Chapter 3I got served
Chapter Three
I GOT SERVED
One of Emmanuel’s greatest joys was being a father. He would never admit to having a favourite, but his baby girl held a special place in his heart. She was currently moving down in the ranking. He was definitely awake but remained stalk still. Emmanuel was afraid to open his eyes, fearing she could sense it on the other side of the door. He was so confident that it was Sage knocking at the door that he would wager his entire fleet of vehicles on it.
“You know better. She knows we are in here. She isn’t going to give up.” Ivy whispered on his chest. See? His wife thought it was Sage, too.
“What time is it? And why is she here? I thought she’d meet us at the restaurant?” he whispered back.
The knocking came again, this time it was louder. “Parents! It’s nine. Why aren’t you guys up?”
Reluctantly, he cracked one eye open. Looking down, he caught Ivy’s smirk. She shrugged. “That’s your Baby Girl.”
“She’s your Baby Girl too.” He sighed in frustration. Manny was not ready to get up. The couple had a late night. After being apart for forty-eight hours, they had a lot of making up to do. That reconciliation had gone on into the wee hours. He couldn’t get enough of Ivy. She was an addiction that he happily succumbed to. Even if that meant a night with little to no sleep.
“Hey Sage, I thought you were going to meet us at Fusion,” Manny called out. His little girl was tenacious. It was unlikely she would just give up and go away.
“Hey, Daddy! I was, but I changed my mind. I wanna see Momma’s award.” The pout was present in her voice. His little one hadn’t been happy that she wasn’t allowed to attend the Gala.
“You are going to have to give us some time to get up and ready. It was a late night. We’ll meet you in the kitchen in… an hour.”
“An hour!?” Sage didn’t do it often, but she was a champion whiner.
“Sage.” His voice held all the fatherly censure he could muster.
“Okay, fine. I’m going to have some cereal.” Manny nor her mother bothered to remind her they were going to brunch. Sage ate more than her brothers. She was full of energy and had a crazy metabolism.
“I guess that means no lounging in bed,” Ivy said, trying to remove herself from his hold.
“Ehh.” His hand cupped her breast as his thumb played with her nipple.
“If we aren’t down there in an hour, she will be back up here.”
Ivy was right, his plans for the morning were dashed. It was time to get up and at ‘em. With a smouldering kiss pressed to her lips, the couple rolled out of each other’s embrace. She proceeded to the washroom promptly, as was her regular practice. Before he did anything, Manny had to straighten up. When they returned home from the Gala, their clothes were left scattered around the room without further consideration. First, he collected Ivy’s dress. He smiled at the memory of her in it. Damn, but she looked beautiful.
“Hey Doc, do you want this dry cleaned and donated? Or will you be keeping this dress?”
“Keeping it! It is an Etheline Farrow’s original. She is really taking off.”
Okay, that designer’s name meant little to him. But if Ivy wanted something, she got it. It was that simple. The dress was placed in a dry-cleaning bin. Her lingerie was put in the delicate wash bin. He was methodical, with a system in place for everything. The same was done with his clothing until he got to the jacket of his tux. The sound of crinkling as he checked his inner pockets made him vividly recall the events of the previous night.
Maksim had just completed his speech, bestowing the award to Ivy. The Russian had shaken her hand, cupping it in his massive mitts. The handshake had lingered longer than socially acceptable, in his opinion, when a soft voice drew his attention.
“Emmanuel Campbell Scott?” A server inquired.
“Yes?” Manny answered, distracted.
“You’ve been served, sir,” she said, handing him an envelope and disappearing through the crowd. He would have gone after the woman, but Ivy had begun her speech. The envelope was tucked away and forgotten as he turned his concentration on Doc.
Well, it was a good thing Frank was coming to brunch. He could handle whatever the hell this was. As Manny thought about it, he became pissed that they had served him at the Gala.
“Hey, what’s got you frowning?” Her voice startled him. He did not hear her approaching.
“Oh, I got served last night.” Emmanuel waved the envelope at her.
“At the Gala?” Ivy sounded as incredulous as he felt.
