Chapter 14
Chapter Fourteen
J ack
I stared at Sierra, how she held onto Ellie, and the pain written all over her face. Her panic attack earlier was for a reason—one she wouldn’t discuss. After we put Ellie’s nightgown on her, we tucked her into bed.
“Good night.” I softly kissed the top of my daughter’s head as she held her baby doll. “Drink?” I asked Sierra as we left the room. “God knows I need one.”
“Sure,” she said.
I poured Sierra a glass of wine, handed it to her, and then poured myself a bourbon.
“How did you and Claire meet?” she asked.
“I knew you would ask that question sooner or later.” I tipped the glass to my lips. “We met at a restaurant. I was dining there with a couple of friends, and she was our waitress. She was flirting. I was flirting. And one thing led to another. We went on a couple of dates, and she got pregnant.”
“Did she do it on purpose?”
“No. We were both very drunk the night Elianna was conceived. When Claire came to me and told me she was pregnant, I was shocked. I asked her what she planned on doing about it. She said she was keeping it and asked me to help her. I explained that I didn’t want kids and had no interest in being a father, but I would support them and ensure they had everything they needed. Before Elianna was born, Claire packed up and moved back to her hometown in Pennsylvania, where her cousin lived.”
“Were you there when your daughter was born?” Sierra asked.
“No. Claire called me the night Ellie was born. I went to see her a few days later.”
“Did you hold her?”
I stared at her as I finished my bourbon and poured another.
“I take that as a no.” She shook her head.
“You will not sit there and judge me.” I pointed at her. “You don’t understand and never will,” I said authoritatively.
“You’re right. I will never understand how a parent can turn their back on their child—the child they created. I don’t give a fuck if a child was created out of love or accidentally. Children are human beings who weren’t asked to be created or born. And it’s the job of the two people who created that child to care for and raise him or her the best they know how,” she shouted.
My brows furrowed because this situation seemed very personal to her, and I couldn’t figure out why.
“I’m going to ask you again. What was with that panic attack you had earlier?”
“I already told you that I don’t know. It just happened out of nowhere.”
“I don’t believe you. But you will tell me over time.”
“There’s nothing to tell, Jack. I’m going to bed. You need to figure out what you’re doing with Ellie tomorrow.”
“She’s going to have to come to the office with us. I need you to do things at the office, and I have meetings. Good night, Sierra. I hope you find the bed comfortable.”
“Night, Jack.” She walked out of the room.
I was almost asleep when I heard Ellie crying for her mother. She wouldn’t stop, so I climbed out of bed and went to her room. Opening the door, she was sitting up with her knees to her chest, sobbing.
“I’m scared. I want my mom.”
“Well, she’s not here. I am, and there’s nothing to be scared about.”
“Can I sleep in your bed?” She sniffled.
I inhaled a sharp breath. I remember a time as a kid when I felt the safest in my parents’ bed.
“Sure, kiddo. Come on.” I picked her up and carried her to my room. Laying her down, I covered her with the blankets and told her to go to sleep. Climbing in next to her, I stared at her as her hands were in a praying pose and tucked under her cheek while her head lay on the pillow. What the fuck was I going to do?
T he following morning, I got up, showered, and dressed before waking Ellie. She must have been exhausted because she didn’t move or make a sound while I was getting ready. As I was tying my tie, there was a light knock on the door.
“I went to Ellie’s room, but she’s not in there,” Sierra said.
I opened the door all the way and gestured toward the bed.
“She slept with you last night?”
“She was crying for her mother. I didn’t have a choice if I wanted some sleep.”
“I can either make breakfast or get her ready,” Sierra said.
“There’s no time for breakfast. You’ll have to call in an order and have it delivered to the office. Get her up and dressed. I’ll be downstairs waiting.”
I finished my coffee and looked at my watch. What the hell was taking Sierra so long? Walking up to my room, I stepped into the bathroom and saw Sierra putting Ellie’s hair in high pigtails.
“What do you think?” Sierra smiled when she saw me.
“We have to go.”
“I’m hungry,” Ellie said as I lifted her into the Escalade.
“I’ll have Eric drop you off at the diner around the corner from the office so you and Ellie can have breakfast,” I said to Sierra. “Eric will pick you up when you’re done and bring you to the office. Try not to take too long.”
I set my briefcase down and sat behind my desk. Pulling out my phone, I called my friend, Charlie Stone.
“Jack Atlas. How are you, my friend?”
“I’ve been better, Charlie. I need your help with something.”
“Anything. What is it?” he asked.
“I need to find someone. Who is that friend of yours you were telling me about?”
“Morgan Ashley?”
“Yes. That’s her. Can I get her number? I need to hire her.”
“Sure. Are you ready?”
“Yeah.” I grabbed a pen and wrote down her number as he rattled it off. “Thanks, Charlie.”
“You’re welcome. It’s been a while, Jack. We should go out for a drink.”
“Sounds good. Let me know a day and time, and I’ll be there.”
I ended the call and dialed Morgan’s number.
“Hello,” she answered.
“Hi, Morgan. My name is Jack Atlas. I got your number from a mutual friend, Charlie Stone.”
“Hi, Mr. Atlas. How can I help you?”
“I need some information on someone. Charlie said you’re the best.”
“When would you like to meet?”
“Are you available to come to my office around noon?”
“Text me your office address, and I’ll be there,” she said.
“Excellent. I’ll text it to you now. Thank you, Morgan. I’ll see you at noon.”
My office door opened, and Sierra and Ellie walked in.
“How was your breakfast?” I asked Sierra, setting down my phone. Ellie ran over to the couch and climbed on it.
“It was good. She ate all of her pancakes.”
“Good.” I looked over at Ellie as she sat there staring at me. “I bet those pancakes were delicious.”
“I want my mom.”
I let out a sigh. I have a meeting with Morgan Ashley at noon,” I told Sierra.
“Who is she?”
“Someone who’s going to find Claire. Take Ellie to your desk and shut my door. I want you to call the nanny agency and start setting up interviews.”
“Okay. Come on, Ellie.” Sierra held out her hand.
My daughter stared at me as they walked out of my office. Turning my chair around, I stared out at the city. I heard my office door open, so I turned my chair around and saw Daniel standing there.
“She’s super cute and looks like you.” He smiled. “How did it go last night?”
“She cried for Claire.”
“I’m sure she did. You, my friend, know what that little girl is feeling right now. You have to have some kind of sympathy in your Grinch heart.” A smirk crossed his lips.
“Someone is coming to the office around noon to help me find Claire. Once we do, she’ll be back to take Elianna.”
He sighed as he sat in the chair across from me. “Have you tried to call Claire?”
“Yes, and it goes straight to voicemail.”
“All I can tell you is that you need to step up now and take care of your kid. I don’t think Claire wants to be found.”
“She’s her mother!”
“And you’re her father.”