Chapter Twelve
The File
2 Weeks Later
Just last week I requested—demanded—Daniel sent me Juliette’s file. I knew my brother and his wife well enough to know that if they decided to have a stranger carry their child, she must’ve had a pretty squeaky-clean background. I just wanted to see it for myself. It’s not like Juliette was ever going to open up to me or anything. She recoiled the second I asked her any personal questions that didn’t involve the baby she was carrying or the building we were working on.
I received Daniel’s email this morning, and the universe must’ve been on my side because today was my first day in the office in two weeks because I’ve been busy with Juliette’s property—the tale was as old as time, I favored Juliette heavily.
I’d been working more at home, trying to catch up with emails, unsigned contracts, and meetings. I mean, the only reason why I was in the office dressed in an expensive suit was because I had an important two p.m. board meeting. I was everyone’s boss’ boss, so I had to make an appearance. Crystal kept reminding me how important it would be for me to show my face.
Receiving this lovely email from Daniel just sweetened my whole day.
I’d been looking at her picture for the past fifteen minutes, having read all the basics already.
Hair Type: Black
Eye Color: Dark Brown
Blood Type: A+
Weight: 123lbs
Age: 26
Full Name: Juliette Grace Rhodes
Juliette Grace Rhodes. Grace. That middle name suited her—she was elegant, funny, and full of life it seemed.
And these pictures of her were something else. It wasn’t a shoot or anything, and I’m sure she was just walking down the street. She wore an oversized brown coat that hid her entire body, her hair was out of the braids, curly and fluffy. In the picture it looked like her hair was picked up by the wind, hence the slight grimace. Still, she looked beautiful.
There was another photo. She was in a restaurant, eating alone. Her hair was in a low bun, very slicked back, whatever it was called nowadays. She was looking at the menu with a cup of coffee in hand, she looked very concentrated, all furrowed brows and curled lips.
There was another photo walking to her red truck, following the pattern of these photos and where they were taken. This was all in town, in Beaufort—there wasn’t any trace of her anywhere else. And suddenly I felt strangely overprotective of her.
Her records dated four years back only. It was like she didn’t exist before that. She’d never been arrested or gotten into any trouble with the law. She was a college drop-out, though her school records weren’t listed…it just said that on the paper.
I flipped the paper back and forth trying to find proof, but it was all the information I read already. It made me curious about how much she was hiding—how much of her I didn’t know.
I leaned back in my chair with a creak. I massaged my face in search of my stubble only to be greeted with a clean-shaven, soft face. I sighed, lost in my train of thoughts. Which were basically Juliette.
I couldn’t tear my eyes away from the screen.
My gaze sliced to the opening door and Juliette walked into my office unannounced. My eyes widened as I panicked.
With no time to think, I reached and flipped my computer screen face-down, nearly unplugging every plug connected to the box.
Her brows furrowed suspiciously as she looked at me blankly.
Her eyes fell down to my face-down computer, then to my eyes.
She slowly cracked a smile, “were you watching porn?”
“No!”
I nearly screamed.
She flinched at my raised tone and took a small step back and I wanted to punch myself for making her react like this.
I swallowed as I slowly shook my head. “No, I was not watching…porn.”
“It’s okay, I won’t tell anyone if you were, my lips are sealed.”
I raised a hand trying to stop her imagination from running wild, “Juliette,”
I pressed, “I was not watching porn.”
She tilted her head to the side waiting for the explanation.
If it wasn’t porn, what was it then?
Fuck.
It wasn’t like I could tell her I was reading her file and found out her blood type was A+ and she had no allergies to anything whatsoever, but also found out my brother’s baby was at risk for being malnourished because of the lack of nutrients and vitamins, and let’s not leave out the part where I found it strange that before four years ago she didn’t exist.
Yeah right.
I sucked in a breath, “there was a…small bug on the screen,”
I explained as I felt my chest tightened.
“A small bug?”
she said in a tone that made me sound like a pussy.
I nodded because I was already embarrassed enough.
How much more could I take? I was already at my limits.
“Are you alright then?”
