Chapter 27

Kadeem

Despite Sam’s warnings, Kadeem didn’t ‘ease up.’ He spent the rest of the day at the studio, forgetting all about his intentions to go to the gym as he watched the babies work their magic.

They were perfect saints, listening to every request to his team without fail. Once the day’s filming was over, Kadeem stayed true to his word and gladly handed them over his pocket watch.

And the next day, Kadeem was one of the first people to arrive at the studio. Only, that time he brought along a few gifts. He couldn’t help but notice how each baby showed interest in different matters, leading him to give one boy a few books, the other some sweets, and the girl a couple of expensive and beautiful dolls.

The children were beyond themselves as they received their presents - the girl immediately tugging on his arm and asking him to open one of her dolls. Kadeem wore a smile as he tore the box open, soon handing the doll back to her. She hugged it tightly, offering out sweet “thank yous.”

Kadeem could tell people were watching him, but he grew not to care. He was too focused on the babies and how they lit up the space with every step they took, words they spoke, smiles they shared. The little girl’s voice especially stuck with him throughout the day.

It sounded so similar to the voice on the phone - the one that Chelsea immediately cut off as she’d hung up the phone. Only, since Kadeem hadn’t actually seen the little girl the day he’d gone to Chelsea’s, he couldn’t confirm if the two were the same. Still, he felt like there was some sort of correlation.

And he needed to at least try to figure out how - even if he came out with nothing.

“You did well today,” Kadeem told the babies once they were done shooting, taking a seat beside them on the bed. Immediately, they all seemed to gravitate to him as they drew closer.

“We just have a few more days of shooting,” Kadeem stated. “Do you think your mommy will be okay with that?”

The children began to nod in reply, each of them wearing a smile. Noting their high spirits, Kadeem took that as his opening.

“Where is your mommy, anyway?” he asked, looking out to the room. “I’m surprised she’s not here.”

“She-she’s busy!” the girl insisted.

“With what?” Kadeem asked, raising a brow.

“Well…with work…” she trailed out, her little hands twisting in her lap.

“Yeah, mommy works hard,” another little boy said.

Kadeem hummed at that, scanning all of their faces.

“Where does she work?” he asked next.

Once more, the babies hesitated, sharing looks as if they didn’t know how to answer. That led Kadeem to flash a knowing smile.

Their mother had no idea that they were here. Interesting.

“What’s her name?” Kadeem prompted then. “Maybe I know her.”

But again, he was met with silence.

Goddess. These kids were quite secretive. The way they avoided his questions reminded him a lot of…

Chelsea.

Memories of little outfits hanging from her balcony filled Kadeem’s mind, only adding to his suspicions. Then again, he had found five outfits that day at Chelsea’s while he’d only confirmed these babies were quadruplets.

So far, at least.

“Alright,” Kadeem continued, deciding to let them off the hook. “Run along. The driver will take you home. But make sure to be back here tomorrow nice and early.”

Relieved, the babies rewarded him with a few quick hugs before they slipped off the bed and skipped away. Kadeem watched all of them go, still smiling. He just couldn’t shake it - there was something special about these kids.

“It’s funny how much they look like you,” someone said from his side, causing him to glance up and find the woman from the day before staring at him. She offered a nervous smile. “If I didn’t know better, I would suspect you were their actual father.”

The woman then released a laugh, waiting as she likely expected Kadeem to deny her words. Only, he said nothing in reply. Instead, he hummed in amusement as he stood from the bed. In turn, the woman’s eyes grew wide as she kept them locked on his face.

Kadeem could still feel her staring as he walked out of the room.

~

The following day, more members of the crew started making comments. They were similar to the one the woman had made, and Kadeem always reacted the same way. No denial - no verbal response in general. He’d just smirk and walk away.

He wasn’t sure what had gotten into him. Maybe he just liked the surprise that would spread across their faces every time he walked away. Sometimes he’d even sweetened the deal by striding right over to the babies and allowing them to smother him with hugs.

