CHAPTER 16

"Logan!" Evangeline yelled as she rushed into his apartment. The annoying brute smiled on seeing her.

"The heck was that for? Who sent you to my mother?"

"I thought she should know and speak sense into you since you're bent on dining with the devil" He replied standoffishly. He had been reading a file when she came in. Though he expected a visit, he hadn't prepared for this early attack. Evan had been aloof lately and unbothered. He was happy to see her fight him now. There was a little spark of hope there. That he could exploit. He pocketed his hands and stared at her, coolly.

Evan noticed the stance he took and got further angry, "What do you mean, the devil?" She laughed in derision, "Even if he is, why care?"

"There are things about Jason Valdez you need to know. If only you'll seat and let me explain."

Did he know something? Unsure, she eyed him warily, "I don't need to listen to you" She started to leave. Logan ran after her and held her back.

"You should know he is as brutal as they come. Jason is no gentle man. He's a cheat and a psychopath."

He noticed Evan flinched, but continued. He was past caring. "Why would you want to be tangled with such a man?" He threw his hands up in frustration.

"I wish you hadn't done that. If there was any hope of us getting back, this bold move you made ends it."

In a smooth stride, he pulled her to himself and crushed his lips on her. Evan hit him and tried to free herself. He didn't let her go. He continued to kiss her in the most brutal way. She bites him hard and he let her go. Shocked at the force with which she bites. He could taste his blood.

"Try this again and I'll be pressing charges." She threatened and left. At the door, she almost stumbled into Mary. The look on her face was pure hatred. For someone who had betrayed a friend, she definitely didn't look remorseful. She tried to get it. It was pointless talking to her. Mary was in no way ready and neither was she.

Forcing Evan back into the room, she asked. "What's going on here?" She noticed the blood stain on Logan's lips, and the implications wasn't lost on her.

Still, she taunted her friend, "Was she forcing herself on you?" She smirked at Evan, obviously twisting the narrative to hurt her friend.

Oh, two can play this game. "You mean he...." She stressed the word 'he' for emphasis and said it again, "He forced himself on me," then turned to her betrayal of a friend, "It appears you haven't been giving him what he wants."

Logan watched both women throw shades at each other. Helplessly, he tried to stay in the middle. Mary stood blocking the entrance and wouldn't let Evan get out.

"Keep your filthy self from my man." Mary warned.

"Your man!" She smiled wickedly, "I wonder why he bothers me so much then. He even travelled to Miami to meet my mom." Seeing the last punch worked, she forced her way out grinning from ear to ear. Mary watched from Logan to Evan's retrieving back.

"And what do you want now you she-demon. This is all your fault." Logan turned to Mary. The look in his eyes were pure disgust. Mary cowered back, hating that look he had on.

"So you went to Mama Swiss huh!" She said mustering up enough strength the face him. She knew he was angry. Yet she needed him to understand she was in this with him.

Logan stepped closer with an intimidating stance. She didn't let that deter her. She stepped in his front and placed a leg on the table, irritated.

"Why don't you leave that bitch and let's keep what we have going?" She bit out.

"Nothing is going on between us. Nothing ever will." He barked at her and left her standing. Mary stewed as he walked away. She was in no way done with him. Now, she decided she needed to make Evan hurt more.

"I don't need to take you through the procedure again. Do I?" Asked Doctor Tom. He pointed at the chair so she could sit. He was casually dressed in pant and cheered shirt and looked relaxed, contrasting Evan, who looked worried.

Evangeline nodded in affirmative, "I think we covered all the basics the last time." Even her voice was failing her.

"It's not a big deal, relax." She found that amusing.

"Then let's do this." Said the excited Doctor. "First, we test your eggs for viability, then we check your womb to be sure it's in good shape for the incoming fetus. Which of course, shouldn't be any problem, considering you're young and the womb hasn't carried any child before. Still, the test has to be done to be certain."

He walked her to the Test room, where some tests were carried out. Her vials were taken alongside blood and urine sample. Evan allowed her mind to wander off as the tests were done. She had agreed to have Doctor Tom do the procedure and stay the first trimester in Miami. While the doctor runs the basic tests, she intended to go house hunting. Though Adriana had asked her to stay with her, she had always been one to want some privacy. The family had an old cottage which she could use instead. Thankfully too, it was close to Adriana's. But it's been a long since anyone used the place. So, she would be checking that place first. If everything worked right, there might be no need for house hunting. Adriana had volunteered to go there with her. It was obvious, though, that her sister was fishing for some talk time and information, not interested in the house hunt. She also wanted to discuss Logan's visit in details.

"All done here." The doctor announced and she stood up, ready to leave. She pulled down her clinging gown that had worked its way up when she sat down.

