AUTHORS NOTE: Just a quick message, FYI - I received a Private Message asking me if I'd stopped updating this story as someone had stopped receiving email notifications at about chapter 80. So, I am guessing FF is having issues again with notifications for anyone who thinks stories they are following have gone cold.

CHAPTER 121

(GIDEON)

Eva is watching me carefully but not saying anything. I think that we were both floored at Giroux's reaction to the news about this boy. I know that I'm not sure what to think now. As I am trying to work things out in my mind, I decide that now is a good time to call Miranda, not only to acknowledge the email she sent but to give her a heads up about Giroux and try and find out some more information. I've tried to take my mind off things by trying to do some work on my laptop as we fly home, but it just isn't working. So, I reach for my cellphone once more and place the call with Miranda.

"Miranda Bennett speaking" comes the kind efficient voice.

"Miranda, Gideon Cross here. I'm calling you about the email I've received from you" I say carefully.

"Gideon, hi… I'm so sorry about this but when I got the information, I put two and two together and I felt I had to call you to give you a heads up about it. Before we go any further… and I'm not just saying this because I need your help but let me reassure you, with regard to your privacy. I've taken charge of this investigation and put in place similar safeguards as to when you approached me about Eva's father, even though in this case you are not my client. I also want to apologise for dragging you into all this, but with who the boy claims his mother to be… I felt I had to reach out to you, and ask for a DNA sample to rule you out and to protect you" she says.

I smile and thank her, realising that she doesn't believe I am this boy's father and she has only reached out as due diligence and to try and prevent any gold diggers trying to cash in on any possible link. However, that won't help if I am proven to be this boy's father.

"Thank you, that's good to know, but I'm fairly resigned to the fact that should I be this boy's father it will inevitably become public at some point. But delaying that inevitability is always a good thing, especially considering that he may be nothing to do with me. At this moment I'm not really sure what to ask you, obviously I will do a DNA test – that goes without saying. You should also know I've contacted Jean Francois Giroux as he was with Corrine around that time, so he will probably be getting in touch with you at some point".

I hear a small gasp, "I thought… You mean…?" Miranda asks, and then stops.

I know what she is thinking and so I confirm her unspoken words. "He admitted she slept with him when we were together, but between you and me that was something I had always suspected, but he confirmed it for me when I spoke with him a short while ago. When she left me and broke off the engagement things developed with him really quickly and he always did like her, so he has just confirmed what I always thought. As far as I am aware, he is flying to the States and I believe that he will be giving a DNA sample as well".

"Oh, ok right… thank you for telling me. I have to say I wasn't sure what to think when this landed on my desk, thankfully the genealogical investigator recognised the name and knew that I knew Corrine but didn't make the connection with you at that point. I took over the investigation immediately as I knew it would only be a matter of time before the link was made".

"Thank you, I'm grateful for that… you should also know Giroux was aware of this boy and he was led to believe that the child was definitely mine – going on what Corrine told him. She told him that I knew and didn't want to accept responsibility, which is absolute rubbish as the first I knew about this boy was when your email landed in my inbox. Had I known that I'd fathered a child I most certainly would've faced that and taken full accountability for it, as I do not shirk my responsibilities".

"Oh my god! I'm sorry I was responsible for that shock… I thought you knew about the rumours" she pauses and I quickly interrupt her.

"What rumours?" I ask.

"It was a while ago. It was around the time you started building Cross Industries, I will say that at the time, back then I heard rumours, but didn't really pay that much attention. By that stage in our life, I'd personally lost contact with you and Corrine but I was still in touch with some of our circle who still talked to Corrine. You should know that everyone thought she was lying. They didn't believe the rumour that she was pregnant, and they also believed she was just desperately looking to try and trap you. You were starting to become quite successful and we heard that she had asked you to marry her so people thought that was financially motivated but then you'd started to drift apart, everyone assumed that you were concentrating on building Cross Industries and just didn't have the time for a personal relationship. The general consensus was that she was lying to try and trap you and to get your attention to refocus on her. But if that was the plan why on earth didn't she tell you? That part doesn't make any sense".

I let out a small snort, "That is because I believe she was indeed pregnant but didn't know who the father of the child was as she was sleeping with Giroux on occasions while she was with me, she realised the relationship with me was going nowhere, and she was edging her bets, so to speak. You are quite correct I was busy building Cross Industries and that did take all my time and attention at that point in my life. I just didn't have any spare time for her". I pause as Eva raises her eyebrows at that and gives me a knowing smirk. We both know that is only partly the truth. It was true I was building Cross Industries, but had I wanted to I would've made time for Corrine.

