My Instant Family

I walked into the elevator then it filled up as I moved back to allow others in as my partner Chris Walker stood next to me. He was ramming on about chick that he screwed last night. I kept the eyes on the door when it started to close. I heard a familiar voice shout out, "Please hold the elevator." A man placed his arm out to opened the door.

The woman walked into the elevator as my eyes went wide. Fuck, it is Mariah. I haven't seen her in almost four years. I met her at a club when dancing turned into get into my hotel room and let me fuck you hard in Vegas. I wonder what she is doing out here, in Boston.

Chris looked up at me as he leaned to me, "Wait, that is that chick from the club four years ago in Vegas." I nodded as I heard everyone grunt as there was a little boy that just light up all the numbers on the elevator. Fuck, I have a meeting to get to.

Mariah blushed as she leaned down moving her brown hair behind her ear, "Ethan, you can't do that." She looked over the elevator as she smirked. What is she doing and who the hell is Ethan? I couldn't see who she was talking to, so it had to be a kid. Wait, does she have a son?

I could see her finger hold down the close button then pressed the first number that was light up then released. The elevator started to move as she pressed the other numbers that was light up.

She turned around and picked up a little boy into her arms. I froze when he looked in my direction. Fuck, he got to be about three years old. My blonde hair and her blue eyes. Chris leaned towards me, "Fuck, Liam. He looks just like you." I whispered back to him, "I know." He looked up at me, "Do you think?" I shrugged my shoulders, "I didn't know she got pregnant."

He shrugged his shoulders, "Well, you didn't give her your real name, either." I shook my head as I sighed, "I know. I fucked up and if he is mine then I lost all that time." He nodded as he tilted his head as the little boy smirked over to everyone, "You need to find out." I cleared my throat, "I know."

The elevators opened to the third floor as she left the elevators as Chris and I push through the crowd to follow her. Do I have a son? We got to the door when they close. Fuck.

She is on the level where there is a daycare center for employees out the building. I looked at Chris, "You think she works in the building?" He shrugged his shoulders, "I will ask around."

I nodded as we got to the tenth floor. If she is an employee of someone in the building, then I can take a look into the daycare just to make sure that it is running okay and if they need anything. I do own the building; my presence wouldn't be out of the norm.

Once out of the meeting, I told my assistant to hold my calls and headed to the daycare center. I ran my badge through the door.

Only employees can get access for this area. I peeked to the doors to see which classroom he is was in then after the third one I saw that little boy that looks like me smiling while playing with a little girl. Emily, I think her name was. She was my assistant's daughter.

I didn't want to ask my assistant if she knew Mariah because to be honest; I don't know if that was her real name and if I am even this kid's father. I took a deep breath as I walked into the room.

I looked around as the teacher walked up to me, "Mr. Grant, we didn't know you was coming." I nodded, "Ms. Carry, I was making sure that everything was going well here." She smiled at me, "Everything is going great. The employees of the building are grateful that you decided to do this."

My assistant had a hard time finding a good daycare center and kept on saying it would make sense to have one here. Took her two years to get me to do it. I finally caved when she came to me with the amount of employees would be grateful a daycare center in their work of employment.

My eyes darted to the little boy playing with Emily with a Lego set. I cleared my throat, "You think I could meet some of the kids." She smirked as she nodded, "Of course, Mr. Grant." She walked me around as she introduced me to the kids then she walked up to the one that I was most interested in, "This is Ethan Hunter."

I bent down as he looked up at me with a big grin on his face. I placed my hand out, "Hi, Ethan. I am Mr. Grant." He grabbed my thumb as he pulled me down, "Wanna play." I tilted my head as I sat on the floor and he handed me some blocks.

He built a building as he quietly played as the Ms. Carry bent down, "He likes you. He has a hard time with social cues." I looked up at her, "What do you mean?" She sighed, "He was diagnose with Autism couple months ago. He is high function and a complete genius."

I frown at that fact that he is going to have social problems probably his whole life but I want to smirk that he a complete genius as I placed a block on top of his tower when she sighed, "The only person he plays with is Emily."

