HAPTER 13
Ellyn met Shalia for lunch. She’d avoided Colton for the rest of the night, but in the morning he’d been very sweet to her. He’d offered to take Derek while she had lunch out.
“It was kind of unnerving,” Ellyn said.
She dug into her cheeseburger. No salad today. She needed comfort food after the few days she’d had.
“So he was really nice and is now with Derek?”
“Yes. After I turned down his proposal.”
“Why the hell did you do that?”
“He doesn’t love me, Shalia. I need to be loved. Derek needs to be loved. I don’t want my marriage to be a business arrangement.”
“Would solve many of your problems,” Shalia said.
Yes, it would. “It would create others.”
The diner wasn’t full for a Sunday afternoon. Ellyn had picked a table near the back because she wanted uninterrupted time with her best friend. Things were changing so quickly for her that she wanted to keep touch with one of the constants in her life.
She and Shalia had been friends since first grade. They knew each other’s secrets. And dreams.
“Like what? You’d be rich beyond belief? You could put Derek in a private school if you wanted? He’d get to go to college?”
When Shalia put it that way, it made sense. “But I have the chance to do it on my own.”
“Why work so hard?”
“Because it will be more satisfying if I do it on my own. Besides, I don’t want Derek thinking he has to save some woman someday. That’s why I’ve never read a fairy tale to him.”
Shalia laughed. “Yes, you’ve always been pretty militant about that.”
“How could I, in clear conscience, let a man save me? It sounds so good when you say it, but in reality it’s not.”
“I’m not convinced. Oh, did I tell you, Doug, that guy I slept with, called?”
“A booty call?”
“No, he wants to take me out to dinner,” Shalia said.
“Do you like this guy or is he a meal ticket?”
“What do you care?”
“I care because he’s Colton’s friend. I don’t want any backlash against me if you’re a gold digger.”
Shalia shrugged. “No, I actually like this guy. We talked more than had sex that night. Don’t get me wrong, we had sex. Hot monkey sex.”
“Are you sure it isn’t your vajay talking instead of your head?”
Shalia laughed. “No, it’s my head, but the fringe benefits wouldn’t be bad. I could leave the Bronx behind.”
“What if he’s just slumming?”
“Then I guess I’ll have some good memories.”
The waitress came to clear their plates and left the check. Ellyn grabbed it. Not that she thought Shalia was going to pay. She wanted to keep away the awkwardness. Ellyn could pay this check ten times over and not make a dent in her current bank account.
Having money was a new concept. She would always check the price of something before she bought it, but now she wasn’t shopping at thrift stores. She was expected to look nice all the time. She was representing the cosmetics company now. They had given her a stipend and a personal shopper to get her wardrobe started.
She was getting the hang of finding clothes that looked good on her. Soon she’d be able to pack up her thrift items and give them away.
Only weeks ago, she couldn’t have afforded that. The change had come for her because Shalia wanted to crash a party.
“How can you be so cavalier with your heart?” Ellyn asked.
They stood on the sidewalk outside of the diner. Ellyn had called for Paul and would have to wait a few minutes.
“My heart isn’t as soft as yours.”
That was probably true. If her heart had been stronger, she might have not fallen for Chance. But then she wouldn’t have Derek. She wouldn’t trade him for anything.
He’d enhanced her life and she liked who she was because of him. She had to hold onto that person no matter what else happened in her life. No matter how successful she was. She still had to be a role model for her little boy.
Being a gold digger would not do. Only being successful on her own, would show him how to do it. She didn’t want Derek to be anything like Chance. She wasn’t sure she wanted him to be like Colton exactly, but of the two, the billionaire was a better role model.
“Probably not,” Ellyn said.
Shalia hugged her. “I need to catch a train.”
“I can drop you off.”
“No, Chance might be around.”
Ellyn shrugged. “He already found me at Colton’s place. That’s where the custody papers were sent to.”
Shalia bit her lip. “Still.”
“Are you embarrassed?”
“No. Drive me.”
“Good. No reason not to ride in style.”
“You are certainly embracing this being rich thing.”
“It is so much better than being poor,” Ellyn said.
For the first time in her life, she had a disposal income. Not everything went to bills. In fact, very little did since she was living with Colton. She’d have to talk to him about rent or moving out. She couldn’t keep freeloading off of him.
That was a talk for later in the day. No, she was taking her friend home.
***
Derek played on the swings while Colton talked to Doug. They sat on a bench watching Derek, having given up on following the little boy. Colton hoped the boy would lose steam soon, but that wasn’t looking good.