"I'll have the results ready tomorrow. I'll be needing you to rest. I'll give you some food preferences to take and what to avoid for the time being. Then we can begin the actual procedure next week."

"Okay, Doc, thank you." She said as he walked her to the door. He bid her farewell and went back to his office. Done with one phase, she called her sister for the ride to their old cottage. Adriana asked to be picked up at the company's parking lot. Their mother had gone home and wouldn't spot Evan. She had left series of annoying messages and calls for her younger daughter. She had even threatened to visit if she didn't return her calls. But Evan was past caring, and Swiss probably know better than to visit.

"The look on mom's face was divine. You should have seen it." Adriana told her sister as soon as she picked her up from the company. Earlier she had left the twins with their mother, who didn't suspect the reason she was playing grandmother was so her daughters could bitch about her. She wasn't even aware her youngest was in town.

"Belt, please." Evan scolded her sister. "I honestly don't care what she looks like. It's no surprise there. I expected worse." She started the car, and they began their journey to the cottage.

"Like fainting? She had me there too."

Sighing, Evan complained bitterly, "She threatened to visit. Like what the hell? She didn't visit when I moved out. Why now?"

"Well, this is something scary for her. Being old and all. She must think you're doing the most despicable act of all. Like sin."

Her laugh made Evan chuckled, "She sees it as you having a child outside marriage. I'm not sure she realizes this is the 21st century, where things are done differently. She still thinks everything follows the normal pattern."

"Imagine?"

"Still, you need to talk to her. Okay?"

She shrugged, not willing to make peace with her mother just yet. After a while, she commented dryly about Logan's role in all this, "And Logan... I expected more, you know. He's always been cool-headed. But something about Valdez just brings out this new stranger in him. It beats me." she told her sister, sliding her a quick look before turning back to the road.

"Seeing him with mom." She hit her head for effect, "Shocked me." Then remembering how he looked, "He had this menace about him. Wait, you took the wrong turn." Adriana cautioned her sister. "The cottage's turning is the next. Not this."

Stopping the car at a safe parking spot, Evan sighed, "I might have to reverse then." As she backed the car a few distances, she was able to get back on the road. The drive to the cottage continued with a few bantering here and there. Then they got to the cabin. The place looked anything but inviting. "It's so old. You think anything works here?"

Stepping down, Adriana replied casually, "Only one way to find out."

The minute they stepped into the cottage, Evan knew this wasn't going to work. The door creaked loudly as they opened it. She tried unsuccessfully to flip the light, but even that wasn't working. They had to use their phone's flashlight to navigate around. Everywhere was dusty, and the metals were rusty.

"Even the heating system is gone." She complained. "I'll probably just freeze to death here."

"We can get someone to work on it, though. I'm sure a couple of dollars will get it up and running." Adriana teased wickedly, "So you can have your privacy."

"Don't be so excited about this. I'm going to look for another." She stepped on metal and jumped, "You're right, though. We can pay to have this old building running again. And we should. Why leave it to rust?"

"I still think you can have better." Her sister insisted as they ascended the stairs. Everything in the upper room seemed okay. The rooms were dirty, of course, but not so bad. The lights flipped, and they could see everywhere. "You can stay here." She laughed.

Evangeline pulled a cloth cover to throw at her. The dust that brought on made both ladies dash out.

The two women came out coughing. There wasn't much to salvage from the building. Nothing seems to be in good condition.

"Will you stay with us now?"

"Ad, I don't know. I just don't want to bother you and Noah. The twins too."

"You know none of us minds. We're family, Evan." They entered the car and sat down to talk. She didn't start the vehicle. "I still don't know why you can't stay with Mr. Valdez for the first trimester anyway. Since he offered."

"That's not even an option."

"Why not? He's going to be the father. He might as well see why he's putting you through."

"Aside from being the sperm donor, there's nothing."

"He's going to be your baby's daddy. The sooner you let that sink in, the better. And then again, he's single." She shrugged, "Why to be a surrogate for him when you can have..."

"Don't even complete that sentence, Ad." She cut in, "He's just lost his wife. A widower is what he is."

"Still, nothing stops you both from coming into each other's life. His wife wouldn't mind since she insisted on this in the first place."

Evangeline started the car, "I say we go house hunting, puh-lease."

Adriana laughed, "And he's your type too, tall, brownish, sexy hooded blue eyes, and. ... Just saying." She ended seeing as Evan eyed her warily. She watched her sister meaningfully as they drove off. She was proud of her in so many ways. Evan, unlike her, had always been so strong and resilient. She was always the way to take bold steps. "Can't believe you're having a baby." She commented awry after a while.

