Chapter two:
The study of the Hockley residence was silent. It was a small room with a dark oak décor. It was lined with cabinets filled with files, sheets and every important document related to the business. At the desk sat a name plate, bearing the words 'Caledon M. Hockley.' Jack felt his jaw tighten as he went into the room, eyeing up just how dark it really was inside. This was the house which sheltered Rose, kept her locked away and he wondered just how eerie and shut off the rest of the house was.
''Take a seat.'' Cal offered, calmly and simply. He walked slowly around his side of the desk as he held out his hand to the leather upholstered chair opposite his own, for Jack.
''No. I want to see her.'' Jack's voice was low but firm. His eyes had darkened, the anger from months before seeping back out of every pore.
Cal clamped his mouth shut, breathing deeply as he collected his thoughts. He wore his usual tuxedo minus his jacket. He eyed up Jack's shoddy appearance and quickly sat at his desk.
''Well, I am afraid to disappoint you but Rose is not here.''
''Then, where is she?'' Jack demanded, his voice rising. His eyes had darkened, narrowed and they were almost threatening. Cal then realised that Jack would not give this up lightly. This was a time when he had no hired help nearby. The only option would be to telephone to a policeman but then he knew just what a can of worms this would open. This would have to be dealt with by himself.
''Please, take a seat so that we can discuss this.''
''No.''
Standing from the seat, Cal straightened out his shirt. He smirked, this was going to be more difficult than he had initially thought.
''Well, we still have the stubborn bite.'' His eyes narrowed. ''The last time I saw you, taking my fiancée below decks into a sinking sink, well, I thought it would have been the last we ever saw of you.'' He hesitated his next words. ''Of course, Rose came back to me.''
Jack bit his lip harshly, after a minute he took the pressure off knowing it could cause his lip to bleed. He knew that Rose would not have returned so easily to her family – there must have been reasons. There would have been reasons for it. Or she was forced. ''Yes, and if you do not let me see her then your actions from that night will be made known to everybody out here in this shitty city which you call home, where you extend your business.''
Cal laughed at his threat. ''And do you think people here would believe you? An average man, no work, no wife, no family. Nothing?''
''Maybe not. But I am sure it would cause a scandal. I hear you people love the gossip; 'Hockley's fiancée left him for a man with much less money', 'Hockley's jealousy caused him so much anguish it drove him to attempt to shoot at them, missing pitifully','' Jack laughed as he held out his hand to demonstrate the headlines, the chatter which would go on, ''I think them knowing about your behaviour would ruffle the feathers around here. Or at least satisfy the gossips. ''
Jack had walked about the desk as though it was his own. Multiple pictures lined the top, he picked them up one by one as he noticed that none of them was of Rose. It was as though she held no importance to the man he stood with.
Cal felt the anger bubble in the pit of his stomach. The threats niggled at him; of course, people wouldn't believe the gossip, but Jack knew just how to twist such things and he knew deep down that if Dawson so much as opened his mouth then the rumour mill would start about Rose's whereabouts. He held back his words whilst he thought over just what course of action needed to be taken.
''What's wrong? Are you speechless?''
Cal shook his head. ''No, I need a drink.'' He hadn't felt the urge for one so badly since he had learned that Rose was with child.
He went to the drinks cabinet which he and his father raided each night to discuss the following day's work, but now, he would start early. He opened the cabinet door as he pulled out a whiskey bottle before pouring it into one glass. Once it was poured, he held it in his hand, he wanted to sip it but he didn't just yet.
''What do you wish to know?''
Jack came forward. ''I want to see her.''
''I am afraid that is not possible. Rose is not here and hasn't been for some weeks.''
''Then tell me where she is, I will go to her.''
Cal shook his head, he poured the full glass of whiskey down his throat. He felt how it burned but it didn't affect him, he needed another before he knew he would have to reveal the full truth.
''I will not reveal that.''
''I am not playing around.'' Jack threatened, he was running out of patience fast. His adrenaline rising once more. He went to the door to leave but Cal shouted his name, calling him back. Jack's hand settled on the doorknob, shaking violently.
''All right.'' Cal nodded. ''I will reveal what I can. If you sit.''
Jack took a seat at the desk before Cal had finished pouring the whiskey into two glasses. He didn't even ask if Jack would like one, he had simply assumed.
''What I am about to do if offer you a deal, Dawson. One which no person must know of.''
Jack narrowed his eyes. ''And if I don't agree?''
''Oh, I think you might.''
Jack sat forward in the chair as Cal handed him the whiskey. He simply glared at it, as though it was poison. He didn't wish to touch the stuff again but he remained silent as he took the liquor from Cal and placed it on the table before him. ''Go on.''
