Page 102 of One Eye Open (The BlackWater)

She gave him a look but choose to eat rather than make any comments. The food was mouth-wateringly good.

“My first wife ran off with my best man a week after our wedding so I married his fiancé instead.” Alfred stated.

“That was Richard’s mum?” She replied.

“Yes. We were happily married until…” He trailed off before eating.

“Until my mother.” Maddie replied.

“I took care of her. Whatever she says, whatever she claims.” Alfred stated.

“Past tense. She died remember.” Maddie retorted.

“I gave her enough money to allow her to live a comfortable life. To allow you both too. She was the one who choose to squander it on drugs and men.”

Maddie shook her head. “You don’t get it do you? You exploited her, you violated her, and you think that just throwing money at her afterwards makes it all better?”

“You weren’t there Maddison. She enjoyed every minute.”

Maddie screwed her face up and took another bite of her food, chewing it and swallowing it slowly to try to calm her anger. “And yet it took a paternity test for you to even accept you were my dad.”

He smirked. “I have women all over the world claiming I have fathered their children. If I took them all at face value I would be a poor man and a fool.”

“How many of them have you fucked though?” Maddie replied and Alfred narrowed his eyes.

“It’s a valid question.” She said before he could say anything.

“I think we’re done discussing this for the moment.” He stated.

“Sure, what else would you like to discuss?” Maddie asked fighting back the smirk that threatened to spread across her lips because it felt like she’d scored a point.

“What do you know of Black Tech?” He asked.

“Why?” She replied frowning.

“They have a lot of new technology coming out. A lot of experimental weapons that could revolutionise the arms trade.”

“I have nothing to do with Black Tech. I’ve met their GM once, maybe twice. Our companies don’t mix. That’s how Cole keeps it.” Maddie stated.

“I see.” He replied looking almost annoyed.

“Is that what this is? You want to use me as some sort of asset? Some source of information for you?” She asked.

“No. But it was worth seeing if you knew anything.”

The waiter came back in and cleared their plates. Maddie took another sip of her wine.

“What is it you want?” She asked.

“How many times are you going to ask me?” He replied.

“As many times as it takes to get the real answer.” She stated.

He narrowed his eyes leaning across the table at her. “You’re my daughter I have a right to know you. To be in your life.”

“Yet it took over thirty years for you to come to that conclusion.” She stated.

“I wasn’t allowed contact when you were growing up. That was part of the deal. When you turned eighteen everything changed but you were in the army then and in Afghan of all places.”

---