New Beginnings (11 page)

Chapter 14

Max

Max studied little Jacob’s face and his heart ached for the baby whose short life had already caused so much turmoil. He was pretty certain that the baby was Frank’s. Ever since their Harvard days, Frank had been jealous of him and had wanted whatever he had. When he and Alexis had started frequenting The X Club, Frank had wooed Alexis and done everything to make sure that he was her swap partner of choice. He had thought he had something over on Max, that he was hurting him. But he hadn’t counted on the fact that Max didn’t care about Alexis, let alone love her. In fact, he had rarely reached orgasm with Alexis, and he always used protection with her. In fact Sophie was the only woman that he had never used protection with. His beautiful and sweet Sophie. He thought back to the previous evening. It had been crazy, though he had to admit that it had been exhilarating to share that moment with Sophie. Not that he needed to do it again.

He heard his phone ringing and he saw it was Ella. He answered the phone with trepidation. She rarely called him and he didn’t think that she was about to start with the courtesy calls. “Everything okay, Ella?”

“No,” she sobbed into the phone.

“What’s wrong?” He asked anxiously. “It’s not Joseph again, is it?”

“I don’t know,” she cried. “I had a date today, it’s a long story but basically I think some guy named Frank Phillips is trying to harm you, Max.”

“Did you say Frank Phillips?” He sat down with a sigh.

“Yes.” She hiccupped. “Do you know him?”

“He’s an old acquaintance from Harvard. He’s a senator in Delaware now.”

“Oh, does he want to harm you, Max?”

“Maybe.” He sighed. “I think he wants to make sure certain information doesn’t get out.”

“What information?”

“That he’s Jacob’s dad.”

“What?” Ella exclaimed.

“It’s a long story.” Max sighed. “Hey, can you come over and look after Jacob. There’s something I need to do.”

“Yes.” She cleared her throat. “I’ll be over in fifteen minutes.”

“Ella?”

“Yes?”

“Did this man, your date, do anything to hurt you?”

“No.” She laughed uncontrollably. “He didn’t.”

“Are you sure?”

“Yes.” She sighed. “I don’t want to talk about it. I was a fool. I will likely never hear from him again. I just made a mistake.”

“I’m sorry, Ella. You deserve better than these schmucks.”

“Well, we all can’t be as lucky as Sophie, dear brother.”

“Oh Ella, I’m not the best catch in the world.” Max laughed. “I’ll see you in a few minutes.” He hung up the phone and sent a quick text.
I need to see you. I’ll be at your office in thirty minutes.
He went to the bathroom and brushed his teeth while he waited for Ella. He thought about leaving Sophie a note but decided against it, he didn’t want her to worry. She and the baby had to be protected, at all costs.

***

Max ran out of the building as soon as Ella arrived. She had looked awful but he didn’t have time for pleasantries. He needed to sort a couple of things out. As he walked he called Alexis.

“Why hello there.” She sounded happy to hear from him.

“Hey, we need to talk.”

“Well you know I’m always available.” She smirked.

“I need to know whose name is on the birth certificate.”

“Yours of course,” she scoffed.

“I know he’s not mine, Alexis.” His voice was short and she was silent. “I’ll keep him though. I just need to make sure that legally he is mine. I want you to sign away all rights.”

“What about me?” Her tone was sharp.

“You’ll be taken care of.”

“We can take care of it tomorrow.” Her voice was light.

“That sounds like a plan.” He was happy that she was being so accommodating.

“Just bring the papers.”

“Thank you, Alexis.”

“Yeah, whatever.” She sighed. “You might as well know that—”

“That what?”

“Look I have to go,” she exclaimed excitedly. “I’ll see you tomorrow. At our place.”

“Okay.” He hung up as he reached the building and checked in at the front desk. “I’m here to see Dr. Spencer.”

“He’s expecting you, Mr. Van Harkel. You can go right up.” The receptionist smiled at him and he walked briskly to the elevator.

“Max.” Dr. Spencer stood up. “It’s good to see you. Is everything okay?”

“No.” He paused. “It’s not okay.”

“Do you want to talk about it?”

“No.” Max paced the room. “I think someone is trying to come after me.”

