Page 106 of Committed to You

I sigh and debate about what to say. I decide that there is no way out of this. “Mr. Caras, I’m no saint. I have been with other women. I will not lie to you. But I’m not a cheater. I love your daughter and only wish to make her happy. I never have and never will be unfaithful to her.”

He looks me up and down. “Why is this crazy woman in Chicago?”

“Her mother died, and she is from here.”

“Is she returning to New York?”

“I assume so, but I won’t put anything past her at this point. She seems to have gone off the deep end.”

“She is obsessed with you?”

“Seems that way.”

“Where is she staying in Chicago?”

“I don’t know.”

“Does she have other family in Chicago, or was her mother it?”

“Honestly, sir, I don’t know a lot about her.” As I say it, I cringe, once again, the harsh reality of my past slaps me in the face. As many times as I screwed Meredith, I should have known something about her life.

“Where does she work?”

“She’s a nurse at the hospital in New York.”

“Do you know any of her friends?”

I want to bury my head in the sand and never come out. Once again, I know nothing. “No,” I quietly say.

“How long did you date this woman?”

My face flushes. “We didn’t date.”

“You didn’t date?”

I shake my head.

“I’m confused. Why don’t you clear this up for me.”

The heat in my face deepens. I want to die on the spot. “We just had a sexual relationship, sir.”

“You used this woman for sex?”

“Well, no, it was mutual…” As I say it, it sounds weak and pathetic to my ears.

Vivian’s father arches a brow.

I look at the ceiling and blow out some air then back at Vivian’s father. “Mr. Caras, I’m not proud of the relationship I had with Meredith. I didn’t think I was hurting anyone, but I’ve obviously caused this problem and see the error of my ways. My only priority now is to make sure I keep your daughter and you and your wife safe. I cannot change what I’ve done, and I hope, over time, you will judge me on how I treat your daughter and not on my past. In the meantime, I am getting security tomorrow. Based on our conversation, I think it would be best to also hire a private investigator to find out whatever we can about Meredith. Is there anything else you believe I should do to help fix this situation and keep everyone safe?”

He licks his lips. “I can’t think of anything else. Can you?”

“Not at this moment.”

“Do you need help footing this bill for security or the investigator?”

“No, sir. I have plenty of money to pay for all this.”

“You are a businessman?”

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