Envious Desire
59



Eric

Shelly is finally speaking to me again. I feel at ease, but I know much more work must be done to win her back. I’ll do whatever it takes to have her in my life again. I don’t want to live another moment without her. Peering at her ring, all I can do is remember what we had and how much I royally fucked up.

The sound of laughing floats in the air, causing me to find what the ruckus is all about. Strolling towards the surveillance room, I spot all my security team surrounding the TV.

“Guys, what’s going on? Why aren’t you checking the equipment?”

“Sorry, boss, this video is insane.”

“Yeah, she doesn’t even care that her tits are hanging out.” Ryan chuckled.

“Okay, guys, we have our highlight reels. We all know people fuck their fantasies in the club. What makes this one so special?”

“Well, she’s hot as fuck, and the guy is muscular and rough, but the faces she makes, it looks like he went in the wrong hole.” Laughter fills the room.

I couldn’t help but join in the laughter, taking a peek. My eyes bulge, I can’t believe my eyes.

“Wait! Stop the video!”

George stops the playback.

“Timestamp?” I ask with urgency,

“Looks like June of last year.”

“Fuck! Make me a copy. Bring it to me as soon as it’s done.”

Holy shit! I wish I would have seen this sooner.

Chloe

Waiting for the paternity test has been absolute torture. I had to convince Axle to let me be today so I could retrieve the results. My patience has been wearing thin. Waiting for their call has me in knots. I decided to begin my journey to the lab to retrieve the results. While in the car, my phone rings. Swiping left.

“Hello?”

“Hello, may I please speak with Ms. Knox?”

“Speaking.”

“Hello, Ms. Knox, This is Ana from Paternity Lab. I’m calling to inform you that your test results are in.”

“Thank you. I am on my way there now.”

“Perfect. We’ll see you when you arrive. Please bring your ID to retrieve the results.”

Before I enter, I take a deep breath, preparing myself for the possibility Anele is his. Expelling a lung-filling breath, I walk in, making my way to the line.

“Next!”

Walking up, “Hi, I’m Chloe Knox. I received a call stating my test results were ready.”

“Ah yes, do you have your ID?”

“Yes.” I extract my ID from my wallet, handing it over. The lady disappears behind the wall. My fingers jitter, intertwining and unlacing, waiting for her to return with the results. She reappears a millennium later, handing me a manilla envelope. I’m left motionless, gazing at it in my hands.

“Excuse me, are you okay?”

Blinking my eyes. “Yes, my apologies.”

I walk out the door, pausing in the hallway, contemplating if opening the results now is prudent or bringing them to Axle first.

Would it infuriate him my decision to test his child after he has accepted she is his? Would he be vexed I did not discuss my concerns with him beforehand?

Shutting my eyes, I shake off my concerns and storm off to my car. Sitting in the driver’s seat, I gawk at the manilla envelope burning the passenger seat and decide it’s now or never. I rip open the envelope, extract the paper, and read the results.

Selena

“Stop stressing me already, babe. I’ve been stressed, and things have not been going to plan.”

“It’s been months, Selena. When will this charade be over so we can move on with our lives?”

“How can we move on? We haven’t gotten to where we need to be.”

“Let’s forget about this and just live happily ever after.”

“There is no happily ever after.” Especially not without Axle in my life. He’s the one I want, and I’ll stop at nothing to get him.

“I just need more time. I’ll figure this out. Then we’ll sail off into the sunset.”

I walk out the door before he gets the chance to say another word.

Axle

I’ll be hearing back from my guy today. I’m hoping he has some significant information for me.

“Axle, there is a Dr. Raymond Amir here to see you. Stating it’s urgent, he speaks with you.”

The name sounds familiar, but I can’t seem to place him. Despite my busy morning and my expected guest, I agreed to speak with Dr. Amir following a feeling raging in my gut.

“Victoria, please send him in.”

