Disclaimer: The Characters Miss Parker, Sydney, Jarod, Broots and The
Center are all property of MTM, TNT and NBC Productions and are used
without permission. Blah, blah, blah, yea, yea just get on with it.
No money has been involved here and no infringement is intended.
12/29/02
"Human life begins on the other side of despair." Jean- Paul Sartre
The Other Side of Despair Part 1
Parker hated to admit it, but she was nervous.
Her hair was piled elegantly on top of her head with tiny tendrils curling at the back of her neck. Her black dress was expensive, fashionable and very flattering on her lithe form. The gown started at her neck with a two- inch band of fabric that circled her throat. The satin flared over her cleavage and her bosom to wrap delicately around her hips. The cut of the dress left her back completely bare. The skirt was just tight enough to accentuate her trim figure and short enough to show off her long legs. Parker had decided against wearing stockings, so her legs were bare to the ankles where black bands of leather held dainty, very high-heeled shoes to her feet.
The only jewelry she wore was her mother's diamond ring and exquisite diamond earrings cut to match the ring.
Parker looked good and she knew it. But this room was full of beautiful, wealthy people so she doubted that she would stand out much in this crowd.
"There's a lot of money in this room." Parker murmured as she sipped at a glass of good champagne.
Ethan, her brother, sat across the table dressed in a black tuxedo, sipping at a similarly filled glass.
"Clients mostly." He nodded. "The family will have a party for him next weekend at the ranch. We get together to celebrate Thanksgiving and his birthday at the same time."
"I'd have thought he would hate this kind of thing." Parker mused.
Ethan chuckled. "He does. But it is a necessary burden of conducting a successful business, he says."
For Jarod to call his company a successful business was like calling the Pacific Ocean a little body of water. In the six years since Parker and Jarod had last parted, he had built the Paradigm Corporation. It had taken nearly two years for Parker to realize that Paradigm was owed and run by her childhood friend. She had kept well informed about the company ever since.
Initially based on electronic security services, the Paradigm Corporation now had branches involved in transportation services, pharmaceutical research and the hotel industry. Evidently, Jarod collected fine hotels like other rich men collect cars.
As a matter of fact, the ballroom in which they were now sitting was in one of the best hotels in Los Angeles and Jarod owned it. Huge parties were held here every year on Oscar night. According to Ethan, Jarod lived in this hotel, using the entire top floor as his personal accommodations.
Jarod had amassed a fortune by parlaying fear into cash. He had begun shortly after Parker had last seen him by selling security services to fretful companies. After the terrorist attack that had destroyed the twin towers in New York, security and disaster recovery had been at the front of everyone's mind.
Jarod could find the flaws in any existing system and always built a better one. He had made a lot of money very quickly.
Within a year, the Paradigm Corporation had started its first hostile takeover. The Centre had pursued Jarod for years, but had not been prepared to be his prey. Money and power had been all it took for The Centre to be defeated. Not even the Triumvirate had been able to stop the gushing flow of cash that Jarod had been able to pump into his take over attempt.
Parker had heard rumors about stock market manipulation that had finally tipped the scales against The Centre. She believed it to be true. The Centre had taught Jarod everything he knew, including how to be ruthless and underhanded when the need arose.
Once the take over had been complete, The Centre personnel had all been pink slipped. Every single employee had been laid off. Patients and inmates had been transferred to hospitals or therapeutic facilities. Construction workers had arrived en mass the same day that Parker had packed up her office and left.
The building that had once been run by the Parker family and had been Jarod's prison for thirty years was now the Paradigm Pharmaceutical Research Centre. The PPRC was a highly reputable scientific facility making great strides in cancer and AIDS research.
Once he had won his final battle with The Centre, Jarod had begun buying bankrupt airlines. Jarod had been interviewed in a leading business magazine at the time. Much of the business world had thought that this upstart newcomer was making a mistake in purchasing the failing companies.
"I like airplanes." He had told the reporter. "Seems like a waste to have all those planes just sitting around doing nothing. So I bought them."
Jarod had mothballed the older aircraft. With the remaining fleet, he had removed half of the seats, doubled the ticket prices and hired an army of security personnel. Every Paradigm flight carried at least two highly trained security officers in addition to the flight attendants. It was a well-known fact that these security officers were usually ex-military personnel, all very well paid for their services. Paradigm flights all had an extra level of security for passengers to go through so boarding time was longer than it was for other flights.
It had been one of these flights that had brought Parker and her little family to California just yesterday. The security had been very obvious and boarding had taken some time. But she had indeed felt safe and the staff had been very kind. More importantly, the flight had been fully booked. Jarod's airplanes were making him a tidy profit.
Parker looked around the room and tried not to fidget. Musicians played a light jazz tune on the other side of the room and several couples were dancing. Waiters clad in white glided smoothly through the crowd with glasses of champagne of silver trays. There was a bar along one wall for guests who wanted something stronger to drink.
