I was a grown ass man. I was strong and confident, but in this moment, I felt more emotionally fragile than I had as a child. I could feel the tears of shame and guilt and frustration and panic welling in my eyes. I leaned against the wall of the elevator, bringing my thumb and forefinger up to pinch the bridge of my nose, hoping I could stop whatever breakdown I was about to have.
My mom's hand pressed over my heart. "Max, honey. What's in Las Vegas?"
I let out a shuddering breath. "My life."
CHAPTERTWENTY-EIGHT
Amelia
Anticipation was the worst. Anticipation and uncertainty combined were unbearable. Archer's team had set up all sorts of gizmos in my apartment and an app on my phone to record my father, if and when he came over to confront me about my marriage to Max.
I wasn't sure what frightened me more, that I wouldn't be able to engage one of the recording devices while he was here, or what my father might do if he discovered I was setting him up. Dax, the security man Mr. Graves assigned to us, said that if I had warning that my father was coming, he or someone on his team could remotely activate the devices.
Because there was concern that my father was having my place watched, Dax and his people showed up in a telecommunications van, making it look like I was putting in a new phone or high-speed Internet or something while they wired up my home to record my father. Not only did they set up audio, but video as well.
That was completed several days ago, and now we were waiting for my father to make his move. But the waiting was making me more anxious every day. I found it difficult to work even as I tried to use it as a distraction.
I sat at my desk reading the same social media caption over and over for the last twenty minutes.
My phone rang, startling me. I pressed one hand over my speeding heart as the other picked up my phone. The caller ID told me it was James.
"Hey, James."
"I may have done something stupid."
"What?"
"All this waiting is getting us nowhere. And while the men from Saint Security said they'll stick around for as long as I pay them, there is a limit, don't you think? At some point, they’ll need to move on,"
I thought of all the money this had to be costing James. I had wanted to contribute, but he insisted that I keep all my money in case my father did something to hurt my business. I needed to save all my pennies so I could support myself and the child.
I thought of Max because he certainly had a responsibility for the baby, even if our marriage would be annulled in a few weeks. But in many ways, I agreed with James that if Max didn't want anything to do with me, it was best that I let him go. That meant I wouldn't be suing him for child support.
"So, what did you do?" I asked.
"I went to Dad's office and asked him about a rumor I’d heard that you got married, but that an annulment was in process. I acted like I was pissed at him for making you leave the man you married so he wouldn’t be suspicious.”
My stomach did a somersault and then threatened to rise up. Maybe anticipation wasn't so bad, after all. Because impending doom felt worse.
"What did he say?"
“He acted like he didn't know anything about it, but I could see the wheels turning in his head, the anger that you were defying him. I've let Dax and his team know what I did, but I wanted you to know as well. If Dad doesn't show up sometime today, I'll be surprised."
I nodded, glad that I was sitting down because every nerve in my body was shaking.
"They assured me that they were there and watching the place,” James said. I could hear the shaking in his voice. “And I’ll be over shortly as well.”
"Okay. I'll be ready."
"I sure hope I didn't fuck this up for you, Amelia."
"I'd rather get this over with. The waiting is hard."
When I hung up, I sat at my desk, taking deep breaths to ward off the panic. I knew this had to be done to protect myself and the baby, and even Max. But I'd never been so scared in my life. What did it say about my father that I was terrified of him? I pressed my hand over my belly, looking down where my child was growing.
"I promise you will never be afraid of me."
On wobbly legs, I stood and went to the kitchen to fix myself a cup of tea. Once it was brewed, I sat at my kitchen table and waited.