I tilted my head, "He seems to be comfortable with me. Do you mind if I come down once a day to spend time with him?" I shrugged my shoulders, "It might help." She smirked at me as she lifted, "You are welcome down here anytime you want, Mr. Grant."

After an hour of building and almost being in complete silence since the kid doesn't talk much to anyone when I had to get back to the office, I lifted up as he watched me get up when he avoid eye contact. I know that is one of the characteristics of autism.

I stared at him as he line the cars in a row, OCD too. I smirked as I know I have OCD which could mean he got it from me. What the hell am I saying? I don't even know he is mine.

I checked with Ms. Carry and told me that if Ethan needs anything. I left the room as I took out my phone as I told Chris to meet me in my office then head back upstairs.

"You spent the last hour with him." He growled at me. I bowed my head as I sat my desk, "I know how bad that sounded but when I met him, I just had too." He sighed as he placed his hand through his hair, "She does work her." I tilted my head, "I got that. Her kid is my daycare center."

He sat back, "Mariah Hunter is her name." I looked up at him, "How did you find out?" He chuckled, "You know Liz at the spa."

Okay yes, the luxury of being the owner of the building is allowing perks of the building. All building employees have access of these luxuries but at their own cost. The spa does get free daycare as well as my employees of firm.

I nodded, "The one that you fucked couple months back." He chuckled as he sighed, "She friends with her and got her job as a massage therapist." I threw my head back, "Oh my god. That explains the way she touch me." He chuckled as my cock twitched in my pants, "She is extremely professional. I would recommend not to giving her a surprise visit."

I shook my head, "I am not stupid man. I am not going make an appointment but..." He tilted his head, "No." I chuckled as I smirked as I pulled up the spa schedule and found Mariah's schedule, "You have an appointment in two hours. You are welcome." He leaned forward, "I hate you." I chuckled, "Don't worry bother. If you try to fuck her, I will kill you."

Okay not only is Chris my partner but my half-brother. Our father married my mother when Chris was four then got pregnant with me a year later. We was brought up as brothers, but his father kept his last name to his mother's last name when his mother died on the delivery table. It was way to honor his first love.

He grunted as I smirked at him, "Find out what you can." He pointed his finger at me, "According to Liz is that Mariah knows who the father is but can't find him. Liz try to find out, but Mariah has felt embarrassed about it."

Fuck...

I think I am this kid's father.

Chris is hating me right now because he said Mariah's hands are amazing and if I didn't already claimed her that he would try to get in her pants. Fucking asshole better keep his dick in his pants when comes to Mariah.

It has been a week since I discovered that I might be a father. I haven't had the nerves to confront Mariah but at least I have found her and my possible son. I did try to find her after to tell her the truth. I felt a connection and the sex, was nothing like I had before. It was mind-blowing, amazing, beautiful. My cock twitched just thinking about it.

I asked Ms. Carry if there was any allergies so I could bring a snack in for her classroom. When she told me that Ethan loves cupcakes and cookies, she gave me a wink.

Today, I brought in fresh baked cookies from my mother's house. I stopped on the way to the office as she grilled me about my possible child that Chris accidently let out when he was being grilled by acting weird about being asked about grandchildren. Thanks, brother, for throwing me under the bus. I will get him back later for that.

I walked into the classroom when Ethan ran to me, "Liam." Man, I can't wait for him to call me daddy when I find out if he is my kid. I bent down to him, "How is your day going buddy?" He shrugged his shoulders to me as I looked up at Ms. Carry, "He seems to be better today then he was yesterday." She nodded, "He has his good days then his bad days can be bad."

When I walked in yesterday, he wanted nothing to do with anyone. I sat with him for a whole hour with him glued to a video game that I gave to him to help him with math. He avoided eye contact and had three meltdowns from someone getting into his personal space.

It was heart breaking. Ms. Carry explain to me that he has these days where that he doesn't want to be bother and other days where he little more open to people. I heard about emotional support animals that helps those with autism but right now that will be over stepping. Mariah doesn't even know that I think he is mine or knows I am here.