Though the party was obviously in full swing at this point, the guest of honor had yet to arrive.
"Where is he?" Parker grumbled.
"He'll be here." Ethan assured her. "Jarod is a creature of habit. He will show up exactly 60 minutes late for his own party. If we're lucky, he won't be too drunk yet."
Parker glanced at him in concern.
"He'll say hello to his parents first. Then, if he hasn't brought an escort with him, he'll pick one young lady to accompany him for the rest of the evening."
Parker's eyebrows rose at that comment.
Ethan shrugged. "Jarod says that he has to choose one early otherwise the vultures will hound him all night."
Parker scoffed.
Ethan went on. "She will be a blonde or a red-head, never a brunette. And he never picks the same girl twice, unless he's completely forgotten the first time."
Parker frowned. "That explains why there are so many bad dye jobs in here." Parker was getting more and more nervous with each passing moment. Jarod had been furious with her when she had last seen him but Parker had been counting on his laid back charm to make things easier. She was beginning to think that this had been a bad idea all together.
Parker glanced furtively at a table not far away. Ethan and Emily had thoughtfully set the table up in a small room off of this one. The room seemed to be situated in such a way that it could be used as a cloakroom if desired. But for now, the little room was being used by only two people.
Parker sighed. From her vantage point, she could easily see into the room and watch over the two most important people in her life. An older man, a psychiatrist, neatly dressed in a tuxedo of his own, sat with his head bent in conversation with a little girl. Parker smiled as she watched Sydney talking to his namesake. As she watched, Parker saw her daughter look up from her paper and crayons to beam a loving, joyous grin at her Uncle Sydney.
Parker's little girl adored her uncle. Sydney had been there for Parker during her pregnancy and had coached her through a long, difficult labor. When Parker had held her squirming newborn out to him and said "Sydney, I want you to meet your godchild, Sydney Catherine." The aging psychiatrist had burst into tears. He'd been completely devoted to the little girl ever since.
It was for her little girl that Parker had come here today. At five-years- old, little Sydney was a beautiful outgoing child. Her brown hair curled down her back, held in place tonight with a green silk ribbon. Her eyes were large and round and a deep dark brown in color. She smiled often and until recently, had never given Parker any cause for concern.
Several months ago, Sydney had started the first grade. Being younger than the other children, the little girl had worked hard to fit in with the other students. Being without a father hadn't bothered her. There were lots of children whose parents lived apart. But somehow, Sydney had gotten it into her head that when your parents don't live together you must visit each one or else face the consequences of the law.
Parker's daughter could be exceedingly stubborn. The little girl understood that her father didn't know anything about her yet young Sydney insisted that she had to meet him and perform the required visitation.
It was quite contrary to the little girl's personality to behave with such forceful determination. Sydney was normally a patient and agreeable girl. But in this case, the child had dug in her heels. When Sydney had gone so far as to throw a full blown, screaming temper tantrum, something she'd never done before even as a toddler, Parker had relented. Parker had been putting this off for far too long anyway.
Jarod had more security than Fort Knox and a bevy of secretaries who refused to pass messages unless the topic of concern was released. Parker just couldn't allow Jarod to find out that he had a child by reading about it on some pink message slip. After several failed attempts to contact Jarod by phone, Parker had resorted to calling her brother. Ethan had told Parker about this party. He had enlisted the help of his half-sister, Emily and had gotten them all invitations.
"Remember that you are doing this for Sydney." Parker told herself. "He's never going to forgive you anyway. So just remember your little girl is counting on you."
"Hello, Miss Parker." A deep voice broke Parker from her reverie.
Parker looked up, startled for a moment. She grinned as she recognized the big man standing beside her. Sam was dressed in a black suit and tie, much like he had always dressed when he worked for Parker at The Centre.
"Sam!" She exclaimed. "How are you? What on earth are you doing here?"
Sam laughed. "I was just going to ask you the same thing."
Parker stood and clasped Sam's hand affectionately. After a moment's hesitation, she reached out and pulled him into a friendly hug.
"I'm here with my brother." Parker explained simply. "Sam this is my brother, Ethan. Ethan, this is Sam. He was part of my team at The Centre." Parker turned from one man to the other as she introduced them.
Ethan stood to exchange handshakes.
"Mr. Ethan and I have met." Sam replied. "I've been working for Paradigm security ever since I left The Centre." He said. "The boss came to me personally and offered me a job."
Parker stared at him in shock. "You work for Jarod?"
"Ironic, isn't it?" Sam chuckled. "He said that he admired my loyalty to my employer and my tenacity to a project." Sam shrugged. "Miss Parker, what are you doing here?" he asked bluntly.
Parker frowned for a moment then turned to lead Sam into the nearby room. "Look who I found, Syd."
"My goodness. Sam," Sydney said as he sprung to his feet. "It is good to see you again."
