Suspicion

Mira held her head high as she looked him dead in the eyes.

"What sort of question are you asking all of a sudden?" she asked.

"Just answer the damn question," he retired, his voice calm 

"You don't talk to me that way, Thane. I am not your wife anymore," she countered back.

Thane took a deep breath to calm himself. He stared at her and saw the determination in her eyes and he felt a little confused. He knew this woman for a couple of years and she had never stood up for herself like this. She had that anger in her eyes that spoke things he didn't want to admit to. 

"I'm not starting a fight with you," he defended, his hand gesturing to her to calm down.

Mira scoffed. "A fight? You don't have that right to start a fight with me, Thane," she replied, emphasizing more on his name'

Thane but his lower lip, unable to say any more words. He stared around her office wall, his gaze sliding through without really focusing.

"Is he my son? I'm sure you know I've fixed every dot so that it is possible for me to stand before you and ask you such a question," he said, his voice calm and gentle. 

"Well, if this would ease your mind, he is not your son. And I would appreciate it if you let me do the job I came here to do, without you trying to talk to me about personal lives. It's unprofessional, Mr. Thane," she slowly tells him.

Thane stared at her again, his gaze a little longer than intended. He wondered where the simple and innocent Mira was. 

Thane was certain Mira was lying and he was confident Wlotwas his son, and he knew just exactly how he was going to prove it to himself.

"I'll best be on my way then, we'll talk about it another time," he stated and turned around.

Mira watched him walk slowly out of her office as she held her breath. Once the door closes behind him, she heaves a sigh of relief and sits down on the chair.

"Well, that was close," she said and rubbed her hand on her temple.

**********

Two weeks passed by quickly as Mira stared at her phone in silence. She had been expecting Gregory's call since she arrived in San Francisco but he hadn't tried to reach out to her.

She dropped the phone as someone walked into the cafe. She looked up and Gabriel's smiling face stared at her warmly.

"Good evening, Mira," he greeted, waving his hand like a school child.

Mira smiled gleefully.

"Gabriel," she called out happily. "Good evening to you too,"

He sits down at the chair opposite Mira. "Have you been waiting for a long time?" he asked.

Mira shook her head. "No. I just got here," she replied 

Gabriel picks up the menu and places his order with the waiter already standing there. 

"It's been a long time since we had dinner together," Gabriel noted.

Mira nodded as she sipped from her wine glass. "Yeah, it has been," she responded.

"Well, I thought you wouldn't even want to talk to me anymore," he stated.

"Why wouldn't I want to talk to you? Why would you think such?" he asked, surprised.

"Well...the way you acted cold toward me the last time we met," she shrugged.

Gabriel laughed. 

"I am Thane's lawyer. If he knows that we talk and even hang out, it'll create more drama in your life," he explained.

"Yeah. I understand," she sighed. "So...," 

"What?" he asked, his eyes fixated on the already set food on the table.

"I mean, why did you ask me to dinner?" she probed 

"I can't ask an old friend out for dinner?" he teased.

"You are a businessman. I should know better than you inviting me over for some dinner without a business attached to it. 

Gabriel laughed heartily. "You know me too well. Time is precious," 

Mira smiled teasingly. "So what is this about?" she questioned.

"It is about you, Mira," he said 

"About me?" she asked, shocked.

"Why did you come back to San Francisco?" he asked.

"Umm...work?" Mira said, staring at him like he was a dummy.

Gabriel placed his palm over his mouth like he couldn't believe what Mira just said. 

"And you decided to come to Thane's company?" he asked.

"Of course not. Why would I do such a thing?" Mira scoffed 

"Then why are you here?" he asked.

"I didn't know it was Thane's company. I only found out after signing the deal and coming here," she defended.

"Fair enough," he shrugged.

"Why do I get the feeling he had been stalking me?" she asked.

"Of course not. He only found out about your company while we were looking for little companies to merge with," he said 

"My company isn't little," Mira frowned playfully.

Gabriel raised his hands in defense. 

"No offense, but compared to Thane's company, yours would be considered little," he said.

"Fair enough," she said.

"And about your son..." he began, his face more serious.

"And what about him?" she asked, squinting her eyes at him.

"Is he...you know... Thane's son, perhaps?" he questioned.

Mira bit her lower lips. 

"Did Thane send you here?" she frowned.

"Of course not. I'm just saying...if I suspect he is Thane's son, imagine what Thane might be feeling," he explained 

Mira laughed out. 

"So you're worried about how Thane might be feeling?" she solicited 

"It's not that. It's not about how Thane is feeling. It's all about what he would do if he suspects a thing," he said

"And what gave you the idea that Eli is his son? Eli is not his son, so he shouldn't bother himself with such thought," she enunciated.

Gabriel observed her for any unusual reaction to what she just said, but Mira knew better than to express any reaction. She knew that Gabriel would try to read her expression, so she kept a straight face, expressing nothing. 

"Are you sure?" he queried.

"Never been more sure in my entire life," she uttered.

At that moment, Mira heard someone call out her name and she turned around to confirm.

The moment she turned, she wished she didn't. 

Right in front of her, was her friend who hadn't bothered to reach her since she left San Francisco after her advice to divorce Thane.

Sienna