Trusting Fate Read online

  Strange to be asked about my son by him, but it seemed innocent. “Yes, he is very excited. His room was small at my old apartment and he didn’t have a lot of space to be a boy, you know?” I said.

  He nodded his head. “So Gabby, I really hope I am not being too forward here, but I wanted to see you and I couldn’t wait until Monday at work,” he said.

  My pulse sped up and I found myself staring at his gorgeous head of hair. “Sure Jace, why did you want to see me?” I said, questioning his motives.

  “Well I find myself drawn to you, in ways that I cannot explain or understand. I just wanted you to know that I have been thinking about you and that while I will not rush anything, I want to spend more time with you outside of work. You do not have to answer right now, but think about it. Please?” he said urgently.

  Oh my, I was already thinking about it. I would be lying if I said no.

  I smiled and said, “Okay Jace, I will think about it. I have a lot on my plate at the moment and I am not sure how I would fit in dating. As I have told you, I have a 2 and half year-old son. He keeps me really busy and my parents live kind of far away. Sometimes I feel like I don’t know how I even make it to work. But I love being a mother so I deal with it,” I smiled at him.

  The way he looked at me was like he was staring into my soul. He made me uncomfortable, but in a good way. I would be lying if I said that I didn’t want to date him or be around him more than just at the office, but how could this work? Did he like kids? I couldn’t tell what kind of man he was, but I knew that he was thoughtful and a very to-the-point kind of guy.

  “Gabby, it makes me very happy that you will consider this. Like I said with my offer at work…you will not be disappointed,” he grinned and kissed me on the cheek. Then he left, just like that, leaving me breathless and dizzy. I wasn’t sure how I was going to work in the building, let alone side by side with this gorgeous man. I locked my front door and went and curled into bed, letting the exhaustion of this past week take me prisoner.

  Jace

  I have not been so emotionally disturbed in all of my life. I feel like I am this whole new person around Gabby. She lights up my whole reason for existence and she has from the moment I first laid eyes on her. Screwing this up was not an option and she was not about to sneak out of my life again like she did years ago. How do I even begin to explain to her who I really am? She seems so good and fragile, I am scared to death to tell her the truth and have her think I am some kind of stalker. Which okay, so I have been doing some stalking…but I cannot help myself. She just has this light all around her and I do not know how some other poor bastard has not noticed it yet. Most of my life I have slept around with countless women, and I never felt an ounce of emotion, or anything for that matter, for them. Not until the night I met Gabby and my entire world changed. I spent a lot of time, money, and resources trying to find her. After I eventually gave up I was trying to get my life back in order. But sleeping around with just any woman was not cutting it anymore. I have been very busy with taking over my family's company, so that helps the time pass. I just wish I knew how to tell her without losing her again.

  Chapter 6

  Gabby

  Monday morning arrived and I had never been so frazzled or felt so out of control in my life. I was grateful for the busywork to distract me from my sex on a stick boss. That man makes me crazy, and just knowing that he wants me too is all the more intoxicating, but I feel like I cannot afford this type of distraction.

  It was around lunchtime when my phone buzzed. It was Taylor, sending me a picture of her and Theo through Snapchat. His preschool was closed for the day and she wanted to spend time with him. I had just started letting her keep him alone. I loved Tay enough to trust her and she always surprised me with him. Theo loved her and always listened to her.

  I was distracted and smiling when Jace came out of his office. He walked up behind me and put his hand on my shoulder, startling me.

  “Oh, Mr. Greene, I am really sorry, I didn’t mean to have my phone out. My friend is babysitting today so I was just checking on my son,” I said, nervous that he had caught me on my phone.

  “Gabby, it’s alright. Is that your son in the picture? May I see it?" he asked.

  Weird but sweet that he is taking interest. “Sure,” I said and handed him the phone. He smiled and then studied the picture very carefully.

  “He is very cute, although he does not look a thing like you, my dear,” he smiled.

  That I did know. He must look just like his father. Please dear lord don’t ask me about his father.

  “So Gabby, does he look like his father then?” he asked.

  And there it is…crap. “Well I would hope so,” I said. Oh geez, Gabby. Really, you hope so? He must think I am nuts. He was studying me very closely.

  “I’m sorry if I have offended you, Gabby. I didn’t mean to pry. You have just never mentioned a boyfriend so I was curious.”

  “Yes, no husband and no boyfriend. Honestly, I don’t love to talk about Theo’s father. I’m sorry,” I said.

  “Gabby, please do not apologize to me about that. It was rude of me to ask. I just wanted to make sure you weren’t involved with someone else while I was pursuing you this way.” He smiled, handing me my phone back and then went to leave, but paused at the elevators.

  “Gabby, your son reminds me of my younger brother. He appears to be full of life and even looks slightly the same in the face and hair. It is very nice. He seems like a sweet boy,” he said, smiling.

  I was so confused by what that meant. He got on the elevator and was gone. I wondered why he looked so sad when he said my son was sweet. He didn’t seem the type to like children. I wasn't sure how to feel about all of this. I quickly brushed the thoughts aside.