The two men exchanged hearty handshakes. "Its good to see you to, Sir." Sam answered.
"Sam, this is my daughter, Sydney." Miss Parker introduced the wide-eyed little girl.
Sam solemnly shook the little girl's hand as his eyes took in every detail. "It is an honor to meet you, Miss Sydney."
The little girl giggled shyly. "The honor is mine, Sir." She answered politely.
Sam glanced warily at Miss Parker and the elder Sydney. The child was adorable. In her ruffled emerald green dress and matching hair ribbons, she looked like a little porcelain doll. Her hair looked feather soft but it was the child's eyes that held Sam enthralled. The color, shape and setting of her eyes as well as the angles of her small face gave little doubt as to her parentage.
No one who knew Jarod could look at this little girl and not know that he was her father.
Sam sighed. "It's going to be a long night." He said ominously. "I'd better get back to work. It was good seeing you again. Nice meeting you miss." He tipped his head at the girl.
Parker allowed Sam to walk her back to her table before she placed a gentle kiss on his cheek. "Don't be a stranger, Sam. You know how to find me."
The ex-sweeper nodded his head then, with a little bow at the waist, he turned and disappeared into the crowd.
Ethan stood and placed a hand on Parker's arm. "Here he comes." Her brother whispered into her ear.
Parker looked toward the main entrance of the room and saw four men arrive. Standing tall and regal in a formal tuxedo, Jarod was a dashing figure leading the group into the room. The trio following him was dressed in matching black suits and ties, much like Sam had been dressed.
Jarod strode confidently through the crowd, greeting guests occasionally as he scanned the room with his eyes. He gave off an aura of wealth and power. With a snap of his fingers, a waiter appeared at Jarod's side. Jarod plucked a glass from the tray and downed the contents in one long swallow. He exchanged his empty glass for a full one before dismissing the waiter with flip of his wrist.
As Parker stared at Jarod, she felt goose bumps form along her arms. As he came closer, Parker could see Jarod smiling at one person and another. But the smile never reached his eyes. The brown eyes that Parker had always remembered as warm and gentle now held nothing but blankness and stone.
Jarod hadn't noticed Parker's presence as yet. He passed within a few feet of her as he made his way to the table where his parents sat. A shiver ran down Parker's spine as a strange feeling of déjà vu overwhelmed her. Parker suddenly felt as though she was seven years old again, watching her father walk down the hallway with his sweepers. Jarod, followed by his bodyguards, gave Parker the same feeling of awe and fear at his formidable presence.
"Hello, Mother." Jarod purred as he bent to kiss his mother's cheek. The smile on his face still didn't reach his eyes. "Father. I'm so glad that you could come."
Jarod greeted Emily with an embrace. He patted the back of the young man everyone called Jack. "How is school, Jack?" Jarod asked amiably. Jack had once been a prisoner in The Centre. Born as an experiment during the Gemini project, Jack was being raised in as normal a fashion as Jarod's family could provide.
Before Jarod could turn to look for Ethan, Sam appeared at his elbow and spoke softly into his ear. Parker could see a frown crease Jarod's brow as he turned abruptly in her direction.
Parker tried not to flinch when Jarod's piercing glare fixed on her. He downed the second glass of champagne and left the glass sitting on the table before he walked toward her.
"What are you doing here, Parker?" Jarod said coldly.
For a moment, Parker stood frozen. In a heartbeat, she took in his short, business like hairstyle and smoothly shaved chin. He was standing so close his nearness was intimidating. Jarod's eyes were as hard and as cold as granite. Parker found herself wondering where her Jarod had gone. This immovable statue in front of her was not the pretender she once knew.
Parker closed her eyes and took a deep breath to summon her courage. In doing so, she caught his scent. He smelled like champagne and aftershave and Jarod. Her stomach knotted as her body recognized his distinct fragrance. Parker snapped her eyes open in embarrassment.
"Sam said that you needed to talk to me, Parker." Jarod growled. "So start talking."
"I've brought Sydney with me." Parker blurted.
"So?" Jarod asked, crossing his arms over his chest.
"Please, come say hello." Parker said as she backed toward the other room.
He followed Parker to the next room but Jarod stopped abruptly at the door to observe the occupants sitting at the table.
"Jarod!" the gray haired man stood and moved quickly toward his old protégé.
When Sydney reached Jarod's side, he opened his arms to pull the younger man into a warm embrace. But Jarod moved quickly, side stepping Sydney's attempt to hug him.
"Hello, Sydney." Jarod said carefully. Slowly, deliberately he turned toward the little girl.
She stood quickly and curtsied formally saying, "Hello, my name is Sydney Catherine Parker. It is good to meet you, Sir."
Jarod's jaw clenched tightly as he wordlessly dragged his gaze over the child. His hands curled into tight fists and he sighed dejectedly. The tension radiating from his body was nonexistent in his voice. He spoke in a calm, almost bored tone.
