Grant sat in his sleek black car, parked just down the street from Thomas George's house. The small plastic bag Thomas had just given him, rested on the seat beside him, its weight and consequences, heavier than its size.
He rubbed his temple, Evelyn's face lingering in his mind.
" We are almost there, Evelyn," he murmured. "Almost."
He glanced at his watch. It was early, but he had already arranged for the hair sample to be delivered to a private lab.
Discretion was everything. He couldn't afford a single mistake, not now.
He drove quietly there and after much discussion with the person in charge, he dropped his hair samples and left. These were some of his most uncomfortable days aside from when he lost Evelyn. He promised Evelyn he would not rest till he found their daughter.
Rosetta pushed open and stepped out of the staff lounge door, her body aching and tired from another long shift.
Her uniform was neat, but the fatigue was all over her, her shoulders slumped, and she could barely walk straight, dragging her handbag lazily as she walked.
She was about to pick up a glass of water when a shadow crossed her path.
"You must be really proud of yourself," Tracy's mean voice cut through the quiet ballroom.
Rosetta turned slowly, meeting Tracy's glare with a steady gaze. " You again? I don't know what you're talking about."
"Oh, don't try and play innocent with me here," Tracy snapped, moving closer. "What did my dad say to you in his penthouse? Huh? Why did he even call you up there?"
Rosetta set the glass down carefully. "That's between me and your father. If you are so curious, why don't you ask him yourself, like you said he is your father, not mine."
Tracy let out a sinister laugh, shaking her head. "Of course, you'd say that. Playing the mysterious, untouchable act now? Let me tell you something, Rosetta. Whatever game you're playing, it won't work."
"I'm not playing any games, I don't have such luxury to. How can a waste and trash picker like me, play games with President Grant and his excellent daughter, I know my place, don't remind me" Rosetta replied calmly but with sarcasm.
Tracy's eyes narrowed. "Oh, really? Because ever since you walked into this hotel, you've had every man around you wrapped around your little finger. First Caleb, then Jacob, and now my father?" Her voice rose, sharp and biting. "What's next, Rosetta? Going after my inheritance?"
Rosetta's composure faltered for a brief moment, her brows knitting together. " Why give me so much credit Tracy? I don't care about your money, or anyone around you unless they are trash then I can pick them up and sell them to pay my fees. Read my lips. Rosetta yelled angrily at Tracy...'' I AM ONLY INTERESTED IN TRASH Tracy."
"Then what do you care about?" Tracy hissed. "Because you sure as hell don't belong here. You don't belong in my world."
"Maybe not, unless you pick trash like me then we can relate and be in the same world," Rosetta said softly. "But I didn't ask to be here."
Tracy stared at her, her fists clenching and unclenching. Before she could say another word, the door swung open, and Jacob stepped in.
"What's going on here?" he asked, his voice calm but firm. His eyes flicked between the two women, lingering on Rosetta.
"Nothing," Rosetta said quickly, brushing past him.
"Wait, Rosetta" Jacob started, but she was already gone.
He turned to Tracy, frowning. "What are you doing, Tracy? Why are you always going after her?"
Tracy's cheeks flushed, her lips curling into a sneer. "Oh, don't tell me you're defending her now."
"I'm trying to understand why you're so obsessed," Jacob said, his tone steady. "Every time I see you, you're either yelling at her or finding new ways to humiliate her. What's your problem?"
"She's my problem," Tracy snapped. "She's ruining everything. My father doesn't even look at me the same way anymore."
Jacob sighed, running a hand through his hair. "That sounds like a you problem, Tracy. Not hers."
Rosetta stormed out of the hotel, in a hurry to get a taxi home, leaving Jacob and Tracy to talk.
Tracy wasn't satisfied she had a lot to say but Jacob interrupted her, which made her unhappy. Hurrying out to see if she could catch up with Rosetta, Jacob stopped her.
Some days later, Grant sat at his desk, his feet tapping on the hard floor as he clasped his hands together, Grant tensed up, as he was expecting that one call that would change everything...
The phone buzzed, and he picked it up immediately, his voice tight. "Grant speaking."
"Mr. Grant, we've completed the DNA analysis," the voice on the other end said, calm and clinical.
Grant took a deep breath, almost afraid to breathe out or hear the result. "And?"
There was a pause from the doctor. A long, unbearable pause, seemed like an eternity to Grant.
"Rosetta George is your biological daughter.
