My Ex-Boss Wants Me Back

CHAPTER FIVE

“You and I know that is a lie, Genesis. I made my findings about his age and everything points to the fact that you got pregnant while we were together in Rome.” He said, walking closely behind me.

“What if I was with someone else before we went to Rome? Huh, Clyde?” I retorted.

“You were not. The only person you've ever been with is me.” He answered softly.

“Stay away from me, Clyde!” I yelled out in anger.

My phone chose that moment to ring. I angrily rummaged through my bag, almost dropping it.

I snatched the phone out of the bag and shouted into it a little too loudly.

“Hello, who is this?” I stormed.

“This is Saint Francis Hospital. Is this Miss Simone, the guardian of Michael Simone?” the lady at the other end of the phone asked.

My heart skipped a beat and I felt a prickling sensation shoot up my spine. Michael? Saint Francis Hospital??

What was happening?

“Yes, I'm Michael's mother.” I managed to say. Clyde was standing close to me, searching my face for a clue as to why I was introducing myself as my son's mother.

“Your attention is needed here, ma'am. Michael was rushed down here from the nanny's. You should come with his father.” She said and hung up.

My head reeled from the effect of what I had just heard, and I clung on to the nearest thing for support as my knees felt weaker by the second. The nearest thing was Clyde.

“What's wrong with Michael, Gen?”

I couldn't give any coherent response as my body trembled uncontrollably. My thoughts went through a maze of worst-case scenarios, each possibility worse than the last. What could have happened?

What if he had been involved in an accident?

“Talk to me, Gen.” He shook me to reality.

“Michael is in the hospital, I have to go.” I said, bursting into a frenzied run towards my car.

“Wait, Gen! You can't drive in this state. I'll drive you over. Come on, give me your keys.” He said, rushing into my driver's seat. I didn't even think to argue with him. I rushed into the passenger seat, and he drove off to the hospital.

We scampered into the hospital reception, rushing up to the receptionist.

“We're here for Michael. Michael Simone.” Clyde said, as I couldn't even talk.

“What's your relationship with him, please?” She asked, punching her keyboard.

“We're his parents,” he answered simply. I didn't have an iota of strength left in me to argue with him.

“Okay, he's on the second floor. The second room to your left.” She read out.

Seeing my son lying on the hospital bed brought tears to my eyes.

“He's going to be okay, madam. He has a vision issue. He was playing with another kid, and she accidentally stuck an object in his eye.”

“Oh my God! Where was the nanny when all of this happened?” Clyde seethed.

“She said she had to go use the bathroom. And she only left them alone for a little while.” The doctor explained.

“So what is gonna happen to my son, doctor?” That was all I cared about.

“Luckily, it's not life-threatening, but it could significantly affect his ability to see and live normally. The best treatment will be a regenerative treatment using stem cells from a match.”

“Okay, doctor. How do I become a match?” I asked, scared as hell.

“All we can do right now is test both of his parents and, hopefully, we get a match out of both of you. This is his father, right?” He asked, referring to Clyde. Clyde searched my face, waiting for an answer.

I couldn't deny it anymore.

“Yes, doctor. He's Michael’s father.” I answered, but I was looking at Clyde the whole time.

He nodded and urged the doctor to take us to the lab to get tested.

We waited in the hallway for the results. I sat down, my head between my hands, sweat pouring down my forehead, moistening my hands.

Clyde paced around restlessly.

Adrian walked in, concern written all over his face just as the doctor came out of the lab with the test results.

“OMG, Gen, I'm so sorry. I got your text.” Adrian said, enveloping me in a hug. He suddenly noticed that Clyde was the man pacing about.

“Mr Grayson, thank you for making sure she got here safely. I'll take over everything from here.” Adrian said dismissively.

“It's fine, Mr Chase. I think I'll stay.” Clyde answered simply.

The doctor cleared his throat to announce he was still there.

“I'm sorry, Miss Simone, you’re not fit to be a donor as your stem cells do not match with Michael’s, but his dad here, is a perfect match, thankfully.” He announced with a smile.

Adrian stared from the doctor, to Clyde, then back to me. Confusion had taken the place of worry on his face.

I decided to put him out of his misery once and for all.

“Clyde is Michael's father, Adrian.” I said, looking away from him.

“Ohh,... okay.” He muttered and sank into the nearest chair, staring at nothing in particular.

“Let's go get you ready for the transplant, Mr Simone.

“Grayson. It's Clyde Grayson.”

The doctor mumbled his apology and ushered Clyde down the hall.

Three hours later, Clyde came out into the hallway and tapped me lightly on the shoulder. I was dozing off already as I was exhausted.

“It's done, Gen. The doctors are monitoring his recuperation,” he said, taking a seat beside me.

“Where did Mr Chase go?”

“He got an emergency call from work so he left not too long ago. He promised to be back though.”

“You should get some rest too, Gen. I can stay here till you get back.”

“No, he's my son. I need to be here when he wakes up. You've already done enough for us. Thank you for your help so far, Clyde.” I said.

“You don't have to thank me, Genesis. Michael is my son too, and I intend to be in his life from now. Nothing will keep me away from both of you anymore, I promise.”

“Are you kidding me right now, Clyde? I think I need to spell some things out for you.” I said, rising to my feet and putting some distance between us.

“Michael is my son. MY son. Not yours. While I do appreciate everything you've done for us today, this doesn't give you the goddamn right to waltz your way into our lives.”

“Genesis…”

“No, don't talk! Two years ago, you talked and I listened. Now you listen!

Where were you when I was pregnant with him? Where were you when I was in labor for hours? I was all alone in pain, I was so scared. The only person by my side was Emma. Not you, Clyde! You were not here when we needed you the most, so don't think you can just walk back into our lives when you feel like it!” I was now screaming on top of my voice, not caring if anybody was listening to us.

“Please, don't make this hard for me, Gen.” He moaned, running his hands through his hair in frustration.

“You didn't make it easy for me when you shattered my heart two years ago too.” I said, taking a deep breath. I sat down and we both waited for the doctor's arrival.

The elevator door chimed, and I stood up expecting the doctor to come out with the feedback of how the surgery went, but the person who came out of the elevator was not the doctor.

Clyde stood up abruptly, his eyes reduced to slits as he looked at her.