Chapter Forty-Eight – [Memory, Senior Year, November] – Your Benefactor Wishes to Remain Anonymous
I think it's time for you to meet your father.
Lyn stared at Arya's message, his heart slowly turning to lead. She didn't know about the check, and she had no idea Lyn knew who his father was, or at least had a good guess. The situation wasn't good regarding his inheritance, if he could call it that, and money was still something he didn't have. Brad had suggested once that Lyn ask Alexander for help, but his reaction had been strong enough to convince his best friend that wasn't in the cards and never would be. Although Alexander had returned to school, he treated Lyn as if they were strangers. Between studying like a mad man and worrying about his financial situation, Lyn hadn't had the time to worry about Alexander, too.
He was worrying, however. Brad had dismissed the gossip, telling Lyn what he overheard that time referred to another student, someone with a drug problem. Alexander, for all Lyn knew about him via Brad, had been too caught up in skiing to bother with being at school for almost a whole month, on and off.
That explained why Alexander buried himself in studying now. Lyn couldn't blame him. There was a lot of catching up to do, and other rumors – these more credible – said that there had been a certain donation to the school so that Alexander was able to continue his studies without any trouble regarding his prolonged absence.
Brad's parents didn't have the sort of money that was needed to help him, either, and Lyn wouldn't have accepted such substantial help anyway.
But his father, the man Arya believed to be his father, had that kind of money. How was he going to tell Arya that his biological father wasn't the solution? The chance of that man acknowledging Lyn as his bastard child as the result of a dubious liaison was zero. Also, in case he was aware of something, that hefty check was supposed to have taken care of the problem by now.
The idea of blackmailing him made Lyn sick to the stomach.
He called Arya, deciding to put this monster to bed once and for all.
After the usual greetings, he took the bull by the horns. "Arya, I can't ask for money from the man you believe to be my father."
"How do you know who he is, dearest?" she asked.
"My mom told me about him," Lyn lied through his teeth. "And he's not the kind of man to blackmail, Arya."
"Who said anything about blackmail?" Arya retorted, but Lyn could hear in her voice that no weapon was off the table as far as she was concerned. "I think he'd be proud to know that he has such a smart young man to call his son."
"I seriously doubt it. Arya, Mom didn't want to have anything to do with him, and she had her reasons. I'd be going against her wishes if I were to ask him of all people for help. I hope you didn't say anything to him," he added, only then realizing he hadn't even thought of that possibility until now.
"No," Arya replied. "I wanted to consult you first, since you're not a child. But you must know that at this point in life, Lyn, you don't have anyone in your corner. Anyone with serious weight, that is. And your mom… well, let's just say she wasn't the most practical person in the world."
"To put it lightly," he said with a sigh. "I can't meet the guy, Arya. He's not the kind of man who cares, and I don't want to put myself in an embarrassing situation."
"Embarrassing? I'm a bit disappointed in you, Lyn. To survive in this life you need to put yourself in many embarrassing situations."
He knew what she wasn't saying. Pride was a luxury he couldn't afford.
"I don't want anything to do with him. I'll figure something out on my own. I'll put the house up for sale and--"
"And you'll end up with nothing. You're graduating soon, Lyn. You need money to get a start in life, no matter how smart you are. I don't know about you, but I have yet to see many lawyers wearing hand-me-downs."
Lyn pursed his lips hard. "I understand. Then I have to tell you that I believe going to meet him and asking him for money are two extremely risky ideas. He is powerful, right?"
"Yes," Arya confirmed, seemingly intrigued with his train of thought.
"Then what if he decides to shut me up? I might not intend to blackmail him, but he'll look at it that way."
"Shut you up?" Arya let out a short laugh. "He's not a gangster, Lyn."
"He's powerful. No one becomes truly powerful in this world by being a stranger to ruthlessness. He won't take one word that leaves my mouth in his presence lightly."
"I'm sure he can be negotiated with," Arya replied, but now she was sounding doubtful. "Look, I arranged for us to attend a little function where he'll be present. I can't force you to be there, but--"
"I'll be there." Lyn knew now why he'd kept the check. He wanted to give that man his money back in person.
"Wow, young people really do change their minds at the drop of a hat, don't they? I'll send you something to wear. Something nice."
Lyn was about to refuse, but then recalled he didn't want to look like a beggar when facing his biological father. The more he thought about it, the more the big number on that check made sense. He'd go see him only to assure him that he wanted nothing to do with him.
***
Arya was a tad nervous as she latched onto his arm and dragged him through the crowd. It was the same sort of event his mom had made him tag along to, so he knew how to behave. However, his palms were sweaty, and there was a prickling sensation at the back of his neck that brought all his thoughts grinding to a halt.
He had done his best to flatten the paper so the check didn't look like it had been picked out of a garbage can. But the intentions behind all those wrinkles would be obvious. Lyn had no intention of getting into trouble; on the contrary, he wanted to make sure he'd never have any, at least not with the man in question.
He stopped when he spotted the man in the crowd. Surrounded by people, he was the center of attention, talking and gesturing and that without even spilling a drop from the champagne flute he held with practiced elegance. A king to his peers. Or would he be better considered an emperor? Since media outlets always described him as the head of an empire.
Arya left his side and hurried to approach the man. Lyn remained frozen on the spot, the sweat turning cold on his back. He observed the scene before his eyes as if he was looking at it through a window or a screen; Arya touched the man's elbow and he immediately gave her his attention. A reserved smile appeared on his face, and then his eyes snapped straight ahead, pinning Lyn in place. Shrewd eyes.
