Shadow games, p.7
Shadow Games, page 7
She stared at me for a moment, her eyes shining with restrained emotion.
You're not taking it from me.
"We'll see," I muttered defiantly. "If you want war, Sienna, you'll get war."
She fell silent, her breathing heavy, her eyes filled with hatred and fear. I knew I had touched a nerve. In my research, Sienna had come across as a strong woman, but now she faced a challenge she couldn't overcome. The lawyers around us seemed shocked by what was happening; our discussion had become public, and it only increased my advantage.
"We'll settle this in court," I declared, taking a step back, "and we'll see who's right."
Sienna said nothing, only looked at me with an icy stare. Our battle was only beginning, but I was ready to fight to the end. I wouldn't allow her to continue to keep me away from my son and use me to steal clients.
As I left the room, I felt the adrenaline coursing through my body. I was determined, no matter the cost, especially since I had invested so much to be there, knowing that Sienna could be a formidable opponent. I headed to my office, slamming the door shut behind me. I needed to think about my next move, figure out what she would do, and anticipate her to carefully plan each step. Sienna underestimated me, and that would be her downfall.
I took my phone out of my pocket and then called my lawyer.
"We need to speed up the DNA testing process," I said as soon as the call was answered. "And be very careful about who you're working with."
"Of course, Adam. I can guarantee that everything will be done according to plan," he replied confidently.
I hung up the phone and sat down at the table, taking a deep breath. The reunion with Sienna was more intense than I expected, giving me a terrible headache. I wouldn't let her continue to manipulate the situation. And I was particularly eager to meet my son. I'd seen several photographs of him, fallen in love with his little face, his mischievous smile that was so much like mine. There was no denying it, that boy looked like me, he had my eyes, my hair, and my build. His mother was small, dark-haired, and delicate. The boy was big and rough, just like I was at his age.
When I researched the person who was screwing me over, I first stumbled upon Nicola Biancchi. I was intrigued by what the hell the Italian mafia was after me for. Then, digging a little deeper, which was very difficult, I recognized her. Sienna. The girl I never forgot. I had many affairs throughout my relationship with Lyla. I slept with several girls for nights on trips. I was the worst kind of man. A despicable, unpleasant, unfaithful, and jerkish type who only realized how disgusting I had become when I almost lost Saori because of the damned life I had gotten into. I was half a being, half a man.
Then, looking more closely into Sienna's life, I came across a photo of a little boy, and it wasn't necessary to put two and two together. His age matched the night we spent together. He looked just like me when I was a child.
And for several weeks, I felt the pain in my chest that this boy could have changed my life a long time ago. And Sienna...
I gave her a fake number; I had a girlfriend, I didn't want a one-night stand from another city calling me. Even though she was the first girl I didn't want to leave when I woke up. Our night was epic. And I couldn't get her out of my head for several months until life took care of pushing her to the back of my mind. She chose not to tell me about my son, and I could even forgive that, but I couldn't forgive her for everything else.
That... no.
Sienna would pay for all the pain she caused me.
CHAPTER 12
Sienna
ADAM WASN'T KIDDING. A few hours after our second meeting, I received the court order for the DNA test, which left me distraught again. I read and reread the document, my fury growing with each line. The names of those involved in the process gleamed like a personal taunt, and I vowed I would destroy each and every one of their lives. No one in that city could associate with Adam without suffering the consequences.
My anger was so intense I could barely contain myself; I felt like I was inside a pressure cooker, but I had to put on a smile and a gentle expression when Jamie got into the car after school.
"Hi, Mom! How was your day?" he asked, as always, full of energy. He threw himself at me and gave me a big kiss on the cheek. My son was so affectionate!
"It was good, dear. And yours?" I replied, keeping my voice calm and cheerful.
"That was great! We're still going to have dinner with Aunt Claire, right?" he asked excitedly.
— Yes, and it will be wonderful. — I smiled, trying to push away the anger that still burned inside me.
We were on our way to my parents' house for a dinner that had been planned for a long time. I insisted that, even with Nicola's death, my mother shouldn't cancel. It would be the first time my sister, Claire, would be with all of us. It took many years for my father and brother to finally accept living with Claire. She and I formed a strong bond after I sought contact, because she was my sister and we were meant to be family. One day, I introduced Claire to my mother, who accepted her very well, even though she was the product of an affair.
My father was retired and his current job was being a doting grandfather. It didn't even seem like he ever stopped talking to me because of the pregnancy. He met Claire more than once, but it was outside the house, in public, and they both seemed shy around each other. And I wanted my family to be united.
Jamie arrived at his grandparents' house full of energy and joy. He ran to hug his Uncle Freddy and Aunt Thea, Freddy's wife. Then he went to his grandparents, dominating the house with his presence.
I left my bag on the entrance table, knowing the butler would keep it safe, and hugged my mother, feeling the need for comfort. I didn't let go of her for a long time.
"Daughter, what happened?" she asked, noticing the tension in my tight embrace.
"Nothing serious, Mom. Just a little tired and still grieving," I lied, not wanting to cause her any more worry.
