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."

CHAPTER 14

While Logan's team was searching the internet, trying to dig up dirt on Jason, the man was having dinner with Evangeline in a posh restaurant. The way the waiters attended to them with courtesy and extra care gave him away. He either had been here earlier with a threat that they behave or this was his.

"So which is it?" Evan asked the man, looking at him intently. He had insisted she try their seafood and she was savouring every bit. The oysters had been well salted and Jason had taught her to suck the meat out of the shell to get the best taste. She closed her eyes and sucked the last one. This was so good she let the meat roll in her mouth a while. When she eventually opened her eyes, Jason was looking at her with interest.

"Enjoying the meal, I see." He smiled.

He hardly smiles. She resisted the urge to ask him to smile more. The poor man had just lost his wife. Saying something like that would be unethical. Instead she asked him again, "Which is it?"

"What now?" He sighed and waved over a waiter.

"Either you own this place or you've been here to warn the staff to be on their best behaviour." She went for the shrimps this time. The waiter came and he requested for white wine. The man nodded and cleared the empty plates. He smiled at her brightly. She didn't understand.

"He appreciates how well you eat," he said. "He isn't the only one though. I like a woman that eats. Makes me want to buy more. Should we order more?"

Evangeline laughed heartily, "Unless you want to carry me out of here." She teased, "I'm literally full to the brim."

"Good." He smiled as the waiter brought their wine and proceeded to open it and fill their glasses. When he left, he told Evan casually that this was one of his clubs.

She had just stuffed her mouth with a peppery crawfish. "I knew it" Her eyes glistened.

"This will help." He offered her the wine and she drank.

"Wow... the cook here deserves a raise. "Mexican?"

"World best." He confirmed.

They ate and then stood to leave. "I suppose we can discuss the contract on our way? This place isn't the place to talk about it." He said as they stood outside the club waiting for his driver to bring the car over.

"I suppose we can. Do you seriously mean we should review this together?" She asked eyeing the big folder.

"Trust me, we should." He said. The driver stopped in their front and opened the door remotely. He let her go in first and shut the door after him. The car started before he opened the file.

"So, before we do this, I wanted us to trash some petty issues. One that concerns me is your place."

"My place being?"

"I mean you stay in L.A, I live in Miami... that's too far apart. What happens when you need a help with something? I don't know" He ruffled his hair trying to come up with a good reason, "I was hoping you will move over to Miami till it's done. Plus, your family stays there."

"I'm not moving to Miami" She replied stubbornly. "I have a business here. Are you saying that I should close up?"

"No. I don't mean that. I could pay you. Buy it over and pay you monthly if that's what's keeping you here" He offered.

"I assume you know how many offers I'll get in that one year. A single deal can land me billions." She pressed him wanting to pump him for more information to be sure he really meant it. She wasn't about to give up her business or livelihood for anything

"I can afford it." He said, oblivious he was being played.

"I won't change my livelihood. Next?"

Jason sat up straighter. He had expected this but not so conclusively, "Can't we compromise in any way?"

"Not on my part." She replied, stubbornly. "I will be here. If I need help, I'm sure someone will be more than willing to do that."

"Okay. Let's both sleep on it and come up with a workable solution then."

"Good." She replied. "What's the next issue?"

"I'll prefer to pay for this. I know you don't want or need the money. But you're doing us a favour and..."

She held her hand up, "Hold it right there. First, I'm doing no one any favour. You're in this as well as me. The child is yours as well as mine. This isn't for you or..." She couldn't say his late wife, so she instead let it hang. The tension in the car was high. He suddenly sat up straight.

"I'm sorry. This is going to be our child. Still, I want to pay. It's the only way I can be comfortable with it."

"I don't think so. How do I explain it? That I got paid to birth my child?" She replied amused at the way he was seeing whatever they had going. He had just ruined every good moment they had shared earlier.

It was becoming obvious they wouldn't ever be on the same page. The way he sees things were completely different from hers. She wondered if things would change. And to think she wanted some sort of relationship with the father of the baby.

The car stopped and she peered out the window. They were at her place. "I think you should let me have the file and we both go through it separately then meet later to compromise where it needs be." She said flatly.

He agreed easily and passed her the file, keeping the other one for himself. He was probably as tired as she was about everything. She got down from the car and walked the short distance to her apartment without a backward glance.

Had she looked, she would have seen him try to reach out for her. Once inside her home, she dumped the file on her dresser and started to undress. Her ringing phone did nothing to speed up the moment.

Done and safely tucked in bed, she brought out the file and began to read. Aside the two they had discussed in the car, other conditions seemed okay. He wanted both of them in the child's life. That she wanted too. He had plans for visiting drafted already too. The man was freaking detailed. Everything was dotted and crossed to the last minute. Satisfied, she dropped the file. Her phone rang again.