SECRETS

CHAPTER 3-Reality

A/N: Thank you all for taking time out to review. Seeing them motivates me to get another chapter out to you all sooner than later. Thank you for investing in reading my writing. I want to say a special thanks to those who expressed their love for my story writing style and ideas, so much of what I write is personal life experience in many ways. Some just pops into my head as I'm writing. I used to daydream a lot as a means to escape my reality as a child, which developed this amazing ability to create such stories. Again, thank you all. Well, enough about me let's get back to the real reason you all are here.

Happy Reading!

Marcus damn near fainted. He looked from the baby to Mellie back to the baby taking notice of his mocha skin tone "Wait a minute, what? Say that again." He stands frozen as she repeats what she said "What the hell Mellie! Ho..how? Did you know, why the hell didn't you tell me? How did I...we used protection?"

"I know, I know. I didn't know he was yours until I saw him Marcus. I swear. I thought he was my husbands, so did you, but I guess our one slipup came back to bite us in the ass."

Markus begins to pace "Fuck! Does Fitz know?" He questions seeing the beautiful brown baby clearly with eyes like his. "Yes, he's already filed for a divorce." Mellie answers "Had it not been for your strong genes I might have been able to pull this off, but seeing I just had a brown baby makes it obvious he's yours and not Fitz's."

Marcus demeanor softens "Damn Mel, I'm sorry, I never intended for this to happen." He slowly approaches her and takes the baby from her arms "What's his name?" He questions as he looks at all the blue blankets and blue cap on the child's head

"Theodore." She answers with pride

Marcus looks up at her "Theodore what?" He asks looking directly at her as he removes the small hat from little Teddy's head

"Theodore Thomas Grant." She answers with a huff as she leans back on one leg placing her hand defiantly on her hips

"Nope, no, hell no. You're changing his name. I want him to have my last name." He adamantly states

"Marcus we have to be smart about this. No one can know we have a child together. It will ruin us both. We could lose our jobs."

"I don't give a fuck about a job, this is our child we're talking about. I don't care what people think. I have a son and I'm not going to walk around like he's some big secret."

"But he is Marcus. I'm married. We are having an affair. I'm your assistant. How will that look? You don't possibly make enough money to take care of me."

Marcus looks at her but decides to let her comment go because this was about his son "But I do make enough money to take care of my son. If you're so embarrassed of him, you can give me full custody and no one will have to know you're his mother, or you and I both can raise him and no one outside of that has to know anything about our personal life. I don't get why white people make such a big deal about what other people think. It's none of anyone damn business about what you or I do in our personal life. We will just have to chill out when we're at work. It's that simple. Or if you're that damn worried put in for a transfer because I damn sure am not leaving."

Mellie scowls at Marcus "I'll be damned if I give you full custody of my baby. Have you lost your freaking mind?"

Marcus always the thinker keeps a cool head "Look Mellie you said Fitz filed for divorce. This is our reality. We can make this work. I may not have Fitzgerald Grant money, but my son will never want or need for anything. I love you Mellie. I'm in love with you. I've told you this, but now that I know I have a son, I love him more and I just met him. Now when are you going to change his name?"

Mellie never seen this side of Marcus before but is a little turn on by him "I haven't signed the birth certificate yet. I can change it at that time."

"Good. How about Theodore Markees Walker, isn't Thomas Fitz middle name?" Visibly disgusted that she wanted to name his child after Fitz even though he clearly was not the boy's father.

Mellie again frowns at Marcus "That's name will be setting our son up for failure. We'll just give him your name as his middle name. I just can't do Markees that just sounds…"

"Ghetto?" He chimes in

"Your words, not mines." She hunches her shoulders "Theodore Marcus Walker. It's just your name turned around. So I call him Teddy for short."

"Close enough even though I would prefer Marcus Theodore Walker Jr. But I'm willing to compromise." He stares down at the sleeping baby boy "Holy shit." He whispers in awe "I have a son."

