2. Xavier Atwood

2

XAVIER ATWOOD

I throw my suit jacket onto the armoire in the corner of my office and roll the sleeves of my shirt up, exposing the tattoos that go up my right arm. I run my hand through my hair and grab a short glass, ready to pour a scotch and mellow out.

" It's not even noon," my assistant, Caroline , says, entering the room and sitting on my couch.

I look at her out of the corner of my eye, and finish pouring my drink. " It's five o'clock somewhere."

" I don't know what you're so upset about. This is a good thing."

" Is it?" I ask, joining her on the sofa.

" You can always say no, but I think if the biggest news anchor of this decade wants to interview you, you should go."

I grunt. " They just want a rags to riches story."

" It's your life story."

A story that I have very little interest in rehashing on TV , despite the fact that I now run one of the largest media outlets in the world. I prefer privacy and letting my work talk.

" Whatever . I've got a few months before I have to deal with that. New topic."

" You had a couple of phone calls while you were in the meeting. Tessa and Levi ."

I had been expecting to hear from my accountant, Tessa , but Levi , my private investigator, is a surprise. There's only one reason he would be reaching out to me and my heart rate picks up.

" I'm going for a walk," I say, abandoning my drink and heading out the door.

Once I'm outside, I dial Levi's number. He picks up on the second ring, skipping the pleasantries. " I think I found him."

" Are you nearby?"

" Close enough."

" Then be at my place in twenty." I hang up and head back to the office to get my car. I'm on autopilot the entire drive home, preparing myself for whatever it is that Levi needs to tell me.

When I pull into my parking garage, he's already there waiting for me, leaning against his vehicle.

" Where is he?" I ask as I pass him, heading straight to the elevator entrance of my home.

" Living just outside of the city."

My heart simultaneously clenches and drops. I haven't seen my son in ten years. Every time I've tried to reach out to him, I've been met with no reply. I don't even know if the number I have for him is correct anymore.

Levi drops a file on the table, and I'm immediately met with a large photo of Harrison — my son— walking next to a girl who appears to be laughing at whatever it is he's saying. Seeing his face for the first time causes my throat to constrict painfully. He looks good, strong, different from how I once knew him. He's a man now. A man who wants nothing to do with me . " Who's she?" I point to the girl in the photo.

" Not sure, could be a girlfriend?" He shrugs. " I've spotted her with him a few times."

I nod. There's no denying she's beautiful, and it brings me a small sense of peace knowing that he's potentially found someone who cares for him.

" All the details are in there," Levi says, eyeing the papers under the photo. " What are you going to do?"

I stand straight, rolling my shoulders back. " I don't know."

Of course, I want to march right over to his home and demand that he see me, but I know he would slam the door in my face. I can't risk him shutting me out, so whatever action I take needs to be well thought out. No rash decisions.

" Seriously , why are we here?" Kellen asks as we pull up to a dingy looking strip club in Ravenscroft .

I laugh." We're getting you a lap dance."

" We couldn't do that in the city? Preferably at a club that won't give me an irreversible disease just from sitting on the chair?" My best friend and COO stares at me blandly.

" When did your ass get so bougie?"

" Around the same time it got some money. You should really step up your own standards."

I shake my head. He's not wrong. This is definitely not the type of establishment I would choose to frequent, but if Harrison hangs out here, then it's worth a shot.

Once I decided that just appearing at his doorstep wasn't a smart move, I started considering my other options. According to Levi's reports, he comes here a few times a week. I figure if we happen to see each other— by coincidence, of course— maybe he'll be more open to speaking to me. And less likely to think that I'm outright stalking him.

I came a couple nights ago, but had no luck. And when I spoke to the sleazy-looking owner, he said that he didn't know anyone by his name. Still , I'm not giving up. Tonight might very well be the night that I come face to face with my son. What will I say to him when that happens? Well , I haven't gotten that far yet.

The club is dark and smells oddly of incense as we walk in. My eyes adjust to the low lighting as Kellen taps my shoulder and points to an empty table in the middle of the room. I scan my surroundings, hoping that I'll see Harry , but he isn't here… yet . I take a seat, positioning my chair so that I have a good view of both the stage and the entryway. If he comes in, I'll spot him.

Suddenly , every light in the building goes off. " What the fuck? Don't tell me you brought me to a place that can't even afford their damn light bill, Xave . I swear to Go? —"

A deep voice rumbles through the overhead speaker, cutting Kel off. " Here to deliver you your wildest fantasies… Nyx ."

A spotlight glares down on the stage, and on walks the most stunning woman I've ever seen. Hair so dark and shiny that it damn near sparkles under the light. She's dressed as a slutty police officer and the irony that I , someone who spent eight years locked up, is attracted to this, isn't lost on me.

Music blares over the speaker as she struts across the stage. When she makes it to the end, she grabs hold of the pole, spinning herself around, then bending over so that her ass—in a barely there micro-skirt—is in the face of a dirty old man. He wastes no time placing bills in her thong and when he does she spins around so that her breasts are now hovering above him. She takes the hat she was wearing off and places it on his head, blowing him a kiss.

I'm disgusted. Not because of what she's doing but because god damn, I wish it was me. My blood is already traveling south, so I don't stand a chance when Nyx is back on her feet, her top coming off in record speed. Her perky tits are in full view with a piercing going through each nipple as she expertly works the pole. I do my best to readjust myself in my pants without being too obvious.

" Jesus ," Kellen breathes out harshly as she removes the tiny skirt she has on.

Though I hardly hear him because her eyes are locked on… me. She holds my gaze as she slowly takes off her final piece of clothing, leaving her in nothing but a small G -string.

A small smirk plays on her lips as she moves, her hands caressing her body. When she looks away from me and turns to a different man, I feel something resembling jealousy. Relax . Remember why you're here .

Damn it. I force my gaze away from the dancing goddess and scan the room again, hoping that I'll spot Harrison somewhere, but still nothing.

Letting loose a sigh, I turn back to the stage to find that Nyx is gone. I take a sip of cold water, willing my erection to go away.

" She was hot as fuck," Kellen says, reaching for his own glass and sitting back in his chair.

I don't reply, unsure why his words spark a flare of annoyance. I brought him with me and he's saying the same thing I'm sure every man in here is.

" We should probably head out soon." I'm ready to give up on any chance of seeing my son tonight. Maybe another time.

" You're not leaving already?" A sultry voice, that speaks directly to my cock, says. I turn and look behind me. Nyx .