"You knew my real name weeks ago. The moment you walked into that interview, you knew exactly who I was. You researched me. And you still said nothing."
"I—" She faltered.
"How long?" I demanded. "How long have you known I was Antonio?"
"Since—since I found out I was pregnant. It took months, but I finally tracked you down through the conference attendee lists."
"So for over two years, you've known I'm Leo's father. Two years, Isla."
Her silence was answer enough.
I picked up the photo of Leo again, memorizing every detail. "How much of this was real? Any of it?"
"Friday night was real. You know it was." Her voice broke.
"I don't know anything anymore." I set the photo down carefully. "Except that I have a son I've never met.”
I turned to face her fully, and she flinched at whatever she saw in my expression.
"We both made mistakes in Miami," I said quietly. "Fake names. No contact information. Fine. But you found me, Isla. You discovered who I was years ago, and you made a choice.”
"I was protecting him—"
"From his father?" The words tasted bitter. "Or to spy?"
"To understand what kind of man you were!" Her voice broke. "I spent months trying to decide what to do. Should I just show up at your office with a two-year-old and say 'surprise’? What if you rejected him?”
"So you applied for the job."
"I saw the opening. I knew it would put me close to you. Give me time to… to observe." Tears streamed down her face. "I needed to know who you really were before I risked everything."
"And what did you conclude?" My voice was ice. "After weeks of your little investigation?"
"That you're a good man," she whispered. "Demanding. Ruthless in business. But fair. Protective of the people who work for you. And that maybe you deserved to know."
"Maybe?" Sharp. "Maybe I deserved to know I have a son?"
"I was going to tell you. I just needed more time—"
I laughed bitterly. "You've had two and a half years, Isla. You clearly had enough time to research me to know to call me Cass when we fucked."
She went very still.
"You called me Cass yesterday," I said quietly. "In the hallway, when you thought no one was listening. My assistant doesn't call me that. My business associates don't call me that. Only family and close friends use that name." I held her gaze. "So how did you know it? Unless you'd been digging into my personal life long before you knocked on my office door."
"I needed this job," she whispered. "The salary, the benefits. Leo has medical expenses—"
"My son has medical expenses I knew nothing about? What else haven't you told me? Is he sick?"
"No! He's fine now. He had some breathing issues but got a few treatments. "
"I want to see him."
Panic flooded her eyes. "Cassian, please—"
"I've missed every day of his life because of your lies. I'm not missing another day."
"You can't just barge into his world. He doesn't know you."