Marcus stayed and spent time with Mellie and his son. He was relieved Fitz was out of the picture and he didn't have to deal with the angry husband. Fitz made it easy for Marcus or so he thought.

Mellie always looking out for herself was plotting in her head. If Fitz wanted a divorce…fine, but he would pay her before she just threw in the towel. One thing Marcus said was true, there was now a baby involved and a husband leaving his wife the same day she gives birth to their child wouldn't look good for the Grant family. No one needed to see Teddy, they just needed to know he existed. If she played her cards right, she could get at least half of Fitz assets. She was after all Mrs. Grant and her son would be a Grant too, Marcus just didn't know it yet.

…..

Olivia woke to her husband kissing her on the neck from the rear and sliding inside of her. "Maax, what are you doing?"

He begins stroking in and out of her. "Baby your moans were turning me on, so instead of dreaming about me I decided to give you the real thing." Ready to push him away she realized the reality of the situation and allows him to finish. "I was moaning?"

"Yes love. I know you've been missing me and I'm sorry baby. It won't be long the playoffs are almost over. I love you Liv, baby I love you so much. I promise to make it up to you."

Max had been paying very close attention to Olivia the week he was home as the team was given a week off to rest for game six to win the Championship. She had been very distant and aloof since the argument about her best friend Jay. She did not answer any of his calls nor respond to any of his text messages…so unlike her. He began to worry and decided to come home the first chance he got. He had only been home two days and she still was not saying very much to him. Yes and no answers or short sentence communication was all she would give him.

He knew she was upset but never this upset, especially over his comments about Jay. There had to be more, and he would get to the bottom of it. He just needed to get back into her good graces. Their sex session didn't last long as Liv was always so tight. He ejaculated within 3 minutes. Howling and growling like it was the best sex in the world. Liv rolls her eyes as he pulls out of her and turns onto his back breathing hard as if he just ran a freaking marathon, at least that what Liv thought. She immediately rises from the bed and head for the shower closing and locking the door behind her.

Max attempts to follow her only to find the door locked. "Liv come on baby are you still angry, please unlock the door?"

"Max I'm about to take a shower. I'll be out when I'm done and no Max. I'm not mad with you.

"Can we talk when you are done about what's bothering you then?"

"Fine. Now can I please finish up in here?"

"Okay I'll start breakfast."

Thirty minutes later Liv walks into the kitchen to find Max has prepare a full platter of sausage eggs pancakes and sliced fruit. "Wow, that's a lot of food."

Max turns at the sound of her voice. "Oh, hey honey-yeah I kind of had a taste for everything. Sit love I'll while I prepare your plate." Liv walks over to the breakfast nook and takes a seat. Max prepares their food with two glasses of coffee, but Liv decides on orange juice instead. He leaps to get it for her before she could get it herself. "Let me love, you just enjoy your food."

They begin eating and the silence becomes nerve wrecking, so Max speaks first. "Are you going into your office today?"

Forking through her eggs "Yes, but not until this afternoon."

"Liv look baby, I know I've been gone a lot, but you know I have a job to do and we're in the playoffs. It's almost over. I promise to be home more after next week."

"Whatever Max, you always say that and then suddenly the team this and the team that, then you're gone. I'm left alone, and when Jay visits you always have a problem with him."

"Okay your right and I'm sorry love. What can I do to show you I'm serious?'

Liv looks at him intently to see if he's really means what he's asking. She knows Max well. Her job is to study people. Their behaviors, their habits, look for telling signs of deceit. She sees none so she begins. "You promised we would try again for a baby. Maybe I won't feel so alone if we had a child."

He sits upright in his seat and expels a breath. "Liv we tried for an entire year and nothing happened. Maybe you need to see someone, maybe you have a blockage or something."

Liv looks at him with daggers coming from her eyes "Maybe it's not me but you!" She aggressively states tossing her fork onto her unfinished plate of food.

Max laughs at her statement his arrogance revving its ugly head "Oh no my dear wife I know my swimmers work." He continues laughing as if what Liv said was the funniest thing in the world.