Colton had the papers that Ellyn had been served. He handed them to Doug.
“So what’s up with you and Ellyn?”
The whole situation with Ellyn chafed Colton. He’d never expected her to turn him down.
“I proposed and she refused to marry me.”
Doug let out a laugh, his face to the sky. “That is too funny.”
“Why is it funny?”
“Because you always get what you want. Nice to see someone stand up to you.”
“You stand up to me.”
“Only when I know I can win. Otherwise, it’s not worth it. You’ll just bulldoze over me.”
Colton crossed his arms. He was strong-willed, but not ruthless. At least he’d never seen himself that way. “I don’t bulldoze.”
“Yes, you do and a lesser woman would have agreed to marry you. I’m sure you made it sound like a business proposition.”
He thought back to the timing of it. Probably had looked that way to Ellyn. Damn. That was stupid. “Well, it does make sense. If I marry her and adopt Derek, her worries are over.”
“Maybe she isn’t one to take the easy way.” Doug perused the papers. “I’ll give these a better look later.”
“We don’t have much time. Derek’s due to be hungry.”
Doug eyed him. “You know this kid that well?”
Of course. “I live with him. He’s hungry most of the time.”
Doug laughed again. “Boy, you have it bad.”
“Have what bad?”
“You’re in love with Ellyn.”
“I’m not. Our marriage makes a lot of sense. We get along.”
“Holy crap. No wonder she turned you down,” Doug said. “Women want romance.”
“What would you know about it Mr. One-Night-Stand.”
Doug looked a little sheepish. “Well, I have a date next weekend.”
“A date? You?”
“Ellyn’s friend, Shalia.”
“Haven’t you already slept with her?”
“Yes, but I really liked her so I asked her on a date. Took me weeks to get up the balls to do it.”
“What if she’s a gold digger?”
“Then I’ll have fun for awhile,” Doug said.
“And if she gets pregnant?”
“She won’t. I’m careful.”
“Still. What if she falls in love with you?”
“Lately, I’ve been thinking that’s not a bad idea.”
Colton shifted to stare at his friend, the avowed bachelor. He figured he’d get married long before Doug. “Who is this person I’m talking to?”
“Yeah, I know. Doesn’t sound like me, but how bad could it be?”
“I don’t think it will be bad at all, but that’s not what you’ve thought of marriage and love and all that before. You live in a cold, sterile penthouse. How are you going to fit a woman in there?”
Doug rubbed his chin. “I’ll make it work; besides, we’re getting ahead of ourselves. It’s one date.”
“That’s where it begins.”
Derek came up to them. “Mr. Hamilton, I’m hungry.”
“Of course,” Colton said. He pulled a cooler out from under the bench. Ellyn had insisted on sending them with food. “Your mom packed you something.”
Colton could have easily bought the kid something. Ellyn was still the mother so he couldn’t argue. Derek sat on the bench and ate his banana.
“When you’re done, we can go to the toy store,” Colton said. He turned to Doug. “You in?”
“Sure. FAO? You know I love toys,” Doug said.
“But you’re an adult.” Derek said.
“Derek, you can never be too old for toys.”
“Okay,” the little boy said.
With his banana done, Derek slid off the bench. Doug and Colton stood. “I need to call my driver.”
Then he remembered that Paul had driven Ellyn today.
“I’ll take us,” Doug said. “My car’s right here.”
“No car seat.”
Doug shrugged. “It’s only a few blocks. What can happen?”
Colton weighed his options. “I can go get the car seat. It’s up in the penthouse.”
Derek stood with his hands on his hips, watching the two men. “Mom will be mad if you don’t use it.”
“Wow. You have to be responsible to have a kid,” Doug said.
“You have think about someone other than yourself,” Colton said.
He had to admit, that was getting easier the more time he spent with Derek.
“Then go get the car seat,” Doug said. “Derek and I can wait here. Right?” Derek nodded. Colton wasn’t sure his friend could be that responsible, but he knew Ellyn would be back soon so he wanted to get to the toy store before that happened. She would never agree to let Derek go.
“Okay, Derek, you stay with Doug. I’ll get the car seat.”
Derek sat on the bench again. Colton grabbed the cooler so he could bring it back. When he returned with the car seat, he found Doug on the phone. He couldn’t find Derek.
“Where is he?”
Doug glanced up and waved at the slide. “Over there.”
Colton dropped the car seat on the bench, and then ran to where Doug had pointed. Derek wasn’t there. “Derek.”