“Oh?” Dr. Spencer swallowed. “Who?”

“That’s not important.” Max walked over to the window. “I just don’t want to do something I’ll regret.”

“Like?”

“I don’t know—beating someone up, having them killed.”

“Oh.” Dr. Spencer felt his face going white. “We don’t want you to do that, do we?”

Max turned around and faced him. “I’m having a baby. I want to be there for my child and my wife. I want to get married.”

“So you can do that.” Dr. Spencer nodded. “I know what it’s like to love someone with all your heart.” He paused. “I never thought I’d be one to admit it but I do believe in love at first sight now, Max. And with love comes a virtue of emotions, Max. You can be a better man. You can be there for your wife and child.”

“Not if I kill someone!” Max shouted.

“Do you need some meds, Max?”

“No.” Max sighed. “I’m fine. I’m just angry. Really angry. And I needed to talk to someone before S. came home.”

“Who’s looking after the baby?” Dr. Spencer questioned.

“My sister.”

“Oh.” Dr. Spencer looked at him furtively. “And how is she?”

“She’s fine,” Max said dismissively. “Just dealing with her jerk of an ex-boyfriend.”

“The one that worked for you?”

“Yes.”

“Oh okay.” Dr. Spencer felt his breathing regulate again.

“I wish he would just leave well alone.”

“Is there anything that he might have over you?” Dr. Spencer asked eagerly and Max looked at him suspiciously.

“What?”

“I don’t know. Maybe he found something out about your company?”

“There is nothing to find out.” Max looked at him with narrowed eyes. “That’s a weird question to ask.”

“I mean, I was just wondering why he is trying to come after you.” The doctor spoke calmly.

“He’s not the one I think is coming after me.” Max stood up. “I have to go now.”

“Who do you think…” Dr. Spencer’s voice trailed off as Max walked out of the door. He sighed and looked down at his phone. There was a new message:
Max has a new girl. One he loves. Finds out her name and everything you can about her. I think she’s the best in which to hurt him. Frank Phillips.

Dr. Spencer looked at the message and leaned back in his chair and closed his eyes. This was all getting to be too much. He didn’t want to do the senator’s dirty work anymore. He knew that he was compromising his ethics but ever since that night when the senator had videotaped him at The X Club he had been blackmailing him to do his bidding. He didn’t want to do it but he couldn’t afford for that video to come out. It would ruin his career.

He picked up his phone and texted Ella. “
Hey you. Great meeting you. I was wondering if you were interested in grabbing some late night pancakes
.”

She texted him back within minutes. “
Would love to. I’ll meet you at the corner of Amsterdam and 72
nd
.”

He sighed and put his phone back in his pocket while staring at the torn off piece of paper on his desk. He would rather be meeting a different woman that evening but duty called.

***

Max made it home before Sophie did. He was surprised to see that Ella was in a good mood when he got in. “What happened to you?”

“Oh I’m just happy to look after my nephew.” She grinned. “And I have a date tonight, so I need to go home and change.”

“Not with Joseph?” He frowned.

“No big brother.” She grinned. “A different friend.” She left it at that. She didn’t want to tell him that it was the same guy that had the weird text message on his phone. She was fed up of the stress and worry; she just wanted to have some fun. Spencer had seemed cool and he was hot. And at least she didn’t feel used. She wanted to just have some fun as well. What would it hurt? She had told Max everything she knew about the message from Frank Phillips, it seemed he was the one with the vendetta against Max, not Spencer. She leaned over and kissed Max on the cheek. “Tell Sophie to call me tomorrow.” And then she left the apartment. Within minutes of her leaving, Sophie made it home with a glum look on her face.

“Sophie.” Max ran up to her. “What’s wrong?”

“Nothing.” She sighed. “Can I ask you one question?”

“Of course.”

“You can’t lie.”

“I promise. I won’t lie.” He looked at her worried. “What is it?”

“Did you speak to Alexis today?”

His face paled and he grabbed her hand. “Yes, but…”

“Do you have plans to meet her tomorrow?”

“Yes,” he muttered. “How did you know this? Did she call you?”

