The Agreement

"Why are you doing this, Robert?" Anna demanded angrily.

"You know DAMN well why I am doing this!" he shouted. "Why didn't you tell me I had a daughter?"

"I didn't think you would care," she said softly.

"Didn't think I would care?!" he exclaimed. "You know that's not true!"

"No, that's not all of it. I knew you wanted to hurt me- make me suffer for betraying you. I thought you'd take Robin from me, so I didn't tell you about her. Besides, I didn't think-."

"Didn't think what, Anna?!"

"I was scared, Robert. Scared the DVX would hurt her if they knew who her parents were. I- I thought about giving her up, but I couldn't. I loved her too much. So she doesn't - doesn't know I am her mother. She thinks she was abandoned on Filomena's doorstep as a baby. She knows me as Filomena's good friend Love."

"Dear God!" Robert gasped. "You've been telling her a bloody lie!"

"I know that. But I had to! I had to protect her!"

"It has to stop, Anna. Either you tell Robin the truth... or I will."

"You can't mean that!"

"I most definitely mean it!" Robert growled. "She deserves to know the truth. I thought you would have learned your lesson long ago about telling lies to those you love."

"I would tell her the lie again if it meant protecting her life. Just as before with us..."

"Don't speak to me about the past. That is something I never want to discuss with you," he said. "Now what will it be? Will you tell her... or shall I?"

"I will tell her," Anna said softly. "I will have a talk with her when she and Sean get back."

"You better mean it, Anna. It wouldn't be as nice, coming from me," Robert snapped. "She might end up hating you if she hears my version of it."

"I don't blame you for hating me. I know that I've hurt you. And keeping Robin from you was very selfish of me," Anna said. "She's very sensitive, and I don't want her to be hurt by our mistakes."

"Nicely said, Anna. Before she gets here, I would like to make arrangements for her."

"So would I," Anna agreed. "I think it would be best if she stayed with me and Filomena. With frequent visitations with you, of course."

"I don't know about that. I think I have the power to see to it that you never saw her again, if that was my desire."

"What are you implying? Are you planning to sue me for custody?"

"I could, and I would win, too. There is no doubt of that. With my wealth and influence in the community, it would never stand up to your tainted past, now would it, Anna?"

"You are right. Maybe I have nothing to give Robin. I have no steady income, no home of our own. I may have to live in hiding for the rest of my life. All I have to give her is my love, Robert. Are you going to deny me that?"

"It is tempting. But no, I could deny Robin of it. She cannot help what her mother is, can she? So... I am willing form an agreement with you. Robin may remain with you on several conditions."

"What are the conditions?"

"I will get to spend every Saturday and Sunday with her as well as every other holiday. I will spend other days with her if something special comes up."

"Agreed," said Anna.

"I am not finished yet," Robert spoke. "You must agree to see me every Friday night."

"Wh- what do you mean?" she asked in surprise.

"Just what I said; you will meet me here every Friday night at 7 pm, in return for Robin staying in your care and the job I will find for you. I also plan to buy a house for you and Robin to live in with Filomena. I will have it furnished to your taste."

"Robert, if you think you can buy me-," Anna gasped, outraged by his proposal.

"That's not what what I think," he growled. "I only want our daughter to be well-cared-for. I know you can't afford to buy a home and if you don't have a job, then how will you put food on the table?"

"I've managed in the past."

"Barely," he said. "I also intend to spend every night in your house to keep an eye out on Robin. I wouldn't want that Mr. Wu character popping in to kidnap her again."

"I can protect my daughter myself!"

"If that's true, then why did Mr. Wu kidnap her in the first place?"

"I wasn't there at the time. I was out of the country looking for information on Mr. Wu. I won't have you in my house every night. I can protect myself and Robin on my own!"

"Fine then, but the minute you prove otherwise, I will be sleeping on the sofa at nights. Now... about the arrangement, do you agree?"

"I think it's fair, all except the Friday night meetings. I still don't understand what you mean by it?"

Suddenly Robert took her shoulders into his hands. "Anna, the minute you walked into this room, I saw that still wanted me by the look in your eyes. Don't try to deny it. I feel it, too. It's all that still remains of our relationship."

"Don't say this, Robert-," she pleaded, unable to tear her gaze from his eyes.

"I still want you, Anna. And I intend to have you, to get you out of my system once and for all."

"No, this isn't right. Not on these terms."

"Do you want to be with Robin?"

"Robert! I can't believe you are blackmailing me!" she said, tears shining in her eyes.

"Believe it, my dear. The turnabout is fair-play."

"God, your revenge is so cruel."

"What's your answer, Anna?"

"I won't give up Robin," she said. "You win."