"What do you want?" he asked blandly.
The little girl blinked a moment then answered. "I only wanted to meet you."
"Then you've gotten what you came for." Jarod replied. "There will be cake in about an hour, I'll have my brother see that you get a piece. Enjoy the rest of your evening."
Without another word, Jarod turned on his heel and strode from the room.
Parker hurried after him and caught him just outside the door. "Jarod!" She exclaimed as she grabbed him by the arm. "Is that it? Is that all you are going to say to her? That little girl is your daughter, Jarod."
Jarod violently yanked his arm away from Parker's hands. "She is your daughter, Parker. I was just the sperm bank."
"I never planned on getting pregnant, Jarod." Parker whispered. "But I don't regret that it happened. She is the best thing that ever happened to me."
Jarod turned his back to her and sighed.
"She's a wonderful child, Jarod. Loving and happy." Parker said tearfully.
"When is her birthday?" Jarod asked casually without turning around.
"July 11th." Parker answered.
Jarod sighed again. He turned to face Parker and said flatly, "Then it was my sin that spawned her, not yours."
Parker could feel panic growing inside her. Jarod seemed so casual about this, he wasn't yelling or pouting. He didn't seem angry. His face was blank, devoid of emotion.
"That doesn't matter anymore, Jarod. What's important is that she is here, now." Parker argued.
Jarod shook his head. "Take her home, Parker."
"Please, Jarod." Parker pleaded. "She just wants to talk to you. Please, give her five minutes. That's all I ask."
"No." He said simply. "I have guests to attend to." Jarod began to turn away.
"Jarod." Parker grabbed at his arm again. "If our relationship ever meant anything to you, anything at all, you'll give my daughter five minutes of your time."
For a long moment, Jarod stood perfectly still. When he turned, Parker expected to see sadness in his eyes, but there was just that same empty void reflecting from the brown depths.
"There was a time," Jarod said calmly. "When what we had meant everything to me. I would have died for you."
"I know." Parker whispered, as tears began to fill her eyes.
"I would have killed for you." He said in an even tone.
"I know." She whispered again.
"I gave you everything I had, everything I was." His voice was emotionless and flat.
"I know." Her tears flowed freely down her cheeks, while Parker struggled against a sob.
"A big part of me died that day, Parker. You killed me that day." Jarod tilted his head at her curiously, as though he was examining an unusual speck on his trousers. "What was left behind has no feeling for you at all. I don't owe you a damned thing. Not even five minutes."
"Please, Jarod." Parker's grip on his arm stopped him again. "She's just a little girl. Don't punish her for what I did. Please."
Jarod shrugged. "Fine. Whatever." He said as he strolled back into the little room.
Sydney was holding the little girl in his arms. The child had her head on the older man's shoulder while he rubbed comforting little circles on her back. Her eyes shimmered with disappointment.
Jarod blinked at the pair. How many times as a child had he wished for Sydney to hold him like that? How often had he needed to be comforted but hadn't been? Part of him wanted to be jealous of the girl but he couldn't manage to summon up even that much of a feeling.
The little girl squirmed out of her uncle's arms and stood solemnly facing her father.
"Sit down." He ordered taking the chair the older Sydney had recently used.
The girl obediently sat as instructed.
"Your mother tells me that you wanted to talk to me." Jarod began.
The little girl nodded. "I. I brought you a present." Little Sydney stuttered shyly. Digging among the ruffles of her dress, she pulled a PEZ dispenser from her pocket. The top was shaped like a small cat.
"Momma and Uncle Sydney said that you collect these." She declared proudly as she handed him the toy.
Jarod took the plastic piece and rolled it curiously in one hand. "I used to." He said. "But I gave them all away." Jarod added as he handed the candy back.
Sydney tilted her head at him in a gesture that Jarod recognized as his own. "Why?"
He shrugged. "It was time to put aside childish things. It was time to grow up."
"How do you know when it's time to grow up?" She asked inquisitively.
"When you realize that dreams aren't real, and wishes never come true then you know it's time to grow up." Jarod answered solemnly.
"But I wished that I could come see you." She quipped. "That wish came true."
Jarod smiled. "Then I guess you aren't ready to grow up yet."
Sydney frowned, her little face wrinkled with concentration. "I don't think I ever want to grow up." She pouted.
Jarod patted her head. "Some people never do. I honestly hope that you get to be one of those lucky few."
The little girl pondered that for a few moments.
Jarod sighed and abruptly stood up. "I really need to get back to my guests."
"I understand." The child said.
Jarod reached into his vest pocket and pulled out a business card. "If you ever need anything," He said as he handed the placard to the girl, "cash or a car, maybe a lawyer or something like that, you call that number. My secretary will make sure that you get whatever you need."
Little Sydney beamed as though the card was a priceless artifact and hugged the paper close to her chest.
Jarod shrugged and started for the door.
