The Answer is a 'No'

"If it is a miracle, any sort of evidence will answer. But if it is a fact, the proof is necessary." - Mark Twain

He stopped pacing and turned towards her. He stared at her, expressionless. "Do you even know who is the father of your baby?"

"This is a business deal, Mr. King. No questions asked. However, I will answer a few questions that can help to find my daughter. It's a fair deal."

His icy gaze drilled holes into Maya. "Fair's got nothing to do with it. A shark can always smell another shark, no matter how far apart they're swimming in the ocean."

Maya refused to let him bait her, so she kept silent. Alex kept staring at her intently, like she is a fascinating puzzle. She can see the wheels spinning in his brain.

"Why are you doing this?"

Alex raised his eyebrows in surprise but knew enough not to speak or interfere.

"Mr. King, you destroyed my marriage. Snatched everything from my husband and his family is on the verge of filing bankruptcy. You bought my father's shares and his company. Haven't you done enough? Are you still thirsty for revenge?"

The question caught him off guard, his breath caught in his throat, enabling him not to speak.

"You took the only thing that mattered to me. So I'm going to take the only thing that matters to you - The Orphanage."

Maya leaned back in her chair as she gazed out the window. "The only thing that matters to me more than my life is my daughter, Mr. King. If you want to snatch my only solace, then find my daughter."

Alex's lower jaw dropped, and he felt his hands curling. A feral sound seemed to rise from his throat. It sounded to him like a cornered animal. He sat back in his chair, his elbows on the armrests, his legs crossed and his lips pursed. Although Alex was still in shock, he composed himself, but despite his strength of character and his present efforts, the truth is Maya once again, turned his world upside down.

"You don't have a daughter. I have never seen you pregnant." It was a statement, not a question.

Maya moistens her lips. Her voice comes out as a whisper, barely discernible over her thundering heart. "How would you know? While I was pregnant, I didn't step out of my house for a few months. It's not like we saw each other every day."

Silence follows. After a moment, Maya looked at Alex. He's gazing back at her with an inscrutable expression, his brows drawn together, his head cocked to one side.

Alex's sigh was a big gust of air. "I don't believe you. You are lying."

"Your opinion is your opinion, your perception is your perception. Do not confuse them with 'Facts' or 'truths'. I have a daughter. End of story."

"This is my deal, Ms. Davis. My rules. You can't waltz in here and change the rules, Ms. Davis."

"You wanted to take what matters the most to me. You just can't go back on your words, Mr. King."

"I suggest you play by my rules." He thumped the table so hard that the cut - glass ashtray between him and Maya rattled.

Maya whooshed out a breath like a deflated balloon. "I repeat, I'm telling you the truth."

Alex leaned forward against the table, his eyes intense, "What's the proof that you are telling me the truth?"

The lump in her throat grew, and she swallowed, clenching his jaw. "I'm telling the truth." She repeated like a broken record.

He examined her face for a moment, then turned away to stare out the window. He drags a hand through his hair and adjusts his tie. His voice lowers. "Let's assume you are telling me the truth, why no one knows about your daughter? Your husband was very active on social media. He even makes a post if he buys a new battery for his TV remote, then why didn't he announce his daughter?"

This isn't a topic Maya wanted to discuss. There are too many emotional minefields. She dropped her gaze to the table and set down her glass of water. "It's a long story."

Alex folds his arms over his chest and peers at Maya down his nose. "I'd like to hear it."

Her voice trembled, but she didn't care. "I guess when you're always putting on a show for the public, you can't grasp that some people don't want their lives on display. Faking a persona is exhausting. You should know. You live a lie."

It was a low blow. Maya knew it even before she saw the flicker of hurt in his eyes.

"Oh hello, pot," he says drily. "Kettle here! Let's have lunch and talk about the definition of irony." They both stare at each other, unblinking.

Maya whispered, "I guess we have different definitions of the word honest."

Alex looked at Maya for a long, tense moment, "Why ask me for help? Why didn't you go to the police, media, or social media? Why isn't your husband's family helping?"

"Here is how it works, Mr. King. This is strictly a business transaction. My daughter for my shares. Once you accept I will divulge details I deem necessary to find her."

Alex snapped back, his voice cutting. "I need to know right now."

Maya scowls at him. "Why? Where's the fire?"

When she remained silent too long for his patience, he demands, "Are you not done playing with my life?"

"Are you done ruining my life?" she argued, holding his gaze.

His answer is matter-of-fact. "So this is a game?"

She grimaced. "We both are in the same game; just different levels. Dealing with the same hell; just different devils."

That's a loaded statement, but she doesn't give him a chance to dwell on it. "So is it a yes?"

Even more aggravated now, "I refuse to be a pawn in your game."

Maya shook her head. "I never claim to have a game,"

"I've gone through hell and back more times than I can count because of you. I will not make the same mistake twice." His words forced and his eyes took on a haunted look. Pain emanated from every single pore of his body and her heart ached for him.

Trying not to hyperventilate, Maya whispered, "I agree I left a scar in your life but you aren't any different either, Mr. King. There were two roads in front of you, but you chose the path to revenge and self-destruction. Not because of me, but you wanted to."

He opens his mouth to say something… but stops. His full lips tighten. His mouth takes on a ruthless slant. The warmth leeches from his eyes until he's staring back at me in flinty coldness. It's like watching a door slam closed.

"I moved on. I have a girlfriend." He defends.

"Good for you. Now can we get back to business?" Maya questions, her tone cold.

Alex was silent for a second, "You know you're a shitty liar, right?"

Maya snaps her head around and meets his level gaze. "I'm not lying!"

"You're not telling me the truth, either."

When she was silent, he challenges, "Are you?"

Guilt churns low in her stomach. "I don't deserve your better judgment or treatment. And I can't make you believe anything that I say either."

The pain on his face is another sharp feature, etched there like carvings in a glass. "Damn right! You can't. How long has she been missing? How old is your daughter?"

Maya had a new sense of hope that all is not lost. Maybe he'll give in. "Are we negotiating?"

He lets out a tense breath. "Can you please not be cryptic for like half a minute?"

Maya rolls her eyes "Decide."

His look of dry disbelief challenges that statement. "I don't know all the facts. I'm lacking half the evidence. I can't make an educated decision. For all I know, this could be a new scheme of yours."

Maya's voice was so desperate and helpless. "No. Decide. Find my daughter for my shares."

Silence stretches. Maya's heart pounds out an uneven rhythm as she waits for him to respond.

Alex stood there boiling with heat and danger, like a volcano about to blow its top. "If you want a decision right now, the answer is no."

Maya's heart-rate triples with disappointment. She squeezed her eyes shut and pull a deep, shaky breath into her lungs. "So I could leave?"

Just when she was about to turn and leave, he blurts, "This could be nothing more than manipulation for you, Ms. Davis. A way to have your cake and eat it, too."

"Mr. King, I'm not playing games. I'm ready to sell my shares for my daughter." She pleads.

He exhales a slow breath. "No matter how thirsty a horse might be, you can't make him drink. Ms. Davis, I will give you three days to decide. My lawyer will be in touch. Goodbye." He stared at Maya in blistering silence, his gaze raking over her face. He looked as if he wants to say something else, but he shook his head, turns around, and stalks out. He slams the door behind him.

Maya felt she was on the edge of an abyss; one false move and she was gone. If she has to save herself, she needs Alexander King by her side and she will find a way.