Lester, Hector and Dino stayed in New York with Stephanie until she had to return home. She booked a flight with Dino, preferring to have company on the flights to Italy. Stephanie gave Lester, Hector and Julie her phone number and email address, making them promise not to share it with anyone. Stephanie had no interest in talking to Ricardo Carlos Manoso. He made his decision before Stephanie left.
The group was eating in Stephanie's hotel suite when Stephanie asked, "I expected Ranger to appear at my mom's funeral. Why didn't he?"
Hector laughed. "I removed the notification from all sources," Hector replied. "You needed more time."
"You are the best, Hector. I love you, hermano," Stephanie said.
Blushing, Hector replied, "I love you, hermana."
Stephanie giggled when Lester pouted. "Lester, you have a choice. You're my best friend, or you're my brother."
Dino cracked up laughing when Stephanie hummed the song from Jeopardy. He loved watching the television series on the internet.
"Can't I be both?" Lester asked.
Tapping a finger against her lip, Stephanie pretended to consider the option Lester offered. With a slow smile, Stephanie replied, "Of course, you can be both. Just like Hector."
"I'll visit on my next vacation," Lester promised. "I would love to meet your son."
"I'm sure he'd love to meet his Uncle Lester," Stephanie agreed. "Do you have an idea when you can get away?"
Lester and Hector consulted their calendars to figure out a time to visit. They agreed to visits between Memorial Day and Independence Day. Both men had a few months of vacation time to use. It would give Hector time to get his passport for travel.
Hector's phone chimed. He read the message and smiled. "The results are in." Hector opened the email, then printed the information on the portable printer he brought to New York. In black and white was the result everyone was waiting for. Ricardo Carlos Manoso was ninety-nine point nine-nine-nine-nine percent likely to be Nando Plum's father. Nando was thirty-five point one-three percent likely to be Julie Martine's half-brother. The proof was irrefutable. Hector contacted the lab to ensure nobody else would receive a copy of the report.
"Give me a minute," Lester said. He called his brother Mateo who was Rangeman's lawyer. "Hey, bro, I need a favour."
"What now?" Mateo sighed.
"I need a copy of the paperwork where Ranger relinquished his parental rights to any child Stephanie Michelle Plum claimed as belonging to him," Lester said.
"Sure, but I must inform Ranger since he's my client."
"I know, but can you say you forwarded it to her lawyer?" Lester asked. Stephanie smiled and gave Lester a lawyer's name. Jordan Keeping was her father's friend. He practiced family law in New Jersey. Lester grinned at Stephanie, then relayed the message as Stephanie told her father. She wanted Jordan to forward the email so she had a copy. "Hang on. I have his email address," Lester said. He read the information from Stephanie's phone.
"I'll send it now," Mateo said, emailing the information to Jordan Keeping. Stephanie grinned when she received a copy of the email. Her dad got Jordan to forward the document to Stephanie upon receipt.
Stephanie motioned to speak to the lawyer. Lester shook his head. Rolling her eyes, Stephanie went into her email app on her phone to get the number. She smiled sweetly at Lester before dialling the number, ensuring she masked hers with her discontinued number.
"I've got to take this," Mateo said, ending the call.
"Hi, my name is Stephanie. I received a copy of the intent to relinquish custody and paternal rights of my son. How legal is the document?" Stephanie asked.
"Completely," he replied.
"Well, I seem to have an issue with the paperwork. The line, "if the client was the biological father," must be updated to "the client is the biological father of Nando Plum, Stephanie Michelle Plum's son." Do you think it's possible to correct the document?" Stephanie asked.
"Only if you have irrefutable proof that Ricardo Carlos Manoso is the biological father," Mateo replied. "Do you want Carlos to acknowledge your son?"
"I have that proof. I'll send a hard copy to my lawyer. He will send an electronic copy to you," Stephanie said. "I planned to tell my son about his biological father. When he gets older, he would want to see proof that his father gave up on him; that it wasn't my choice. All of my decisions are with my son's best interest at heart. I don't give a damn if Manoso never admits Nando is his child. Have a good day." Stephanie ended the call.
Mateo stared at his phone. He attempted to redial Stephanie's number, but it returned as out of service.
Stephanie got Hector to email her the test results. Julie would receive a digital copy from the lab. Hector promised to deliver the official paperwork to Jordan Keeping. He had to collect original copies the document from the lab before returning to Trenton.
Hector dropped Dino and Stephanie at the airport the following morning. Lester rode to Trenton with Hector, then took the Rangeman jet back to Miami. He had the paternity results inside a sealed envelope for Mateo. Ranger's behaviour didn't amuse Lester. It was time to cut his losses or ask the other core members to replace Ranger as the company's CEO.
~~~~~
A few days later, Ranger stared at the paperwork his lawyer handed him. He couldn't believe he had a son with Stephanie. Ranger didn't keep the baby picture Frank gave him. He burned it with the letters. The tests don't lie. Ranger was Nando Plum's biological father. He made an epic mistake. How could he ever make it up to Stephanie?
Ranger hoped to appeal to Helen Plum's motherly instincts. The answering machine picked up, making Ranger wonder why Helen Plum wasn't home at 0900 hours to answer the call. Ranger called every hour until a woman replied, "You've reached the Plums. How may I help you?"
"May I speak to Helen Plum?" Ranger asked.
"Is this some kind of sick joke?" the woman screamed. Ranger realized it was Valerie Kloughn on the line.
"I'm sorry, Valerie. I don't understand," Ranger replied honestly.
"My mother died a week ago. What do you want?" Valerie demanded.
"It's Ranger. I'm trying to find Stephanie and my son. I want to make things right and marry her," Ranger replied.
