“Mr. Lennon. Mr. Lennon?”
“What is she offering?” Armand asked when Maverick couldn’t speak.
“Ten million,” Attorney Richards said. “And to pay all legal costs.”
Armand let go of a long whistle. “That’s a good start. But she can do better. This man has lost everything. His wife, his career in law enforcement. Now she expects him to give up his child.”
“We need to negotiate what’s best for him and the boy. If we push this, she will fight, and it will be costly,” the attorney advised.
“Don’t worry about the fight. I’ll bring in more attorneys to assist. Your fee won’t be an issue,” Armand flicked his hand. “Mr. Lennon has my full support.”
“I don’t need your fucking charity or support,” Maverick stammered through his response. He remained shaken by the sight of his wife’s ghost, but he pushed through it. He glared at what he thought was nothing more than a wealthy rat seated next to him. Armand stunk of corruption. He saw the shakedown coming. Whatever brought the actor into this game was much bigger than helping some dishonored cop reclaim his custodial rights.
“I apologize,” Armand said. “I know these people. I told you, my cousin is trying to fix the wrongs his father has done. Delilah Montgomery stole from him too. And now she’s trying to bury her secrets. We’ll do whatever is necessary to see that justice prevails.”
“Excuse me, Mr. Richards,” a young woman stuck her head inside the room. She smiled at the men. “The Montgomery’s are here.”
“Send them in,” the attorney said. “We have to take this meeting.”
Maverick sat back and stared at the door. He’d googled Delilah Montgomery. She was a black woman, part of some high society family in Colorado. He’d done his research on her plenty but wasn’t quite prepared for the meeting with his temper simmering in his gut. The attorneys walked in first and then the Colorado state Senator Tyson Montgomery. The last to enter was Delila Montgomery. She was shorter than he thought. Even in her high heels, she was only about five-foot-five at best. The petite brunette in a tailored black pantsuit that flattered her curves but did nothing to accentuate them, exuded class and refined beauty. To cover her eyes, she wore very large dark oval sunglasses, which he found strange. And he could see no traces of makeup, though her lips were moist and compelling. Had she been crying? It didn’t matter. She was the enemy. And he had every intention of letting her know she was.
“Senator Tyson,” his attorney said as if star struck. He shook the Senator’s hand. Maverick and Armand both stood, but neither of them address the men in the room. Maverick stared directly at Delilah Montgomery. She stared at him.
“I’d like for you and Ms. Montgomery to meet Maverick Lennon and Armand Al Jabaar.”
“I wish this were under better circumstances,” the Senator said with a nod of respect toward Maverick. Maverick cut him a glare and then returned his attention to the mother of his child. Tyson pulled out the chair for her, and she took a seat. Maverick and the rest of the men sat as well.
“Thank you for agreeing to see us today. I know this all must be very confusing to you,” the senator began.
“I want to see him,” Maverick said. The Senator blinked with surprise. The attorneys exchanged worried glances. Only Delilah held his stare and remained unmoved. Her features were soft, but her frozen silent manner spoke of trained restraint. Maverick guessed that was part of her skills as a lawyer.
“See who?” The senator asked.
“His son,” Armand answered. “The man wants to see his son.”
“We aren’t here for that reason,” the Senator said. “Jefferson.”
The attorney named Jefferson removed a blue folder. “Mr. Lennon, the Montgomery’s are just as appalled and sickened by the actions of the fertility clinic Eve’s Promise. This has been a very stressful time for the family, as I’m sure it has been for you. We’d like to protect your privacy as well as the privacy and security of the child. Therefore, we are prepared to settle this matter. An offer has been made.”
“Is that who you are? A woman who destroys a man’s life then comes into a room to pay him off to keep him from his son?” Maverick asked.
Delilah reached up to her face and removed her sunglasses. She had red, swollen eyes, weepy eyes, the kind of eyes that hadn’t slept for weeks. And even still, they glistened with guarded seriousness. She glanced at the attorney speaking. “I’d like to speak to Mr. Lennon alone, please.”
“No, Delilah, let us handle this,” Senator Tyson said and touched her arm.
“Everyone out,” she commanded in a very soft but firm voice.
“I don’t work for you,” Armand Al Jabaar said.
“I agree. She and I need to speak.” Maverick said. He held her stare. The men mumbled arguments against it, but soon they were standing and leaving the room. The Senator was the last to leave. He leaned over and whispered something in Delilah’s ear. She nodded, and he then left. They were alone.
With the sunglasses removed, he could see her face. She had a very youthful, fresh look. Her face was a perfect oval. Her bone structure delicate, with high cheekbones and a slender nose. Her lashes swept down at the corners giving her round brown eyes a soft alluring look. And her lips were perfect symmetry.
“His name is Noah,” Delilah spoke. Her voice broke through his anger. In an instant, he wanted to hear her talk again. “My husband didn’t want another Charles in the family. It was like when we saw him, we knew who he was. We’d wanted him so badly,” she said.
“I want to meet him,” Maverick said. She nodded. She reached for the phone, and he could see her hand trembling as she pulled up images of her son. Maverick got up from his seat so she wouldn’t have to. He took a seat appropriately across from her. She handed over the phone. “Swipe left to see his pictures from his second birthday. The party was last month.”
Maverick accepted the phone. He could feel Melissa’s presence as he stared down at his son. Her ethereal spirit peeked over his shoulder in wonder. Noah had his eyes. And blondish brown curls. Though Maverick hair was a darker brown, he knew that his hair was lighter when he was a boy. He could see himself in the happy toddler's smile.
“He looks like you, so beautiful,” Melissa whispered in his thoughts. “I wish he was mine.”
Maverick agreed with his wife. He had the same wish. He wanted a boy. When they found out they were having a girl, he didn’t mind. But in his heart of hearts, he always wanted a son.
“I didn’t know what that fertility clinic was doing. I didn’t know my son was not my husband's. I just found this out. I’m his mother. The only mother he has ever known. He’s my world. I am asking you, I’m pleading with you. Please. Accept my apology and—”
“Sign off my rights to my kid?” He put the phone down. “That’s what you’re here to buy? My right to be a father?”
“He’s not your kid, he’s—”
“My fucking son, lady!” Maverick said. “The one me and my wife should have had. But some insane pervert put his sperm inside of her and killed her instead. Killed her. Do you understand that?”