  Jace

  Sweet boy? What was I thinking? How can I just casually throw things like that out there? I am not sure why I am so obsessed with Gabriella Thomas, but whatever this compulsive obsession is, I need to find out really quickly and ease the cravings I have for this woman. She is absolutely incredible and I need to find out what she is hiding. I think what scares me the most is how familiar her son looks to me. Like I have seen his picture somewhere…he looks a lot like someone I think I know. My brother. Obviously he isn’t my brother’s child, but that would mean one of two things….either my brother had an affair with same woman I slept with, or this child is mine. I am not sure how I would feel about having a son, much less having one and not being there for all this time. I wouldn’t even know what to do with a child or how to take care of one. Gabby would hate me forever if she found out that I was the father, but what doesn’t make sense to me is she seemed to sort of know who he was, but she didn’t want to discuss it. One thing is for sure…I am related to that boy. There is no denying it at all. Could she really be so naïve to think I wouldn’t figure it out? Or does she honestly not remember that night that we shared together at all? She couldn’t if she doesn’t think I am that boy’s father.

  I had to get to the bottom of this. I pulled out my phone and called one of my oldest friends who is my lawyer by day and private investigator by night. He doesn’t exactly do his detective work legally but hey, not all of us are rats…I only use him when I am in desperate need of information on someone, and right now I am desperate. He answered on the first ring as usual. To be honest, he is a total drama whore. He loves to hear what kind of dirt I am wanting dug up and who it is on.

  “Hey Mikey, it’s Greene. Look man, I need a background check on a Miss Gabriella Thomas. Her DOB is 10/1/90. I need to know when her son was born and the names on the birth certificate.” My voice was shaking the whole time.

  “Geez Greene, did you knock up some poor girl and not know it?” he laughed.


  “Yeah maybe, something like that. Look man, can you help me or not?" I asked annoyed and he knew I was not messing around.

  “Yeah Greene, sure man I can help you. Consider it done,” he said.

  I hung up the phone and paced the office halls as soon as I get into my office from the elevator. Could there really be a chance that the most incredible night I ever had was also a night that could quite possibly forever change my life? I quickly walked back to my office, I noticed Gabby was still at her desk so I was glad my phone vibrated in my pocket so that I could slip into my office quickly. “Greene,” I said sharply.

  “Hey man, it’s Mikey. Look the name listed for mother on the birth certificate is Gabriella Thomas and the baby boy’s name is Theodore Michael Thomas. He was born on 10/4/2011, weighing 6 lbs. 2 oz.,” he said.

  “Was there no father's name?” I asked, concerned.

  “No, it’s blank under the father’s part. Sorry man,” he said.

  I hung up the phone and scratched my head. Why is there no father's name? Did she do that on purpose or does she not know the father’s name? If that is the case, then all of this makes even more sense. She didn’t recognize me at all, so maybe I really am this boy’s father. The thought made me both uneasy and excited. To share a child with this woman who I have been obsessing over for years was exciting and scary at the same time. But how do I go about asking her about any of this? I called Gabby into my office to see if she wanted to go to dinner with me tonight, her and Theo.

  “Mr. Greene, are you sure? I mean, he is 2 and a half years old, very hyper and a total boy. I don’t take him to many places to eat unless that place comes with a play area,” she smiled.

  “Well, we can go wherever you want. Honestly, just because I am the boss here doesn’t mean I always do everything so high and mighty. I like to be normal too. I have been to a fast food joint or two in my time,” I said with a wink.

  “Sure, I would love to go. I actually think maybe Theo should sit this one out. He is quite the charmer that’s for sure, but he is very busy. I wouldn’t want to scare you off or anything,” she said, turning her face from mine.

  “Well lucky for you, I don’t scare easily,” I said, grinning from ear to ear. She looked flushed. I am happy that I can get that sort of reaction out of her. I like knowing that I make her feel a little nervous.

  Chapter 7

  Gabby

  I would be lying if I said that I was not nervous about tonight. I had conned Tay into coming over and watching Theo while I went out with Jace. I told her that it was a business dinner and that it was important I go since it was with my boss. She knows I am totally full of it. I cannot lie to anyone, including myself. I heard my front door open when I was in my bedroom getting ready. Theo was in his room playing with his action figures. The only thing my son loved more than action figures was ice cream, and since I won’t let him have it for every meal, he resorts to playing with his action figures for the most part. I knew it was Tay barging on in to my house, like she owned the place.

  “Hello, hey Gabby?" she said as she walked down the hallway to my bedroom.

  “I’m in here Tay,” I yelled.

  “Well look at you, new dress, and new shoes, and oh let me see, new lip gloss. If I didn’t know better I would say you were going on a date, not a business meeting. Come on Gab, spill,” she said.

  “No, this is most definitely a business meeting, but I feel comfortable when I dress nice. That is all it is, Tay,” I lied.

  Taylor smiled and left me to my thoughts, mumbling something like, “Uh-huh business meeting. What a lucky son of a bitch who gets to meet with you.”

  The girl is so exasperating, but I love her. She may be seeing something here that I don’t. A part of me is hesitant to start anything, if this is anything, with Jace. But for now, I will stick with what I feel in my gut…which is excitement and confusion. I can start there.