I sat down with Ethan as the class was making the gooey slim. Ethan made a face of disgusted as he placed his hands into it. "Get it off. Get it off." He screamed. I grabbed a paper towel and whipped his hands cleaned, "What is a matter?" He squint his little nose, "It feels weird."

Okay, I read about this, certain texture can make him feel like he is crawling out of his skin. I looked at the Legos as that is his thing as I sighed looking up at Ms. Carry as she nodded. I leaned to Ethan, "You want to go back to the Legos." His eyes lit up and nodded then ran over to the box. He lined up the reds, greens, blues, and so on like every day.

It is a routine thing. He needs a schedule which Ms. Carry told me that Mariah keeps a tight one for him, so he doesn't go into panic mode.

Ethan looked up at me, "grandpa doesn't let me have Legos." I tilted my head to him, "Why?" He shrugged his shoulders, "He can be mean to my mommy." My heart sunk, what does he mean by that. Why is Mariah's father mean to her? How mean?

I got up after half hour then walked over to Ms. Carry when I cleared my throat, "Ethan told me that his grandfather is mean to his mom." She sighed as she looked around then whispered to me, "She hasn't said anything to me, but I think her father abuses her and she can't afford a place of her own at this moment. She is saving to get Ethan and herself a stable life. I haven't any signs that Ethan is being abused but certain things suggested that he is abuses Mariah."

I nodded as my fingers curled up into my palm, "If you find out anymore about her living situation, please let me know." She nodded as she smiled then leaned closer to me, "I know that Ethan doesn't know his father and Mariah doesn't talk about him but if I didn't know any better, Ethan looks just like you." I sighed as she patted me on my back, "I will let you know if I find out anything."

I went back to my office when I called Justin my PI. He will do background checks on my employees, "I need a background check on Mariah Hunter." He hummed, "New employee?" I sighed, "No. please just do it." He sighed, "This is not some stalking shit." I chuckled, "Nothing like that."

After ten minutes of trying to get him to understand then me letting my heart out that I think little Ethan is mine, he agreed to do the background check on her. He said he would get right on it so I should have the information before dinner time.

I sat at my computer when I heard the fire alarm went off. All I could think about was getting down to Ethan then getting his mother out of here. Chris ran up to me as I raced down the stairs, "I will check on Mariah." I nodded as he disappeared into the fifth floor. I pushed my way down the stairs to the third floor of the build.

There was a crowd of people standing in front of the door as I pushed through them when I got to the door. I pushed my way through the hallway as I looked around for Ms. Carry's class. I heard her in the distance, "Ethan Hunter? Come one buddy where are you."

My eyes widened as I got to her as she breath hard, "Liam, he was here as we was returning from the park then he freaked out when the alarms went off and took off." I ran down the hall, "I will find him. Get the others out of here."

My phone went off as I saw it was Chris, "Mariah is okay. She is freaking out about Ethan." I closed my eyes, "He freaked out and ran off, I am looking for him right now." He sighed, "Liam, you need to hurry. There is a fire in the kitchen that got out of control." Fuck the kitchen is on the floor under us.

I rushed into the classroom as I looked around, "Ethan buddy. Please come out." I heard something in the corner as I saw a little boy rocking holding his hands over his ear. I sighed a sign of relief when I grabbed the noise canceling headphones that I got for Ms. Carry to have him use if sounds made him freak out.

I bent down as I placed the headphones on his ears then he looked up at me with tears falling from his face. I picked him up then head out of the classroom. I called Chris back to let him know that I got him. "Thank god, Liam." He cleared his throat as I heard him talking to Mariah. As I could hear her voice shake, "Thank god. Thank god. He is okay."

Ethan's little arms held on to my neck so tight that I could barely breath as the hallway start to filled up with smoke and everyone started to cough.

I placed Ethan down for a minute and pulled my jacket off then wrapped him around it hiding his face from the smoke. I cupped his face and place a kiss on his forehead before picking him back up wrapped into my jacket.