Just as he left the little room he heard the girl's small voice call to him. "Happy birthday, Daddy."
Jarod kept walking.
End part1
"Human life begins on the other side of despair." Jean- Paul Sartre
The Other Side of Despair Part 1
Parker hated to admit it, but she was nervous.
Her hair was piled elegantly on top of her head with tiny tendrils curling at the back of her neck. Her black dress was expensive, fashionable and very flattering on her lithe form. The gown started at her neck with a two- inch band of fabric that circled her throat. The satin flared over her cleavage and her bosom to wrap delicately around her hips. The cut of the dress left her back completely bare. The skirt was just tight enough to accentuate her trim figure and short enough to show off her long legs. Parker had decided against wearing stockings, so her legs were bare to the ankles where black bands of leather held dainty, very high-heeled shoes to her feet.
The only jewelry she wore was her mother's diamond ring and exquisite diamond earrings cut to match the ring.
Parker looked good and she knew it. But this room was full of beautiful, wealthy people so she doubted that she would stand out much in this crowd.
"There's a lot of money in this room." Parker murmured as she sipped at a glass of good champagne.
Ethan, her brother, sat across the table dressed in a black tuxedo, sipping at a similarly filled glass.
"Clients mostly." He nodded. "The family will have a party for him next weekend at the ranch. We get together to celebrate Thanksgiving and his birthday at the same time."
"I'd have thought he would hate this kind of thing." Parker mused.
Ethan chuckled. "He does. But it is a necessary burden of conducting a successful business, he says."
For Jarod to call his company a successful business was like calling the Pacific Ocean a little body of water. In the six years since Parker and Jarod had last parted, he had built the Paradigm Corporation. It had taken nearly two years for Parker to realize that Paradigm was owed and run by her childhood friend. She had kept well informed about the company ever since.
Initially based on electronic security services, the Paradigm Corporation now had branches involved in transportation services, pharmaceutical research and the hotel industry. Evidently, Jarod collected fine hotels like other rich men collect cars.
As a matter of fact, the ballroom in which they were now sitting was in one of the best hotels in Los Angeles and Jarod owned it. Huge parties were held here every year on Oscar night. According to Ethan, Jarod lived in this hotel, using the entire top floor as his personal accommodations.
Jarod had amassed a fortune by parlaying fear into cash. He had begun shortly after Parker had last seen him by selling security services to fretful companies. After the terrorist attack that had destroyed the twin towers in New York, security and disaster recovery had been at the front of everyone's mind.
Jarod could find the flaws in any existing system and always built a better one. He had made a lot of money very quickly.
Within a year, the Paradigm Corporation had started its first hostile takeover. The Centre had pursued Jarod for years, but had not been prepared to be his prey. Money and power had been all it took for The Centre to be defeated. Not even the Triumvirate had been able to stop the gushing flow of cash that Jarod had been able to pump into his take over attempt.
Parker had heard rumors about stock market manipulation that had finally tipped the scales against The Centre. She believed it to be true. The Centre had taught Jarod everything he knew, including how to be ruthless and underhanded when the need arose.
Once the take over had been complete, The Centre personnel had all been pink slipped. Every single employee had been laid off. Patients and inmates had been transferred to hospitals or therapeutic facilities. Construction workers had arrived en mass the same day that Parker had packed up her office and left.
The building that had once been run by the Parker family and had been Jarod's prison for thirty years was now the Paradigm Pharmaceutical Research Centre. The PPRC was a highly reputable scientific facility making great strides in cancer and AIDS research.
Once he had won his final battle with The Centre, Jarod had begun buying bankrupt airlines. Jarod had been interviewed in a leading business magazine at the time. Much of the business world had thought that this upstart newcomer was making a mistake in purchasing the failing companies.
"I like airplanes." He had told the reporter. "Seems like a waste to have all those planes just sitting around doing nothing. So I bought them."
Jarod had mothballed the older aircraft. With the remaining fleet, he had removed half of the seats, doubled the ticket prices and hired an army of security personnel. Every Paradigm flight carried at least two highly trained security officers in addition to the flight attendants. It was a well-known fact that these security officers were usually ex-military personnel, all very well paid for their services. Paradigm flights all had an extra level of security for passengers to go through so boarding time was longer than it was for other flights.
It had been one of these flights that had brought Parker and her little family to California just yesterday. The security had been very obvious and boarding had taken some time. But she had indeed felt safe and the staff had been very kind. More importantly, the flight had been fully booked. Jarod's airplanes were making him a tidy profit.
Parker looked around the room and tried not to fidget. Musicians played a light jazz tune on the other side of the room and several couples were dancing. Waiters clad in white glided smoothly through the crowd with glasses of champagne of silver trays. There was a bar along one wall for guests who wanted something stronger to drink.
Though the party was obviously in full swing at this point, the guest of honor had yet to arrive.
