Chapter 4- Custody

Ethan's POV

I watched as the slender lady entered my office with my receptionist, her face filled with determination, even though I could easily tell from how swollen her eyes were that she had been crying. I remembered her. I remembered the night we spent together. I also remembered how I missed her terribly, but she didn't seem to want anything to do with me. Eventually I gave up on her to focus on more important things.

I dismissed my receptionist and invited Chloe to come sit in the chair facing me, and she readily did.

"I am sorry for causing you trouble this morning at your..." She began, but I cut her off.

"You mentioned that you have a child with me." I went straight to the point, and she nodded.

"A beautiful little girl, full of light." She said, and from the glimmer in her eyes, I could tell that she loved her daughter so much.

"And you are certain that this daughter of yours is mine?"

She nodded. "She is."

"If it is true, shouldn't I sue you for keeping her away from me?"

I saw her shift uncomfortably in her seat, and she rubbed her palms together. I could tell that I just struck a nerve.

I suddenly stood up, and her gaze followed me, as I walked to her side. "What if you are just lying to me? You are a hooker, aren't you? Or did you stop because of your daughter?"

She clenched her fist by her sides. "Just because I allowed you to touch me, does not give you the right to call me names. If I was a hooker, so were you. I slept with you without knowing who you were, and you did the same." She suddenly yelled at me, letting her frustrations out for a moment.

My gaze narrowed as I looked at her. She knew that I could help her, and that I could also decide not to, and yet she yelled at me. I kind of admired that part of her. She would not let other people walk over her, even if they were more powerful.

"Take me to the hospital she is in. I want to see this daughter of yours."

"Huh?" She responded in shock, but she quickly recovered and stood up abruptly.

I walked to the door, taking long strides, and Chloe walked briskly behind me, almost running. I went to my secretary whose office was just outside my own.

"I am leaving. Clear my schedule for the day."

"But sir, you can't leave. Not today. Your father..."

"Do you like working as my secretary?"

She caught her breath and nodded. "Yes sir."

"So sit here and do your job."

She nodded. "Yes sir."

I could see the wonder in Chloe's eyes as she looked between my secretary and I.

"I was made the CEO today, I am not supposed to leave. I just cancelled many important meetings for this. I do hope it is worth it, or you will not like the consequences."

She nodded her head, unable to say anything.

When we got down, I waited for her to lead me to her car, but it seemed she was waiting for me as well.

"Your car, where is it?"

"Oh, you want to use mine?" She asked, seemingly surprised. But then she just walked to it without waiting for my response. Then she drove us to the hospital.

We entered the ward where the little girl was, and I saw a lady talking and playing with her. She got up immediately she noticed us.

"Are you leaving, aunty Bonnie?" She asked the lady in a weak tiny voice, and I couldn't deny that I felt a sudden pang in my heart. Perhaps it was the innocence in her eyes that got to me.

"Don't worry, you mommy is here." The lady she called Bonnie said, before she placed a kiss on the little girl's head, then gave Chloe and I a curt nod before leaving the room.

"Meet my daughter, Ariana." Chloe introduced, and I walked to the girl.

"Who are you?" She asked, curiously staring at me. "You are... Familiar."

"I am Ethan." I answered her, my voice coming out softer than I intended.

"Hi, Ethan. Are you my dad?" She asked again, tilting her head to the side as if she was studying me. There were questions in her eyes.

"What do you think?" I found myself asking, and I was surprised to hear my heart beating so fast.

"I don't know. My mommy said I have a dad like other kids, but she refused to show him to me. Will you sit and play with me?"

Play?

I found myself nodding. "Sure."

She began to tell me stories, mostly about herself and her mother. In fact, she could not make a complete sentence without mentioning her mother. In the end, she grew tired and fell asleep.

I turned to Chloe who had been sitting there, watching us all along with her expression blank.

"Come with me."

She got up and followed me outside the ward.

"I want to run a DNA test on her before I proceed with anything. And if I find out that you are lying to me..."

"Fuck it, Ethan! She's your..." She noticed that she was loud, so she lowered her voice. "She's your fucking daughter."

"And I need proof. Like I said before, she could be the daughter of the other men you have slept with."

"We don't have time for that, Ethan. Please." Tears clouded her gaze, and she stared at me pleadingly.

"I want her moved from here. She will be transferred to a better hospital, and she will be well taken care of there."

She was about to argue with me, before my words sank into her. "What?"

"You heard me. We will be transferring her tomorrow, and I will take care of her bills and every other thing she might need."

Her eyes went wide. "Really? Thank you, thank you. Does this mean you believe she is your daughter?"

"No. The test will still be carried out, and heaven helps you if I find out she is not mine. You are going to pay back every dine I will be spending on her."

She nodded. "And if she is yours? Do I get some kind of compensation for all the names you have called me?"

"If she turns out to be mine, I will be keeping custody of her. I don't think you are capable of raising my child."