We slowly moved through the stairwell when a bang that shook the building making lights and the ceiling fall above our heads. Shit, the fire may have hit the gas line. I know that Ethan didn't hear the bang, but he did feel the shake from explosive.

I held him tight as I checked on everyone in the stairwell when someone screamed up, "We fucking trapped. I can't get the door open." Fuck. Fuck. I can feel Ethan breath heavily. Panic attack. Too many people for him. We are crowded. I looked around as the door of the second floor is right there.

I know there is another stair well on the other side but that will mean we will be closer to the fire. I pulled my phone out to see I have signal. Thank god I do.

I called Chris to see if there is another way out of here, "Fuck man please tell me you got out." I sighed as I held Ethan, "We are stuck in the stairwell. The explosion blocked the door for the first floor." I sighed, "I am at the second-floor door. How safe is it that way? I know there is another stairwell that way."

I can hear him curse as Mariah is freaking out, "Fuck. Fuck. Liam this isn't good. They are having issues getting it under control." He took a deep breath as I hear Mariah crying, "Please tell me Ethan is okay." Chris sighed, "Mariah calm down. Ethan is okay. Mr. Grant is trying to get him out right now."

I hear him breath heavily as he said, "I will let the fire department where you all are." I nodded then I remember this stairwell goes to the basement. I raised my voice, "Head to the basement. We should be able to get out of here safely just watch your steps." Please tell me we are not trapped like rats looking to get away from a fucking cat.

We got to the basement after I hung up with Chris when he told the department that we was heading to the basement. Well more of I lost signal. Ethan looked up at me, "I am hungry." I nodded at him when I lifted up the headphones and whispered into his ear, "I know buddy. Once we get out of here. I will take you out for some ice cream."

Derek from accounting walked up to me, "Fuck man. All the exits are blocked." I grunted, "Any way of getting out of here?" He shook his head as he sighed as he looked up at Ethan, "Sorry man. I didn't know you had a kid." I placed my hand through my hair, "Yeah, kind of a surprise for me, too." He lifted his eyebrow as I sighed and leaned towards him, "I will explain when we get out of here. Just don't be telling everyone. Not yet."

He nodded as the building shook again. Fuck. I wish we had away to contact someone. Derek looked at me, "Your phone. I will run up where we can get signal." I nodded, "Last number is Chris. He keeping the fire department updated." He nodded as he grabbed my phone and ran to the door.

I walked around to make sure everyone was okay when a woman screamed, "Henry, Oh god." I ran over to her as a man is holding his chest. Fuck. He could be having a heart attack. I looked at the woman, "Here. Hold him. Don't let him out of your sight." Ethan gripped around my neck as I sighed.

I pulled the headphones down so he could hear me, "I need to help this man. Grace is a friend of mine. You will be safe with her." He looked over to Grace then back to me then held his arms out to her. God this kid is smart.

I bent down, "Henry, what is going on?" He breathed heavy, "I can't breathe." I sighed, "Have you ever had a panic attack before." He shook his head, "Okay try to breath in and out slowly." I placed my hand on his shoulders as he started to breathe very slowly.

After a couple minutes he nodded his head, "I feeling better." I nodded as I felt his pulse which is racing like the rest of us, "Keep breathing slowly. Hopefully, we can get out of here soon."

Derek walked back as he yelled, "Okay everyone get over the east side of the building, the fire department is going to get us out of here." I grabbed Ethan from Grace as she smirked, "Sweet boy." I smiled at her as Derek ran up to me, "Headphones on his ears?" I nodded as I lifted my eyebrow at him, "Chris just told me that they took Mariah to the hospital. He said that you would want to know that."

My eyes widened, "Why?" He sighted, "She freaked out then fainted. Her blood pressure was way to high, so they took her in to get it under control." I sighed as I held my little buddy closer to my chest when we heard the fire department bang their was through the wall.

Twenty minutes later, the fire department came through the wall letting everyone out. I squint my eyes as I went into the sun and the cold breeze made my skin raise that the winter months are about to hit us. We are two weeks from Thanksgiving.