"She went to stay with her parents, I admit that I was very remiss in keeping contact with her while she was with them. Then the next thing I knew was when she called me to break our engagement. She called and said she was leaving me and was now with Giroux, and so I accepted that and I wished her well as I knew I had no grounds to argue with her decision after I had practically ignored her for months. It was a short time later she went with him to France and married him. From the age of the boy, I am assuming he was born during the time while she was in Connecticut with her parents, as far as I can remember she was there about 4/5 months," I add.

"I see", Miranda says as she takes all that in. So, as the silence spreads out between us I jump in with a question.

"What can you tell me about this boy?" I ask carefully although I am not really expecting her to answer that.

There is another lengthy pause before she speaks again. "Well, although this is clearly a massive shock and you will probably have a million questions regarding our client and his family, obviously I can't tell you too much about this boy as our privacy rules apply to him just as they apply to you and did when I was helping Eva… more so considering he is a minor… but what I will tell you is and this is strictly between you and me, it was his adoptive uncle who made the request on his behalf".

I know and accept that Miranda is limited to what she can tell me, so it was really unfair of me to ask. "So, something has happened to his adoptive parents?" I say putting two and two together with this information she has provided.

There is another long silence before she replies, which tells me I am probably correct. "Gideon, I can't say anything else… I'm sorry" Miranda says eventually.

"But he knew the name of his biological mother" I state as I try and push a bit more.

There is another long silence before Miranda replies, "He did, but I really can't go into any more detail now until any link has been confirmed. I'm sure you understand?" she says apologetically.

I sigh, "I know, and I'm sorry to push. I was grateful when you were so conscious of our privacy when I called you for Eva. It is very wrong of me to push with this, especially as it is a child we are discussing, but my head just about exploded when I received your email and I just want answers, and I want them now".

I hear a small giggle, "That doesn't surprise me. Listen let's get you set up with an appointment, to get your DNA test done, and we will take it from there. How does that sound?"

"That sounds perfect, at this moment I am as we speak on board a plane flying back to New York. So, if we make the appointment for tomorrow morning?" I ask.

"That's great, I'll call Jeremy at our New York office and he can call you to organise a time to suit, or you can arrange one with me and I'll pass the details on? You will remember it was Jeremy who came to take Eva's DNA when we were dealing with her case".

"That's fine, I'll make it now. If he could come to The Crossfire, like he did for Eva, about 8am tomorrow morning?" I ask as I quickly call up and run through the schedule on my open laptop in front of me.

"That's absolutely fine, I'll pass that on for you" Miranda says.

"Thank you" I reply simply.

oooOOOooo

The Next Day…

I am just getting ready to take a quick break before I head into another meeting. It has been absolutely relentless this morning. I expected as much, considering I have been away from the office. It's always the case that no matter how well my team run things in my absence I still pay for it when I return. However, it is something I am prepared to face as the time away with Eva was more than worth the extra work now. My mind inevitably wanders back to the situation with this boy who is claiming to be Corrine's son. Jeremy from Finding family came this morning and took my DNA sample and assured me that I should have the results within the next 24 hours, I've done all I can for now so I am trying to put that particular issue out of my mind.

I sit back in my seat and stretch, before gulping down my coffee. As I take this moment to collect my thoughts my intercom buzzes. I bite back a curse and answer it.

"Yes Scott" I say, trying not to sound too irritated.

"Mr Cross, security have called up. There is a man down in the lobby asking for you. He said his name is Jean Francois Giroux. I close my eyes, so much for trying to put it out of my mind!

I let out a long sigh, and rub my forehead with my fingers. I know I should go down but I really don't want to.

"Thank you, Scott, this is a personal matter… I'll go down" I say as that way I can leave at any point if he decides to piss me off. "How long do I have till my next appointment?" I ask.

"Ten minutes" he replies.

"Ok can you try and buy me ten more?" I ask.

"No problem" Scott replies with his usual efficiency. With that I take a deep breath and grabbing my jacket I head down to the lobby.

As the elevator doors open, I see Giroux standing at the reception desk. Irritation immediately flows through me; I've not seen him for years but he hasn't changed. He looks tired so I am guessing he came here as soon as he landed but any sympathy I may have for him is immediately eradicated by the fact he knew all about that boy.

