Meet Cute Remixed

"I need a paternity test from you."

Those weren't exactly the words he'd expected from the woman he'd loved and lost a year ago. He'd been searching everywhere for her, discreetly though. Too discreetly since she seemed to have dropped off the face of the world after a night of passion that had changed his life. He hadn't been with another woman since he'd given himself to her. His friends had asked him over and over what had changed and he refused to answer until he found her.

"Did you hear me?" the girl of his dreams said, a tear rolling down her cheek. "I said-"

"Yeah, I heard you, Bliss," he answered, using his nickname for her from that night since he didn't know her actual name. This sweet, innocent girl was supposed to be just another one-night stand. But she'd certainly changed everything with her sweet moans and sweeter cries that night.

"Chidinma," she said, still staring at the ground. "Chidinma Graves."

"Tyr Anasazi," he likewise introduced himself, putting a finger under her chin to lift her head. She backed away, moving her chin from his finger like magnets repelling. Everything about her said that she was deeply ashamed right now. Of what was anybody's guess. He was always in the spotlight, even now the paparazzi were taking an interest in this lovely stranger. He climbed back into his limo, pulling the girl in with him. This wasn't the time to indulge his need for attention. "Now, tell me, why do you need a paternity test?" He smiled at the wide-eyed stare she was giving his ride. Still the same innocent from that night so long ago. He smiled fondly and let her look her fill before finally settling on his taut, muscular form.

"You're the only man I've ever slept with," she whimpered, tearing up as she was reminded of her predicament. "I'm not a whore. But women are always coming to you, claiming that the baby's yours. I know that you won't believe me if I just told you that you're a father, so I need a paternity test from you to prove it. I need child support. I… I can't afford this baby on my own anymore." She sobbed, just once, and finally looked up at him. Tyr was in shock. He believed her. There was no talk of marriage or even bringing the baby to him to guilt him into this. Just a simple request. A knot formed in his gut, the likes of which hadn't formed since the first time a woman had told the multi-millionaire that she was having his baby. She hadn't been, of course. None of them had been. He was on a strong contraceptive and he was smart about those first few days after his injection.

At least he usually was. The lovely Ms. Graves had cast quite a spell on him that night. His parents were going to kill him.

"Have you eaten today?" the man asked, eyeing her skeptically. He remembered her being a jolly, plump woman. The lady sitting in his limo today was noticeably thinner and miserable. He looked her over and found that he missed her thick curves. How the hell was she so thin anyway if she'd just had a baby? "And where is my baby?"

"I… I'm not hungry," she demurred. "And the baby is being watched over by a friend. She knows that I'm on a mission today. The baby is safe until I get back." She took a deep, steadying breath and settled herself more firmly into the seat opposite him.

He nodded, commending her on her word choice. She was infuriatingly vague about the child. There was nothing outside of her own name for him to report to his private investigator. He usually had the women he slept with investigated when they came around looking for marriage. Usually, the women were eager to show off their children to him, but little Chidinma sounded almost ashamed of the baby.

"Do you have a picture to show me at least?"

"I don't see how that's relevant. According to my research, there's no reason for you to see the baby at all if you don't want to. I can just-"

"And if I want to see my son or daughter?" he asked forcefully. He felt bad when she bent over in her seat, shaking with quiet sobs. Switching seats so that he was next to her, he pulled her into his arms. She continued to shake with those near-silent tears that tore at his heart. "Shh… Please don't cry. I've got you now."

"No!" she yelled, pulling away from him like he was poisonous. "I will not fall for your wickedness again! I fell for it once and it cost me everything! I lost my virginity to a renowned player and became an unwed mother. My family threw me out on the street! My baby is a bastard thanks to my poor life choices. Never again!" She was panting as she cried. "I wouldn't even be here if the baby didn't need immunizations and clothes and diapers, so many diapers. I just can't keep up with it all!" She folded in on herself, rocking back and forth in agony. Everything in him wanted to bring her back into the circle of his arms and kiss the stubborn woman senseless, but he knew that would only upset her more. Wickedness? Unwed mother? Those were some old-fashioned terms she was bandying about. He'd never been one for old-fashioned. The party had never stopped for him once upon a time. Then he'd had her and apparently ruined her life.

"How would you like to do this?" he asked awkwardly as she calmed down. Honestly, he'd never had this kind of discussion with a potential baby-mama before. They were too busy spending his family's fortune to worry about the particulars of the test.

"I… I've never done this before. Make the appointment and call me with the details." She reluctantly gave over her telephone number and address. "I'll show up with the baby and we'll get this over with."

"Eager for my money?" he smiled.

"Eager to make rent and clothe my baby, yes," she said without a trace of a smile. "Let me out here, please. My subway pass still has some time on it."

"I could just drop you off at your home," he offered with a charming smile. "I have your address now." She gave a ghost of a smile, nothing close to the impish grin that had stolen his heart.

"A limo in my neighborhood might just start a riot. No thanks." She'd maneuvered herself over to the other seat by now and he frowned that she was running away from him. But baby steps. A nod to his driver had him pulling over to let the girl out. She exited quickly, ducking into the subway station as if she was getting dropped off at school in the family jalopy. He took a minute to admire her gait before calling up the best private investigator in town.

"Sid, I got a new job for you."

"Another bitch with her eye on the crown?" the man asked with a smile in his voice.

"I think I might have fucked up this time," Tyr laughed. "Go deep on her. I want to know all her darkest secrets."

"Digging deep costs extra," he said.

"Like I can't afford it,"

"True that," the man agreed. "Expect the preliminaries in a few days. What're this dame's particulars?" Anasazi told him and groaned at the hiss on the line. "Ooh, that's a rough neighborhood. I may have to up my fee. Information in that part of town don't come cheap."

"Just get it done," Tyr said in annoyance. "We'll discuss your price-gouging when you have something worth buying."

"Your funeral, boss. Sure hope she's worth it."

"Me too."

And so it begins. This concept has been kicking around in my head for a while now. Hope it intrigued you all sufficiently. See ya next chapter! ^_^