CHAPTER 11

Every ring made her look up, thinking the caller would be the new father-to-be. She gave up later in the afternoon when she hadn't heard anything from him. He was obviously not into the game.

This had been a dying wish after all. She felt a little disappointed. When she closed for the day later in the evening, too tired to cook, she had driven herself to her favourite Cafe for dinner and went home. There was a car parked at the garage and she wondered who it was. Just as she walked to the car, the door opened and Jason stepped down from the backseat. Evan stepped back, surprised.

"I've been busy." He said, swinging the door open so she could see the papers on the seat.

That must be the reason for his silence. She suddenly felt excited to know that, "Okay," she replied, casually.

"But I had to come." To his driver he said, "Give us a minute, Sam." Then he closed the door.

"We should talk." He said to Evan, "Your place please."

He followed her to the elevator and they were on their way to her apartment. It felt strange standing here in a confined space with him and having nothing to say. Whatever he had to say must be so serious he had to come down here. She tried to read his face from the corner of her eyes. He was unreadable. His face gave nothing away. At her door, he watched her open it and tried hushing a laugh

"That lock needs to be changed. It was too easy to unlock. I can have someone fix that." He said.

"No, you wouldn't." She fired back, a little too harsh.

Jason watched her quietly, what mood? "I don't mean any insult. I was here the other night. You were too drunk to give your friend the code." She blushed pretty, he noted. "I had to unlock it."

"I see what you mean. Can I get you anything," She asked rather than dragging that line with him. It was safer for everyone to change the topic.

"Water is fine." He followed her to the fridge, "I heard you agreed to do it."

Evan noticed how he didn't use the word for what she was to be, "Surrogate? Yes. Isn't that what you wanted?" She poured him a cup and handed it to him.

Jason accepted the cup but didn't drink, "I... have you thought this through? I mean these changes everything." He said.

"I'm an adult Mr Valdez."

"Jason, please."

She ignored that, "I am capable of thinking things through," she told him blankly, "If you however have a change of mind, then..."

"No. I just wanted to be sure. I heard Doctor Tom already walked you through the procedure."

"Yes. I know all about surrogate mother than ever now, thanks to him. I intend to be the sexiest surrogate mother ever." She joked.

"What?"

Both turned to see Logan, all white faced at the door. He looked like he had just been confronted with his worst nightmare. "Did I just hear you right? Surrogate mother?" he said walking briskly into the room uninvited.

Evangeline wondered how he got in, "Did I forget to lock the door?" When Jason murmured about changing her lock, she glared at him.

"I have your card." Logan explained. She stretched her hand asking him to return the card. Logan ignored her and stared at the man standing in the room with her. Recognition hit immediately. "It's you?"

Evangeline knew the instant Logan became hostile that they knew each other and it wasn't in a good way.

Jason ignored him and turned to Evan instead, "I'll have my Lawyer draft up the contract and you can give your lawyer and let's talk amendment." He said, dropping the cup on the table, then he stared at Logan like he was seeing a disgusting fly, "I see you need to discuss with your boyfriend."

"Ex-boyfriend." She corrected but he was out.

Logan looked at Evan from head to toe. "Did I hear right?" He asked again.

"Not that it's any of your business but yes, I'm doing it." She moved away from him and went to seat in her couch.

"Is this a way of getting back at me?"

"What for? You and Mary? Please" She felt insulted, she hadn't even given a thought to them at all.

"I didn't sleep with her Evan," Logan said, crossing the distance between them. He crunched beside her, "I didn't sleep with her. She drugged me, took those pictures but we didn't do anything."

"That's hard to believe."

"She confirmed it after I showed her the CCTV recording. She wanted to get me to do it, apparently, I kept saying your name, so she let me be."

Evangeline stared at the man in standing intimidating right in her front. Once she had loved him. Her world had revolved around him. Now, she wasn't sure she wanted those feelings anymore. It had been easy to be angry with him. The anger was a welcome relieve. If this was true, then doesn't that change everything? She turned away from him

"Please don't do anything rash because you're mad at me and Mary."