As he sees me approach he smiles, admittedly it's a tight forced smile but the fact he is being civil throws me slightly as all I have grown to expect from him is accusations and blame borne out of jealousy for the fact Corrine allegedly loved me more than him.

"Giroux" I say as I stride towards him and hold out my hand.

He accepts it willingly, "Cross, is there somewhere we can go and talk?" he asks.

I sigh, "I don't have long" I say and he nods accepting that.

"I understand, you were not expecting me so soon. Perhaps if we meet for lunch instead so we can discuss what is happening?" he asks.

I think about that, he is clearly trying to be civil about this so I nod. I'll meet him half way. "Yes, that can be arranged, where are you staying?" I ask.

He informs me that he is staying at the Regent, which is one of my hotels. "I will call them and arrange for a private dining room… shall we say, 1pm?" I ask as I glance at my watch.

"That sounds acceptable" he replies, "It also gives me time to have a short rest before we meet" he adds.

"I'm sorry but I really need to go now" I say as I gesture towards the elevator and he simply nods accepting that.

We say a polite goodbye and then I head back to the elevator. As I do so I quickly text Scott to arrange a private dining room for three people at the Regent hotel for 1pm. He quickly texts me back confirming it is done. Instead of going straight back up to Cross Industries I stop at Waters Field and Leaman and am quickly buzzed in and greeted politely by the receptionist. I smile at her and make my way to Eva's office. I am well known for dropping in here to see Eva so nobody stops me and many people greet me with a smile and polite hello as I pass them.

When I reach Eva's office I see her laughing with Garrity and I just pause to look at her, my heart lurching as I drink her in. She glances up and sees me and as our eyes meet I see the heat in them which is reserved solely for me. I wait patiently as she excuses herself and comes out to me.

"Gideon, what's wrong?" she asks.

"Nothing, Giroux has arrived he came here to see me. I've arranged to have lunch with him at 1pm" I say, I know I don't need to ask her and she will take that statement as she will also be having lunch with us.

"Ok, I'll be ready" she says simply and she touches my arm as she says it.

I reach for her and pull her into my arms, just needing to feel her against me. I press a chaste kiss to the side of her mouth and she responds by giving me an affectionate squeeze.

"It'll be ok" she whispers reassuringly.

I take a deep breath and nod, "I know" I say. "I'll let you get back to what you were doing" I say as I nod my head towards her office and see Garrity watching us carefully.

With that I reluctantly release her and after watching her walk away I simply turn around and make my way back to my own office.

oooOOOooo

The rest of the morning carries on pretty much as it had done before Giroux's interruption. I continue to steadily work through my schedule until I am interrupted by my intercom once more.

I glance at my watch before I answer it and as I see the time I simply look up to see Eva waiting beside Scott's desk. I stand and gesture for her to join me. I see her say something to Scott and he smiles and replacing the handset carries on with his work.

"Hi" she says as she enters my office.

"Angel" I reply as I quickly round my desk and walk towards her.

As I reach her I pull her into my arms and press her against me as I kiss her.

"It'll be ok" Eva murmurs in my ear as I hold her tightly against me. "How was he when you spoke to him earlier?" she asks. I know she is referring to Giroux but I confirm that before I answer.

"You mean Giroux?" I ask and she nods.

"Yes" she replies simply.

I let out a sigh, "Very civilised. He was polite and he even smiled at me, not something I am used to from him. I normally get biting remarks and accusations, so I take that as he has finally realised that I've always been telling the truth about Corrine".

"Well, lets go and get this over with" Eva says as she pulls away from me.

I grab my jacket and we head down to the lobby. Angus is waiting for us beside the Bentley and quickly opens the door for us while giving Eva a bright smile. Eva climbs into the Bentley and as I go to clamber in after her he touches my arm.

"It'll be fine lad" he whispers reassuringly. I had told Angus this latest development and he had assured me he would look into this boy. He had seemed surprised by the news when I told him and he questioned whether it was someone just looking for a pay out, or even a crazy looking to seek media attention and cause trouble. That was something I hadn't considered but then I remember what Miranda had said, that it was the boy's uncle who had approached Finding Family so that angle is now firmly up there as a viable explanation.

When we arrive at the hotel Angus climbs out and opens the door of the Bentley for us and gives me a knowing look.

