Chapter 24: Chapter 24

DANIEL

The day after he sent his note with Johnson and received Draya’s response, Daniel decided to go to in Calabasas, California. He tried to call Draya before he left, but the reception was bad, and he didn’t know what to say anyway.

It had been months since he’d made the trip to see his father. They shared a special bond, but he preferred to have that relationship in different time zones. The last time he saw him was in his office on his late mother’s birthday.

Using his spare key, Daniel unlocked the front door of the seven-bedroom, seven-bathroom mansion his father had purchased and renovated four years ago. The home had a sauna, an elevator lift, a well-kept garden and trimmed hedges, and an infinity pool with a view of the valley below. It was thirteen hundred square feet of modern luxury.

Carlos took immense pride in everything he owned. His house included.

In contrast, Daniel never saw the point of a bachelor having a home this big. He could understand why a large family would want it, but not a man living alone. It was too much space for one person.

“Dad!” Daniel shouted from the foyer. He walked into the living room, then the kitchen, and finally found his father sitting on the patio in all-white pajamas with his bare feet on an ottoman. He looked out at the view.

“Dad,” Daniel repeated as he stepped onto the patio.

Carlos stood up to give his son a welcoming hug. Though they looked a lot alike, he was about two inches taller.

“When you told me you were coming, I thought it was a joke,” Carlos chuckled.

As Daniel sat, a leggy blonde with a beautiful face came out of the water. He did a double-take before rolling his eyes at his father. “I guess I get this behavior from you as well,” he mumbled.

The blonde introduced herself, then pecked Carlos on the lips, dried off, and entered the mansion.

Daniel poked his father on his shoulder. “And you give me grief for not settling down.”

Carlos laughed out loud and poked him back. “I’m nothing like you. I fell in love twice already. Once before I met your mother, and then your mother. At least I gave it a shot. Two shots actually.”

“So the child who just walked into the house isn’t love interest number three?” Daniel meant it as a joke, but it came out more bitter than he intended.

Carlos sighed heavily. “Son, listen to me very carefully. I’m not looking for a soulmate; I already had two in one lifetime. I doubt God will give me a third.

“These women know exactly what I have to offer: jewelry, maybe a car, and a trip somewhere they’ve never been. I can offer the things that money can buy, but that’s all I have to give.”

“So, who was the other woman you loved, besides Mom?”

When Carlos did not respond, Daniel became even more curious. “What happened to lover number one?”

As he sat in silence, Carlos’s face turned green. His eyes seemed sad. Daniel hadn’t seen that kind of look on his father’s face since his mother’s illness.

After a while, Carlos asked, “Why are you here? Last time we saw each other, things got…uncomfortable.”

Daniel could not understand his father’s melancholy expression or his desperation to change the subject. “You’re not going to tell me about the other woman? It was ages ago. Before even Mom. It’s not like it’s a matter that could possibly still affect you. Right?”

His father attempted to smile. “I’m good. So, why did you come all the way here? What did you do now? Don’t try to stall. You didn’t fly from Miami to California on a private jet just to question me about my past.”

Daniel decided to give it a rest…for now. He had more pressing matters weighing on his heart.

“Dad, I have a problem that I need only your help to solve.” He turned in his chair until he was facing the man who looked just like him.

“What’s wrong?”

“I met a woman two weeks ago. She works at a café, the one I go to after my Sunday morning jog.”

Carlos’s eyes lit up instantly, as if imaginary fireworks were bursting inside his chest. “You have a girlfriend?” He didn’t even try to be subtle about his happiness. It showed on his face that he approved of this woman, even though he hadn’t met her yet.

“She won’t even let me kiss her without giving me the third degree. She isn’t my girlfriend,” Daniel complained with a pout. “I’ve been begging, Dad. Yes, your son begs now.”

Seeing his son looking as helpless as a leaf during the windy season, Carlos threw his head back and let out a hearty laugh.

Daniel frowned at him. “Dad, it’s not funny.” He suddenly regretted telling him anything.