"I can't believe it either."

For hours, they looked from house to house. Nothing was good enough. There was something either wrong with the house or the neighborhood, sometimes even the neighbor. Eventually, they had to give up. Adriana thanked the Realtor, and both went back home tired. "Do you still want to stay away from us?"

"I think I'll just stay with you guys. If you'll have me."

Sarcastically, she replied, "Of course, I'm glad it didn't take you long to figure that out."

CHAPTER 17

That night, Evan got home exhausted. After bidding her sister and her family farewell, she had gotten a flight back immediately to Los Angeles to attend an important meeting. The meeting had lasted all night. Early the following day, desperately craving a massage, she reached out to Zoe and got them a spot at the Spa. Zoe soon joined her, but to her dismay, she brought Mary with her.

"Hey, look what the cat dragged in." Evan said, not bothering to hide her annoyance. She turned to Zoe, "I needed this. Why did you bring her?"

"This has gone on long enough. It would help if you guys settled already." Zoe scolded them both, looking at them pointedly.

Evan smirked, "Is that what she told you? Because if it is, that's a lie. She has some vendetta, and she isn't done yet."

"No. She isn't." Zoe defended, "Mary?"

"She has a point there, Zoe. I don't think we can settle this. She doesn't want Logan anymore. Why can't I have him?" She threw the words at them, uncaring.

"Because it's the girls' code. Everyone knows that. You don't date, sleep with or befriend your friend's ex."

"Then, she did all that, not me. Logan was my friend before she stole him."

"Please, stop making things up. You introduced us to."

"And you stole him."

"Mary!" Zoe yelled angrily. "Have some shame and let's settle this and move on. Please, you both." She pleaded with both friends who were standing so close and venting off alarmingly. She stood between them, turning left and right to catch their faces.

"Have some shame? I didn't even sleep with the guy. So what did I do wrong? And what about you... The perfect little friend who knew all along yet feigned ignorance. At least, I didn't hide mine." Mary said.

Evangeline stepped back, "What is she talking about?" She tapped Zoe, who had her back to her, then turned her friend to face her. Mary left without a backward glance. What she intended to do had to be out in motion.

"It's something that happened a while back."

"I'm all ears then." She sat down, as did her friend. "So?"

"That day, I went to the club. The one we started frequenting around Maroon. Logan was there, and so was Mary. She was sitting on his laps and groping him. To him, it meant nothing as they were friends and all. I'm not sure he even realized what she was doing."

"Where was I?" Evan asked.

"Away. I'm not sure where. Either you had a business deal, or you were in Miami with Adriana."

Her answer made Evan think more about her work ethics. It seemed she had been too focused on that not to see what was going on around her. She tried recalling how her sister had painted it, shutting out the world while making money?

"Okay, and?" She urged her friend to continue the event that unfolded.

"I was so angry I called her out." She shifted uncomfortably. "I told her to back down. That it was obvious what she was trying to do with Logan. I called her a slut who wanted to bed her friend's man." She sighed, "She was so angry she blurted out that you stole him from her and that..."

"What?"

"She loves him."

Evangeline sat up straight, "Wow, okay, Zoe. That's something. But why didn't you tell me?"

"I knew you love him. Hearing her say that, it was just wrong. I thought we shouldn't tell you. So, I warned her seriously to drop the idea and let Logan go. She agreed that the man was totally into you and didn't look her way at all. So, I assumed that ended it. That was why I called her out the day we were at the spa."

"Oh." Evan said, remembering that particular incident. "So it happened before that day."

"Yes. If I had told you.... we could have avoided this drama."

"You think? Nah. This would have happened either way. Mary wasn't ready to back down."

Zoe hugged her friend so tight she started to cough. When she was released, Evan asked, "What was that for?"

"For being so cool about all this." Her friend said, cheering her on. "Your phone." she said suddenly as the phone vibrated against her thigh. "Jason Valdez?"

"Yes." Evan mouthed before moving away to take the call. "Hey." She said into the phone.

Zoe watched from the corner as her friend told him about the old cottage and the house hunting that didn't go well.

"I might have to stay with Adriana for the time. It's just three months anyway. She's going to over-pamper me."

Jason grinned on the other end, "What if I have a better solution?" He asked, "I live here too. And I've got a massive building."

"This is okay for me. Trust me." She told him. He asked how she was and then ended the call soon as she said she was okay.

"So, this is still on?" Zoe asked as soon as she ended the call. Evan smiled and nodded. "And you're staying with Adriana." She commented, "Why?"

"Oh, just for the first trimester." she said.

