A Clandestine Corporate Affair Read Online Free Page A

permanent place in your life for him—and that includes regular visitation that is convenient for me—you can forget seeing him at all. He needs stability, not a sometimes father who yo-yos in and out of his life on a whim.”
    An uncharacteristic show of anger hardened his expression. “I imagine you’ll be expecting child support as well,” he said, jaw tense.
    He just didn’t get it. He thought she was being obtuse, but this wasn’t about the money, or a need to manipulate him. This was all about Max and what he needed. “Keep your money. We don’t need it.”
    â€œHe’s my child and my financial responsibility.”
    â€œYou can’t buy your way into his life, Nathan. He’s not for sale. If you can’t be there for him emotionally, for the long haul, you’re out of the game. That’s nonnegotiable.”
    She could see he wasn’t thrilled with her direct approach, or her list of demands, but that was too damned bad. Parenting was tough, and either he was in or he was out. He couldn’t do it halfway.
    â€œI guess I have a lot to think about,” Nathan said.
    â€œI imagine you do.” She rose from the chair, prompting him to do the same. “When you’ve made a decision, then you can see Max.”
    He pulled himself to his feet, looking irritated, and maybe a little shell-shocked. The enormity of what she was asking from him was not lost on her. Being responsible for another human being, knowing she would shape Max into the adult he would one day become, was terrifying and emotionally exhausting…and the most rewarding thing she had ever done or even imagined doing.
    Until Nathan understood that and accepted it, he wouldn’t get within fifty feet of Max.
    â€œI need some time to think about this,” Nathan said.
    â€œI understand. And I want you to know that whatever you decide is okay with me. I would love for Max to know his father, but I don’t want you to feel pressured into something you’re not ready for. I can do this on my own.”
    He walked to the door and shrugged into his jacket, glancing down the hall to the bedrooms. For a second she thought he might ask to see him again, but he didn’t. “Can I call you?” he asked.
    â€œMy number hasn’t changed.” He would know that if he had bothered to contact her in the past eighteen months.
    He paused at the door, hand on the knob, and turnedback to her. “I am sorry for the way things worked out between us.”
    But not sorry enough to want her back in his life, she thought as he walked to his car.
    She didn’t doubt it was going to be a very long night for Nathan. Maybe even a long week, depending on how long it took him to make up his mind. He was not the kind of man to act on impulse. He thought things through carefully before making a decision of any kind. He once told her that their affair was the only spontaneous thing he’d done in his adult life. It had been a thrill to know that she’d had that kind of power over someone like him. Too bad she couldn’t make him love her, too.
    She watched out the front window until Nathan drove away, then she stepped outside and walked across the lawn to the unit next door, rubbing her arms against the cool air seeping through her sheer top. She knocked, and almost immediately Jenny Sorenson, her neighbor and good friend, opened the door, looking worried.
    â€œHey, is everything okay?” she asked, ushering Ana inside. Max was sitting on the living room floor with Portia, Jenny’s fifteen-month-old daughter. Ana hadn’t been sure how Nathan would react, so she’d felt it was wisest to keep Max out of the picture.
    â€œEverything is fine. I’m sorry to dump Max on you like that without an explanation, but I didn’t have a lot of time.”
    When Max heard her voice he squealed and crawled in her direction, but then he got distracted by the