SECRET AGENT DAWSON
Chapter Thirty-Eight
Jack came out of the bedroom and
looked at Chloe. He didn't know where to start, but he had to tell her everything.
He needed to let her know what had been going on since they had last seen each
other. What were the chances that she would see everything from his point of
view? Would she even believe him?
"Chloe?" He fidgeted
with his fingers and then stuck his hand in his pocket.
"Yeah, Jack?" She
looked at him, her meal half-eaten.
"We need to talk before
something serious happens." Jack needed her to know where he stood.
"All right. I am
listening." She looked into his eyes.
"I can't make love to you,
no matter how much I would like to. I can't." He felt like crying. He
stepped back and sat down.
"Why?" She wanted to
know what he was keeping from her.
"I'm married." He
looked up at her.
"To who?" She looked at
him like she didn't know who he was.
"A woman named Rose. She
used to be my neighbor, but her boyfriend kicked her out, thinking she was
having an affair. Anyway, I asked her to stay with me because I felt sorry for
her, and then later on we fell in love and I asked her to marry me. I told her
about the agency and everything. After that, we got married, and she became an
agent, too. We had a little falling out, and then I went to London with John
Anderson. We were on a case, and then one day we were walking down the street
to get some lunch and I got shot by some men. I woke up in a private hospital
and was shipped home. When I got there, I had no recollection of who I was or
where I was going. Then my brother came and picked me up and Rose met me at the
agency. She had all these questions, and I couldn't give her one damned answer.
When she took me home, I couldn't remember who she was. The next day, I went to
the office, as usual, and something just snapped. I was no longer Jack Dawson.
I was Alexander Smith. So, for days I acted like Alex, not knowing what I was
doing, only feeling that it was right. I ended up sleeping with Paola Thompson.
After I realized what I had done, I couldn't forgive myself. It turned out I
was given a drug. A mind-altering drug. John Anderson became a traitor, and it
also turned out he was working with your father. So, I got in contact with a
friend, and he told me you were alive. At first, I didn't believe it. Then I
contacted your brother and got some information from him. I came here to find
you and to kill your father, or whoever is in charge of this whole drug
operation. There's a whole lot more I haven't told you, but none of that
matters. I just wanted you to know what has been going on." He wanted to
tell her he didn't love her anymore, but that wasn't going to happen anytime
soon.
"Wow. I feel stupid. I
should have known you would eventually move on, but I was stupid. I'm
sorry." She started to cry, but hid her tears.
"No. Don't do this to
yourself. You are not to blame for what's happened." He went up to her,
putting his arm around her.
"Shouldn't I, Jack? We would
be married if I hadn't gone along with my father's plan. You would have been
there to see..." Chloe closed her mouth.
"Been there to see
what?" Jack spoke up.
"Nothing. I should be dead.
This pain is far too much to bear." Chloe wanted to tell him her secret.
Every day, it tore her heart apart.
"Chloe, I love you. More
than you'll ever know." He hugged her tightly.
"Don't say it, Jack. You’re
married. You love…what's her name?" Chloe pushed him away. She didn't want
to feel anymore. It was too painful.
"I loved you first, before I
even knew her. If I make love to you, I don't think I will regret it, but I
will feel guilty for cheating on my wife again." Jack knew he would feel
guilty.
"Then don't. I will just leave."
Chloe got up.
"Chloe, I can't let you
leave. No matter if I can't have you, I want you here." He needed her to
be there, now that he had found her.
"So, what's the plan?"
Chloe asked.
"I know that your father is
having a party tonight. Think I could come as your guest?" Jack asked.
"Only if you give my father
a chance to explain himself." Chloe needed him to understand that her
father was not the bad guy.
"Chloe, I can't," Jack
said, frustrated by the whole situation with her father.
"Please. For me?" She
batted her eyes.
"All right. I will let him
explain himself, but you will be there to hear everything for yourself."
Jack took her hand and put it to his cheek.
"Agreed. I will invite you
and Tobey to the party as my guests." Chloe needed to get ready. She had a
lot to do.
"Great. Shall we eat?"
Jack asked.
"Yep. Can I make a phone
call?" Chloe asked him.
"Sure." He went to the
bedroom and got the cordless phone.
When he came back, she took the
phone from his hand. "Thanks."
"No problem." He smiled
at her and went to the table to eat.
She dialed her number and waited
for the phone to ring. The maid answered. "Hello."
"Ah…Natla…uh…I am gonna be a
little late. Something has come up." Chloe looked over at him, careful to
not let one word slip about her situation.
"Is it serious?" Natla
asked.
"Very. Tell my father I will
be a little late, and get her dressed." Chloe looked over at him. How was
she going to tell Jack he had a daughter?