Chapter 38: Chapter 38

DANIEL

Several hours later, Daniel led his girlfriend up the steps to his father’s house.

“I’m nervous,” Draya admitted in a small voice. If he wasn’t standing close to her, he might have had trouble hearing her.

He gave her hand a little squeeze. “Don’t be. There’s nothing to worry about.”

“You’ve never done this before, so how can you assure me that I have nothing to worry about?”

Daniel stifled a laugh.

“My dad knows of you already. I told him long before the trip abroad, long before the Camille stuff too. I told him even before I made things official with you.”

Daniel saw Draya’s lips separate from shock. Practically dragging her to the door, he continued, “Now that that’s settled, move those legs. I have a million things to do before dinner.”

After Daniel rang the doorbell, he pinched Draya to stop fidgeting. “By the way, what do you want my dad to call you?” he asked. “Draya or Lexi?”

She whispered, “Lexi, please.”

The door opened, and the woman beside him did a double-take, looking from Daniel to his father and back to Daniel again.

“Come in,” Carlos said.

Daniel led Draya into the house, but she had barely crossed the threshold and looked around before Carlos scooped her into a big bear hug.

“Dad, she’s tiny,” Daniel warned. “Don’t crush her.”

When his father set her gently on her feet, Daniel saw that Draya’s earlobes had turned apple-red.

“Forgive me, I never thought this day would come. I’m delighted to meet you, Ms. Fox. I’m Carlos.” His father extended a hand to her, and she slowly placed hers in his.

“It’s a pleasure to meet you too,” she whispered, as soft as a mouse.

“You don’t have to be frightened,” Carlos assured her, welcoming her into his home with a broad gesture. “I’m not as rough as I look, and neither is Daniel.”

Daniel rolled his eyes at how quickly his father had accepted Draya. He didn’t even bother to ask any questions about her intentions toward his son.

“Well, now that you two seem like best friends, I have work to do. Dad, can you please give Lexi a tour?”

Daniel didn’t even wait for an answer. He kissed Draya on the lips and retreated to his father’s study, where he immediately placed a call to Gloria.

His assistant knew the numbers of all his investors by heart, and he needed to be sure they were still on board with him despite the ruckus the media was making about his personal life. Who knew a dating scandal would have such an impact on his business relationships?

While on the call, he glanced at his father’s safe. It was open, and it looked as if Carlos was either looking for documents or adding more to what he already had.

Seeing a familiar-looking document poking out, Daniel wondered, ~What does he want with my birth certificate?~ He stooped down to check it out.

Daniel picked up a heavy folder that was filled with findings, research, and clippings sent in from their family’s private investigator. Among the documents was a birth certificate for a baby girl, born before him.

He frowned. “What the fuck?”

Daniel checked the mother’s name, but it wasn’t ~his~ mother’s name. ~Shepherd.~ He checked the father’s name next, but there was no name on that dotted line.

~Dad’s always trying to help somebody… But why does this woman’s last name sound so familiar?~

Gloria interrupted his thoughts. “Are you still there? I emailed you the contact information.”

Daniel placed the files back where he found them. “Thank you,” he said. “I’ll take it from here.”

After he hung up on his assistant, he began dialing. He knew it was going to be a long day.

LEXI

As Jackson Sr. gave Lexi the grand tour of his humongous home, she giggled. “It’s so beautiful. I can’t see Daniel in anything like it. He doesn’t even want a one-bedroom apartment.”

“Now that he has you, he’ll figure it out on his own,” Carlos told her. “Living out of his office was doable before, but I doubt he’ll find it sensible these days.”

Lexi didn’t want to sound too invested, even though a life with Daniel was all she really wanted now. “I’ll respect whatever decision he comes up with,” she said, trying to sound nonchalant~.~

After about five seconds with Jackson Sr., Lexi couldn’t believe how different he was from the son she met. She wondered where Daniel learned to treat women the way he used to; clearly, he did not pick that behavior up from his family-oriented father.

“Do you like barbecue?” Jackson Sr. asked with a charming smile.

Lexi nodded and followed him into the backyard. He already had seasoned steaks and leg quarters barbecuing on the grill.

“Do you do this often?” she asked.

He shook his head. “Only when my friends or my son come over, which isn’t often. We both rushed back home after the closing in China. I obviously made it back before he did, so I had time to prep.”

“Do you get lonely out here by yourself?”

Jackson Sr. looked touched that she asked. “Not really. I have some company from time to time, so I haven’t really had the chance to get bored yet.”

Lexi respected his honesty. “I’ve never used a grill like this before,” she told him with a sparkle in her eyes. Staring at the meat made her instantly hungry.

“Well, today is your lucky day, Ms. Fox. Dad will teach you.”