“Yeah. The bastard has had us tied up in litigation for the last year. I thought Frank had worked out a tentative deal. Now this bullshit.” He tapped the envelope before tossing it on his dresser. The company was being sued because it had launched a new product using proprietary self-heating packaging. The family business had acquired the pattern from a gentleman in a multi-million deal. It turned out he wasn’t the original designer. That entrepreneur had sold it for a song. Now his regret was resulting in a long-drawn-out legal mess. Just when he thought the nightmare was over, the other legal counsel had made it personal.
“That sucks. It will be settled.” Ivy walked over to him, and he slipped his arm around her.
“You’re right. This is what I get for trying to be fair and make it, so everyone got a piece of the pie.”
“Don’t apologise for having a big heart and being a man of integrity. It will all work out. You’ll see.” She pulled away from his hold and was already at the door of the bathroom. “Anyway, I’m jumping in the shower. Want to join me?”
Something about the look he gave her made her reconsider the offer she had given him. She clarified, “just to shower. We don’t have time for anything else.”
His grin was wolfish. “Sure.”
“ H ow did Junior beat us here?” Oliver asked as he entered the private dining room at Fusion. Sage was affectionately called Junior by her older brothers because she looked so much like Ivy, but her personality was all Emmanuel. Actually, the nickname was rich coming from Oliver. Physically, all that separated him from being his father’s double was a few years, an additional inch, and his darker complexion.
“I came home early this morning and drove over with Momma and Daddy.”
The boys greeted their parents and sister. The immediate family was meeting up earlier and would later be joined by the extendeds. They didn’t have the time they used to, with both boys being out of the house pursuing their post-secondary education. Oliver was in his second year and, like his father, was a football star. While Benjamin was in his first and ran track. It was rare that Manny missed games or meets. He was a hands-on parent.
Drinks and appetizers were ordered, as they sat around catching up. They were a rowdy bunch. Laughter was abundant. Teasing a guarantee. Love, well, it was the foundation of everything.
The Grands, as the children called them, were the first to arrive. Of course, Emmanuel’s mom was bearing gifts for her grandkids. She always did. The couple had failed to curtail her behaviour early on.
“Listen, you two, these are grandchildren. I will shower them with gifts and sugar and then send them back home to you. You both will say nothing.”
Emmanuel barely suppressed his eye roll. Yes, they had a lot of privilege, but he didn’t want to raise a bunch of spoiled, entitled brats. Thankfully, Ivy was by his side, and they raised well-rounded kids. They played hard, but they worked even harder. All their grades were outstanding. Although he credited their mother with their intellect, he was no slouch. When they first met, Ivy questioned his commitment to his education. On one of her many noise complaints visits, he had had to set her straight.
“Christ, your ass is judgmental. You know I’m in half of your classes, right? Because I have a double major in Business and Science, play football, am the captain of the team, and have a 3.7 GPA. So yeah, I work hard. Now, run back to your apartment. As always, the music will be turned off by 10:59. Bye-bye now.” He waved and slammed the door in her face.
Emmanuel smiled at the memory. He looked up and her eyes were waiting for him. This connection is what he lived for. No matter what was going on around them, they had each other. The smile she gave him was reserved for him. It lit up her entire face and made her eyes look like sunshine itself.
“I love you.” They both mouth simultaneously.
Benjamin burst their bubble. “Dad, can we order now? I have to get back to the dorm and study.”
Thankfully, Kimberlin, Ivy’s best friend, was next choosing that moment to arrive. Followed by Frank. As always, cheers greeted him from the kids. ‘Uncle Frank’ was the coolest, according to Oliver and Sage.
They were finally able to put in their orders to the contentment of his children. With a nod to Frank, he grabbed his attention, and the men excused themselves. They sat in the foyer of the private waiting room.
“What’s up, Emmanuel?” Everyone called him by his full name, except for Ivy.
“I thought the packing ligation was settled?”
“It is. The final, might I add way too generous settlement, has been finalised.”
