Chapter 34 - Callie
If you like spilling tea, be careful you don’t burn yourself.
“Why aren’t we taking the train or bus, Mama?” Wyatt whispers as we keep watch from my mother’s front window.
“Because I don’t want you to be late for school.”
No, that’s not the entire truth but I don’t want to frighten my son. He overheard enough last night. The street is quiet though and I have faith that Ezra is dealing with Chase.
“Is the loud man my daddy?” Ever since his birthday party, Wyatt has been referring to Chase as the loud man but he’s not asked me anything else about him. He’s asking now and I won’t lie about this.
“He is your father. I had a father, too, but Pop-Pop’s been my dad since he married Grammy. Do you want to know more?” Wyatt nods. “His name is Chase Sokolov.”
“Like Ezra?”
“He is Ezra’s brother which makes Ezra your uncle.”
Wyatt’s brows draw together as he thinks that through. “Does he play hockey like Ezra did?”
“He did. He may play again.”
“Do you think he likes me?”
Not if he’d use you the way he threatened to. Of course, I don’t say that aloud. My baby deserves better than Chase but there are some truths I won’t hurt him with today.
“I’m certain anyone who got to know you would like you very much,” I tell my son.
“Does he live here?”
“No, he has a house in Boston.” Since Chase doesn’t play for them anymore, I’m not sure where he’ll end up but I can’t speculate on that.
“I like living here.”
“So do I.”
“I miss Ezra. Can I see him?”
I pull him close, hoping to put his worries to rest. “Yes, you will very soon. He misses you, too.”
If today goes as expected, Ezra is planning to come over to my place tonight after the Fog’s game. He said he’d gladly skip it when we were making plans last night but it’s his team’s first season. Their owner should be there to support them. Wyatt will be in bed by then but it’s just as well. There are things the two of us need time to talk over.
A sleek town car pulls up to the curb out front and I tell Wyatt to get his backpack and tell Grammy goodbye. Ezra sent me all the details about our new bodyguard/chauffeur earlier and a plea not to fight him on this. I don’t plan to.
The driver meets us on the sidewalk, a large, muscular man in a suit with a warmer smile than you’d expect for someone in his line of work. With his mustache, he reminds me of Apollo Creed from the Rocky movies. ”Morning, Ms. Anderson. I’m Rex. I believe you’re expecting me.”
“Yes, thank you. Call me Callie and this is Wyatt. Say hello, Wyatt.”
“Hello. You’ve got a dinosaur name.”
Rex’s deep baritone laughter sets me at ease and he tells Wyatt he wouldn’t mind being named after such a cool dinosaur. The ride to the preschool passes with Wyatt attempting to impress Rex with his dino knowledge. I think there’s a new obsession on the horizon for my little boy.
∞∞∞
When I step onto the executive elevator, I’m bemused to find a flustered Mr. Barclay standing there with coffee all over his tailored suit. “Was there a quake I missed this morning?”
“Very droll, Ms. Anderson,” he clips, jamming the button that will carry us up.
“So, what happened?”
“If you must know, one of the cleaning girls spilled her godawful pumpkin spice monstrosity all over me after I caught her swiping a bagel from Jameson’s department.”
“Wait a second. Which cleaning girl? What did you say to her?”
He doggedly stares at the numbers above the doors. “Her name tag said Daisy and nothing I said was worth crying over if you ask me.”
“Did you make that girl cry?” I ask, sharply.
He presses his lips together before obviously trying to distract me. “What happened to your wrist?”
“Answer me, Grant.”
“Ladies first,” he says, gesturing for me to exit as the doors slide open.
We glare at each other before Dean clears his throat to announce his presence. He’s been waiting for me to arrive. “What the hell was all that?” he asks as Grant strides away from us both, barking at his assistant that he’s not to be disturbed as his office door closes.
“Trouble,” I mutter. “Are we all set?”
“Yes, I had Toby show her to the conference room.”
When we join Amber Ellis there, she’s dressed to impress as always. I wonder if it’s a story or a billionaire conquest she’s after today. If so, she’s lucky Tabitha’s not up here. She’s plainly surprised to see me.
“You didn’t really think Mr. Culver was calling you for an exclusive interview about his passion for surfing, did you?” I say, pouring myself a cup of coffee.
She rolls her eyes at Dean who gives her his shark’s grin and takes a seat at the end of the table. “I suppose not. An interview with Ezra would be more likely to garner the network executives’ attention but I’m always looking for ways to advance.”
“Yes, so I’ve heard. Being on-air talent for the largest sports network in the country seems like a pretty good spot to be in.”
“True but I’ve got my eye on the prime time anchor’s chair. Congratulations on your promotion by the way. I don’t believe we’ve been properly introduced.”
Smiling, I nod. “No, we have not but I guess you think you know plenty about me.”
“I know you’ve gotten cozy with both Sokolov brothers. Kudos to you on that. I know Chase fathered your child back in college and for some strange reason you’ve kept that from him.”
Dean leans forward to join our conversation. “If you’ve never been introduced to Ms. Anderson, how do you know all these things, Ms. Ellis?”
“I’ve done my research.”
“Research like following Ezra around? Research like calling Chase when he was in rehab to keep him updated on what his brother’s doing and who he was spending time with?”
“He was merely concerned about his big brother.”
“And, you’ve been merely acting like a stalker.”
“I’m simply a reporter looking for a story.”
“And, covering children’s hockey games is part of that? Cut the crap.”
She’s starting to sweat through that nice blouse. “Fine. I didn’t know who you were or that Chase knew you. I just wanted to get closer to Ezra and you kept popping up. The way he left me at his penthouse that day to follow you, I knew I was missing something.”
“What are you hoping to gain by helping Chase? Ezra’s made it clear he’s not interested in you.”
“But, Chase is and he said his brother would always take care of him.”
“Yes, I suppose he had reason to believe that. What would that mean for you though? That anchor’s chair and a rock for your finger with Chase’s undying devotion? Ezra wouldn’t care about your career and how well do you know Chase, Amber?”
I watch her confidence slip away with my questions. I figured as much. He’s using her just as he used me.
“If you know him half as well as I do, you know he’s not that guy. And, I can’t imagine a single network that would reward a reporter who’s willing to cause a child emotional distress simply to advance herself. At least not publicly.”
“I know for a fact that Mr. Sokolov and I will make it our mission in life to see to it that any such person regrets that choice should she foolishly follow through with any further actions to facilitate such an event,” Dean adds. “I’m sure a woman as intelligent as yourself is well aware we’re more than capable.”
She doesn’t quite manage to disguise her shudder of fear at Dean’s threat.
“You were at the restaurant last night.” I place my bruised hand on the table and her eyes widen. “As you can see, Chase still has some issues he needs to work through. He shouldn’t have left his program early. Are you a mother, Amber?”
Her discomfort is obvious and it takes her a few seconds to answer. “No.”
“Do you ever plan to be? Or, do you have a child in your life you care about?”
“My… My sister has a daughter. She’s two.”
Nodding, I hold up my hand. “I was prepared to hear him out if he wanted a relationship with his son but he wanted more or wanted another chance to manipulate me at least. I told him no and he didn’t like it. He did this. Do you imagine for one second I want a man like him around my child? Do you imagine there’s anything I wouldn’t do to prevent that from happening?”
Slowly, she shakes her head.
I leave her for Dean to show out, having only one more thing to say. “Stay away from my family and my man, Ms. Ellis. Do that and I’m more than happy to forget you exist.”