"Thank you Angus, I'll let you know what Giroux says" I say and Angus simply nods just once.

"Thanks Angus" Eva says as she climbs out and joins me on the sidewalk.

"Ready?" she asks looking up at me.

"As I'll ever be" I reply and placing my hand at the bottom of her back I usher us towards the hotel.

Giroux is just walking through the lobby heading towards the restaurant as we enter the hotel and he sees us and pauses to wait.

He holds out his hand once more and I accept and greet him politely.

"You remember my wife, Eva" I say as I pull Eva closer to me.

"Indeed I do, it is a pleasure to see you again" he replies and leans forward to kiss Eva. She immediately steps back and holds out her hand instead. He pauses and accepts the handshake.

"Hello Monsieur Giroux, you are looking well" she says politely.

"Merci, that is very kind of you. May I say that you are looking as beautiful as I remember" he replies smoothly.

All my protective, possessive instincts are heightened by that remark and I pull Eva even closer. She simply wraps her arm around my waist and squeezes me reassuringly, which immediately calms me.

She laughs at the comment "You are very kind, now shall we go for lunch?" she says gesturing towards the restaurant.

We are quickly shown to the private dining room and a waiter comes to give us the menu's and offer us drinks.

"So, I was surprised to hear from you Cross… I was even more surprised after what you told me" Giroux begins. Jumping straight in to why we are all here.

"As was I, especially when you made it clear you were aware of the boy" I say.

Giroux nods, "I always assumed you knew and didn't care. That has clouded my perception of you for years. I wish to apologise for my incorrect assumptions and my attitude towards you over the years".

"Were you there when she had the baby?" Eva asks and Giroux nods.

"I was… I visited her regularly at her parent's home where she spent the pregnancy. It was awful to watch her sitting beside the phone waiting for you to call her and you never did" he says looking at me somewhat accusingly.

My eyebrows rise at that, "I was busy building my company. I didn't have any spare time to devote to my private life at that point, and Corrine knew that is what I was doing. Had I known Corrine was pregnant, things would've been very different I assure you. You cannot accuse me of being heartless when I was unaware of the full story" I say with clear warning in my tone.

Eva leans forward, "So Corrine told you that Gideon knew about the baby?" she asks.

Giroux nods, "She did, I was disgusted with you for abandoning her… but it appears that Corrine wasn't entirely truthful with me".

Eva snorts, "That's nothing new. Corrine wouldn't know the truth if it bit her in the ass" she says bluntly which makes me fight to hide the smile pulling at my lips and I see Giroux's astonished expression.

"I don't understand?" Giroux says.

Eva sighs, "No, it would seem you don't know a lot Monsieur Giroux. It appears you had a total blind spot when it came to Corrine and Gideon was the easy target to blame for her actions". She pauses as the waiter reappears and pours the wine and takes our lunch orders. When he has gone, she takes a sip of her wine and then continues.

"Corrine played both of you, she played you off against one another for years. I saw it when I first met her and it seems it was going on long before that. You have admitted you slept with Corrine behind Gideon's back so you also need to be held partly responsible as you are not entirely innocent. When I first met Corrine when she returned to the States after your marriage fell apart, she seemed to think she could pick up with Gideon where she left off. When it became apparent, he had moved on with me she did her upmost to try and split us up, going as far as trying to make me believe he'd slept with her – twice. He hadn't, but that didn't stop it causing trouble between us. Gideon had made it clear to her that all he could offer her was friendship and that he was with me, but she bombarded him with calls and became totally irrational. So much so he called you to come and take care of her. Then look at the levels of manipulation and emotional blackmail when you told her we were engaged… she swallowed a bottle of pills, that is not the actions of a rational human being".

Giroux nods, "I also believe we were not her only lovers… when we were all at Columbia, she was very popular, was she not?" he looks at me knowingly and I nod.

"She was officially with you, but I am certain she… entertained others in our social circle" he says.

"Who?" I ask.

Giroux lets out a long breath and then takes a drink of his wine. "Someone in particular, who you are quite close to. You have been friends for years and I believe you trust him implicitly" he says evasively. As he says that I immediately feel as though a bucket of cold water has just been poured over me.

"Stop messing and give me a fucking name" I growl, in growing irritation.

"Arash Madani" he states and Eva gasps and I sit back in obvious shock. He is my personal attorney and confidant. He knew about my love for Eva before anyone else, I look at Eva.

