Chapter 11
Chapter Eleven
Lucas
I was still in shock. How the hell did she do it?
How did she know? My team was just as ecstatic as I was, but I didn’t take the credit.
I couldn’t, and I told my team who Jenna was, minus the fact that she was having my kid.
That was nobody’s business, and I wasn’t ready for anyone to know until I figured out exactly how things were going to go.
I left the office around five. Earlier than I normally did, but I needed to talk to Jenna.
I stopped and picked us up some Chinese food for dinner.
I didn’t know what she liked, so I ordered a few different things.
As I stepped off the elevator and headed towards the kitchen, I found her sitting on the couch with her foot propped up, watching a movie.
“Hey.” She smiled.
“I brought us some Chinese food.” I held up the bag before setting it on the island. “I really hope you like Chinese.”
“I love it. Thanks.” She grinned as she got up from the couch and sat at the kitchen table.
I unpacked the bag, set the food boxes on the table, and grabbed a couple of plates and silverware.
“I didn’t know what you liked, so I just picked up a few different things.”
“Actually, I love everything you got. Thanks. I’m starving.”
“Didn’t you eat today?”
“Not really. I spent the morning in your office figuring out what was wrong with the coding, met you at your office, and then I came home and crashed for about three hours.”
“You need to make sure you eat.”
“I know, and I’m making up for it now.” She smiled.
I sat down across from her and plated my food.
“And now we talk.” I looked at her with seriousness.
“Yep. Guess we do.” She looked down at her plate.
“Who are you really? Because I knew from the moment I met you, you weren’t secretary material. You sat down and figured out why my coding wasn’t working in a matter of what? Four hours?”
“Two.” She glanced up at me.
“Okay. Two hours. You did what my team nor I could in the last six months. And let me tell you something, my team is one of the best.”
“Obviously not.” She bit into her egg roll.
I cocked my head as I narrowed my eye at her. She knew I was serious.
“Okay. Okay.” She wiped her mouth with her napkin. “My name is Jenna Larson, and I’m from Massachusetts. My I.Q. score is 165, and I graduated from M.I.T.
“165? Are you kidding me? 165 is at a genius level.”
“Yeah. I know.” I rolled my eyes.
“So let me get this straight. You’re a genius, have a degree from M.I.T., and were working as a secretary making practically nothing? And you’re homeless?”
“The pay wasn’t all that bad. And actually, I have two degrees from M.I.T.”
“Okay. Wait a minute.” I set down my fork, got up from my seat, and poured myself a much-needed drink.
“What the hell are you doing? Why aren’t you using your true potential to make something more of yourself?
Do you have any idea the money you could be making and the lifestyle you could be living? ”
“People treat you differently when you’re a genius.
Some are ass-kissers and users, and some are just pure evil and jealous.
I’ve dealt with it my entire life. That’s why I don’t tell anyone about myself, and that’s also why I choose to live a simple life.
It’s not about money for me, Lucas. It’s about people and the relationships I form. ”
“And what about your parents? You said they disowned you? Why?”
“I was nothing more than a trophy they showed off. Everything revolved around my superior brain. When we’d meet people, they would introduce me as their ‘little genius.’ Not their daughter or by my name.
Everything in my life was a competition, even if I didn’t want it to be.
I had to be better than all the other ‘geniuses.’ Science competitions, math competitions, physics competitions, and swimming competitions.
Every damn competition out there I was signed up for against my will.
I just wanted to be normal. But I was robbed of a normal childhood.
All I wanted to do was play outside with the other kids in the neighborhood.
But I was forced to sit inside, studying and reading because that’s what ‘geniuses’ did.
I wanted to attend a regular school where the normal kids went.
But that was out of the question because what kind of parents would they be if they sent their genius child to school with the unintelligent and mediocre kids. ”
“I’m sorry, Jenna. I had no idea.”
“I didn’t ask for this kind of intelligence, and it sent me to some pretty dark places when I was younger.
I was depressed, anxious, and practically suicidal at one point.
My parents sent me to a therapist, and I really liked her.
I felt a connection with her. But when she mentioned to my parents that they were the cause of my issues, they ensured I never saw her again.
After graduating from M.I.T., I told my parents I needed a break and wanted to take a couple of months off and travel around Europe with the money I had saved up.
They didn’t like the idea, but they knew they couldn’t stop me.
I needed that time alone to reflect on my life and figure out who I was behind the ‘genius.’ A couple of months turned into a year.
It was when I was in Italy that I met Bri.
Her grandma lived there, and she was spending the summer with her.
It was at the tail end of my travels, so I flew back to New York with her, rented a car, and drove home to Massachusetts.
I’d missed three interviews with large companies with a yearly starting salary of $200,000.
My parents were livid, and my father told me I was stupid.
A parent should never tell their child they’re stupid, but to me, it was the best thing he’d ever said to me.
After that, I packed my things, and they told me if I walked out their door, I was never welcomed back, and they would cut me off. ”
“When was the last time you spoke to them?”
“A year and a half ago.”
“After I left, I drove to Florida and stayed there for about six months and got a job working in the billing department of a car dealership. I wasn’t really happy there, and that’s when Bri told me she was moving out of her parent’s house and asked if I’d consider moving to New York and sharing an apartment with her.
So, I sold my car to the dealership, hopped on a plane, and here I am. ”
“Do you like it here in New York?” I asked her.
“I do. I really like it. And It’s time for me to start adulting now that I’m having a baby.”
“I can help you financially, Jenna, but honestly, I’m not ready to be a father.” I downed my scotch.
“I know you’re not ready to be a father, and I don’t want your money, Lucas. I’m going to get a job. A real job with a company will pay me a lot of money where I will utilize my talents.”
“But that’s my kid too, and I need to help you out, at least monetary-wise.”
“You know, after discovering I was pregnant, I went to an abortion clinic. As I was sitting there on the table waiting for the doctor to come into the room, I really questioned what I was doing. I was taking this child’s life before it began, making me no better than my parents.
The day they learned about my genius abilities, they took my life away from me.
How could I do that to this baby? I’m going to have someone who’s going to love me regardless.
Someone who will still love me even when I make mistakes. ”
I gave her a small smile from across the table.
“Listen, Lucas. We’ve already established you’re a selfish person, and your work will always come before family.”
“Really, Jenna?” I cocked my head at her.
“Yeah. Remember that conversation we had the night this little one was conceived?” She placed her hand on her belly as a smirk crossed her lips.
“Anyway, I kind of like that you don’t want to be involved.
A child doesn’t have to have two parents to be raised right.
One of them would end up screwing the kid up. ”
“I don’t think that’s true.” I furrowed my brows at her.
“True or not.” She shrugged. “I’m perfectly happy raising this baby alone. Besides, I’m a genius. How hard can it be? Anyway, thanks for dinner. I’m happy we talked and got everything out. I’m in some pain and exhausted, so I’m going to head to bed.”
“Okay.” I gave her a small smile. “I’ll clean up. Good night, Jenna. And thanks again for your help. You have no idea how much it means to me.”
“Good night, Lucas. You’re welcome. I’m happy it worked.”