Grant fell back in his chair, his chest rising and falling as he let out a shaky breath. "Are you certain?"
"Conclusive, She is 99.9% related by blood to you" the voice replied.
Grant finally found his breath after realizing he was almost choking for lack of air. He quickly loosened his tie, "Thank you," he said, his voice thick with emotion.
He hung up and stared at the photo of Evelyn on his desk, his hand trembling as he picked it up.
"I found her," he whispered. "I found our daughter, Evelyn.'' Grant wept profusely, tears streaming down his face
His tears poured out heavy in the office, a mixture of relief, joy, and a creeping dread about what was to come. After some hours of contemplation, Grand went to see Thomas with the DNA result in his hand.
Grant stepped out of his car when he arrived at Thomas's house and approached the small, tidy house. He had finally found his peace but there was something else bothering him. Tracy! Yes, the thought of telling Tracy the truth, tightened his nerves, and he wished Evelyn was alive.
The door opened before he could knock. Thomas stood there, his sharp eyes scanning Grant's face.
"Well?" Thomas's voice was calm, but there was a hardness beneath it. The fear of losing Rosetta was profound.
Grant nodded slowly. "She's my daughter."
Thomas blinked, and for a moment, his weathered face softened before his brows furrowed again. " Are you sure President Grant?"
"The test was conclusive," Grant said, his voice low. He handed the DNA result to Thomas and walked past him to take a seat before Thomas could step back and gestured for him to come in. Thomas examined the result and was half surprised but he knew the result was real.
"Then I guess we need to talk about the next step for my granddaughter."
They sat across from each other in the small, cozy poorly designed looking living room. Thomas's old fingers tapped against the armrest of his chair, his gaze fixed on Grant.
"So, what happens now, what next?"
Thomas asked, his voice carefully measured. Without giving out any emotions but deep in his heart, he was heartbroken. How could a child he raised all these years with so much love, patience, care, discipline, and a good upbringing end up as someone else's child? How?
Grant hesitated, then leaned forward slightly. "I don't want to disrupt her life any more than necessary. I know this is a lot to process, for all of us. But she has the right to know."
Thomas gave a low chuckle, though it lacked humor. "You think it's that simple? Just tell her and everything falls into place?"
His heart was trembling, he knew Rosetta needed Grant as a father not after what Dango and his mother had put her through. His financial capabilities alone would be a game and life changer for Rosetta.
"No,"
Grant admitted, his tone soft but firm. "It's not simple. But the truth doesn't go away, Thomas. She deserves to know where she came from, who she is."
Thomas sat back, his fingers now gripping the armrest.
"Rosetta's been through hell, Grant. She's worked for every scrap she's got. And now you want to drop this on her? What if it breaks her?" He went ahead and told Grant about her failed marriage and how it was all his fault, How she had just managed to get her life back on track with the acceptance letter, and now...
Grant's voice tightened. "She's stronger than you think. I've seen it. She has your strength. And all that has happened to her, makes it the more reason she needs me"
Thomas looked away, his jaw clenched. "And Tracy?" he asked after a long silence.
Grant exhaled deeply, rubbing the back of his neck. "I've thought about her every step of the way. This won't be easy for her. But the truth is the truth, Thomas. I can't hide it, not from Rosetta. Not from Tracy."
Thomas turned back to him, his eyes sharp. "And what if the truth destroys them both?"
"I'll take that risk," Grant said quietly. "Because I owe it to both of them, to be honest."
Thomas leaned forward now, his voice low and steady. "You listen to me, Grant. If you're going to step into Rosetta's life, you don't get to walk away if it gets too hard. You don't get to leave her to clean up the mess."
Grant met his gaze, unflinching. "I won't walk away. I swear it. It's called truth for a reason. It can't destroy. Just to make Tracy feel better, you think I will abandon my daughter my wife died searching for? That all my life I have been searching for since her disappearance? "
There was a long silence before Thomas finally nodded. "Fine. I am not asking you to do that, but if you hurt her, you'll answer to me."
Grant offered a faint, tired smile. "I wouldn't expect anything less."
Grant stepped closer, his voice soft. "You raised an incredible woman, Thomas. And I'll always be grateful for that."
Thomas turned to him, his eyes sharp. "Just don't make promises you can't keep, Grant. If you're going to step into her life, make sure it's for the right reasons."
"I will," Grant said firmly. "I swear it."
The two men stood in silence, the weight of their shared connection settling over them.