Chapter 2 CHAPTER TWO

Xavier POV

I wasn't sure what the screaming match was about but I needed it to stop. I was exhausted after hours of work and I really didn't need the added stress of worrying about whatever the hell that was.

I walked into the living room not very surprised to see my mother as the aggressor. There was no universe in which she wouldn't be. Tamara Richards was not a woman who suffered fools easily.

She'd taken over her father's business at a young age, in a time when women were not much more than housewives. She'd gotten married to my father almost a decade later, given birth to me and raised me as best she could while running a company. After my health scare she'd retired from the company and devoted herself to running my personal life.

Most days I didn't mind. On days like this when she had a fire lit under her, I preferred to ignore her.

I recognized the unfortunate woman standing across from her almost immediately — the director of the fertility clinic my mother had recommended to me. The place where I'd stored my semen on the half chance I'd be interested in having kids later in life.

I'd forgotten my mother was also a holder of that account and from one look at Miss Craven's expression I had a fairly good idea of what was going on.

"Darling you're home, come and hear what this absurd woman is telling me," she muttered.

"Mom, I don't think it's appropriate to call someone absurd," I replied with a long sigh.

"Alright, what seems to be the problem," I asked, sitting down. I jolted slightly when I noticed my father seated in the corner, nose buried in a newspaper. I was genuinely surprised he was even down here.

And then there was Tess. My mother's shadow and a woman who'd made her interest in me abundantly known — interest I didn't return.

"Well this absurd—"

"Mother," I groaned.

She scowled. "Fine. This lady has just informed me that your — genetic donation," she said and I scoffed. She sent me a harsh glare and I quieted, though I noticed my father seemed to be smiling behind his newspaper.

"I'm sorry. Go on," I said.

My mother inhaled, preparing for what I suspected would be a considerable buildup.

"It's just like I've said — it seems the clinic has misplaced your donation."

"Well they can just find it," I shrugged, egging her on.

"They've misplaced it in a—"

"Oh Tamara, just get to the point," my father groaned, putting down his newspaper.

This was getting interesting. Father was actively participating.

"Fine," my mother gritted. "Some woman has been inseminated with your sperm."

"Which is a huge offence that the clinic will be held responsible for," Tess chimed in and I shot her a look.

I glanced at Miss Craven and noticed the tight set of her jaw, and sighed, amusing as this was, I was going to put an end to this.

I turned back to the director.

"Miss Craven, do you know the woman?"

I knew she didn't, the only reason I knew about Marie was because I had my PA find her.

She shook her head.

"We only discovered this today. We're tracing her down."

I felt sorry for her. In all honesty I didn't really care about the clinic's culpability — I was more concerned about the woman who was now pregnant with my child.

"Alright, I'll handle it from there," I said.

"Don't tell my mother anything further."

“ Xavier.. you” my mother sputtered with discontent, which I ignored.

"You may leave."

I watched her go.

"You're too nice to people," my mother said.

"It's my genetic donation, mother. Let me handle it," I sighed, rising.

"But the clinic has made a very serious mistake — this shouldn't be ignored."

"That's enough, Tess. Don't get my mother riled up for nothing," I said.

"Oh Xavier, don't talk to her like that. She could have been the mother of that child," my mother said and I scoffed.

"Says who? I've never shown any interest in marriage and God knows you've shoved the topic in my face regularly enough." I would not raise a child with Tess Bailey. Not for any price.

I picked up my bag.

"I'm tired and

would like to rest. If you'll excuse me." I nodded to both my parents and walked out.