"Where is he?" Parker grumbled.
"He'll be here." Ethan assured her. "Jarod is a creature of habit. He will show up exactly 60 minutes late for his own party. If we're lucky, he won't be too drunk yet."
Parker glanced at him in concern.
"He'll say hello to his parents first. Then, if he hasn't brought an escort with him, he'll pick one young lady to accompany him for the rest of the evening."
Parker's eyebrows rose at that comment.
Ethan shrugged. "Jarod says that he has to choose one early otherwise the vultures will hound him all night."
Parker scoffed.
Ethan went on. "She will be a blonde or a red-head, never a brunette. And he never picks the same girl twice, unless he's completely forgotten the first time."
Parker frowned. "That explains why there are so many bad dye jobs in here." Parker was getting more and more nervous with each passing moment. Jarod had been furious with her when she had last seen him but Parker had been counting on his laid back charm to make things easier. She was beginning to think that this had been a bad idea all together.
Parker glanced furtively at a table not far away. Ethan and Emily had thoughtfully set the table up in a small room off of this one. The room seemed to be situated in such a way that it could be used as a cloakroom if desired. But for now, the little room was being used by only two people.
Parker sighed. From her vantage point, she could easily see into the room and watch over the two most important people in her life. An older man, a psychiatrist, neatly dressed in a tuxedo of his own, sat with his head bent in conversation with a little girl. Parker smiled as she watched Sydney talking to his namesake. As she watched, Parker saw her daughter look up from her paper and crayons to beam a loving, joyous grin at her Uncle Sydney.
Parker's little girl adored her uncle. Sydney had been there for Parker during her pregnancy and had coached her through a long, difficult labor. When Parker had held her squirming newborn out to him and said "Sydney, I want you to meet your godchild, Sydney Catherine." The aging psychiatrist had burst into tears. He'd been completely devoted to the little girl ever since.
It was for her little girl that Parker had come here today. At five-years- old, little Sydney was a beautiful outgoing child. Her brown hair curled down her back, held in place tonight with a green silk ribbon. Her eyes were large and round and a deep dark brown in color. She smiled often and until recently, had never given Parker any cause for concern.
Several months ago, Sydney had started the first grade. Being younger than the other children, the little girl had worked hard to fit in with the other students. Being without a father hadn't bothered her. There were lots of children whose parents lived apart. But somehow, Sydney had gotten it into her head that when your parents don't live together you must visit each one or else face the consequences of the law.
Parker's daughter could be exceedingly stubborn. The little girl understood that her father didn't know anything about her yet young Sydney insisted that she had to meet him and perform the required visitation.
It was quite contrary to the little girl's personality to behave with such forceful determination. Sydney was normally a patient and agreeable girl. But in this case, the child had dug in her heels. When Sydney had gone so far as to throw a full blown, screaming temper tantrum, something she'd never done before even as a toddler, Parker had relented. Parker had been putting this off for far too long anyway.
Jarod had more security than Fort Knox and a bevy of secretaries who refused to pass messages unless the topic of concern was released. Parker just couldn't allow Jarod to find out that he had a child by reading about it on some pink message slip. After several failed attempts to contact Jarod by phone, Parker had resorted to calling her brother. Ethan had told Parker about this party. He had enlisted the help of his half-sister, Emily and had gotten them all invitations.
"Remember that you are doing this for Sydney." Parker told herself. "He's never going to forgive you anyway. So just remember your little girl is counting on you."
"Hello, Miss Parker." A deep voice broke Parker from her reverie.
Parker looked up, startled for a moment. She grinned as she recognized the big man standing beside her. Sam was dressed in a black suit and tie, much like he had always dressed when he worked for Parker at The Centre.
"Sam!" She exclaimed. "How are you? What on earth are you doing here?"
Sam laughed. "I was just going to ask you the same thing."
Parker stood and clasped Sam's hand affectionately. After a moment's hesitation, she reached out and pulled him into a friendly hug.
"I'm here with my brother." Parker explained simply. "Sam this is my brother, Ethan. Ethan, this is Sam. He was part of my team at The Centre." Parker turned from one man to the other as she introduced them.
Ethan stood to exchange handshakes.
"Mr. Ethan and I have met." Sam replied. "I've been working for Paradigm security ever since I left The Centre." He said. "The boss came to me personally and offered me a job."
Parker stared at him in shock. "You work for Jarod?"
"Ironic, isn't it?" Sam chuckled. "He said that he admired my loyalty to my employer and my tenacity to a project." Sam shrugged. "Miss Parker, what are you doing here?" he asked bluntly.
Parker frowned for a moment then turned to lead Sam into the nearby room. "Look who I found, Syd."
"My goodness. Sam," Sydney said as he sprung to his feet. "It is good to see you again."
The two men exchanged hearty handshakes. "Its good to see you to, Sir." Sam answered.