"I'm not doing this for you or anyone." She yelled angrily and stood up. "Leave Logan."

"Evan, please. Let me make it up to you," He pleaded.

"This change nothing Logan." She told him blankly and walked him out. Closing the door, she sighs heavily. Realization of what Logan had just revealed dawned on her, "Oh my God." She gasps. "This indeed changes everything."

But she knew she was in no way giving up the idea of having a child. If Logan could live with that, then perhaps she could consider taking him back. But somehow, it didn't feel right. It would be best if Logan wasn't a part in this chapter of her life. Zoe listened half-heartedly to her friend as she told her about her insane plan. She didn't support the idea. But with Logan being in the clear, she asked instead if that would change everything.

"So what do you intend to do?" She asked. They were seated in her room, watching the latest release of Keeping up with the Kardashians season finale

Evans took a scoop of her favourite vanilla ice-cream before replying. "Nothing. I think I'll just let Logan go. I can't have him in this."

"Even when you love him?"

"Zoe?" She drawled, "How did you?"

"I knew. You did a good job hiding it but I knew my friend was in love."

"Well, that changed when I saw him with Mary." Evan disagreed.

"It wasn't real."

"My point exactly. Now, I don't know what's real or not anymore." She said, concentrating on the show.

"You're not one to get so into this." She flipped the channel

"What, Zoe?"

"I want you to really think this through. Having a child out of the blues, that's a lot to take in. a whole responsibility" She explained, "You're throwing away your life when you can start afresh with Logan."

"How the hell is giving birth the same as throwing your life away?" Sudden realization made her ask, "Wait, did he put you up to this?"

Zoe rubbed her temple gently, "I met him this afternoon, though he didn't make me plead on his behalf, and he told me about Mary." When Evan didn't say anything, she smiled.

"Nothing happened between them. I hoped you'd get back with him but this surrogacy thing, I don't get."

"I'm just done you know. Done with the normal. I want to do this. I just don't know where Logan fits into all this. I need more time."

Zoe's smile made her ask, "What again?"

"Your mind is made up about this already." She told Evan, "I don't mind seeing you wobbling around for one."

Both friends laughed heartily, "I intend to be sexy." Evangeline warned, "No wobbling here."

"Let's wait and see." Zoe said, "Want to bet."

"Stop, I won't wobble." She said seriously, mentally taking a rain check on that.

Be the sexy pregnant mother!

CHAPTER 12

The next week was pretty intense for Evangeline. There was another deal to close and she was trying hard this time not to shut anyone out. With her surrogacy plans coming together slowly and Logan trying to make a comeback, it hadn't been easy. She woke up to different deliveries every day.

Different flowers coloured her office. "You need to stop bringing me this." She flared at Audrey, "Either trash them or keep them for yourself."

Her sister like Zoe also had questions. Most of which she directed at the doctor who didn't mind answering every question. The only clause making her doubtful was the casual way Jason had said there had be contract.

Adriana had said it was the usual thing, but that just formalized things. She wasn't doing it for money, so what's the contract for. And while she waited all week to have him send it, she hadn't received anything yet. Still, she was as eager to get things started as soon as possible.

"Logan is here." Audrey announced through the intercom.

Evan sighed, "Let him in," She closed her file and brought out her tablet, sifting through the net.

"Hello." He said going over to peck her.

"Hi." She turned away from the peck and offered him the seat next to hers.

"What brings you here?"

"I just wanted to see my favourite woman." He flirted.

"Didn't we agree to take things slow? I need time to process."

"But I did give you time. I didn't call all week."

"No, but the flowers and gifts didn't stop calling." She pointedly stared at her table brimming with them all.

"I wanted to be in your thoughts every day." He moved closer to her, "Speaking of gifts, I have something for you."

Evan hit the intercom angrily, "Not again." She told him quite frankly, then leaning to the intercom she told Audrey to come with drinks. "Anything?"