Or maybe it was because Kadeem couldn’t dismiss his own indifference. As the days wore on, his pull toward the children only became worse and worse. He was unable to shake the feeling that there was a reason behind the babies’ fondness for him too - believing it wasn’t just because of his status as Alpha.

Sure, they listened to him, respected him. But they also rejoiced any time he’d walk into the room. When they’d finish a take, their eyes would immediately snap to him as if seeking approval from a father sitting on the sidelines at a soccer game.

It felt a privilege to have the babies giving him so much of their attention. Again, he was led to believe that their actual father wasn’t as present as they’d like. Which ultimately was the main reason he couldn’t bring himself to pull away - special kids like them deserved to have someone to lean on.

Once filming had wrapped again for the day, Kadeem said his goodbyes to the three, standing by and watching them until they officially disappeared out the door. He then swept out a breath, passing by the warm gazes of the crew as he slipped off to his office.

Only, he’d barely managed to sit down before Sam came storming through the door.

“We’ve got a problem,” the Beta reported as he swiftly shut the door. He then turned, harshly throwing a stack of magazines down on the desk.

“What are these?” Kadeem asked, his brow furrowing.

“Magazines. Tabloids,” Sam shot out, exhaling harshly through his nose. “All of them filled with articles and pictures of you and these kids.”

Kadeem’s eyes clipped down then, his fingers brushing the magazines so they fanned out. Sure enough, each cover had various photos of him and either one or all of the babies with claims of the Alpha having a secret family.

“Secret family,” Kadeem murmured before giving a click of his tongue.

“This is serious, Kadeem,” Sam stated as he began to pace. “They have tons of quotes about you not denying the kids are yours when anyone asks.”

“Technically they didn’t ask,” Kadeem said, leaning back in chair. “They just made suggestive comments and I didn’t reply.”

“Fuck, Kadeem,” Sam said, stopping as he ran a hand through his hair. “That’s basically the same thing! It’s just as bad. If you don’t say anything then you’re just leading people to believe it’s true.”

“Who says that it’s not?” Kadeem asked, rather sharply.

Now that really had Sam stopping in his tracks.

“What?” Sam said as he panted with confusion.

“Who says these kids aren’t mine?” Kadeem prompted again. “Look at them, Sam. They look just like me. Especially the little boy from the auditions. The similarities are fucking uncanny.”

Sam’s brows pulled together as he stared at the Alpha, but soon he began to shake his head.

“No,” Sam insisted. “It’s a coincidence. It’s -“

“But what if it’s not?” Kadeem pressed. “You know as well as I do that I can’t remember anything leading up to the accident. And you weren’t around then so you don’t know either. What if I -“

“No,” Sam pressed again. “It’s impossible. We would know. There’s no way that someone wouldn’t have said anything.”

But what if there was? Kadeem had to admit that even he didn't know how it was possible, but still. Someway, somehow there was something odd going on.

“Look, let’s just slow down,” Sam said then. “The damage is done, but this can all blow over. I’ve already been out there busting my ass to buy every magazine so Susan won’t see anything.”

“That’s probably for the best,” Kadeem murmured, thinking of the woman and their unborn child. His head had been so turned lately that he’d hardly thought about them even when he climbed into bed each night.

Maybe he would be more concerned about that fact if he wasn’t still so confused on the quadruplets and the possibility of being their father.

“Kadeem,” Sam said then. “Come on. Focus, man.”

“What?” Kadeem clipped out, beginning to lose his patience.

“I said,” Sam pressed. “You have to be careful.”

“Yeah, I know,” Kadeem stated flatly. “You already warned me about Susan. I get it.”

“No. It’s not just Susan you need to worry about anymore,” Sam said with a sigh, causing Kadeem to lift his brow.

“It’s your grandmother. She knows - and she’s starting to ask questions.”

And if she found something she didn’t like…then there was no telling what she’d do.