Wrapping up some paperwork, I stack it on my desk when he enters. His face hits me with the memory of the day we met.

“Hello, Mr. Cross. I’m not sure if you remember me?”

“I do, actually.”

Walking towards him, I shake his hand as Anele causes a disturbance when he walks in. Twisting to her, he waves, and Anele coos with a smile on her face.

“I’m sure you are wondering why I’m here.”

“I am.”

“Axle, Eric is here. He says it’s urgent, and it can’t wait.” Victoria’s voice floats in the air.

“Please excuse me, Dr. Amir.”

Picking up the phone. “Can it wait?”

“He said no. He has to see you now.”

“Fucking shit. Okay, send him to my office.”

Raising a finger to the Dr., I motion to give me a moment. Opening the door, I await for Eric as I will not leave him alone with Anele in the room.

“Axle, I know I’ve been a shit friend, but I think you will thank me when you see this.”

Eric zooms past me.

“Eric!”

“Oh, man.” He notices the doctor waiting in the lounge area.

“I’m sorry, bro, I didn’t know you were with a client. But I promise you, you need to see this.”

“Again, my apologies Dr. Amir. Just one more second, please.”

I tailgate Eric to my desk as he plugs in a USB.

As his video loads, Victoria’s voice booms in the office again.

“Axle, I couldn’t stop her. Chloe is–”

Chloe rushes past the door, stopping mid-way, viewing Eric, and observing the Dr. in the lounge area. She halts.

“I’m sorry, Axle, this couldn’t wait.”

I rush towards the door, where she hands me a manilla envelope. I peer at her.

“What’s this?” My forehead wrinkles with curiosity.

Her voice softens, “Please don’t be mad at me. I had a gut feeling that Anele may not be your child, and I had both of you tested again. I took her pacifier and your toothbrush from the bathroom. Please don’t be upset with me. I had to know the truth. Something was just nagging at me.”

I gazed into her eyes. “I’m not mad. Actually, there was something nagging at me as well. It was there the whole time. I just thought my distaste for her mother hindered my connection to Anele, but then I thought maybe it was because there IS no connection to Anele. I hired a detective to follow Selena and track her movements a while back, and he should be here any moment with the information.

“Axle, please, look at the results.”

Extracting the papers reading their contents, I remain stoic, reentering the office.

“Axe, take a look.” Eric waves me over. I interlace our fingers and tug her along with me. She is never leaving my side again. We view a video from Eric’s club, where, at first, it just seems like two people fucking in Eric’s club, but when it’s zoomed in, we see none other than Selena.

Eric extends his finger. “Look at the date.”

It’s dated June of last year, around the time Selena claims she and I slept together. My blood pressure shoots through the roof.

“Mr. Cross?”

My head lifts to see the doctor, and I strongly feel I know what he is about to disclose.

“Let me guess, Selena paid you a surmisable sum to fabricate the paternity test results?”

“Not exactly.”

“Explain.” My arms crossed over my chest to stop me from strangling him.

“I’m not a lucky man, Mr. Cross, so when someone like Selena comes along and dangles herself in front of me, I was more than happy to oblige. I believed she was into me and truly enjoyed my company.”

Peering at his folded hand, he continued. “She made these promises of a large payout, but I suspect she wants your money and you as well.”

I remain stoic.

“Admitting this to you, I can lose my license, but the wool has been pulled off my eyes for far too long, and I know I was wrong. I abused my power as a doctor. I accept my punishment.”

“Axle, Detective Rodriguez is here. Do you want me to have him wait in the conference room?” Victoria’s voice interrupts the conversation.

“No. Please send him in.”

“Right away.”

“And Victoria. Please call Selena and tell her I need to see her urgently and then come and take Anele.”

“I’ll get right on it.”

Detective Rodriguez enters the room, scanning every face.

“My guess is you recognize Dr. Amir.” I direct my question towards the detective.

“Yes, he’s in the photographs and involved with Ms. Finch.”

