“I don’t plan on getting to know you. I’m not sure why you are here or what you want, but I’m completely Team Garrett. I can’t help you.”
“See, that’s where you’re wrong. I’m not against Garrett. That’s how he sees it. That’s not the way it is.”
Imani folded her arms. “I don’t care.”
“Come on Imani . . . just hear me out. The date has been set for the custody trial. Maybe between the two of us, cooler heads can prevail.”
Imani remained silent but nodded for him to continue.
“Did you know when we were growing up, all I wanted was to be like Garrett?”
“I guess that would explain why you slept with his wife.”
Raymond placed both hands over his heart as if she’d shot him. “Ouch. That hurts. If only that were true.”
“Isn’t it?”
“No. For the record, Shannon and I were married first. I had no idea when we divorced, or thought we divorced, that Shannon had designs on Garrett. I loved her. You can’t imagine how painful it was when I discovered they were engaged. Like you, there was a whirlwind romance and quickie marriage. My brother seems good at wooing women.”
“As are you at manipulating them. That might explain some things, but it doesn’t excuse you from resuming the affair. You should have told Garrett that you’d had a relationship with Shannon, but you chose not to. I can only assume it was because you thought you would get something out of it.”
He shrugged. “It doesn’t excuse anything. I can only tell you I loved her very much, and I still do.”
“Why didn’t you ever tell Garrett?”
“Neither one of us wanted to hurt him.”
Imani stood incredulous. “You don’t think knocking up his wife hurt him? Or, trying to take his son away from him, hurts?”
“I only just discovered over the last year that he’s my son. Tell me what you would do? Would you let another woman that wasn’t your child’s mother raise him? Hell no! I can tell by the fight in your eyes you wouldn’t. That little boy is my son. I won’t walk away from him.”
Imani couldn’t deny she would fight like hell for her child. There wouldn’t be anything anyone could do to keep her away. She walked around Raymond and took a seat at her desk. “Let’s say you did have a point. How could you trade him like a . . .” She could barely find the words. “Like a commodity on the stock market?”
“If Garrett would let me into both my son’s and his life, I wouldn’t. I don’t want to fight this out in the courts.”
“Then, don’t.”
“Tell, me. What am I supposed to do? Garrett only sees things in black and white. How can I have a relationship with my son and my brother?”
“You need to sit down and have that conversation with him because I won’t lie, this situation is a mess. I can’t begin to tell you how to unravel it. What I can say is that Garrett Jr. loves the only man he has known to be his father. Taking him away from that kind of security can do more harm than good. Taking him away from Garrett will completely kill whatever small bit of hope you have of reconciling.”
Raymond rubbed the back of his neck. “I don’t know if Garrett told you, but we had it rough growing up. Family is not a concept we know much about.”
“Neither of you are dead. You can learn how to be a family if you stop auditioning for the most dysfunctional one of all time. Try acting human and apologize for having an affair with Shannon, drop this ridiculous custody battle, and let go of your attempt to get control his company. Those are three things you can do right off the bat that might get a productive conversation started.” She stood. “Now, if you’ll excuse me, I have a lot of work to . . .”
Before Imani could finish her sentence, Raymond cut her off. “Okay. I’ll do it if you think it might help my relationship with Garrett.
Imani was shocked. She slowly sat back down in her chair. “You’re lying. I don’t believe you.”
“I’ll call my lawyer right now, from this office.”
Imani pushed her phone towards him and hit the speaker button. “What’s the number?”
“You don’t trust easily do you?” Raymond pressed the digits on the phone. It rang a couple of times.
Imani’s heart was beating so fast she couldn’t believe it.
Someone answered. “Young, Bailey, and Saxmore.”
“Yes, this is Raymond McNeal, can you please put me through to Attorney Young.”
“One moment, please.”
The elevator music was playing while they were on hold. Then a voice came through the speaker loud and clear. “This is Attorney Reginald Young.”
“Reggie, this is Raymond.”
“What can I do for you?”
“As you know my custody case with Garrett Hadley has been scheduled for next month. I want to withdraw my petition.”
He seemed surprised. “What?”
Raymond’s eyes focused like a laser on Imani. “Garrett and I are going to try to work this out privately. If you could call his attorney this afternoon to let him know, I’d appreciate it.”
“Absolutely. I’m glad the two of you came to some kind of resolution. I’ll get right on it.”
“Thanks.” Raymond disconnected the call.
Imani’s mouth was literally hanging open. “I-I can’t believe you just did that.”
“I’m not the monster my brother has told you that I am. All I want is a relationship with him—and my son.”
Imani blinked a few times still in shock. She tried standing again. “I’m sure that will
