Unchartered

He was poring over at the records that was turned over to him last meeting. Gustav was told that Meredith dropped by. Aleck told him but before Aleck could, Victoria already informed him. On the other hand, he was pleased that she left even before the rest of his men could see her. They were already hearing gossips of Meredith under his care and with his years in the business-----most men with half the brain would assume that the girl was his newest obsession.

In a way, she is.

He would move mountains for her but for now, she had to surpass her greatest test. With a heavy heart, Gustav had to put her in a dangerous situation, she is the bait for his greatest archenemesis and for her to be accepted in his world, he had to have the greatest and the sweetest victory first. Meredith is his greatest weakness to date.

His trip to memory lane was cut short with Wynona traipsing inside, his friend and former bed warmer had a warm grin on her face which sent shivers down Gustav's spine. That particular smile had nothing to do with money. He us sure of that. Besides, Wynona would not go to his office after dinner to ask for money, she's simply text him and he, in return, would text his financing officer to release a certain amount of money and that was it. It had better be it or else...he felt a nervous pang build up.

"To what do I owe this pleasure?" He said without looking up, he could clearly see her shoes with his spectacles. "If it's money, you know the drill."

"Oh, no. Oh, no." She clicked her tongue several times to prove her point as she made herself comfortable in the leather seat across to his desk. "I came here bearing good news."

"Really? Should I guess because apparently, I have a lot of time at hand." He chirped sarcastically.

Wynona crossed her long legs not to seduce Gustav but to make herself more comfy than she already is. Whatever she and Gustav had was water under the bridge now. They are more than friends and she's living off him more than she needs or what she earns in her business.

What she want from him is a revelation because even she is puzzled how generous a man like Gustav can be. For one, she knew that the man was never interested in the young woman sexually or even close to objectifying her.

It is also impossible that Gustav finds her a charity case, a form of redemption for all his sins. There are more charities in New York or across the globe that are more qualified than her.

"What's with you and Meredith?" Wynona came in strong with the question.

"Are we not over this?"

"No."

"Hmm," he finally put the documents down, "what can I say to make you believe it?"

She rolled her eyeballs and shrugged. "Ha. I don't know, maybe a plausible truth. Because if you insist on the charity and redemption bullshit, I will punch you hard in the face."

He laughed so hard at this. She's feisty and that's one of the many things that he adores in her. In fact, he can actually get rid of her and they can move on with their lives and rub elbows once in a while. Wyonona was young once and she asked for more than his bootycall and he crushed her feelings to pieces.

But she accepted it. Afterall, she's a woman who would do anything just to get out of the murky and awful poverty pool and Gustav helped her went through it and he did not let go of his promises to her. Gustav is many terrible things but never a liar. He keeps his word and once he makes a promise, it's as good as done.

Wynona smiled michief playing in her eyes, "the truth."

"I've already did that but you are so convinced otherwise. How hard headed can you be?"

"What's new? You would have thrown me out the streets when I was starting to be your whore." She chuckled, reminiscing those days that were not so distant. "It would be easier if you tell me truth, Gussy."

"Don't call me that. We are way past that." He reminded her sternly. "Is that all?"

"Nope."

"Please tell me we are over this."

"No, we are not."

"Okay, how about I remind you that all your expensive shoes and bags and all your spa sessions can stop now because you are getting in my nerves? I would not mind keeping a few thousand bucks from that alone or better yet, I'll jsut put it in Dixon's account?" He stopped because he slipped and it was too late for him to take it back.

He might as well come clean. Wynona will never betray him. Money or no money. She loves him and there was this one time in the course of their relationship that she begged him to take him as his wife but he did not want to commit because his brief explanation was as common as the ones used in movies.

His heart belonged to someone else.

A theory started to form in Wynona's head, one that paralleled Gustav's and he knew that no secret can be kept forever. She hung her head low and nodded, realizing that she had pieced two and two together and the answer was staring at her in her face all along. " Meredith...?"

"Yes."

Pregnant silence ensued, almost lasting about an eternity until Wynona broke it. "You can count on me, I will not tell a single soul."

"Thank you," he sighed, "you know what, this is the first time that I told anyone about this. It's relief, so now you can rest your tits because she's not my woman. She's my child."

"And also Dixon?" she probed.

"No, he's another man's son. The one Meredith grew up with. But what's the point? I can't remove that boy in Meredith's life. He is after all, her brother. If I want access to her life, Dixon stays."

"Bastard!" Wynona yelled at him out of nowhere. "I now thank God for not giving me a child with you no matter how hard I prayed for it. It's his way of not making me feel miserable. Because look at you, you are putting your own daughter in danger! What kind of father are you?"

"The kind that you will never understand."