“Yes, he has just enlightened us to their situation,” I confirm the detective’s statement.

Facing the doctor, he inquires. “Are you aware that your involvement in falsifying a paternity test is punishable by up to 10 years in prison and a huge fine?”

The Dr. replies, “Yes, I’m aware. I did my research before I came clean. I’m prepared to accept the consequences of my actions.”

Detective Rodriguez twists to face me. “And Ms. Finch is facing imprisonment due to fraud, extortion, and possibly misappropriation of funds, which could be a felony depending on the amount you spent under the impression Anele was your child.”

My head was reeling. I’m elated I finally found out the truth about her scheme, but a small part of me felt terrible for Anele to have such a shit mother.

“Axle!”

Chloe captures my attention. She points to the screen in front of us. It seems Selena had sex in Eric’s club with none other than Dane! Jade’s woman beating ex-boyfriend, who is now dead.

This poor child has one dead parent, and now the other one is about to be in jail. Damn!

Victoria comes into the office, scooping Anele and informing me Selena has arrived. Yeah, she would get here at a moment’s notice once I requested her presence.

“Please show her in.”

With a massive smile on her face. “With pleasure.”

Selena strolls in, “Hey, baby daddy.” Her tone was joyous when her face turned down, viewing Chloe and me, hand in hand. She peers around the room, her face deadpans when her eyes land on the doctor.

“What’s this?” Her tone shifts to anger.

“I could ask you the same thing.”

“What?”

“I’m going to give you one chance to come clean, Selena.”

“Come clean about what?”

Fury filled my body. “Selena, do not play me for a fool. I knew something was up, and I hired a Detective.”

“I don’t know what you’re talking about.” She insisted on playing this to the end.

I could feel the nerve in Chloe’s hand twitting.

“If that’s how you want to play it, fine. Dt. Rodriguez, I would like to press ALL charges against Selena Finch.”

“What? What charges? For what?” She feigned surprise. As if she wasn’t aware of her damn ludicrous actions.

“Selena Finch, you are under arrest for fraud, exploitation, and misappropriation of funds. Anything you say or do can and will be used against you in a court of law.”

“No! It was the doctor’s idea.”

In a fit of rage, the Dr. lashed out. “You came to me to make me believe we had a future. All you did was use me for your selfish game, and I told them everything. I have all the paperwork to prove it.”

Chloe released my hand and stormed towards Selena.

“Det. Rodriguez before you cuff her.” Selena’s eyes locked on Chloe. Chloe’s arm pulled back, her hand fisted and flew forward, punching Selena in the face. Blood splattered everywhere. I couldn’t help but be in awe and feel proud all at once.

Covering her nose, she squeals at the detective. “I want to press charges against her.”

“For what?” The detective inquired.

“You saw she punched me in the face.”

“None of us saw such a thing. We saw you walk into the door when it swung open at the same time you were attempting to flee after being caught.”

“What? No!” Selena stomped her feet like an overgrown child.

Cuffing her hands behind her back, the detective escorts her out while she spews profanities. The detective peers over his shoulder. “Dr., please follow me.”

Chloe clutches her hand to her chest.

“It hurts breaking someone’s nose, huh?” I question with laughter in my voice.

Her lips tug. “Yeah, but it sure felt good to do it.”

Eric chimes in, “I know from experience she packs a mean punch.”

I zone in on the doctor, “I’m not sure how it will work with your case, but I will be sure to inform your lawyer you came forward to stop the charade.”

He nods his head and follows the detective out the door.

I can’t believe it’s finally over. Anele is not my child, and the disconnection makes sense now. I’m left wondering what’s going to happen to Anele now?

~~~

The burden of proof is stacked against Selena. The doctor, her tryst with DANE in the club, the new DNA, and the detective’s work.

What do you think will happen next?

Chloe finally lets Selena have it. How do you feel about that?

Thoughts? Theories?

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