The little boy skipped up to him. “Hi, Mr. Hamilton.”
“Where were you?”
“I had to go to the bathroom.” He pointed at Doug. “He said I could go.”
“Okay. You’re back.”
Colton’s heart finally slowed down to its normal beat. This kid stuff might be the death of him. “Let’s go get you some new toys, but promise you’ll stay with me.”
The little boy turned his deep brown eyes to Colton and said, “Promise.”
*
Ellyn wasn’t sure if she’d ever get used to living in a place with a doorman. She could open her own doors, but this man, named Charlie, would always do it for her.
“Thank you, Charlie. Do you know if Mr. Hamilton is home?”
She really needed to talk to Colton about the living arrangements. She had to find her own place. Derek getting attached to him would be bad in the long run. Besides, she liked standing on her own two feet. Charity had never been a part of her game plan.
“I don’t think so. He left here with a car seat about a half an hour ago.”
A car seat? Why? Where was he taking Derek? She trusted him for the most part, so she guessed she shouldn’t worry. “Okay, Thanks.”
Charlie touched the top of his hat then went back to his post at the door. Ellyn rode the elevator up to the top floor. That was another thing she didn’t think she’d get used to, either. Right now, she lived in a penthouse. It had its own washer and dryer and work-out room. Her whole apartment could fit into Colton’s living room.
Her head spun from the whole situation. She entered the empty apartment and wondered for a moment what she would do with herself. The place had a cleaning service. Someone stocked the refrigerator so she didn’t need to go shopping.
The most she could do was a load of laundry and she didn’t have enough for a full load. She wandered around. Most of her life outside of work was devoted to Derek. She didn’t have any hobbies.
Colton had an extensive library, so she found a book and chair and made herself comfortable. A few chapters later, she heard the front door.
Derek called out to her. “Mom?”
She put the book down, then found him in the living room surrounded by more toys than he owned his whole little life. Her eyes went wide.
Colton sat on the couch, looking exhausted. “I couldn’t resist. I’m sorry if you think it’s too much, but they all looked fun.”
“Mr. Hamilton bought me a radio-controlled car and he said he’d take me out tomorrow night to use it in the park. He said I shouldn’t use it inside.”
Ellyn wasn’t sure what to say first. Colton had clearly gone overboard. She appreciated his big heart, but Derek would get spoiled. She alone would have to deal with the consequences of that.
“Can we talk in the library?” Ellyn said.
Colton rose, but he looked like Derek did when he knew he was going to be punished.
“Okay.”
He closed the door behind them when they got to the library. “I know, Ellyn. I went crazy, but he had so little to bring here.”
“Colton, he’s five. He doesn’t need that many toys. Where are we going to keep them?”
“I have plenty of room. And I have a storage area in the basement that I never use.”
“Why would we need that?”
“I’d like to get him a bike and teach him how to ride it.”
Ellyn bit her lip. Colton was making plans. She couldn’t let him do that. “Uh. We need to talk.”
“We are talking.”
“No, Derek and I can’t stay here. Or if we do, I need to pay rent.”
Colton crossed his arms, his large figure looming over her. “I am not taking any money from you. No. And with Chance still out there, you need to stay safe.”
“I’m sure I can find a safe place to live.”
“Why? You don’t have to disrupt Derek if you stay here. I can guarantee your security here. You’re safe here.”
Safe was a relative term. She and Derek were safe from Chance, but Ellyn wasn’t sure she was safe from Colton. Nor was her heart safe if she stayed here. “Chance can’t get Derek. He has no assets and he’s alone and hadn’t raised him.”
“Well, Doug will get back to me on that later.”
“Doug?”
“I gave him a copy of the papers you were served. He’s a lawyer. He can help.”
“Without asking me?”
She hated that he took liberties.
“Well, you need a lawyer. Doug is one.”
“You didn’t think me capable of choosing my own?”
He put up his hands. “It was not like that at all. I was just trying to help.”
“Yeah. You do that. A lot.”
“What’s wrong with a little help, Ellyn? You’ve done a lot of things by yourself. Let me help.”
“At what price?”
“I don’t need anything from you Ellyn. I’m insulted that you would insinuate that about me.”
He was right, she knew, but at the moment, she was pissed and lashing out. “I take care of my own.”
“So do I.”
“But neither Derek nor I are yours.”
He took a step back, his hand on his chest. “Ouch, Ellyn. I don’t deserve that. The invitation to stay still stands. I’ll try to stay out of your hair.”