  I checked my reflection one last time, grabbed my clutch, and head for the kitchen, where Theo was begging Tay for chocolate pancakes for dinner.

  “Pwease, Tay Tay, it's good for me.” I giggled as he begged her. Taylor just looked in my direction for approval.

  “It’s fine, Tay. He is a really good eater; just throw some carrots next to his pancake and he will eat it up,” I said with a grin.

  I walked out to my car and noticed a limo driving up. Surely he is lost. He pulled up alongside me and rolled down the window.

  “Miss Thomas, I presume?” he said.

  “Yes, that’s me,” I said nervously.

  “My name is Frank. I am here to pick you up and bring you to meet Mr. Greene.”

  Son of a biscuit. He thinks he is really smooth, doesn’t he?

  “Miss Thomas, we are pressed for time; Mr. Greene does not like to be kept waiting. He is a very impatient man,” Frank said sternly. That he is. I frowned and when Frank opened my car door I climbed in, totally giving Mr. Greene a piece of my mind in my head. I am just not the kind of girl who needs to be wined and dined. Not one bit. Jace is very tempting and very generous. Why is this so hard? How is it that this man is interested in me? I mean, it’s not like he couldn’t have any woman on the planet. I also wondered why he was even here. Why run a company owned by your family? From the sounds of the women who talk in the office, he could have had any job…surely he has siblings that could have taken this spot for him…I am so getting off track here. It does not matter why he is here. What matters is my new boss wants to be more than in charge of me at work. I can see in his eyes he wants to be in charge of me in the bedroom too. I have seen that look before and I know it well. I know how to play all these games and it’s in my past. I have Theo now to think about, I do not need my old habits and old life coming back to haunt me.

  Once the car came to a stop, I recognized the building. It was a private club just outside of the New Orleans line. The hair quickly and alertly stood up on the back of my neck. Have I been here before? Of course I wouldn’t know because I used to be such a drunken slut. It just looked very familiar to me.

  Frank came around the back and opened my door. “Miss Thomas, Mr. Greene is waiting for you inside at the bar,” he said with a smile.

  “Thank you Frank, do you think I should be alarmed at all?” I asked quietly.

  He looked at me in surprise. “Miss Thomas, he is many things, but unkind is not one of them. I fear to tell you more, but know this…I have overheard one too many conversations, and he is very interested in you and I know that he will not harm you,” he said, reassuringly.

  I nodded my head and walked inside. Frank must have heard so many things driving Jace around all day. I wonder what that is like.

  Walking in to the club, I stopped briefly, what a gorgeous place and what a ridiculous person I am. I glanced around the room and saw him leaning against the end of the bar, swirling his glass of what looked like bourbon. Yep, bourbon, I know my liquor. He didn’t strike me as a bourbon kind of guy…I would have guessed a Seven and Seven man. Believe me, I am really good at guessing what kind of drink a man would order.

  I just stood at the door staring at him. He was truly an incredible creature. He was wearing a dark gray suit with a black shirt, first two buttons undone, and no tie. Why does this man make me so uncomfortable? Get a grip, Gabby. I took a deep breath and walked towards him. Here goes nothing.

  Jace

  I was sitting at the end of the bar trying to figure out how I could not only get as much info out of Gabby as I could, but also to find some way to ask her about Theo’s father without seeming so nosy and intrusive. I wonder if she was married to him, or if by some stroke of fate this boy could be mine. I never thought about having children, but immediate infatuatio
n with Gabby changed all of that. I don't care if this boy is not mine. I just want to be with her, be around her, close enough to smell her every single day. I feel like I am insane with thoughts of her…losing her that night so long ago changed something in me. I mean, I can’t do casual hook ups anymore. The only hooking up I will be doing will be with Gabby, and that is if I can convince her to do it.

  I turned my head to see her walking toward me and my heart stopped. When she is around it’s like time stops. I couldn't see anyone else in the place and I didn’t care to. She looked incredible and left me speechless. For her to go home with me all those years ago, but we were both different people then. I smiled and nodded at her.

  “Hello Mr. Greene, I...I mean Jace. How are you?” she smiled.

  Her cheeks were flushed and she looked down at her shoes. Knowing that I make her nervous today is strange to me; I did not make her nervous the night we first met. She was fearless, and had this confidence about her that I had never seen before. What made her lose that? I often wondered about what changed her.

  “Hello Gabby, you look beautiful as always,” I said, giving her a small kiss on the cheek. I could feel my hand shake as I took hers. Get it together Greene. You cannot afford to screw up with her.

  I led her to a table in our private room and watched as she looked around nervously.

  “Gabby, is there something wrong?” I asked, curious.

  She shot me a look like she was trying to figure out what to say. “I’m not sure really. I guess I feel like maybe I have been here before? I know that sounds silly, like why would that matter? But for me, it does. I have a past...no I’m not a serial killer if that’s what you are thinking,” she shot me a grin. “I just have a past and I feel like I have been here before, but I will probably never remember if I have or not,” she said, looking away.