5. Axel
FIVE
AXEL
I stare at the file on my desk, the one I've had our investigator compile when I discovered who I was interviewing today. Crimmings is usually the one that does the hiring, he's one of the trusted employees that we have, last night I got the call that his wife had gone into labor, and he wouldn't be able to do the interview. Imagine my surprise when I discovered the woman, I would be interviewing is Scarlett Moore, the woman I hurt and haven't seen since. It doesn't matter that five years have passed, she's still the one I think about.
Over the past five years, I've contemplated searching for her, wanting to see her, talk to her, try to make amends for what happened that fateful day had her leaving town, and never looking back. I've come close a few times to calling my investigator, knowing I could have the information in a matter of hours, but I knew she left for a reason, and it's my own fault for not being man enough to protect her, to stand up against Noah, and claim what I wanted—her. So, I let it be. Until last night when her name came across my desk, and I needed to know everything.
The rage bubbles inside of me as I continue to stare at the pictures Micah included in his report. I'm beyond pissed as I stare at the picture of the boy, the one that looks like me. He's four, and I know he’s mine, I don't need a DNA test to prove it, especially when it's like looking in the mirror when I was a kid.
How could she keep my kid from me?
The phone in my office rings, and I answer it. "Mr. Beck," Ally greets me. "Ms. Moore is on her way up for the interview."
"Thank you," I say, trying to keep calm but fuck, the anger is growing with every second that passes. I end the call and stare at the picture once again.
What the fuck happens now? She's not keeping my son away from me any longer. Four years is long enough. I've missed every major milestone. Had she told me, I'd have been there every step of the way, instead, she kept me in the dark.
I get to my feet and move toward the door, it's been years since I've seen her, since I've held her. But, fuck, I'm angry, so fucking angry at her for keeping my son from me. She's still the most beautiful woman I have ever laid eyes on. She's older, she's got curvier with age, her hair lighter and longer, she's so beautiful it makes my heart stutter.
Fuck, I still want her.
I watch as she speaks with my son, the smile he has for her is blinding, and my heart clenches. She runs a hand through his hair, and I release a low cough, letting them know that I'm here. I smirk when Scarlett raises her head, the blood drains from her face, and her eyes grow wide when she sees me.
"Ms. Moore," I say cooly, and she flinches at my tone.
"Axel," she whispers, her lip trembling. "I had no idea."
"I suppose you didn't, what with running away and never looking back."
Her mouth opens, and she stares at me in shock. "I'm—"
I cut her off, right now, I'm not going to argue with her, especially with my son watching on. "About to have an interview. Please follow me, your son can take a seat, no one can enter the office unless Ally lets them."
She gives me a tight nod and follows me to my office. The second the door is closed; I'm pressing her against it. "Why?" I hiss. "Why would you keep my son from me, Scar?"
She swallows hard. "I'm sorry, by the time I found out I was pregnant, I was scared to come back. Noah—"
"I called you," I say. "Every fucking day, I called you. I wanted you to let me explain to you, but you wouldn't answer your cell."
Her eyes flash with anger and indignation. "What could you possibly say to me, Axel? Hmm, what could you possibly tell me that would make what happened that day any better?"
"You never gave me the fucking chance," I snap. "No, instead, you ran away with your tail between your legs and kept my fucking son from me. No more. I mean it, Scarlett, now that I know about him, I'm not walking away."
She's like a fish without water, her mouth opening and then closing. "What are you going to do?" she whispers. "Will you take him from me?"
"I want to get to know my son," I snap, not answering that question, it's fucking stupid. I'd never take my son away from his mother. I only witnessed mere seconds, and I can see the love they have with one other. The bond they have is strong, I wouldn't harm my son by taking him from her.
"Axel," she sighs. "Please don't take him from me."
I take a step backward, my anger still simmering, but I need to cool the fuck down before I say something I regret. The way I’m feeling, that could happen at any moment. "Sit down, Scarlett," I instruct her.
She does as I ask, her head bowed as she moves toward the seat. "What happens now?" she asks.
I sit behind my desk and interlock my fingers. "You need a job, I assume?"
She nods. "I do, I work from home at the moment, and I can do that at night while Brandon is asleep," she tells me.
I grit my teeth and swallow hard. She named our son after her father. I read the birth certificate. Brandon Jonas Beck. She gave him my last name along with my middle name. But she didn't tell me about him.
"What about you?" I ask. "Working morning and night, what happens when you burn out?"
She glances away. "I'm hoping it’ll be only temporary."
"My problem, Scarlett, is I’m in need of a full-time secretary, someone who's committed to working at this company as we grow. I don't have the time nor the patience to have you trained for you to leave and then go through this process all over again."
"I never said that I'd leave this job," she says, jutting her chin out. "From the application that I took, you need everything I can do, it's more money, and hopefully, once I have the money needed, I can stop my other work, and that be it."
My brows knit together. What does she need the money for? Micah ran her credit, and she's not in any debt, she's not well off by any means, but she's surviving, she and my son are doing okay, they're not destitute, not in the slightest. So, what does she need the money for?
"Very well," I say, knowing I’ll be asking Micah to do a deeper dive on her and seeing what the hell we've missed. "I have to say I was surprised by your resume, you excelled at college and are good at what you do."
She beams with pride. "I worked my ass off," she tells me. "I had an extra incentive to do so."
I proceed with the interview, and she aces it, she knows her shit, and not hiring her would be a bad decision.
"So you did, the job comes with benefits, Scarlett, both you and Brandon will have health insurance," I tell her, I'll be making sure it’s the best our company offers, and the best anyone can get. We look after our employees, making sure that they and their families are taken care off. "We also have daycare facility here, if you should need it."
Her eyes widen at my words. "You do?"
"Yes, with Brandon having not met any of them, I didn't think you'd feel comfortable leaving him with them while you had this interview."
Her shoulders sag, and she nods. "I wouldn't have."
I get to my feet. "I'll have Harris set you up with access to the system and everything else that needs to be done. You're to be here for eight am on Monday to begin work. You can go to the daycare and meet the staff and have Brandon meet them too."
She rises too and smiles. "Thank you."
"You're more than qualified for this job, Scarlett, but let me be clear. The conversation about our son isn't finished, and I expect you to understand that."
She nods. "I do."
"Good, I'll be over to your house this evening at seven."
Once again, her eyes are wide and her lips are parted. "What?"
"You heard," I tell her as I move toward the door. "I'll bring dinner. Will Brandon be awake?"
She shakes her head. "No, he'll be down by then."
I glance at my watch and snarl. "I have a meeting with my father that can't be postponed. I'll see you at seven, Scarlett."
She nods. "See you at seven," she repeats.
Tonight, I'm going to ensure that I get to know my son. I don't want to anger Scarlett, but I also won't allow her to push me aside as though I'm no one.
Maybe, just maybe, I can be a father and win Scarlett back?