CHAPTER 18

The following week was intense. The doctor had given her the food preferences, and it had taken a toll getting used to. For someone who had always enjoyed her meals, it was hard ignoring one meal and eating just a particular dish every time. After three days, she was almost back to her normal eating.

But somehow, she was able to stick to a plan. Finally, she was back in Miami, and the doctor was ready to do the needful. She had also been placed on fertility drugs and was checking in every day with the doctor. Even Jason was monitoring the whole procedure even though he wasn't in Miami at the time. He kept calling to check how she was feeling. She was beginning to grow fond of his genuine interest. He was going to be a great father. When the doctor confirmed the incubation had kick-started and the transfer could be done the next day, he had flown in from wherever he was to see it done. Jason Valdez was waiting for her in his office. He insisted on being there for the procedure. Evan smiled at him. She had brought Adriana along since he wasn't in town. But her sister had decided to wait it out outside. The doctor wheeled her to the theatre while Jason and the nurses tagged along. She was helped to the bed and her legs fastened. Scared, she held his hands.

Jason smiled and held her hands tight, "Don't worry, everything's going to be fine."

The doctor worked tirelessly. He kept explaining what he was doing. Evan barely followed his tales, but she could see Jason paid attention to it all.

"Here's the fertilized egg with the sperm. It's already formed." He said, holding up a test tube. "All that's left now is the implantation. I can't you. But I'll give you something to make you numb."

When she nodded, he went on to inject her. Everything became blurred after that.

A few numbing minutes later, doctor Tom announced, "So, it's done." He eased Evan up and informed them. "You can check back next week so that I can confirm the pregnancy. In the time being, you will need to take things slow for now. No stressful work. No running around."

Jason blurted out, "She's staying with me. I'll see to that."

"What? I'm not." Her response was sharp.

"You heard what the doctor said, no stressful...."

"I'll be fine. I'm staying with Adriana. I told you this."

"That was before the doctor told me how stressful the first trimester could be. I don't want anything happening to the child." He said in a tone that was both offensive and disturbing. The doctor knew he was trying to avoid going through what he went through with his late wife. Before he could voice his opinion, Evan replied, equally angry too.

Evangeline was irritated. He was back to his old self instantly, and she hated that. He was caring and friendly. The next, he was angry and wrecking her nerves. "Look, I can take care of myself. I don't need you to babysit me."

"Why don't you wait in my office, Mr. Valdez?" The Doctor pleaded. Jason stepped out into the reception. He started pacing back and forth. He didn't realize Adriana Swiss there. They hadn't met since the funeral rite of his wife. He walked up to her if Evan was going to birth his child, making Adriana a Swiss family.

"Hi." She greeted and sat down with her.

"Frustrating you too, I see." She smiled. Her sister could be both sweet and stubborn

"She won't stay with me." He told her dryly.

"She didn't want to stay at mine either. She had me go to this rusty old cottage no one's used in ages. I didn't try persuading her not to. I had to take her there so she could see for herself what she was getting into. Then I may have bribed the Realtor not to show us good places so she could stay with us. I can't have her leave by herself in such a state. She's never been pregnant before."

Jason smiled at the woman with profound respect. He loved her instantly, "Then she is in safe hands."

"You bet she is."

He stretched out his hand for a shake. As both shook hands, Evan walked out of the office. The doctor had just told her why Jason was skeptical about losing the child. Though she understood his plight, she wasn't going to let him treat her like a child. She had told the doctor she intends to take things easy, but he better see to it that Jason fall in line too. They had a mutual agreement then. Relieved, she stepped out only to find her sister in some kind of deal with the man. She eyed them suspiciously. "What is going on?"

"Nothing, sis." Adriana said and started to pull her away. As she did, they both stumbled on Mrs. Swiss.

Mrs. Swiss looked from one daughter to the other. She had been suspicious of her eldest daughter's continual absence. She was always rushing off somewhere. She had her followed. It wasn't a surprise to hear that she had been meeting her sister all along and visiting Doctor Tom. She knew it was about the surrogate thing. Here they were again. Her disappointment was plain for both to see.

Then she turned to the young man who had turned her daughter, "Mr. Valdez. A word please." As they both walked out of the room, Mrs. Swiss turned back to say to her youngest daughter, "Young lady, I think it's about time we had this conversation too."

Then to her older daughter, she added sarcastically. "If you don't mind, that is."

Adriana walked away, knowing her sister could handle this. But it was already too late. The procedure had been done and 90% successful already. There wasn't anything anyone could do. Not at this stage. And knowing mother, abortion wasn't even an option. Not that Evan would hear of that anyway. She wished she could let the mother know. The warning look on Evan was enough. The rebel Swiss was going to use that to her advantage.