“Yes, I’m fine,”
my tone was clipped now, “and what brings you here, Juliette?”
Her gaze fell down and my eyes followed hers to a cream folder she was holding behind her as I leaned sideways on my chair.
“Is everything alright?”
It was my turn to ask her now.
She quickly nodded, “Crystal told me I could squeeze in before your two p.m. meeting.”
My brows furrowed as I looked up at her, the mystery was killing me. “yeah, what’s wrong?”
“Nothing.”
She took a few steps until she stood in front of my desk. “I practically harassed Bailey to print these out for me,” she said as she softly dropped the folder on my desk.
My computer was still facing down. I’d feel more stupid to fix it up now, in front of her so I decided to just look away.
I looked at her curiously before grabbing the folder to take a look. I was immediately impressed by how organized everything was.
“Since the roofing and building is officially done, and now we’re gonna put down the new floors, I wanted to show you the deco styles I had in mind for the Barn before we start doing the floorings, and painting, and hanging lights.”
I nodded as I flipped through the papers.
“Very minimalistic but also, country?”
I looked at the wood color selection she picked out. It seemed like it was a battle between pewter oak and golden rustic oak. And as for lights, the selection was very simple, hanging lights would be out front for showcasing and the harsh bright lights would fit nicely in the kitchen.
“Neutral cream and rice grain look the same to me.”
I said as I looked at the paint samples.
“There’s a difference,”
she deadpanned.
I looked up to find her gaze. “I trust you,”
I said in an I surrender tone.
“I’m still looking into the furniture and stuff, but so far, the hard part is done, this is what we’re working with,”
she said as she released a breath.
“We don’t have an IKEA close by, so you have to figure it out soon to order everything to be on schedule.”
She nodded. “I know.”
“You could’ve emailed this to me,”
I said. Though, I preferred the fact that she came to see me instead. Screw emails, whatever the problem is just come and see me. Keep doing that Juliette.
I wanted to tell her that but then I’d sound desperate.
“I didn’t want Bailey’s talent to go to waste. I had to beg him to print me these,” she said.
I didn’t back down from our gaze. “Next time email the files to my secretary and have her print them out for you. By the time you make it to my office they’ll be lying down on a meeting table waiting for you. And so will I.”
She looked at me, confused. “You’ll be lying on the table as well?”
I cleared my throat with a suppressed chuckle. “No, I’ll be in a seat, waiting for you.”
“Okay.”
She smiled.
I closed the folder and tossed it to the side on my desk. “Have you started prepping for the baby yet? If it’s alright with you, can I come over to your place to see what it’s like?”
She placed a hand on her hips, swaying a little on her feet—taken aback by my question and request. “What?”
I quickly stood, afraid that she’d lose her balance. I walked around the desk and joined her. “I want to see your place—the baby will be here soon and I need to know what that’s looking like for him,”
I said as I placed a hand on the small part of her back and guided her to the couch in my office.
I sat her down and took a seat next to her. I checked my watch and nodded with the reassurance that I still had a little time left.
“Are you alright?”
I asked once I’d noticed her staring at me a little too long.
“Yeah,”
she mumbled, “you…you just look clean.”
My brows furrowed with the backhanded compliment. “Am I usually dirty?”
I chuckled.
She laughed softly, “no, the suit just suits you.”
I grimaced. “You think so?”
She nodded with a scrunched face.
I laughed as I rubbed the small part of her back. It looked like she was feeling dizzy or something. I wasn’t sure if it was what I said, or something else but I knew she wasn’t feeling well and I didn’t want her to drive again, not after what happened last time.
“I’ll get you home,” I said.
My door clicked open. “Mr. Oakes, we’re ready for you,”
Crystal’s soft voice echoed in the room.
Juliette pulled back from my touch. “I’m alright, Callum, go to your meeting.”
She smiled, but it was nothing like the usual Juliette signature smile.
This one was a little sad.
I stood up and fixed my suit, eyes slicing to Crystal who was still by the door waiting for me to head out with her.
I looked down at Juliette again. “Wait for me here, I’ll be quick,”
I said as I walked off to meet Crystal at the door.