"You'll love this one." He said as he produced a glittering, pure gold ring.

Evangeline watched as he went on bent kneel, "Will you marry me?" He was that way when Audrey came in with the drinks.

******

"And you turned him down?" Adriana asked her sister. "You're going to die lonely" she blurted out.

"Sorry." She apologized.

"None taken. You have a way of speaking your mind harshly." Evan waved it off, knowing her sister could be very blunt when she wanted. She walked into her bedroom and closed the door. She disconnected her ear pod and put the call on speaker so she could undress.

"Guys, keep it down." Adriana cautioned the twins. She went on to send them out of the room when they still wouldn't keep quiet, "Sorry. Evan? You there?"

"Yes, Ad. What do they want?"

"Ignore those. They are only arguing over whose teacher is hot and whose isn't."

"Really." Evan chuckled, "Wait, you separated them?" Both twins were always in the same class. Recently however, her sister had been complaining that they were getting distracted.

"I had to. They were both losing concentration in class. And I know it's these annoying arguments they have all day."

"The Swiss gene." Evan laughed out loud.

"In a bad way. I wish they wouldn't follow our path. You know, like you?"

"Let them be. It's too early to predict what they'd be. I remember wanting to be a lawyer until college. And then one day, I wanted nothing to do with the field."

"The divorce did that to you."

"I don't think so. I think I was never born with the Swiss gene. I wasn't always good at the quotes. You always beat me at that. We all assumed it was because you were older. I played along too, but it wasn't law for me."

The two were silent on both end. Each engrossed in their own thought. "So Logan went on both knees? And you just let him hang!"

"It wasn't a funny sight. He looked like he swallowed a bug."

"And Audrey was there?"

"Yes." She replied weakly.

"God, I pity that poor man. He must have been so embarrassed."

"Well, on my path, I was shocked. Then two, he didn't propose because he wanted to. He did so I can stop the surrogate process. And he has a thing for Jason. I won't be used as a tool in whatever they have going."

"Would it have been so bad to accept Logan and forget the Valdez outrageous proposal?"

For a while, she deliberated on the question Adriana had just raised. For a thirty-five-year-old single lady, a proposal was a whole lot of bargain. But she wasn't one to go the normal route.

It was evident in the way she did her things. She had even stepped out of the family business to start her company and was doing well. If counting black sheep in the family still is a thing, she qualified as one.

Every Swiss is either a lawyer, Attorney or Judge. Her family handled every law dealing in Miami. Other law firms tried to be on their good side if not as associates. Only a few had been known to choose a different path, among which she stood proudly. So, yes, accepting the ring was the normal. But Evangeline Swiss doesn't do normal.

"I think I made the right choice. I'm doing this already." She replied bravely. To herself, she said. Even if I don't know where this route is taking me.

Her vibrating phone drew her attention to the dresser. She went to retrieve it. The caller was Jason. "Hey."

His voice was grumpy, "Hello. How are you?"

"I'm okay." She replied. "What's up?" On the other end, she heard water gushing.

Done washing his face, he asked about her discussions with Logan. His PI had told him a while ago that Logan proposed. He knew it was all a ploy to get Evan out of the deal. He had been sure she would too. But he wanted to hear it himself, not through Doctor Tom. Hence the call. "Did you talk things through with your ex? It looked like there was a lot to tell him."

"Like you said, my ex. There was nothing much to say." Even as she said that, she knew it was a complete lie. Logan wasn't taking this easy at all. Would Jason believe her if he knew that hours ago, the same "ex" had proposed?

"Alright then." He replied, "I just wanted to be sure we're still on." He added.

"Yes, we are." She informed him.

That excited him in ways he didn't understand. "You really want to go ahead with the procedure?" He asked again.

"Yes, Jason."

$CHAPTER

CHAPTER 13

Logan began to pace back and forth in his office. He couldn't believe that Evan had turned down his proposal. He had done that to stop this insane relationship she had going with Jason Valdez.