“Don’t start. You know why I settled. It doesn’t sit right for a ‘family’ run company to break the back of the little guy. Anyway, it’s settled. What the hell is this?” Emmanuel handed Frank the envelope.
“I have no idea. It’s my day off and I’m at a family brunch. I can’t believe you have me working.” Although Frank was complaining, he was breaking the seal and removing the document. The look on his face…
“For the amount you get paid—” He was cut off as Frank lifted his hand, halting him.
“This isn’t a company matter.” Frank waved the document, thrusting it at Emmanuel. “It’s um… personal.”
“What is it?” Emmanuel took the document offered to him. He scanned the paper and was jolted by the information. “Is this shit some kind of joke?
“No. You saw me break the official seal. This is as legit as it gets. Do you have something to tell me, man?” Frank pierced him with a suspicious look.
“Like what? I have no idea why this woman is requesting a paternity test.”
The air was ripe with Frank’s accusation. He hadn’t come out and said that he believed that the suit had merit, but his disappointment was etched in his features. How could his best friend of all these years think he would do something like this?
Emmanuel huffed in agitation, jumping to his feet. “Seriously? You think I would disrespect Ivy this way?”
“I don’t know what to think. Why would this woman accuse you of fathering her child?”
“I have no idea.” Emmanuel looked over the first page and then flipped it over, scanning the other side.
“What are you looking for?” Frank asked.
“The name of the woman bringing the case.” The whole situation frustrated Emmanuel. Trying to figure out the legalese of the document was making it worse.
Frank grabbed the document from him. The look he gave was indiscernible. Emmanuel gestured for him to get on with it. “Here, the plaintiff is Jasmine Journee.”
“I’ve never heard that name.” Neither the first nor last name produced any memory. Emmanuel scoffed at the absurdity. Some woman he had never even heard of was accusing him of being the father of her child. This made no sense. He shook his head at the ridiculousness of it.
“You think this is funny? This document isn’t a joke.”
“I don’t find it funny, but I’m telling you, this is complete bullshit. I’ve never even heard of this woman. Maybe I can get her info and contact her and find out why the hell she is doing this.”
“I am not your personal counsel. Even if I were, I don’t think I would want to help you with this matter.” Frank rubbed his head as he practically sneered at him. “I am still going to give you some valuable free legal advice. Under no circumstances are you to contact this woman directly. She has lawyered up and not with some ‘ambulance chasing’ attorney desperate for a case, so they take on anything. The firm that is representing her is one of the best in the country. They wouldn’t take this case if they didn’t think they could win it.”
Throwing his hands up in the air, Emmanuel was emphatic. “Well, I don’t know what to tell you. They can’t win it because I was never with this woman.”
Sometimes, because of Frank’s jovial nature, people forgot what a cutthroat he could be. He was a master litigator. Part of what made him so successful was his ability to catch people unawares. Often pivoting while doing an examination. Emmanuel could see the moment he changed his tactic. Standing, Frank placed his hand on his shoulder.
“Come on, man. This case didn’t come out of thin air.”
“When have I ever lied to you, Frank?” Emmanuel pulled away from Frank’s touch.
“I don’t believe you have before, but maybe this is something you couldn’t share with me.”
Couldn’t share with him?
“You don’t know if you can trust my word?”
“Emmanuel, Emmanuel. Wait up.” Frank stepped out of the shadows as if he had been waiting for Emmanuel as he jogged by.
Emmanuel slowed his pace so Frank could fall in step with him. They walked in silence until Emmanuel came to a complete stop. It was then that Frank finally spoke.
“I wanted to talk to you about what you might have seen last night.” He gave a nervous laugh.
They had only met at Frosh Week a couple of months ago, but Emmanuel and Frank had become good friends. Add to that, they played on the football team together and spent a lot of time on and off the field. It didn’t sit well with Emmanuel that the other man looked so nervous.
“Listen, Frank, before you say anything. I want you to know you don’t owe me any explanations. Whatever I saw or didn’t see… really isn’t any of my business.”
“I appreciate that. That’s why I want to be straight with you.” Frank scoffed as he squeezed the back of his neck. “Okay, maybe not the best choice of words. I’m not ready for anyone else to know. You get that right?”
