Chapter4
1206 Words
Gabby had been trying to get Janet to cool down all morning, they were at work, but her eyes kept darting to the door in paranoia. Gabby was repeating the same words she had told her last night.
Her hands fell above Janet's own, catching her off guard. Only then did she realize that she's been stalling again.
"...no one is taking Chance away, not while I'm here."
Gabby said that, eyes in reassurance but Janet didn't think she understood her greatest fear. It didn't exactly work like that. It wasn't as simple as that.
Janet swallowed.
For years, she had imagined what it would be like if Chance's biological parents ever appeared.
She had hated the thought of losing him.
But she had also secretly hoped they would be kind people.
People who loved him.
People who wanted him.
Now his father had finally arrived but he came carrying a cheque.
Janet didn't know what to think anymore.
What she did know was that Chance deserved the truth.
He deserved to know where he came from.
He deserved answers about his father.
The realization hurt far more than she expected.
Because it meant this situation wasn't as simple as refusing to let Damon King near him.
A small smile suddenly appeared on her lips.
Chance.
He was probably in school right now, arguing with one of his classmates over something ridiculous. The thought warmed her chest. She didn't want his life to change to something pitiable because she failed to protect him or didn't have the power to.
Then reality came crashing back.
What if Damon decided to fight for custody?
What if he won?
Her smile disappeared immediately.
Janet tried to listen to Gabby regardless, calming herself and shutting out all the loud fears in her ears. She continued cleaning while Gabby was attending to the customers.
When she finished cleaning, she was squeezing the napkin, packing up and carrying the bucket outside, to get it out of sight.
She was busy with that, when she noticed something. She felt the gaze of someone's eyes on her. The feeling was so intense that it made the hairs on the back of her neck stand. She glanced up and a gasp instantly escaped her lips.
Damon King.
The bucket fell out her hands and the water splashed all over her face. She shivered.
His green enchanting eyes were walking over her, bit by bit, from the messy bucket that was now broken and wasted on the ground.
The mop in her hands.
Her clothes soaked with water now.
The droplets lingering against her face.
For a strange moment, neither of them spoke.
Janet suddenly became painfully aware of how she looked.
Messy.
Ordinary.
Embarrassing.
Especially compared to the man standing across from her. Damon looked exactly like he belonged on the cover of a business magazine.
Perfect suit.
Perfect posture.
Perfect control.
Meanwhile she was standing in muddy water holding a mop. She used the side of her palms to nervously wipe her face.
"Mr. K-King?"
It were the wrong words that came out her mouth.
"You came alone today."
He was silent, hands rested casually in his black suit pocket, body leaning slightly against his luxury car. He looked more interested in watching her than answering.
It made her uneasy.
"Hmm."
Then he muttered.
The first words he had ever spoken directly to her.
"I need to speak with you."
Janet was surprised.
That was a very decent one.
No threats.
No cheque.
No employees.
Just him.
His expressions were unreadable, with eyes fixed intently on her, he looked less intimidating today. His words were warm, and now that he was here alone, he seemed less than the wealthy stranger with ill-intent, and more human.
Though somehow that felt more dangerous.
Because monsters were easier to hate.
Human beings were not.
His tone made it seem as if she had a choice in all of this. But she knew better than anyone else that she didn't.
Her opinion didn't matter to someone like him.
He was only here for his child and he would make her play by his rules by all means.
She stuttered.
"O-Okay."
Then his eyes fell to her wet clothes that were sticking to her skin here and there. For the first time, something flickered across his face.
Janet couldn't understand what it was.
But it vanished so quickly she almost thought she imagined it.
"I... I'll just go change."
She muttered, dropping the mop and moving to the backyard where the spare clothes were kept.
As she hurried away, she could feel his gaze following her.
And for some reason that made her heart beat even faster.
***
The best thing about the restroom had to be the mirror.
Janet washed her face and got herself brushed up more before moving out.
She stared at her reflection.
Then paused.
For some reason she suddenly remembered the article. Gabby had found out first, so she was the one to show her.
Clarissa King.
The woman who looked exactly like her.
The woman who used to belong to Damon King.
A strange discomfort settled in her chest.
She quickly looked away.
No.
She wasn't Clarissa.
She was Janet.
Nothing more.
Nothing less.
She came out few minutes later.
She was about to walk over to him, but his next words caused her to glue in her tracks.
"Pardon me."
"We won't be able to have the discussion here, I'm not used to this sight. "
Janet was irritated.
Her brows merely arched slightly.
She was quiet.
When she glanced at him again, she realized he could sense her irritation.
Almost as though he was waiting for her to argue.
She sighed.
Refusing to show her detest.
After all, he was Chance's father.
"Mr. King, where do you wish to have the discussion then?"
There was a flicker of amusement in his eyes.
"I hope you won't mind, if I trouble you for a ride."
A what?
Her eyes instantly shot up to hold his.
His green eyes were staring deeply at her from across the road.
Her eyes moved over his features.
They were unreadable.
Like a brick wall.
She knew people like him.
People who had everything they ever wanted.
They were untrustworthy.
They were cunning.
They were proud.
For people like her, they were worlds apart.
Her lips pursed, looking at the distance between them.
If she crossed it, she couldn't go back.
If she crossed it, she couldn't be sure what she was walking into.
If she crossed it, she couldn't know what her end would look like.
Then another thought entered her mind.
If she didn't cross it...
Would he simply come back with lawyers instead?
Her stomach twisted.
This wasn't about her anymore.
It was about Chance.
Her lips trembled.
This was for Chance.
"Alright, Mr. King."
For the first time since arriving, Damon looked genuinely surprised.
Only for a second.
Then it disappeared.
He stepped aside and opened the car door himself.
Not an employee.
Not a driver.
Him.
The gesture was small. But for a man like Damon King, it felt significant.
Janet hesitated before stepping forward.
Then she crossed the distance between them.
- Writer