The name alone made him puke. He hated the man. He was shrewd and could screw anyone over like he did him years ago. Why didn't Evan see through his good face for the devil he really was? He hit the table in frustration remembering the way Jason had almost ended him years ago.

A friend had introduced them to a multi-million-dollar deal. Both Logan and Jason had been called to a meeting with a third company to execute a technology deal that was assumed that a single company couldn't singlehandedly handle.

Right from the first meeting, Logan knew Jason Valdez reeked of money. The man was literally a walking god in the tech. company. He recruited the best developer in town. Most of his developers were Ukrainians and everyone knew Ukraine produced the best developer in the world today.

He himself was a guru developer, making him gain the respect of all. Logan had just been a start-up company doing well in the field. He was in no way qualified to work with the likes of Jason Valdez. Still, he carried himself with pride at the meeting. It didn't take long to know that Jason was a control freak just as the other man would know that he wasn't a push over.

After series of meetings, both companies decided they were ready. They had worked with the best team to create a technology that uses AI to recognize images and say the object placed in its face.

"I'm more worried about the third company." Jason had said, at the last meeting.

"Since they didn't show up, they are out of the deal. That means more cuts for us," Logan had replied, nonchalantly. They worked on the last piece and closed for the day.

The next day, Logan had woken up to the sad news that the deal was off.

"What do you mean off? We sealed the deal last night. Its payment we should be talking about," he said to his PA then.

When the guy insisted, he knew what he was saying, he had rushed out of the office to the developer site. The secretary was on seat. Confused about the whole issue, he had approached the lady. Been a favourite with ladies, he had turned on his charm in spite the rage going on inside. The lady smiled at him they checked the data on her system.

"The other partner was paid today," she informed him.

It was pretty much like watching a movie, only this time he was part of the cast. "Paid today?"

The lady nodded, "This morning actually." She confirmed.

All effort to get in touch with Jason had been abortive. The man was literally unavailable. The next he knew, he was served a court notice and sued for half his life worth. He was charged for contract breach. Never once did Jason Valdez approach him personally. It was all a legal battle with his thugs running the show.

It had almost ended him. Well, then he had no connection and no money. Now, he had the resources to fight back. He had lost the legal battle and money to the man. He wasn't about to lose his love life to him too.

Sitting down, he brought out his phone and called his team on video chat. "I want every detail on Valdez Jason. His late wife. The reason he wants a surrogate mother. Everything. The relevant. The irrelevant. Table it all. Most importantly, I want dirty, okay." He bellowed, then ended the call without waiting for their response.

"I need to make Evan see him for the devil that he is and stop this."

Adriana Swiss entered her apartment with the twins. The packed food she had ordered at the eatery on the way were soon in the microwave. She timed the warmer and went to help the twins wash up. They splashed water everywhere making a mess of the place. "On days like this, I wish you daddy was home." She muttered, under her breath.

Noah had called earlier to say he was coming home. Several times he had had to cancel his homecoming if anything came up. Tonight, it appears like he was cancelling on them again. She hated how the company drives them miles apart. It was taking too much on her family.

The only good thing it brought was the cool cash. Her husband knew how much she enjoyed family time, so whenever he returned, he tried to stay home with the kids. Most time, they just go on a short trip anywhere in the world. The company was doing great. The books were balanced and the cheque; clean. But mother was a hard driver, always on her husband's tail to do more. He didn't mind as he was a hard driver himself. He didn't need the pushing mother gave.

The twins heard and squeaked delightedly. "You better don't cause any more mess or we all will be up cleaning the whole place." She said even as the kids ran ahead of her.

"Anybody misses daddy," Noah said as his kids ran to hug him. Their mother hurried excitedly to meet him.

"I'm glad you're home." She gave him a wet kiss not minding that their six-year-olds mooed sweetly.

He hugged her tightly, "I've missed you."

