I laughed because it sounded like a stupid joke. Maggie wasn't pregnant. This was all some sort of strange way to get back at me maybe. What was more convincing at this point? Maggie being pregnant or Maggie hatching some sort of elaborate prank to get back at me because she disliked me for some reason?
She had a lot of reasons to dislike me and I deserved it on some level.
I was calling her back again when there was a knock at my door.
“Go away,” I said without looking up. The door opened anyway and my receptionist was there.
“Mr. Anderson? Your next appointment is here.” I finally looked up from the phone, irritated.
“My what? I don't have another appointment today. I'm free for the rest of the day.”
“Your client disagrees. He says he's been in contact with you,” she insisted. I really didn't want to deal with this at the moment. Whoever it was, it couldn't have been some hoodlum off the streets. I was trying to trust the building's security and my receptionist’s professionalism wondering who it could be. I had a feeling that whoever it was managed to be convincing enough to get her to give in. I wasn't looking forward to this.
“Show him in,” I grumbled. I put the phone down and stood up, ready to slide into a professional mode. A man walked into the room. That was all he was, a man. Blond, dressed in a sweatshirt and jeans. He wasn't even remotely familiar and even though appearances could be deceiving, I didn't think he knew where he was or who I was. Not who I really was. He walked around the office like a little kid at the museum for the first time.
The receptionist walked out.
“Okay, you have my attention but you only have it for the next five minutes. Who are you, what do you want, and how did you get in here?” I said. The guy smirked and came up to me.
“Well, you're in a hurry. Shouldn’t we do the introductions first?”
“You know who I am otherwise you wouldn't be here right now.” As I said that, it hit me. I had seen him somewhere. After the party when Maggie made her escape, there had been a man waiting for her outside. He was that man. Anger surged through me and if there was no threat of repercussion, I would have punched him in the face. My jealousy was irrational because Maggie and I weren't together, but as far as I was concerned, neither were they.
“I know that you're involved with Maggie Weissman. She's mentioned you. She also said that whatever happened between you is now in the past and she's no longer interested. I'm here to let you know officially the two of us are getting married and you need to get out of her life. Permanently.”
I wasn't expecting that. Looking at him and considering what he had told me, I wasn't sure what I had been expecting. It was petty to consider, but he didn't seem like Maggie's type. He was not put together and he was kind of fidgety like he was uncomfortable or on drugs. He was pretty tall but he wasn't particularly intimidating. In case of anything, we were on my turf so I had home-court advantage. I wasn't stupid enough to actually swing at the guy, not unprovoked, but damn would it feel good.
“I still don't know who you are,” I said, managing to keep my voice steady. He thought he was here to stick it to me, and I couldn't let him think that he was successful.
“I'm Paul Griffin. Maggie and I are together and we're expecting a child. Whatever you had together, you need to stop. She doesn't want you to be a part of her life anymore.”
“I know Maggie and she is not the kind of woman who needs a spokesman. Why are you here instead of her? Does she even know that you are?”
“I think we both know that far too often, men don't understand that no means no, especially from a woman. I'm here to nip that in the bud. It ends here today, and neither of us has to see each other again.”
“Why is this the first time that I've heard about you?” I asked. “You claim to be getting married. If your relationship is that serious, I would have thought that Maggie would have mentioned you at least once.” The man looked down and nodded.
“We've had our ups and downs like any couple, but that's none of your business. Maggie is none of your business. Do both of you a favor and forget that you were ever involved.”
“I realize that you troubled yourself to come here and speak on Maggie's behalf but with all due respect, I'm not going to take the word of a stranger when I can hear it directly from Maggie herself. I have no reason to believe that what you're saying is true or that Maggie feels the same way.”
“Is she going to have to come here and tell you herself?” he asked.
“She is. You tell her I said that.”
“It's interesting that you want to see her so much. She told me that whenever the two of you are together, she ends up doing things that she doesn't want to do. I'm trying to be polite here but whenever the two of you are together, she seems to leave in tears. I'm here so she doesn't have to do that anymore with you. This is our first and last meeting, it is in your best interest to respect that.”
“Get out of my office.” The impromptu meeting was already over. He was on his way out and I was being spiteful by telling him to leave, but it was all I could do.
I did my best not to show it, but that last comment hit me where it hurt. Everything with Maggie had been push and pull. I just couldn’t make my mind up about her and it made sense that she was tired of it. There was a baby involved and that was why I needed to get back in contact with her, but it wasn’t the whole reason. Even after all this, I still felt the need to reach out to her; baby or no baby. I couldn’t believe that I was jealous of that weirdo.
I needed to find out who he was.
I got my phone out and called Calvin. He picked up.
“I just got a visit from somebody named Paul Griffin. He says that he’s going to marry Maggie. I need you to tell me who is.”
“It’s a good thing you called because I was just about to give you an update,” he said.