"Sam, this is my daughter, Sydney." Miss Parker introduced the wide-eyed little girl.
Sam solemnly shook the little girl's hand as his eyes took in every detail. "It is an honor to meet you, Miss Sydney."
The little girl giggled shyly. "The honor is mine, Sir." She answered politely.
Sam glanced warily at Miss Parker and the elder Sydney. The child was adorable. In her ruffled emerald green dress and matching hair ribbons, she looked like a little porcelain doll. Her hair looked feather soft but it was the child's eyes that held Sam enthralled. The color, shape and setting of her eyes as well as the angles of her small face gave little doubt as to her parentage.
No one who knew Jarod could look at this little girl and not know that he was her father.
Sam sighed. "It's going to be a long night." He said ominously. "I'd better get back to work. It was good seeing you again. Nice meeting you miss." He tipped his head at the girl.
Parker allowed Sam to walk her back to her table before she placed a gentle kiss on his cheek. "Don't be a stranger, Sam. You know how to find me."
The ex-sweeper nodded his head then, with a little bow at the waist, he turned and disappeared into the crowd.
Ethan stood and placed a hand on Parker's arm. "Here he comes." Her brother whispered into her ear.
Parker looked toward the main entrance of the room and saw four men arrive. Standing tall and regal in a formal tuxedo, Jarod was a dashing figure leading the group into the room. The trio following him was dressed in matching black suits and ties, much like Sam had been dressed.
Jarod strode confidently through the crowd, greeting guests occasionally as he scanned the room with his eyes. He gave off an aura of wealth and power. With a snap of his fingers, a waiter appeared at Jarod's side. Jarod plucked a glass from the tray and downed the contents in one long swallow. He exchanged his empty glass for a full one before dismissing the waiter with flip of his wrist.
As Parker stared at Jarod, she felt goose bumps form along her arms. As he came closer, Parker could see Jarod smiling at one person and another. But the smile never reached his eyes. The brown eyes that Parker had always remembered as warm and gentle now held nothing but blankness and stone.
Jarod hadn't noticed Parker's presence as yet. He passed within a few feet of her as he made his way to the table where his parents sat. A shiver ran down Parker's spine as a strange feeling of déjà vu overwhelmed her. Parker suddenly felt as though she was seven years old again, watching her father walk down the hallway with his sweepers. Jarod, followed by his bodyguards, gave Parker the same feeling of awe and fear at his formidable presence.
"Hello, Mother." Jarod purred as he bent to kiss his mother's cheek. The smile on his face still didn't reach his eyes. "Father. I'm so glad that you could come."
Jarod greeted Emily with an embrace. He patted the back of the young man everyone called Jack. "How is school, Jack?" Jarod asked amiably. Jack had once been a prisoner in The Centre. Born as an experiment during the Gemini project, Jack was being raised in as normal a fashion as Jarod's family could provide.
Before Jarod could turn to look for Ethan, Sam appeared at his elbow and spoke softly into his ear. Parker could see a frown crease Jarod's brow as he turned abruptly in her direction.
Parker tried not to flinch when Jarod's piercing glare fixed on her. He downed the second glass of champagne and left the glass sitting on the table before he walked toward her.
"What are you doing here, Parker?" Jarod said coldly.
For a moment, Parker stood frozen. In a heartbeat, she took in his short, business like hairstyle and smoothly shaved chin. He was standing so close his nearness was intimidating. Jarod's eyes were as hard and as cold as granite. Parker found herself wondering where her Jarod had gone. This immovable statue in front of her was not the pretender she once knew.
Parker closed her eyes and took a deep breath to summon her courage. In doing so, she caught his scent. He smelled like champagne and aftershave and Jarod. Her stomach knotted as her body recognized his distinct fragrance. Parker snapped her eyes open in embarrassment.
"Sam said that you needed to talk to me, Parker." Jarod growled. "So start talking."
"I've brought Sydney with me." Parker blurted.
"So?" Jarod asked, crossing his arms over his chest.
"Please, come say hello." Parker said as she backed toward the other room.
He followed Parker to the next room but Jarod stopped abruptly at the door to observe the occupants sitting at the table.
"Jarod!" the gray haired man stood and moved quickly toward his old protégé.
When Sydney reached Jarod's side, he opened his arms to pull the younger man into a warm embrace. But Jarod moved quickly, side stepping Sydney's attempt to hug him.
"Hello, Sydney." Jarod said carefully. Slowly, deliberately he turned toward the little girl.
She stood quickly and curtsied formally saying, "Hello, my name is Sydney Catherine Parker. It is good to meet you, Sir."
Jarod's jaw clenched tightly as he wordlessly dragged his gaze over the child. His hands curled into tight fists and he sighed dejectedly. The tension radiating from his body was nonexistent in his voice. He spoke in a calm, almost bored tone.
"What do you want?" he asked blandly.
The little girl blinked a moment then answered. "I only wanted to meet you."