A small gesture was all it took for Lyn to understand that he'd just been granted an audience. He waited for Arya to return with instructions without tearing his eyes away from the man. It was easier to hate him when he existed behind a screen.
***
He waited by the door, while the man draped his coat over the back of his tall chair and sat, casually lighting up a cigar.
"Want one?" The man stared at him through a curtain of smoke.
"No, I don't smoke," Lyn replied. He wiped his hands discreetly on his dress pants. He needed to start talking before the man got the wrong idea.
"Come closer, kid."
He wanted to run out of the room instead. But he needed to keep his cool and make it all seem like he didn't really need any money and was there only to return the check he'd been given before.
"I'll be damned," the man commented, biting his cigar and giving Lyn a bone-chilling grin. "You're her in flesh and blood. Too bad you're a boy. A good-looking boy, but boys don't get ahead the way girls do when they're this pretty. Arya tells me you're smart. On a scholarship, even. Law?"
"Yes," Lyn replied.
He was still waiting for the man to talk, and each moment that passed made it more difficult for him to open his mouth, say what he needed to say and get out.
"Wasn't it enough?" the man asked.
"No, no, actually," Lyn said, shaken out of his stupor by the direct question and fumbled with his inside breast pocket, "I'm here to return it. I can't accept your help, sir."
A perfectly manscaped eyebrow quirked in surprise. Lyn moved closer and placed the check on the desk.
"I apologize for how it looks. But I didn't cash it so--"
The man leaned forward abruptly and gave Lyn a closer look. "Are you mine, kid?"
Lyn felt his stomach clench. He hadn't had anything to eat all day. "No, sir. We're strangers. That's why I can't accept your help," he said quickly, biting his bottom lip.
"Nah, nah, just do me a favor and turn your head," the man ordered.
It was mortifying to obey. Lyn hoped he wouldn't end up fainting on the man's plush carpet and making a complete fool of himself. He did as he was told, knowing that it was better not to incriminate himself by protesting too much when it didn't matter.
"Who's your daddy?"
The question irked him. It sounded like an insult.
"He died when I was little. I didn't get the chance to meet him."
"That the little story your momma told you?"
"Not a story, sir. I saw him in a couple of pictures. I have them with me." He had come prepared, after searching through his mom's things for a long time. He reached into his pocket again and extended his hand.
The man refused to take the photos.
"It looks like you want to have nothing to do with me."
"Please don't take it the wrong way, sir. I tried to explain to Arya--"
The man shook his head. He took the wrinkled check and stared at it. "Lynton. A great name. Meant for great men." He pushed it back to Lyn. "Take it, son. You deserve it. For an excellent performance."
"I can't," Lyn said. "I don't want any trouble--"
"And there will be none. Under the condition that you take the check and cash it," the man said in a menacing tone this time. "I'll know if you don't, and you don't want to piss me off. Am I clear?"
Lyn felt his ears burning. He'd been right to tell Arya the man could be dangerous. "I thought you wouldn't want anyone drawing the wrong conclusion by learning you gave so much money to someone like me."
"Cautious. I like it." The man gestured with the cigar at him. "That's hardly 'much money'. And if I don't say anything about it, you won't, either. Right?"
"Other people know," Lyn pointed out. His desire to throw an insult in the man's face was growing stronger.
"People with a lot to lose. Also, there's nothing wrong with a bit of charity given to a promising and brilliant young man like you. You'll take it."
"Or else what?" Lyn wanted to curse for letting that slip.
The man laughed. "Or else I might find myself in the mood to run a paternity test and see if that name and that profile suit you more than you think. For reasons only you know, you want us to keep our distance. You almost make me curious, make me want to mess with you a little. Still, I'm fine with leaving it at that. But not with you coming here, playing your hand like the punk you are to throw my generosity in my face. Take the check and cash it. If you decide to blow the money on cocaine or whatever you college kids get up to these days, that's on you. I don't care."
Lyn moved to take the check. "At least, we're done?" he asked.
The man nodded. "If that's what you want, son."
Lyn put the check back in his pocket. "I'm not your son," he threw over his shoulder on his way out. The man's harsh laughter followed him even after the heavy door closed behind him.
***
"What do you mean? But that's above market price," he said as he pressed the phone harder against his ear, as if what he was hearing now would make more sense that way.
"Way above market price," the man Arya had hired to help him with everything informed him. "Someone stepped in. Someone with serious pull. Take the offer, Lyn."
"But--"
"No 'buts'. I don't want to hear one more word."
"But who is it? The 'someone with serious pull' you're talking about?"
"I can't tell you. On paper, it's an investment fund. I'll give you all the details. Don't look this gift horse in the mouth, Lyn. The way I see it, your benefactor wishes to remain anonymous. And you'll get a tidy sum that will see you through law school and beyond."
Lyn remained frozen in the same position for a long time after the call ended. Arya must have done some talking and gotten him this sweet deal with his father. He'd have money for law school; he wouldn't have to worry constantly about his finances. Protesting against this might land him in more trouble than he needed.
Other thoughts began to replace the dark ones. Such as…
He would be able to repay the kindness of the people who had helped him so much lately.
He felt better. He stood up as ideas began running through his head.
He'd cash that check, after all. But he wouldn't touch a dime of it, not for himself. There was a way to clean up that money and do it right.
TBC