“No.” Sophie looked at him with unshed tears. “I can’t believe you would do this to me, Max.”

“What are you talking about?” he shouted angrily. “This is for us, Sophie.”

“She loves you, Max!” Sophie screamed. “I heard her. She loves you.”

“She doesn’t know what love is Sophie.”

“You’re going to go and fuck her, aren’t you?”

“Sophie, what are you talking about?” He sighed. “Why do you always assume the worst? Why can’t you trust me?”

“Why can’t you be a decent man?” She broke down. “Why can’t you just be a normal, loving, loyal man?”

“What does that mean, Sophie?” He looked at her with anguished eyes.

“I just want a normal relationship. I met a guy, his name is Nicholas. And he likes me, and he’s normal and we’re friends.” The words ran out of her mouth and Sophie took an evil delight at the hurt that spread across Max’s face. “Sometimes I wonder if I wouldn’t be better with someone like Nick? Who would love me for who I am.”

“I love you for who you are, Sophie.” Max’s voice cracked as he stared at the love of his life. “I love you and Winter and—”

“Who’s Winter?” Sophie frowned.

“Our baby.” He smiled at her sadly. “I thought we could call her Winter, because we met and fell in love in Winterside.”

“Oh Max.” Tears sprang to Sophie’s eyes.

“I love you, Sophie. Please don’t doubt that.”

“How do you know we’re going to have a girl?”

“I just know.” He placed his hand across her stomach. “And she’s going to look as beautiful as you. And I will love her with all of my heart.”

“Why are you going to meet Alexis tomorrow, Max?” Sophie sobbed.

“I’m going to ask her to sign over her rights to Jacob, so he can be legally ours.” He stared into her eyes. “That’s all, Sophie. Nothing more. Nothing less.”

“I don’t think she knows that.” Sophie sighed and looked away from him.

“I don’t make you happy, do I, Sophie?” He looked at her in sorrow.

“Most days you do.” She bit her lip. “I love you, Max.”

“Sometimes love isn’t enough.” He looked at her with a detached look in his eyes. “Sometimes love can’t overcome all obstacles.”

“What are we going to do, Max?” Sophie clung on to him in anguish.

“I don’t know, Soph.” He held her tightly. “I love you more than life itself but sometimes loving someone is knowing when to let them go.”

“You can’t leave me, Max.” She sobbed.

He paused for a moment and thought for a second as inspiration hit him. “I don’t know if I can do this anymore, Sophie.” He pulled away from her, his heart breaking at what he was about to do. “I need time to think.”

“What—no!” She reached out to him and he walked quickly to the door.

“I have to go and think, Sophie.” He left the apartment and ran down the emergency stairs. He didn’t want her coming after him in the elevator. He stopped after a couple of flights and broke down in sobs, his body shuddering at the emotion he was letting out. He had to let Sophie go, it was the only way. This was his mess and he had to fix it. He couldn’t allow it to consume and ruin her life as well. And maybe one day she would be able to forgive him. As he walked out of the building for the last time, he prayed to God that she would be able to forgive him for walking out on her. He pulled out his phone and threw it into a trash basket. He didn’t want anyone being able to track him via GPS. He was making a clean break. It was what he had to do.

Chapter 15

Ella

She saw him walking towards her and her heart skipped a beat. He was more handsome than she had remembered. She wanted to ask him how he knew so much about her and if he wanted to hurt her brother but she didn’t think that would be the best approach.

“Hi, Goldengirl.” He smiled and gave her a kiss on the cheek.

“Hi there, Doctor Spencer.” She grinned. “Or should I call you likestolisten?”

“Listening is not what I want to do right now?” He grabbed her hand. “Let’s go.”

“Wait, no dinner first?” She grinned at him, only half joking.

“Are you hungry?” He looked at her pointedly. She was wearing a short black dress, and it was obvious that she had no underwear on, her nipples were pointing through the top and he could see no underwear line. Not even for a thong.

“It would have been nice if you would have asked at least.” She sighed.

“Okay sorry, would you like to eat?”

“That’s okay.”

“Come.” He pulled her down a side street and into an alley by some restaurants.