"Has he ever tried anything with you?" I ask coldly and she shakes her head adamantly.

"NO! For gods sake Gideon no" she exclaims. I reach for her hand and squeeze it apologetically.

"I'm sorry Angel" I mutter quietly.

Eva quickly pulls herself together and I can see she is working things out, her eyes narrow slightly and she looks at Giroux appraisingly. "Very clever Monsieur Giroux, are you trying to get Gideon to question everyone's loyalty now? Are you trying to drive a wedge between us now? Not to mention also trying to cause trouble between Gideon and his attorney" she asks.

"I am just making the assumptions on what I previously witnessed" Giroux says holding up his hands in a gesture of surrender.

"Yes, and look where those unfounded and inaccurate assumptions got you before" Eva snaps back.

Giroux tips his head in acknowledgement of that remark.

"I was there when the child was born. Corrine had come to the realisation that you weren't coming back and so she made the decision to put him up for adoption and I supported her. I was not prepared to take on your son".

"He could've been yours – you slept with her as well" Eva puts in.

"Corrine assured me that he was not, she told me that she'd had a paternity test done. She told me that it had been done before the child had been born, I am aware that can be done so I didn't question it… until now, as obviously your DNA would've been required to make the comparison. I just don't understand why she did what she did?" he says.

Eva snorts again, "Well I can – it's obvious" she says. I look at her questioningly as I was wondering exactly the same thing as Giroux.

She leans forward, "Tell me Monsieur Giroux when did she tell you about who the kids father was? Was it before or after she had arranged the adoption?"

"Before" he says in obvious confusion.

"And when did she arrange the adoption? In relation to when she called Gideon and told him she was with you and broke off the engagement?" she asks.

"After" he replies.

Eva looks somewhat triumphant at that response and waves her hand at him.

"And there we go" she says simply. "To put it simply, she stuck her head in the sand, and she didn't want to know who the father of her child was. She came up with this elaborate lie to rationalise her actions to herself. She slept with both of you so she had no idea who the father was. She loved Gideon… more than you, sorry but that is the way it was, and probably still is considering what she did a few months ago. Anyway, she realises that Gideon has pulled away and is slipping away from her so she pins her hopes to you, but deep down she still really wants Gideon. She tests the ground with you and realises that you won't take on another man's kid – something you have just admitted, so she decides to ditch the kid and start afresh with you. But before she does so she calls Gideon, to say she is with you to find out what his reaction to that news is. She hopes he will fight for her, and so if he had she would then have told him she was pregnant. But he didn't he let her go with his best wishes, so then she knew there was no hope of a relationship with Gideon and she was in a corner. Gideon had let her go, the relationship was done so she realised she had nowhere else to go and so she arranged the adoption. What she failed to realise is that kid could've been yours, but that didn't really concern her because as I say, she didn't really love you. She used you to try and make Gideon jealous, and as for that poor kid she didn't even give him a second thought".

I'm astounded by Eva's perception, not to mention Corrine's deviousness. It all makes sense, but it appears that Giroux is not agreeing.

"No, I won't believe Corrine would be so underhanded" he says.

Eva snorts loudly at that, "Oh come on!" she says, "That woman approached my sister Ana a few months ago wanting to publish a book… my sister owns Grey Publishing, I'm sure you heard how I am related to Christian Grey's wife?" she pauses and Giroux nods.

"Yeah, well she had written a work of fiction under the name Caroline Hamilton – her mom's name. That story – according to what Ana told us was her rose tinted perception of what she hoped had happened when she disappeared to France with you. It was a regular fairy tale, two men fighting over her and she rode off into the sunset and lived happily ever after… with Gideon".

Giroux is sitting there shaking his head.

"I can call my sister if you need confirmation?" Eva says.

"That won't be necessary" Giroux says tightly. He looks absolutely devastated by this and I realise he is now finally accepting that Corrine never really loved him.

"Look I think the best thing is for you to take a DNA test as soon as possible and we can establish for certain who this boy's father is. I did mine this morning and I will be getting the results tomorrow" I say.

Giroux nods, "I have spoken to Miranda, she was aware that I could be contacting her. I have arranged to go to the Finding Family office later this afternoon" he says.

"Well, that being the case then hopefully by this time tomorrow we will have some definitive answers" Eva says.

At that moment the door opens and our lunch arrives.

"Let's eat" Eva says and we both nod in agreement.