“I’m sorry, son. I’ve just never seen you so worked up over a girl before.” He continued laughing and stomping his feet.

“Okay, you know what? Never mind. I’ll just go.” Daniel stood up to leave. He didn’t want to be teased, especially now that his mood had become so…fragile.

“Son, don’t leave—I’m only kidding. Talk to me.”

Carlos reached for his son’s wrist and pulled him into the house. At the home bar, he poured them both a drink.

“She frustrates me,” Daniel said. “I’m Daniel freaking Jackson, for crying out loud. Other CEOs fear me, and women can’t resist me. I’m a catch, dammit.

“This girl doesn’t see the CEO title, she doesn’t see the billions of dollars, doesn’t even care about the cars or the way I look and dress. She turns me down every time I try to make a move. I even told her I would consider dating and for us to get to know each other.

“I want to give up and go back to my routine, but she’s made it hard for me to do anything but think about her smart mouth and her soft lips all fucking day. It’s driving me crazy.”

Carlos looked like he wanted to laugh again, but this time he tried to keep his jovial side in check. He placed a hand on his beloved son’s shoulder and gave him a fatherly smile.

“Son, I love you, and I know you don’t want to hear this right now. But it sounds like you’ve found the one.”

Daniel felt like someone had punched him in the gut. ~The one? How could she be the one? There is no such thing.~

After taking a deep breath, he turned to his father. “Don’t be ridiculous, Dad. She just frustrates me—that’s all.” Even to his own ears, he sounded uncertain.

“Son, the ones we love usually are frustrating. I couldn’t get your mother to go out with me, or even look at me, for a very long time. She called me playboy every time she saw me.” Carlos smiled at the memory. “I followed her everywhere and found out who she hung out with, where she shopped, what time she got home from work and school…everything.”

Daniel tried to ignore the three words that climbed into his chest, taking up permanent residence: ~“ones we love.”~

“So, what did you do?” he asked.

“I changed my strategy, and eventually she came to me. This girl you’re talking about isn’t like the others. She seems a lot like your mother…humble. You can’t win over a humble person with money and expensive gifts.”

As Daniel mentally took notes, Carlos continued, “Their needs are simple. They like talking on the phone for hours, spending time together, and all that stuff. They want thoughtful surprises.

“A girl like that won’t come to you just because you ask; you have to make a serious effort. You can’t get her into bed the same way you did the others. Even if you do manage that monumental triumph, you can’t be sure she would stay there.”

Just then, Daniel’s cell phone rang. There was no name on the caller ID. “Hello,” he said.

“Hi baby,” an unknown female voice came through the speaker.

“Uh, who is this?”

“It’s Fiona. I pretended to be your date to the concert a week ago.”

“Oh, hi.”

“I was wondering if we could meet and talk.”

Daniel rolled his eyes. ~Meet for what?~ “I’m not in Miami right now, sorry.”

“Oh.” She paused. “I just wanted to tell you that our plan failed; Lexi’s still hellbent on dating someone else. I’m sorry—I really tried.”

The woman sounded sincere, but he could tell her words were meant to stir up trouble. Still, he had to ignore the weirdness in his chest at the thought of Draya being with someone else.

“I see.” Daniel did not know what else to say.

“Are you still interested in her?” Fiona asked.

~Why is that any of your damn business?~

Whenever he made the effort to sound like a nice guy, people tend to annoy him more than usual. So, in true Daniel fashion, he responded with assholery. “You’ve served your purpose, Fiona. Let’s not speak to each other anymore. Have a good day.”

When Daniel hung up, his father was staring at him. He sighed and shrugged his shoulders. “Don’t judge me, Dad.”

“Just remember what I told you,” Carlos said as he walked his son to the front door. “Maybe you can bring the mystery girl next time. That is, if you don’t mess it up again.”

Daniel pushed his chin toward the stairs, which he knew Ms. Long Legs went up not too long ago. “Take your own advice, and don’t give all your time to these lazy wenches.”

Carlos hugged his son again. “I’ll take your advice if you take mine.”