“What are we doing here?” She frowned. It was a pretty shady side street and she hoped that he wasn’t about to rob her.

“Bend over.” He pushed her forward so that she was resting on a recycling bin.

“Eww,” she groaned as she smelled the contents of the bin that had been obviously been used for more than recycling.

“Sshh.” He grunted and she felt him lift up her dress quickly and then push his already hard dick into her pussy.

“Ooh,” she groaned. She wasn’t sure why, but her pussy was wet and accepted him into her easily. He reached forward and grabbed her breasts as he fucked her and she slammed her ass back into his cock as he moved. She felt an orgasm building and was just seconds from coming when he withdrew from her and groaned, spurting his cum all over her dress. She stood up horrified and with a heavy pussy as he zipped his pants back up and pulled her dress down. “That’s it?” She stared at him with an angry look.

“I got mine.” He grinned. “Come, let’s eat.”

“What the fuck?” She pushed him. “What about me, asshole?”

“Do you have to cum every time?” He looked at her with disgust. “Didn’t you know that sluts get what they get? You can’t cum every time.”

Ella stared at him in shock. “Tell me one thing, Dr. Spencer, what exactly do you know about me and my brother, Max?”

He looked at her with wide eyes. “What the fuck are you talking about?”

“I saw your text earlier from Frank.”

“That’s how Max knew.” He slammed his fist against the wall. “Shit.”

“How Max knew what?” She looked at him in worry. “How do you know Max?” She had thought he was just some third-party. She hadn’t thought that he had any real connection to him. “Do you work for the company?’

“No.” He laughed bitterly.

“Tell me.” She leaned in towards him. “Or I’ll just have him tell me.”

“I’m his shrink.” He sighed.

“His shrink.” Ella’s face went white. “Oh my God.”

“Your brother is one fucked up mother fucker.” He laughed bitterly.

“Why are you trying to ruin him?”

“I couldn’t give two shits about your brother, Ella.” He rolled his eyes. “It’s business.”

“You work for Frank Phillips?”

“Something like that.” He sighed. “I’m not too happy about it, trust me.”

“So what was this between us?” She pointed at them. “Was I part of the plan?”

“Not really.” He looked at her dismissively. “You gave it up. I took it. Nothing more to it. I just wanted some information from you.”

“I see.” Ella tried to keep her tone even. “So I was just a plaything.”

“No offense, Ella.” He looked at her pointedly. “But I like my girls a little sweeter and less slutty.”

“How dare you?” She slapped him across the face and he pushed her back against the wall.

“How dare I?” He slipped his hand up under her dress and ran his fingers along her pussy lips that were dripping wet. He leaned in and whispered in her ear as he pushed two fingers inside of her. “Here we are, in a dark alleyway, I’ve just called you a slut, yet you are still allowing me to finger fuck you.” He felt her pussy lips shudder around his fingers as she started to cum. “And you are enjoying it.” He stared into her wide eyes as he slowly withdrew his fingers and wiped the moisture off on her dress. “You should be proud of yourself, Ella, you have everything to live for, you’re beautiful, rich and going home with my sperm and your pussy juices all over your trashy dress.”

Ella pushed him off her and shouted at him, “You’re an asshole.”

“I know.” He laughed bitterly. “That’s what got me into this mess.”

“Why would you do this to me?” She cried out in anguish.

“It was one of your kind that got me in this position,” he shouted. “I just wanted some fun. She told me she was eighteen. The slut. She is the one who took me to the club. And they filmed it. And she was fifteen. A fifteen year old rich slut ruined my life.”

“I don’t understand.” Ella frowned. “What club? Why would someone film it?”

“Because they knew I was Max’s shrink.” He laughed bitterly. “They set me up so they could use me.”

“Frank Phillips?”

“Yes. Senator Frank Phillips.”

“I’m sorry.”

He looked at her carefully then and saw the real concern and hurt in her eyes and he sighed. “No. I’m sorry. I was a good man once. I want to be a good man again.”

She stared at him with unshed tears. “Please don’t hurt my brother.”

“I don’t know what the senator is going to do.” He sighed. “I don’t want any part of it. I met someone recently. She makes me want to be a better person.” He laughed hysterically. “And I barely know her. And she’s engaged.”

