Warner's POV
Taking what she said into consideration and the way she reacted to our situation, the possibilities are more than just slightly elevated. I unlock my phone and scroll through the video of the little boy with the guitar.
I didn't get a proper look at him at the airport because everything unfolded so quickly and I was completely mesmerized by her presence. She looked absolutely stunning.
That soft pink ensemble she wore clung to her curves perfectly. Her hair framed her face beautifully, creating an ideal heart-shaped silhouette.
I have to find out the truth. I pull up my messages and type to our manager.
Me: I need the number of the new CEO of Royal Keller. Her name is Arlene Brooks.
Leo: U kno her?
Me: Yes.
Leo: Give me a sec
My pulse quickens once again.
Leo: best I can do is set up an appointment for Wednesday afternoon.
Me: Fine. I'll take it.
Leo: can I ask y? u nvr ask 4 (shit emoji).
Me: I'll tell u after I talk to her
Leo: 10-4
I capture a screenshot of the little boy's image and send it to my mom without any explanation. She calls me within minutes.
"Who is that, carbon?" she demands. "What did you do?"
"Oh, so I've been trying to reach you for three days straight and I send you a photo of a kid and suddenly you're available?" I scoff.
"Como chingas, Warner," she says with amusement. "Sorry, I've been occupied."
"I have the credit card statement to prove that," I laugh.
"Como estas, chamaco enfadoso?"
"I'm fine. I'm back home now. For a while. Celeste is expecting."
"Al fin," she practically shouts. "I am so thrilled for Winston. He's a good kid. No como mi chamaco cabron."
"I love you too, mom," I chuckle. "How is Dad?"
"He's your dad. He's on vacation, segun. Ya sabes como son los gringos. Will you be visiting soon? When did you arrive and why didn't you inform us you were coming?"
"I've literally been trying to call you for three days," I shake my head. "I would have gone home if I thought you were there. I'm here at Winston's place."
"Oh, pobrecito mi nino. Como sufre en Winston's two million dollar mansion," she mocks me. "Pendejo. Thirty-two year old man child."
"This constitutes verbal abuse, lady."
"tHiS cOnStItUtEs VeRbAl AbUsE," she continues. "What you can't be alone in your own house or what?"
"Mom," I groan.
"Alright. Alright. I'll have your room prepared in the morning. You could come home by yourself. You know that? You don't need to be with your friends every single day. Get out of that routine. Clear your head, Mijo. You need this break. You've been on that bus for twelve years, Warner."
"Why does every conversation we have conclude like this?" I sigh.
"I worry about you. You're my baby."
"What have you been occupied with, lady?"
"Sherry and her new granddaughter," she boasts. Sherry is our former leading beta female. "Esta hermosa," she says dramatically. "De quien is el nino, Warner?"
"The new CEO of Royal Keller."
"Tiene tus ojos," she says calmly. "You got something to tell me?"
"Possibly. Possibly not. I'm kind of panicking."
"From the beginning, hijo."
"I met this woman at the BnB apartments when we launched the Heath Tour. We spent the night together and this morning I encountered her and her two children. The article states they're five and it matches the timeline."
"It doesn't necessarily mean they're yours, Warner. You know girls like that-"
"No, she wasn't like that."
"You don't know that, mijo. You spent one night with her. Es todo. Hasta que hables con ella, get it out of your head."
"Look at the picture, Ma, and tell me you're not considering it."
"Pos si. I'm thinking about it," she confirms. "Son dos?"
"Yeah, a little girl and the little boy."
"Aver la nina?"
I open the app and locate a picture of the two little children and send it to her.
"That's them."
"Wow," she says thoughtfully. "If they are yours, ya le gane a la Sherry. I have two grandchildren."
"Mom," I laugh.
"And if they are yours, Warner? Que vas aser? Is she human?"
"She is. I don't know, but I have to find out. I mean it's quite a coincidence."
"You'd think she'd try to contact you immediately. You were just starting six years ago, mijo. Pero ya estabas arriba."
"Like I said. I don't think she was the type of woman that went around doing what we did."
"Well, she did it with you. Come home. We'll figure this out."
"I'll see you in the morning."
"I found her on Twitter," she sings. "Oh," she says like she's been caught off guard. "She's a mean girl."
"A mean girl?"
"Si. She got a kid expelled from school in France when he tried to steal the little boy's lunch. He scratched him. The mom said a bunch of racist shit to them for being American and she immediately pulled both of them out of school a week ago. She involved her lawyers," she laughs. "They titled it Fashion Icon met with discrimination against her son by a French Private school. The other says, Private School under scrutiny for discrimination against Arlene Brooks and her son Rockford."
"That sounds provoked."
"At least she doesn't sound boring," she laughs. "Your dad would have shut the entire school down the next day."
"Dad did shut the school down when Coach Baker punched me in the face."
"Carbon," she scoffs. "Don't get me mad. I'm on vacation."
"You should be mad."
"I already know you, Warner. You have your daddy's ugly fucking temper. You hide it better, pero eres igualito. Esta nina made a choice. A choice that benefited all of you. I want you to think about that before you go in there accusing her of shit. All things considered, you can't blame her for it. You're Warner Lorenzo. She doesn't know you. She knows what everyone else knows. You can't go in there like you own everything the way you usually do. She'll fight you. Orita son sus hijos de ella. You're just some guy she slept with when she was a stupid kid. Don't fuck this up, son. Listen to her. Si?"
"Yeah."
"Okay. Let me know if you need me. I'm on vacation, but I'm still your mama."
"Okay, ma. Gracias."
"Don't. Pinche no sabo cabron," she groans and I swear I can see her rolling her eyes as dramatically as possible.
"You're kind of forgetting you raised me," I laugh.
"Oh. So this is my fault? Vas a ver estupido," she bites out.
"I'll see you later, Ma."
"Bendiciones, mijo," she says. "Kade!" she shouts. "Your son fucked up!"
"Mom!" I call out but she hangs up.
Telling my mom the truth feels like a guaranteed answer because even if Arlene tells me I'm not their father for whatever reason she's convinced herself I didn't need to be a part of this. My mom will figure out the truth by whatever means. Especially if she involves my father. My dad is all about family and even if we don't get involved, she's going to be a part of our family if they are mine. We have to know and we have to make sure no one gets that information.