I guess when it comes down to it, it doesn’t really matter which one of them is lying because in the end, when all this bullshit is over, I don’t plan on having much to do with either of them.
Gina lets out a heavy sigh. “After I gave birth to Samuel, I saw how possessive Anton became. He was so proud. He would constantly talk about how Samuel was going to have it all one day, that he was going to rule in his footsteps. He was going to teach him everything he knew about his world and it was going to kill him. I had no way of protecting my son, it was just me against Anton. I couldn’t have that same outcome for a second child, so when I discovered that I was pregnant, I went and cheated. I told Anton I’d slept with another man and that the baby was his. It damn near killed me.”
“Anton didn’t want a thing to do with you. Your blood was tainted and the second you were born, he had you shipped off which was honestly the best thing for you. You were able to live a proper life, have friends, and not have to know parents like me and Anton. I was protecting you the only way I knew how.”
“So, if you knew for certain that I was his child, why bother doing a DNA test?”
“I didn’t…he did. I was there when the DNA results returned. I intercepted them and kept them hidden away.” I try to ignore the fact that if this were true, Anton could have easily gotten a copy of the results and it’s very possible that he did, meaning they could both be telling their own truths. “I left him that very day, took Samuel with me, and got our own place with cash that I’d stolen from Anton.”
“What?” I gasp, horrified. “Didn’t he come after you for the money?”
Gina scoffs. “Please, Anton has no idea how much money he has. It would have been years before he realized anything was missing and by then he wouldn’t remember how. He would have just assumed it was one of his staff and then dealt with it.”
My mouth drops open. If this is true then I’m in trouble.
“You told him that you’re his daughter, didn’t you?” I press my lips into a tight line and slowly nod my head. “You’re screwed.”
“What do I do?”
Gina shakes her head. “If I had an answer for that, I would have been able to save Samuel from the same fate, but it looks as though he’s found his own answer. As for you, I don’t know. You could run but there’s nowhere he won’t find you and it won’t be pleasant for you if you do.”
“You ran.”
“Yeah,” she says, gesturing around her. “And look what that got me. I had nothing to do with that prostitution ring. I never wanted to be a part of it, but the second I left and took his son with him, he was already planning how to take me down. He used my son against me and forced me into that role and when the time was right for him, he got in my son’s ear and told him exactly what to do. I couldn’t fight it because then I’d risk losing Samuel and you know…some things are just worth it.”
I lean back in my chair and watch her closely. “You didn’t do it?”
“I didn’t do it…well, technically, I did it by force. If I had a say in the matter, I would have taken my son and ran as far as I could, but-”
“He’d find you,” I finish for her.
Gina nods and watching her now with her heart on her sleeve, I see that for the first time since meeting her, she’s being completely honest with me. “I really screwed up, didn’t I?”
She nods again and I see how truly broken she is for me. Gone is the attitude and the walls, leaving behind the woman who birthed me. “You did and I’m sorry to see this happening because it’s likely that if you put one foot wrong, you could very much end up like me.”
My eyes drop to the table. “I asked a favor of him and in return, I’m to move into his home and one day take over his business.”
“The family business,” Gina scoffs. “I’m sorry, Henley. I can’t fix this for you, but I can make it a little more bearable.”
“How so?”
“On the third level in the west wing, there’s a panic room. I had it converted into my own personal space. A TV, a private phone line, a bar…a lock. I had food in there which will probably need to be replaced, but it was my own space that as far as I’m aware, Anton didn’t know about. Consider it yours.”