"Want to show me how much?" She flirted, licking her lips sexily, in an inviting tone she added in a whisper to his ears alone, "Over and over again?"

Before he could reply, the kids jumped at him, "Dad, you didn't get the chocolates." Elizabeth accused, arms folded, lips pouted. The reflection made both parents laugh.

"And my spiffy-man." Ethan added gloomily.

"Hold that thought." He replied his wife and hurriedly sent the kids to their room where he intended to give them their presents.

As all three ran in the kids' room, Adriana cleaned up the room and went upstairs to get a warm bath. She had showered and was dozing off when he came in. Noah snuck into bed with her and pulled her to himself.

He kissed her deeply, awakening her in every way. Drowsily she asked what took so long. "Well, in between giving them their presents, being crushed with kisses, which by the way was the highlight of my day. Then, I was listening to gossips that I may have missed according to Lizbeth; I know about the new big toys Evan got them by the way. Then telling bedtime stories, I got held up. Still, want me to show you how much?" his hands groped her body.

He didn't need any further invitation. Her body gave her away. Her nipples hardened the instant his thumb grazed them and she sulked in her breathe. His mouth searched for and found her lips. She returned the kiss fire for fire. A masculine tongue probed entrance into the other's mouth, which opened for the invasion. Their tongues engaged in a fierce dance as did their body. They let their sizzling passion burn through their tangled bodies as they rolled over each other on the bed.

"Yes, please." She purred when they both come up for air.

Whatever she was saying yes to was lost on him. He bowed and took in a nipple while his thumb rolled the other. She moaned into him just the way he loved her. Satisfied with her response to him, he let his thumb replace the other nipple while he paid the second one the same attention. Adriana gasped and pressed his mouth closer to the nipple, asking for more.

Her hand searched for his zipper and found his hardened length. Noah groaned in pleasure. He lifted himself above her to let her have access to him. Her naked palm on his hardened length made him grow harder.

He sucked in her lips forcefully and she felt hot searing fluid in her pant. Words were not needed as the two tore at each other's cloth. They were naked in a minute. When he pushed into her, Adriana cried out softly. His strokes were deep and hard. Each stroke pulling him in, drawing them closer. She robbed his back and dug her nails into him as she climaxed. It didn't take him long to get there too. His groan as he poured his hot seeds in her, signalled his.

Minutes later, the couple got out of bed into the shower. Adriana helped scrub his back. When she was done, she passed him the sponge too. But he smiled wickedly. When he began to scrub, she moaned at the way he held her against him. His hands began their own magical movement.

"Did we say over and over?" He purred in her ears. Nodding, she closed her eyes and gave in to the sensation coursing through her inner thighs.

When they were done. The couple went back to the bedroom exhausted. Adriana soon started to sleep. As he began to doze off too, his phone rang. Noah looked at the caller and quickly at his wife.

Then he tiptoed out of the room. "What now?" He groaned at the caller. "Didn't I tell you to back off? I'll handle it." He said, taking in deep breaths to stay calm.

It wasn't until three days later that Logan's team decided there was nothing to dig up. Jason Valdez was clean on paper. And that could only mean two things. He was so dirty but have a really good team covering his ass or he really was clean. Left with no choice, the team leader was urged by the team members to present the little information they had on him.

Logan sat down patiently while the man told him every detail about Jason. He nodded when he heard about his net worth. The man had always had cool money and over the years, he seemed to have made triple the amount.

"He lost his wife and..."

"When does the dirty come in James?" Logan asked impatiently. He was tired of hearing the good things about the man who had screwed him over. "I want the dirty." He spoke louder so the fidgeting man could hear him loud and clear.

"That's the thing sir, the man is clean. So clean."

"That must be mean he's covering it up well." He smiled wickedly, "I trust you were able to bypass his walls and get in?" When James nodded not in affirmative, he sat up straight. "What the heck have I been paying you for?" He yelled then brought his voice low, "I want you out now. Get me something juicy or risk losing your job."