I kept thinking about how far I was willing to go to protect my son from his father, who had returned out of nowhere, thinking he had rights. I was even more angry for having given in and lost my temper in front of everyone. There was certainly widespread gossip about the fight we had. I needed to regain control.
Adam seemed like the type who had studied me a lot and was anticipating my next moves. He carefully planned his decisions, like buying the office and ordering the DNA test. So, a plan began to form in my mind. I would do everything very differently.
I picked up my phone and texted Kourtney. I'd agree to take the DNA test, but I also had another favor to ask.
“"Let's do the DNA test. I need you to take care of the details. And I need a favor too. We'll meet tomorrow morning. Bring Mike."
I needed to surprise Adam Byrne. He really didn't know me. But, for now, I put the matter aside to receive my sister and enjoy dinner. Claire arrived bringing with her an aura of joy that always comforted me.
— Claire! — I exclaimed, running to hug her.
"It's so good to see you," he replied, hugging me tightly.
"We're going to have a wonderful dinner. Mom is very excited," she said, smiling. "Come on, let's meet everyone, and I'll show you the house too."
Freddy and Thea were in the living room with drinks and appetizers. Years in politics had taught my brother not to be a jerk. He knew how to keep a smile on his face, and I knew him well enough to know he was shy, not uncomfortable. Mom and Dad were happy. Thea and Claire struck up an easy conversation. We sat together, and the feeling of togetherness and love brought comfort to my heart. Later, at the table, we talked about our lives, shared old memories to integrate Claire into our family, and discussed future plans.
Jamie was sitting between my mother and Claire, captivated by the stories she was telling.
"Aunt Claire, you're the best storyteller!" she said, her eyes shining, and seeing my son happy despite everything he'd been through, witnessing his godfather's death, going through the funeral, meant everything to me.
"Oh, Jamie, you're a great listener!" Claire replied, laughing.
I watched the scene with a warm heart. I was determined to protect his peace and happiness. He was such a kind, loving little boy; his hyperactivity was manageable, although it was still a daily challenge. Dinner continued, and for a moment, I managed to forget the impending war with Adam. Being surrounded by my family allowed me to disconnect from who I was on a daily basis and gave me the strength to face whatever came. When dessert was served, Claire pulled me aside.
I sense that something is bothering you. What is it?
I sighed, knowing I wouldn't be able to hide anything from her.
— It's complicated, Claire. Jamie's father found out about him and it seems he wants custody.
Claire looked at me, surprised and worried.
What are you going to do?
"I'll fight. I won't let him take Jamie away from me," I replied, but my mother's heart ached just having to broach the subject.
She held my hand.
— I'm on your side, Sienna. Always. And you know my friends are too. If you want...
I know that, thank you.
When dinner was over, we said goodbye to everyone; it was early, but the next day there was school and work. I took Jamie to the car with the pleasant feeling that the night had been wonderful, and great for recharging my batteries. The next day, I met Kourtney early. She was already in the office, reviewing the court order.
"So, shall we do this?" he asked, raising his eyes to meet mine.
"Yes. I have no other choice. But we need to make sure everything goes as planned," I replied, sitting down at the table.
"I have everything prepared. The test will be done at his trusted lab, and I'll be following every step of the way," she said with a small smile. "And as we know, it's going to be positive. And he'll either want custody or shared custody."
I nodded thoughtfully.
— Great. And what about the favor I asked for? Let's switch to the judge who owes me, right? The most he'll get is a supervised visit with all the dirt I have on him.
Kourtney smiled.
— I'm already taking care of it. Adam doesn't know who he's dealing with.
Even though we had a good part of the plan aligned, we spent the morning discussing the details and strategizing. He might have the biological truth on his side, but I had a mother's love and dedication. And he was the son of a bitch who was in a relationship and gave me a fake number, so he couldn't just show up out of nowhere talking to me about rights and responsibilities.
I didn't tell Jamie about the test he was going to take. I needed time. The boy had lost his godfather and was suddenly confronted with a father figure. When I took him for the DNA test, I avoided running into Adam. Sam told me he was waiting outside, looking serious, but I asked to use a different entrance, a private room, and for my son to receive priority service.
The test was quick and professional. Jamie was a little confused, but he trusted me. After the exam, we left, and I hated that Adam managed to get in our way. I saw my son's eyes widen comically, yet I kept walking, wondering if he reacted that way because of Adam's height and build. It was strange. Was it all in my head?
We waited for the car, which was in a short line with valet parking, and during that, Adam and I stared at each other for a moment, and he seemed very arrogant, as if I didn't know the damn result.
"Shall we go home?" Sam asked as he took the wheel.
I looked at my son and smiled.
"Yes. Jamie and I will have some time off together, with movies and popcorn," I replied, and my son couldn't hide his happiness. It had been a long time since I'd taken a break to be alone with him, doing nothing.
He got so excited that he ran to take a shower and put on his pajamas, the official outfit for our time together. While I was getting ready, he kept chattering, following me around, asking for popcorn, candy, if he could at least have a little soda, something that was forbidden because it had too much sugar and would make him even more agitated. When I finally turned on the television, my head was already spinning with all the information the boy was dumping on me. I grabbed him, pinching his cheeks, and challenged him to pay attention to the movie for at least twenty minutes. He tried to negotiate for twenty dollars...