"Then you've gotten what you came for." Jarod replied. "There will be cake in about an hour, I'll have my brother see that you get a piece. Enjoy the rest of your evening."
Without another word, Jarod turned on his heel and strode from the room.
Parker hurried after him and caught him just outside the door. "Jarod!" She exclaimed as she grabbed him by the arm. "Is that it? Is that all you are going to say to her? That little girl is your daughter, Jarod."
Jarod violently yanked his arm away from Parker's hands. "She is your daughter, Parker. I was just the sperm bank."
"I never planned on getting pregnant, Jarod." Parker whispered. "But I don't regret that it happened. She is the best thing that ever happened to me."
Jarod turned his back to her and sighed.
"She's a wonderful child, Jarod. Loving and happy." Parker said tearfully.
"When is her birthday?" Jarod asked casually without turning around.
"July 11th." Parker answered.
Jarod sighed again. He turned to face Parker and said flatly, "Then it was my sin that spawned her, not yours."
Parker could feel panic growing inside her. Jarod seemed so casual about this, he wasn't yelling or pouting. He didn't seem angry. His face was blank, devoid of emotion.
"That doesn't matter anymore, Jarod. What's important is that she is here, now." Parker argued.
Jarod shook his head. "Take her home, Parker."
"Please, Jarod." Parker pleaded. "She just wants to talk to you. Please, give her five minutes. That's all I ask."
"No." He said simply. "I have guests to attend to." Jarod began to turn away.
"Jarod." Parker grabbed at his arm again. "If our relationship ever meant anything to you, anything at all, you'll give my daughter five minutes of your time."
For a long moment, Jarod stood perfectly still. When he turned, Parker expected to see sadness in his eyes, but there was just that same empty void reflecting from the brown depths.
"There was a time," Jarod said calmly. "When what we had meant everything to me. I would have died for you."
"I know." Parker whispered, as tears began to fill her eyes.
"I would have killed for you." He said in an even tone.
"I know." She whispered again.
"I gave you everything I had, everything I was." His voice was emotionless and flat.
"I know." Her tears flowed freely down her cheeks, while Parker struggled against a sob.
"A big part of me died that day, Parker. You killed me that day." Jarod tilted his head at her curiously, as though he was examining an unusual speck on his trousers. "What was left behind has no feeling for you at all. I don't owe you a damned thing. Not even five minutes."
"Please, Jarod." Parker's grip on his arm stopped him again. "She's just a little girl. Don't punish her for what I did. Please."
Jarod shrugged. "Fine. Whatever." He said as he strolled back into the little room.
Sydney was holding the little girl in his arms. The child had her head on the older man's shoulder while he rubbed comforting little circles on her back. Her eyes shimmered with disappointment.
Jarod blinked at the pair. How many times as a child had he wished for Sydney to hold him like that? How often had he needed to be comforted but hadn't been? Part of him wanted to be jealous of the girl but he couldn't manage to summon up even that much of a feeling.
The little girl squirmed out of her uncle's arms and stood solemnly facing her father.
"Sit down." He ordered taking the chair the older Sydney had recently used.
The girl obediently sat as instructed.
"Your mother tells me that you wanted to talk to me." Jarod began.
The little girl nodded. "I. I brought you a present." Little Sydney stuttered shyly. Digging among the ruffles of her dress, she pulled a PEZ dispenser from her pocket. The top was shaped like a small cat.
"Momma and Uncle Sydney said that you collect these." She declared proudly as she handed him the toy.
Jarod took the plastic piece and rolled it curiously in one hand. "I used to." He said. "But I gave them all away." Jarod added as he handed the candy back.
Sydney tilted her head at him in a gesture that Jarod recognized as his own. "Why?"
He shrugged. "It was time to put aside childish things. It was time to grow up."
"How do you know when it's time to grow up?" She asked inquisitively.
"When you realize that dreams aren't real, and wishes never come true then you know it's time to grow up." Jarod answered solemnly.
"But I wished that I could come see you." She quipped. "That wish came true."
Jarod smiled. "Then I guess you aren't ready to grow up yet."
Sydney frowned, her little face wrinkled with concentration. "I don't think I ever want to grow up." She pouted.
Jarod patted her head. "Some people never do. I honestly hope that you get to be one of those lucky few."
The little girl pondered that for a few moments.
Jarod sighed and abruptly stood up. "I really need to get back to my guests."
"I understand." The child said.
Jarod reached into his vest pocket and pulled out a business card. "If you ever need anything," He said as he handed the placard to the girl, "cash or a car, maybe a lawyer or something like that, you call that number. My secretary will make sure that you get whatever you need."
Little Sydney beamed as though the card was a priceless artifact and hugged the paper close to her chest.
Jarod shrugged and started for the door.
Just as he left the little room he heard the girl's small voice call to him. "Happy birthday, Daddy."
Jarod kept walking.
End part1