“I guess it was true love.” Ella offered him a half smile.

“Yes. I think she’s the one.” He sighed. “I don’t know if I’ll ever win her heart though.”

“You can always try.” Ella sighed. “Love isn’t easy.”

“No. It’s not.” He looked her in the eyes. “I’m sorry, Goldengirl.”

“It’s okay.” She sighed. “Maybe I’ve just been looking for love in all the wrong places.”

“Yeah.” He took a deep breath and asked, “I don’t suppose you can tell me more information about Max’s fiancée, can you?”

“What? Why?” She looked at him with narrow eyes and pushed him against the wall hard. “What do you want with, Sophie?”

“Sophie?” He looked at her in shock and he felt as if the world were spinning out of control.

“She’s my best friend, and you better not try any shit with her.” Ella’s voice was loud and ominous and as Dr. Spencer blacked out, he thought it was funny that she was angrier about him bringing up her friend’s name than she was when he had told her that he had been using her.

***

Ella tried to call Max as soon as she left the alleyway. She had left Dr. Spencer on the ground as soon as he had fainted. She knew she should have waited to see if he was okay but she knew that she had to talk to Max and let him know what she had found out. She was mad and angry at herself and she knew that part of what the doc had said had been true. She was spoiled and she had used her body and looks to get what she wanted. She didn’t want to be that woman anymore. She was determined to move on with her life and forget men for the moment. Sleeping around had gotten her nowhere, just with a bunch of loser men.

Max’s phone kept going to voicemail and she decided to go and visit him at the office the next day so that she could speak to him without Sophie knowing what was going on. She tried to ignore all of the stares from the men in the street as she walked, she knew that she looked like a hot mess but there wasn’t much she could do about them. She grabbed her phone eagerly when it rang and was about to put it back when she saw it was Joseph but something made her answer it.

“Ella?” His voice sounded unsure.

“Yes?” She sighed. “What do you want, Joseph?”

“I need to see you. We need to talk.”

“No.”

“It’s important.”

“So tell me over the phone.”

“No. It has to be in person. Please.” He lowered his voice. “Someone is out to ruin your brother, Ella.”

“How did you know that?” She frowned into the phone. Was Joseph involved as well?

“They sent me photos of him and Alexis at some sort of club.”

“What club?”

“It says The X Club in the background.” He sighed. “Can I see you?”

“Why would the photos ruin him?” she asked him slowly.

“They may not ruin him financially but they may ruin his relationship with Sophie.”

“How so?”

“The photos are of Max and Alexis in a variety of different sexual positions Ella. Some are, shall we say, very risqué.”

“Why would someone send you these photos?”

“Because they think I’m out for revenge because I lost my job.”

“Aren’t you?” She sighed.

“No.” He paused. “I need to see you Ella, please.”

“Are you divorced?” she asked hopefully.

“Let’s talk when I see you, Ella.” He begged. “Please.”

“Where do you want to meet?”

“Let’s meet at The X Club.”

“What?!?” Ella’s voice was loud.

“I think that will be the best way for us to get to the bottom of whatever is going on here, Ella.” He sighed.

“But I don’t know.” She sighed. “I don’t think this is a good idea.”

“We need to stop them from getting to Sophie.” His voice was urgent. “Max is a good guy, Ella. I respect him and love him like a brother. Sophie is the love of his life. He can’t lose her.”

Ella chewed on her lip and thought about everything. Hadn’t Dr. Spencer mentioned going to the club as well? It seemed as if she needed to pay Frank Phillips a visit herself. “Okay. I’ll go.” She thought for a second. “Unless Max has a better idea.”

“You can’t tell him,” Joseph stuttered.

“He has to know.” Ella’s voice was firm. “If you don’t hear from me tomorrow. I’ll meet you there tomorrow evening.”

“Okay.” He grinned into the phone. “Oh and Ella.”

“Yes.”

“Dress slutty.” He laughed.

“You wish.” Ella hung up and stopped and ran her hands though her hair. She was excited to see Joseph, she knew it was a mistake but she was doing it for Max and Sophie, that had to make it okay.