No Strings Attached

Chapter Forty-Four

He looks down, inhaling deeply, clearly frustrated. "Actually, I do."

I laugh, shaking my head. This guy. "No, you don't."

"Scarlett," he admonishes.

"You barely know who I am. I've only shown you what I want to show you."

"And I've only shown you what I want to," he replies just as sharply.

Fuck.

We are at each other in silence. My blood is racing now.

"What do you mean by that?" I get out through my teeth, leaning back into the seat.

He presses his lips together, closing his eyes tightly.

"I-I can't do this anymore," he whispers, reaching into his desk. I watch him unlock a drawer, pulling out a packet and I'm frozen in my seat, unable to reply. When he finally looks at me, bringing his hands up onto the desk, he starts fidgeting.

My eyes won't leave his, waiting with dread.

"I-I really don't know him I'm even going to tell you this but... I've been preparing for some time."

"Preparing?" I chuckle weakly. "That sounds serious."

"It is. I'm... fully aware that this will change the entire basis we've created these years, the progress and success we've achieved. I once thought I'd be able to keep this hidden for good but I-I found out some news last year which made me realize that I... I need to tell you the truth."

"You're scaring me," I whisper softly, feeling a chill course through me. "What news?"

He rubs his face, slowly, looking down at the packet before him.

"I'm... dying, Scarlett."

No anger could overweigh the amount of despair that falls over me at those words. "N-No. No, what are you talking about?"

He smiles softly. "It's cancer. It's spread, past the point of surgery. It's only going to get worse from here."

"No." I sit up, grasping tightly onto the seat rests to stand but he quickly holds up his hand, stopping me.

"Unfortunately... that won't be the worst news I give you today."

I gape, my eyes wide. What the fuck is happening? "What?"

He stands up, coming around the desk, sitting down on the edge right in front of me. He holds out his hand, silently asking me to take it.

"Norman..."

"Please."

I take it, fearfully. "Just tell me... tell me. We can... I can–"

"You are my daughter," he blurts out quickly, avoiding my eyes. "You are my child... Scarlett, I'm your father."

I nearly laugh. I nearly laugh out loud.

His words hang in the air around me, unable to sink in. I stare at him, my brows curving into one another slowly the longer he doesn't retract his own words. "What? I... I don't understand."

"I am your father."

I pull my hand from his lightning fast, holding it up. "I-I heard that. I mean, I genuinely don't understand. It's not possible. My mother... my father..."

I shake my head, unable to comprehend.

This has to be a trick, some horrible trick. This isn't even remotely funny.

"I knew my mother and father. It's not you."

His gaze is soft, pleading. "Your mother's name was Donna Bardot."