He spun on his heel and left. Ellyn felt like crap. This man had done nothing but try to be helpful and she just smacked him down. She was such a bitch.
***
Marcia knocked on Colton’s door.
“Come in.”
Colton looked up from the contracts he’d been elbow deep in. In trying to keep out of Ellyn’s way, he had immersed himself in parts of his company that he hadn’t looked at in ages. Clearly he should not have neglected them. Sadly, there would be some firings so he could hire people who would actually get the jobs done.
“There’s a problem.”
“What now?”
He looked up from his papers. If Marcia said there was a problem, then there was. He’d learned to trust her over the years.
“Chance is in the lobby, demanding to see you.”
“How do you know it’s Chance?”
“He gave his name and that you would know who he was. Besides, I keep track of these things.”
He leaned back in his chair. “Did you do a background check on Ellyn?”
Without blinking or averting her gaze, she said, “Yes.
He wasn’t sure what to think of that. “Have you done that in the past?”
“No.”
“Why now?”
“Because Ellyn is more important to you than anyone I’ve ever seen. I needed to know who was getting close to you.”
“You know who Derek’s father is?”
“Yes.”
“You don’t seem to have any remorse.”
“I don’t.”
He sighed. “I don’t need protection, Marcia.”
“Sometimes you do. From yourself, mostly.”
He laughed. “I’ll let it slide.”
“Don’t you want to know anything about Ellyn?”
“I’ll hear it from her. It isn’t your story to tell,” he said. He stood. “Guess I’ll go confront Chance.”
He took the elevator down and found Chance standing in the lobby. Not quietly. He was shouting at the guards that had gathered around him. He wanted to call the cops, but if he did that Chance would go back to jail. Ellyn had made it clear that she wanted Chance in Derek’s life, so he had to restrain his instincts.
Including the one that wanted to punch the man in the face. That would get Colton nowhere with Chance or Ellyn. Sadly, this man would be a part of his life for the foreseeable future.
The guards parted when Colton stepped towards them. Chance stopped shouting and eyed him.
“You wanted to speak with me?” Colton said.
He pulled himself to his full six foot three inch height. He knew it could be intimidating. He’d been the guy in the bar the insecure short guy would pick a fight with. Not that he’d ever fought them. He had never needed to prove anything.
Now was no exception. He would have Ellyn. Despite this man’s interference. He’d raise Derek. This man just had to accept that.
“Yes, I heard from your lawyer and I’m not happy.”
“I think that’s a matter for the lawyers and the courts to hash out.”
“I want to hash it out with you.”
“What are we going to do? Fight on the sidewalk?”
“I bet you’ve never been in a fight. I bet you’ve never gotten your hands dirty.”
He wasn’t going to debate his life with this weasel. “Leave it to the courts, Chance. You want Derek, but do you think he’d be proud of you right now?”
“He’s proud of me. I haven’t done anything wrong.”
The State of New York that had detained him probably thought differently. “Be that as it may, you don’t want to get into this with me.”
“Why? Because you have all the power?”
That was precisely it, but Colton thought it crass to say it. Then he realized that this man had nothing to lose. Even if he went back to jail, he still didn’t have Derek. If Colton had anything to do with it, he would never have Derek. He might see him on odd weekends, but Colton would do everything in his power to make sure Derek stayed with Ellyn.
And him, for that matter.
“I’m done speaking with you, Chance. You have two choices. You can walk away and I don’t call the cops. Or, you can wait here until the cops arrive which might be a parole violation.”
Chance wiped his mouth with his sleeve. Colton couldn’t tell if the man was high or not.
“I have a wife, now. Ellyn is still a single mother. That gives me an advantage.”
“If you are so sure you are going to win, why are you arguing with me? Go home, Chance and let the courts decide.”
Colton spun on his heel, then left Chance standing there. He heard nothing else from the man as he waited for the elevator. When he arrived upstairs one of the security guards was on the phone.
“He left, Mr. Hamilton.”“Okay. I have a feeling he’ll be back, but not anytime soon.”
“We’ll keep an eye out for him and not bother you with this.”
“Thank you.”
Colton sat back in his office chair. He wished Ellyn would just marry him. Would make all of this simpler. He had the money to give Derek more than anyone Chance could have married.
He rubbed his chin, wondering how he could convince Ellyn that this was the best for everyone. Chance wouldn’t have a leg to stand on and Derek would get a better role model than his own father.
Eventually, a solution would come to him. Right now, Colton remained stumped.