Inside of the Covington Tower, on the twentieth floor in downtown Radcliffe. Tommy Covington knocks on the door of his father's office. He stands there momentarily before he is given verbal permission to enter. When he does, he steps inside to find his dad at his desk gesturing him to sit down in the leather club chair in front of him, which he does. Tommy had been summoned here by Daniel's secretary Evelyn over the phone. He had some time before he had to head over to the university to take one of his last finals for the semester. 

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"Hey, Dad, thanks again for letting Lorenzo stay in the guest house." 

 

Lorenzo decided to stay in town for the summer to participate in an internship for the campus radio station. And since he doesn't come from a family with a lot of money, and his financial aid wouldn't cover him to stay in the dorms after this semester. So Tommy had asked his father to let him stay at the guest house on the estate, which Daniel graciously is allowing. 

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"Well, I hope he will feel welcome," Daniel replies. "I wanted to speak on a more serious matter." 

 

Tommy automatically knows he is referring to Jordan being pregnant with his child. 

 

"Since we're on that subject, why are you trying to take the baby away from her?" 

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He had a conversation with her not long ago regarding his father coming to tell her in exchange for him jumpstarting her modeling career. She would have to sign over her parental rights soon as the baby is born and she will leave town for good. 

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Daniel situates himself in his chair. "Jordan McKnight is not interested in being a mother to that child. I know her type; son, they are a dime a dozen. She thinks she wants this child, but the novelty will wear thin, and she will discard this child, like trash. That will not happen to a grandchild of mine.  And anyway like it or not, you're this child's father. You should be taking more of a role in the future of it." 

 

"I'm going to lose, Tanner," 

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Tommy had been avoiding telling Tanner about all of this. However, he realizes he does not want to hurt her again.

 

"Then stop lying to her, you were a man when you slept with Jordan. Now be a man, tell her the truth." 

 

His father's words hang in the air as Daniel's office phone rings. 

 

"Yes Evelyn, send her in," his father says before hanging up. 

 

A few seconds later, Emma Covington saunters confidently into the room in a designer black long-sleeve jumpsuit carrying a tote bag that costs more than an entry-level employee makes here. 

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Quickly, Daniel gives his youngest son a look to seize discussion on what they were talking about. 

 

"You didn't forget about me coming to talk to you did you?" Emma inquiries. 

 

Daniel shakes his head. "No, I did not," 

 

Noticing he is in the way, Tommy gets out of the chair. "I better get going, I need to go to take this final for accounting. See you later," 

 

He exits the office as Emma takes a seat where her nephew was recently sitting. 

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"Let me guess, you're here because you are seeking employment, and you want to work here for your family company?" 

 

Emma chortles ruefully. "Let's not shock our systems, I'm here to speak with you about you unfreezing my trust fund." 

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Daniel sighs exasperatedly. "Emma, aren't you tired of this?" he asks her. "You will not be seeing one dime of your money until I see fit." 

 

She lifts her perfectly manicured fingernail to point upwardly. "I serious about starting a business of my own." 

 

"I would first ask you what sort of business would you be starting," he asks somewhat in disbelief. 

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"A nightclub, this hillbilly town needs a place where people who aren't the age for social-security to unwind and enjoy music from this century," she explains. "So what do you say big brother how about loosening the purse straps and give me access to my account again, please." 

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