Emmanuel nodded.
Frank shifted from one foot to the other. “If you want me to quit the team, I get that ? —”
“Why would I want you to quit? You are one of the best offensive linemen we have.”
Frank’s head snapped up at his friend and captain’s words. “Cause now you know I like guys.”
“So? Like I said, you don’t owe me any explanation. If you want to talk about it, that’s cool. If you don’t, that’s also cool. That doesn’t change the fact that, on or off the field, I trust you to have my back, and I have yours. You don’t want to tell; you don’t have to. If you want to tell the other guys on the team, I got you.”
Emmanuel had kept his word. It would be years before Frank was ‘outted’ when the men were playing professionally. In all that time, Emmanuel had maintained Frank’s secret. He had stood by him when the storm of his sexual orientation hit the media. Threatening to quit the teamed if Frank was benched because of who he was. Their bond was rock solid.
“Back in the day, you had a reputation as a ladies’ man,” Frank said, pulling him from his thoughts.
“Even then, I never crossed the line. Or dated more than one woman at a time without everyone being on board. That all changed when I started dating Ivy. She was it for me. Has been it for me. How do you not know that?”
“Listen man. I know how much you love my cousin, but maybe you did something you shouldn’t have. Don’t paint yourself into a corner.”
Frank’s tone was measured and so full of censor it pissed Emmanuel off. Other than Ivy, Frank knew him best. Or so he thought.
“I’m not painting myself into anything. There is no way I am that woman’s baby’s father. Does it say how old the child is?”
Frank was quiet as he scanned the document. “The child in question is twenty months old.”
Quick math told him the child would have been conceived about two and a half years ago. What was going on back then? Oh, Emmanuel had experienced a cancer scare. It had been a difficult time. When examined, a lump was found in his left testicle, which had started with a pain in his right testicle. It turned out to be a benign tumour. The result was life changes. Emmanuel prioritised a healthier lifestyle, cut back on red meat and increased his plant base intake. He also made sure that both he and Ivy cut back on their hours. If anything, they spent more time together.
So, no, he wasn’t screwing around on his wife. Or making babies he refused to take care of. Emmanuel tried to explain that to Frank.
“I remember what you were going through. Your emotions were all over the place. Maybe the ordeal made you act out of character, give in to a moment of weakness?”
What the fuck? “No, it didn’t drive me away from my wife. It drew us closer. In the middle of a crisis, I didn’t think… mmm, how do I fuck my life up while facing my mortality? Seriously, are you crazy?”
“What about after? When you were in the clear. Maybe that’s when you slipped up. Had a celebration that you shouldn’t have.”
“There was no celebration!” Emmanuel’s voice carried in the small space. “Unfucking believable. Do you hear how condescending you sound right now? When have I ever treated you this way? Doubted your word? Even when you were clearly in the wrong.”
That got Frank’s back up. “When was I clearly in the wrong?”
Emmanuel scoffed and gave him a look as if to say, are you kidding me?
“That whole thing with that married guy.”
“It was one time. …And I didn’t know he was married… at first,” Frank countered.
“Didn’t stop you, though. Had the man’s husband showing up at the office. Who stepped in and stopped him from knocking your block off?”
“Listen, you know I was having a hard time.” Frank narrowed his eyes at his best friend. “Yeah, you were a good friend to me. Had my back. That doesn’t mean I’m going to look the other way while you hurt my cousin. Have you thought about what this would do to her?”
“You suggesting I don’t put Ivy first?” Questioning his loyalty to Ivy was the ultimate no-no. Doc was his world. Frank had a point, though. This might be hurtful to his wife. Even if she knew him as well as he knew, she did. This whole situation could be embarrassing. He huffed in frustration. What about the kids?
“You usually do, but if you had in this situation, you wouldn’t be staring down the barrel of a paternity test.”
That was it. Emmanuel had had enough of Frank’s shit. The two had never gotten in each other’s face, but Emmanuel was furious. The disrespect. From a man who should know better! He took menacing steps towards Frank.