Valerie snorted. "Call someone else, asshole. I don't know where she lives. It would be best if you moved on. Everyone knows a man in love doesn't send the woman back to a man she hasn't dated in over a year. You are worse than my loser ex-husband." Valerie hung up, then called her dad. She refrained from commenting about Ranger not being at the funeral. Her brother-in-law, Vincenzo, couldn't catch a flight to arrive in time.
Frank was furious Ranger wanted to interfere in Stephanie's life. She moved on from Ranger after he rejected her again. Stephanie and Enzo were in love. He witnessed it when he visited for Nando's second birthday.
Stephanie didn't need the hassle Manoso would create in her life. She was pregnant with Enzo's baby. The stress could increase her risk of miscarrying.
Frustrated, Frank returned Ranger's call. "Manoso," Ranger answered when the call got forwarded to his office phone.
"Why are you interested in Stephanie now?" Frank demanded.
"I received a copy of the paternity test proving Nando is my biological son."
"Manoso," Frank said, making Ranger feel like a reprimanded soldier, "You tossed Stephanie aside, claiming she lied about paternity. I heard you claimed the child belonged to Morelli, who she hadn't dated or slept with for over a year. My daughter deserves better than the life you can offer. As you repeatedly told Stephanie, your life doesn't lend itself to relationships. Do the right thing, soldier." Frank slammed the phone on the receiver, then called the phone company to disconnect the line. Everyone who mattered had his mobile number.
Ranger stared at his phone. He never heard that tone from Frank Plum before that day. The man refused to stand back and watch whatever shit people flung at Stephanie. Ranger felt ashamed for his treatment of his Babe. He loved her. It was too late. Frank gave Ranger the impression that Stephanie had moved on. Ranger decided to provide Stephanie with what she deserved - full custody of their son. A tear slid down Ranger's cheek as he signed the paperwork to relinquish his parental rights. "Good luck, Stephanie," he whispered.
Tank called Ranger into his office. Ranger locked his computer screen and collected the papers off his desk. He dropped them into the intraoffice mail to get sent to Mateo's office on the second floor.
Entering Tank's office, Ranger stopped in his tracks. Bobby, Lester and Tank sat at the table awaiting his arrival. A thick file folder was on the table beneath Tank's hands. "Are you planning a coup?" Ranger joked while closing and locking the door.
"Yes!" Lester snapped. "You have two options. Step down as CEO or sell your shares to us."
Ranger raised an eyebrow, wondering why the men were busting him. "You overstepped with the employees. I am in charge of the staff," Tank said. "We voted on the roles when we built Rangeman from the ground up."
"You were the voice of Rangeman. We used to believe in your vision. Santos, Sherman and I invested in your idea of providing work for ex-military and others who couldn't find a job elsewhere. When you threw Stephanie away, your vision changed. Your disrespectful actions toward Stephanie opened our eyes. We realized putting a man like you in power made you someone we no longer respect," Bobby explained.
"We should be making money off the arrangement with the casino. Your daily visits are costing Rangeman time and money. I send three men to watch your back as you fuck the prostitutes the casino owner provides. Here's your latest bill from the casino," Tank said, slipping the page to Ranger.
The number of times Ranger used the hookers was more than the fee discussed in the initial arrangement. Ranger's attempt to forget about Stephanie would affect Rangeman's reputation in the community. Rangeman couldn't afford to lose their clients' respect. "It's inexcusable," Lester said. His voice was quiet but deadly.
Ranger rubbed a hand down his face. He knew what had to happen. "I'll move to Trenton. Relocate Rodriguez. I declined his transfer request last month," Ranger replied. "Who are you voting as CEO?"
"Tank asked the management team from each branch to vote. Bobby is the unanimous winner. Bones offered to be the Miami medic. His hours are the same as the other staff. We have other men to step into position if Bones gets called into work during his unscheduled hours," Lester replied.
"My role?" Ranger asked.
"Manager of the Trenton office. Rodriguez will assume the role of Miami's branch manager," Tank replied. "I'm second in command to Bobby. We shifted the roles within the upper management."
"Do you accept the demotion to Trenton branch manager, or are you selling your shares?" Lester demanded.
"I accept the demotion," Ranger replied. He would still make money each year as a shareholder. "But I still hold the most shares."
"No, Manoso. You do not. Part of accepting the demotion is relinquishing the controlling shares. Bobby, Lester and I decided to give Stephanie equal shares in Rangeman. Her assistance in fugitive research helped us make millions in profit. Stephanie never accepted her fair share of the fees we earned. We decided to use her earnings to purchase shares from each of us," Tank explained.
Ranger nodded. It was a reasonable trade. Stephanie deserved to own Rangeman. She changed how searches got completed, increasing their yearly profits by five million for the four branches. "How much does Stephanie own?" Ranger asked.
"Twenty percent. It's the same as the rest of us," Tank replied. "Stephanie holds the deciding vote."
"Is Stephanie aware of the changes?" Ranger asked.
Lester stared at Ranger, attempting to see if Ranger was on board or plotting to harm Stephanie. "Not yet," Lester replied. "After everyone signs the revised Rangeman contracts and business agreement, Mateo will notify her lawyer. Someone from his office will contact Stephanie."
"Ranger, if you attempt to interfere with this process, we will rescind our offer of demotion and buy out your shares. Are you willing to cooperate?" Tank asked.
"Yes," Ranger replied. He signed four copies of the contract.
Giving Stephanie shares instead of payment for her rightful earnings was something they considered before Ranger fell in love with her. He feared the depth of his feelings for Stephanie, thinking he didn't deserve to be loved by someone like her.