CHAPTER 13
Sienna
HAVING A PASSIVE PARTNER was a real pain. More than ever, I understood Nicola's reasons for choosing her jerk cousin to be the ghost partner. I did everything I could to ensure Adam never had access to my special clients, the politicians, the shady cases that were the real driving force of the firm. Adam was obviously interested in that and in the firm's revenue, but I skillfully dodged the issue.
Our teams were introduced, and although my team managed to be sociable, I sensed a palpable hostility from Adam's sister-in-law and her assistant. I didn't care. She was tall, blonde, the very intimidating type, and could have crushed me with an elbow, but I wasn't the type to cower around another threatening woman.
She probably took her brother-in-law's side as if he were in the right.
With the positive DNA test result, our lawyers scheduled a conciliation meeting. It was the first step. We needed to reach an agreement before taking the case to court. I was prepared to fight and not give in to any of Adam's demands. My main argument to buy time was that Jamie didn't know of his existence and that it could be very traumatic for my son to have someone like that arrive.
The meeting was in a commercial building downtown. I waited for Adam to go inside before getting out of the car. I watched him walk with his bodyguard, who was as big as he was. Sam opened the door for me, and I got out afterward. I was greeted by the assistant and led to the meeting room; I sat across from them, with a long table separating us. Our lawyers and a family counselor were present to mediate the situation.
After the initial conversation, I cleared my throat, making it clear that I thought it was premature for Adam to meet my son.
“Jamie doesn’t know he exists, and that could be very traumatic,” I began, keeping my voice controlled. “Someone he’s never met— we haven’t talked about his father— could have a huge impact on his life, even more so now that he’s just lost his godfather. I’ve always been very careful with my relationships. Unlike Adam, who for years lived with a socialite who was notoriously a drug user and was even arrested for trafficking,” I said, and he snorted.
"Are we talking about the godfather, the mobster?" Adam retorted.
I gasped, bringing my hand to my chest.
"Jamie's godfather was a well-known and respected lawyer in this city!" I said with my best offended expression.
"It's just the truth. Everyone knows who Nicola really was," Adam frowned at me.
"Nicola was a brilliant man!" I retorted, my voice loud and clear. "How dare you tarnish his memory with such baseless accusations?"
"The truth doesn't need proof, Sienna. Everyone knows the reality," he replied coldly.
Kourtney and I exchanged a look. His lawyer and family counselor intervened, trying to defuse the situation.
"Let's calm down," said the counselor, her voice soft but firm. "We need to think about the child's well-being, and it's too early to talk about shared custody. Sienna is an exemplary mother. We need to work on co-parenting."
"Coexist as parents?" I repeated, staring intently at Adam. "How can I trust someone who's just arrived, after so many years, wanting to take control of my son's life?"
"Your son, Sienna?" Adam retorted. "He's my son too. And I have just as much right as you to be in his life. You were the one who chose not to tell me about his existence!"
"You were the one who gave me a fake number, and you were a married man!" I pointed my finger at him. "I did what I thought was best for my son! And yes, he is my son!"
The tension in the room was only increasing, and I felt even angrier, but I knew I needed to stay calm so I wouldn't lose my temper, for Jamie's sake. The counselor continued:
— We should start with small steps. The first is to take Jamie to a psychologist so that he can begin to prepare for living with his father, who is committed to being a full part of his life, and for the sake of his mental health, we will do this in the gentlest way possible.
I looked at Kourtney. I had no choice but to let Jamie spend time with his father, but custody would never be shared, and he certainly wouldn't have any rights over my son. I nodded reluctantly.
I agree that Jamie should see a psychologist, but I'm not willing to compromise on other aspects. I don't trust Adam to be in my son's life without strict supervision.
"Supervision?" Adam almost shouted. "I'm his father, Sienna! I don't need supervision to be with my own son."
"Let's stay calm," his lawyer, whose name I couldn't remember, said. "We need to reach an agreement that works for both parties."
Adam and I would never agree on anything. The meeting continued with heated discussions and not very successful attempts at mediation. That battle would be long and difficult, but I was determined to protect Jamie in any way possible. At the end of the meeting, we left without an agreement, but with some guidelines on how to proceed. Adam would have to start approaching Jamie gradually, under the supervision of a professional.
As soon as we left, my phone was flooded with messages. I had an urgent appointment at the office and couldn't pick Jamie up from school as I would have liked. Adam and I arrived together, but I went to the meeting room, which was stuffy.
"Turn on the air conditioning," I said, setting my bag down on the sideboard. The tension in the air made the atmosphere almost unbearable. My team gathered around.
I was there to meet with one of my most powerful clients, Senator Edward Collins, who had become embroiled in a scandal that, if left unchecked, could destroy his career and public trust in him. This was the kind of situation I lived for; my ability to manipulate and control the narrative was crucial. The Senator sat at the head of the table, his shoulders slumped under the weight of the accusations. His expression was one of despair, but I couldn't let him be brought down. I was going to fix things, resolve what seemed impossible.
