walked out of the door only to see Christian sitting on a couch in the living room. I sat opposite him with CJ in my one good arm. “Where did she go?” I asked, looking at Christian. “She ran away!” He angrily hit the couch. “What are you going to do?” I asked him being careful not to anger him more. “I have got to make sure that the child is not mine.” He seemed determined that CJ was not his. “Does he have a name?” I asked looking at a very sleepy baby in my arm. ”No she did not give any details only that he was born two months ago on the second.” I looked at Christian who was laying with his head back on the sofa clearly exhausted. “Well then I will just have to call you Jackson Alexander and the last name is still to be determined.” I said in my baby voice while looking at Jackson almost asleep. The bottle was almost empty. “I like it.” Christian said, surprising me.