Cal sighed, as he knocked back the rest of the liquor. He slowly moved back to his desk. His jaw was tight; this was a deal he never thought he would be making, not with this person in front of him. Anger wasn't an emotion he should be acting on right now. He nodded, knowing what direction he needed to go in.
''Your end of this deal, will be; complete silence, to not come to this house again and to not contact Rose.''
Jack felt his lips go dry. Those were the things which he wanted the most. He went to speak but Cal continued.
''Once you have agreed to those things, I will reveal more of why Rose has been sent away.''
''Why? She isn't sick, is she?''
Cal shook his head. ''Do you agree to the terms, Dawson?''
Jack was in fear of losing a damned battle anyway – but he needed to know more. His stomach was in his throat, his heart beating faster than before. ''I agree.''
Cal smiled. One small victory.
''In exchange for your thorough confidence, I will offer you a small token of my appreciation.''
Jack jumped up, kicking back the chair so that it fell backwards. He had had enough. ''I don't want your damned money! I need to know, tell me what you were going to say!'' He couldn't control his temper but why should he? The games Hockley were playing angered him even more.
Cal got to his feet. ''If you don't shut your mouth then this deal is off and you will know nothing!'' He threatened, his tone sharp.
''But they will know everything.'' Jack pointed outside the window. ''And we both know just how precious your reputation is to you and your family.''
Direct eye contact with Dawson ensured that he knew just how serious he was. Silence fell over them for a few seconds or so. Jack pressed his lips together. He wasn't going to be here in the next ten seconds unless Cal finished his end of the deal. He didn't come here to mess around and he certainly meant everything that he had said. His entire body was shaking, a quivering mess from both the adrenaline and need to see Rose. He was prepared to run about this whole damned house to find her for he was so sure of where she was.
Silence fell over them again until Cal spoke. The words came out in a hurried mess but to Jack he heard every single one of them.
''Rose is in a delicate condition.''
Those words were hard to be processed. It took a few seconds, perhaps even longer for him to understand just what had been said. Silence fell between them for several minutes, neither of them knowing what to say. Words failed Jack completely. The truth could not sink into his mind. The wind had been knocked from his sails and all he could do was watch Cal ever so blankly. Jack allowed himself to remember their first and only time. He had made love to her in the back of a Renault touring car. With a thudding heart, she had led his trembling hand to her breast...
Cal broke the silence, walking back to his desk casually. ''Yes, your dalliance with my fiancée created a child. I am afraid to say that it is I who has to be the one to be dealing with the unfortunate incident.''
Cal's voice didn't even register to Jack. They had created a child. That was all he needed to know. There was going to be a baby. He looked up at Cal; the one man who suddenly had all of the answers to everything in his life. The person who he despised more than he thought possible. ''How is she?'' He demanded.
''Sick and weak. The child is taking every ounce of energy she has. So, she was taken to rest elsewhere, away from this city.''
Jack felt the tears prick in his eyes. He covered his hands with his face. The anger and intense hatred which he once held inside was replaced with fear and love. ''I have to see her.''
''No.'' Cal told him firmly. ''Looking for her will ensure you will know nothing further. Not now, not ever.''
Jack went back to the chair, his hands coming up over the arms which he gripped tightly as though he needed to grasp something firm to remind him that he wasn't dreaming, imagining this moment in his head.
''But I have to know.'' He was calm, something had overcome him.
Cal noticed the shift in his mood. He knew this was something which he could now play with, twist to his own way, ensuring he had full upper hand. ''Then you must cooperate as I can so easily take this privilege away from you.''
Jack's breathing was ragged. He felt the undying need to hold her, to kiss her and tell her how much he loved her, missed her and wanted to be there for her and the child but deep down he knew; those words which had stayed with him all along. I always win Jack, one way or another. Cal was the key to everything, for the time being and Jack knew that he would have to play his end of the deal to the end of this. He tried to steady his breathing. ''All right.'' He wiped his face, hiding the wounds of a broken man. ''I will keep my end of this bargain in exchange for word of how Rose is, how my child is. Please.''
Cal waited a few seconds before nodding in agreement. ''Yes, that much I will grant you. When the time comes for the child to be born I shall give you word in person.''
With a heavy body, Jack stood from his chair. Cal held out his hand to Jack, gentleman to gentleman. ''All right.'' Jack shook on it, for he had no other choice.
In just a few short minutes, his life had changed completely forever. He was going to father a child with a woman who he had known just three short days and yet loved so deeply.