She hated when he laughed with cockiness at things she says or do. "You wouldn't know for sure Max, unless you got some illegitimate kids out there somewhere."

This catches Max off guard causing him to halt his laughter somewhat "Yeah right, Liv."

"Well how would you know then? You are so sure something is wrong with me, but have you thought about maybe something might be wrong with you or shall I say your swimmers?"

Max needed to change the subject quickly before it leads to an argument between the two "Okay then what do you suggest Olivia?"

"That we both get checked. We both see a reproductive specialist."

"Why do I need to get check? I just told you my shit works fine."

"Have you ever thought that maybe you have a low sperm count or blockage? I mean it's not un-heard of Max."

"You know what fine. If that makes you happy love, I will go after the end of this season. Okay? We can go together and see a specialist." Something about his arrogance bothers Liv but she's so happy he agreed that she lets it go

"Seriously Max?" With wide eyes she asks

"Seriously Liv. You have my word." She stands from her seat and walks around the nook and deeply kisses him. "Thank you baby I love you."

"I love you too my love."

The energy of the King house was back too normal.

….

Fitz has been in California for a week now when his father called. "Hey dad."

"Hello son. I see you took some time off."

"I did. I just some time to myself."

"That's good son. I hate that bitch for what she done to you. This pushes back all of our plans for you to get into politics."

"Look dad I really don't want to talk about politics or anything along those lines. I love being a lawyer."

"Look son, I know your hurting right now, so I won't pressure you. I'll give you some time to get your head on straight."

"Thanks dad."

"So, have you heard from Mellie?"

"My office informed me that she called, but other than that no, because she has no access o me."

"I'm sure she's up to something. I have eyes on her and her lover. Did you know he's a black guy?"

"I figured as much the child is of mix race, but that doesn't matter to me, but the fact that it's another man is my issue. Look dad I'm on my way out can we talk later?"

"Sure son and call your mother, she's worried about you."

"I'll give her a call later today." Fitz hangs up, goes to fix himself a drink and pulls out his computer. He did a reverse search for Olivia's address. She had been in his thoughts like never before. He searched for her, but nothing came up. Her address was listed as private. He figured it would be seeing it was a prominent neighborhood with the rich and famous who didn't want people to have access to them. That wouldn't deter him. He had ways to find out things about anyone he wanted. He places a call. "Hey Fitz." The man answered.

"Hey Tom, I need you to get me the contact information of a woman named Olivia. I don't have a last name, but she's my nextdoor neighbor. Her address is 150 Blossom Lane. I need that today."

"Give me about an hour."

"Thanks man."

"No problem."

He needed to stop thinking about her. She was married and their time together was a one-time thing. He would spend two weeks in California and spend time with high end escorts for relief, but he learned very quickly they were not his Livvie.

Fitz returned home after taking two weeks off. Using the information Tom had given him he now knew Olivia's full name. He wanted to see her again. He needed to see her again, so upon his return he drove inconspicuously to his old neighborhood with the intention of reaching out to her. That idea was tossed out of the window when he saw her walk out of her home with her husband arm in arm. She looked happy. They looked happy. She gave him a long deep kiss before getting into her car and driving off with Max doing the same. Fitz looked down at his phone in his hand tossing it onto the seat next to him in shear disappointment. He was thankful he didn't follow his first instinct which was to call her. His reality was that Liv was a special woman that he'd always remember but it was time to move on. She belonged to another man.

A/N: How do you all think this Marcus and Mellie thing will play out? What is Mellie up too.? Looks like Gerry has plans for Mellie if she gets out of line. Why did Max react to Liv's statement about illegitimate children? Does he have something to hide? Maybe maybe not. How do you guys feel about his cocky attitude and him agreeing to see a reproductive specialist? Fitz on the other hand fell hard for Liv? What do you think? More drama to come but its good drama because it will bring our couple back together in the chapters to come. Until next time….Keke