Chris ran up to me as the EMT checked Ethan, "I got a car ready when he finished getting checked out." I nodded as I questioned, "Any word on Mariah?" He sighed as his hands went through his hair, "I talked the doctor treating her, he said she is okay physical but freaking out about Ethan. They are letting her know that he got out and will be there soon."

I nodded as the EMT looked at me, "Are you a relative?" I nodded, "I am the boy's father." Chris lifted his eyebrow as the EMT nodded, "He is okay but some smoke in the lungs so we are going to take him into the hospital to clear out his lungs and he will need to stay overnight." I nodded as EMT told me as I can ride with him. Chris is going to meet me at the hospital.

I stood in the doorway of Ethan's room as I heard Mariah's voice from down the hallway, "I want to see my son." I ran to her to let her know that he is okay. I understand that she wants to see him, but she needs to be okay first.

Couple of the nurses tried to hold her down as she fought them off, but her blood pressure was rising as I looked at the monitors. I stepped into the room, "Mariah." She looked up at me as her beautiful eyes widened, "You." Her eyes went to the back of her head as she fainted again, and her monitors went off.

The doctor walked me out, "She will be okay. Her stress is to high that it is raising her blood pressure. We are going to give her something to keep her calm." I nodded as I looked down the hall, "Is there anyway that we can place her with her son." He nodded, "I will see what I can do."

Two hours of getting her blood pressure under control they moved Ethan and Mariah to a private room that I am paying for. She recognized me so that is either a good sign or a bad one.

I sat in the chair in between the two beds with my long legs spread out. My muscles twitched from all the events from today. She is sleeping soundly and so is Ethan, but I couldn't fall asleep.

I tilted my head back as my phone went off, "What did you find?" Justin cleared his throat, "Single mom, no dad on record, her father is a complete asshole. Been arrested about a dozen times for drugs and assault." I lifted up, "the assault. On who?" He sighed, "Where are you?" I looked around the room, "Mariah and her son is in the hospital there was a fire in the kitchen of the building I owe."

Justin let out a deep breath, "You are with them?" I chuckled, "I helped her son get out." He groaned, "Mariah made reports of abuse then took them back. I spoke with Devin Stone in the police department and said that the kid was safe from the abuse at this moment, but Mariah was not. He has been helping her find a new place, so she doesn't lose her son."

I groaned, "What is his name? I want to make sure he can't get in here." He sighed, "Robert Hunter." After hanging up, I gave the hospital a no contact for Robert Hunter and isn't to be allowed into the room before I finally closed my eyes and fell asleep in the chair.

Fucking uncomfortable where I am fucking tall as hell and my muscles was too big for the wood to handle. I ended up pulling the chair over to Mariah's bed as I laid my head down next to her hand with my head on my arms.

I woke up to a man screaming in the hallway that he wanted to see Mariah Hunter and that he threatening to call the police. Who the hell does this guy think he is? I clenched my fingers into my palm when I raised from my slumber. I stretched my back as I was knotted up. Awe. Mariah is a massage therapist. Oh, this could be very beneficial when I come home from business trips. Just whip out the massage table and she can massage those knots away. I am practical drooling over the thought. Not in a sexual way either.

The man snapped me out of my thoughts when he yelled, "Who the fuck is Mr. Grant?" I walked out into the hallway as I made my way down the nursing station when I see security trying to pull the old man away.

I stood in front of him as I could smell the smell of cigarettes and whiskey. He looked up at me, "Who the fuck are you?" I bent down as the security team held their hands on him as he lifted his eyes to me, "I am Mr. Grant. The one that ordered them to keep you out of Mariah's room." He snorted, "And what right do you have to keep me from my daughter and grandson." I leaned closer to him as I whispered into his ear, "I am your grandson's father."

He laughed hard, "Good. You take them. They been nothing but trouble." I lifted from him as my finger tapped on my chin where my scuff has been growing, "You know what. That is a good idea. They will move in with me once they are release." I bent down to him, "You will never need to worry about them or place your hands-on Mariah ever again."