CHAPTER 6

"Hey Zoe." Evangeline said when picked her friend's call. She had just retired to her room for the night. Since dinner had ended up being messed up, she had driven around town aimlessly until she was finally ready to go home. Adriana who was worried, kept calling incessantly. When she got in, the twins had slept but her sister sat down waiting for her return. When she did, Adriana hugged her and went to her room. She did the same too.

Zoe listened then asked when she heard nothing, "Are you there?"

"I'm here, just tired" Evangeline replied, "Audrey said you stopped by."

"You've been avoiding me." She accused.

"I'm in Miami, Zoe. I am not avoiding you."

"You won't pick my calls."

"That's because when I did pick, you wanted me to hear Mary out. The bitch didn't even call me. What has she got to say anyway?" she gnawed at a snack, "Let it be Zoe."

"She knows you enough that you won't pick up." Zoe tried to excuse their friend's behaviour.

"Whatever she has to say wouldn't change a thing. I'm done with Logan. I wish them both good life," she replied stubbornly. It was pointless. She knew Mary wasn't about to plead or anything.

She had wanted to do this and she had. Better to just watch things unravel itself. It was obvious from her dead silence she wasn't feeling remorseful. Only Logan had been calling and texting ever since. "We should see next week." She informed her friend.

"Can I come with her?"

"Don't you dare! Whatever she has to say, let her tell you. I might listen to you."

"Can't I convince you otherwise?"

"No." She replied matter of fact.

Zoe sighed, "I cannot accept that you know, right? Do have a good night then."

Evangeline sat in front of the dressing mirror and stared at herself. She cut some cotton wool, dipped it in her face cleanser and began to wipe her face. As she did, she recalled her meeting earlier with the Valdez.

The woman was looking bad. Something about the woman called to her. Perhaps her free spirit. The woman had been so warm and hospitable, a contrast to her hostile husband. He had completely ignored her at the hospital. At first, it had made her angry. But when she almost cried as the woman started to fall asleep with her pale face and cold hands, she was happy Jason was typing on his phone. He would have had something nasty to say to her again.

******

Later that night, when most residents of Miami had retired for the night, Ellen Valdez's cough worsened. The cough came in short lapses. Her breathe was coming in short gasp and even Jason who had been in the room all day knew it was time to let her go. His wife was in pain. Another surgery would only cause more pain. She had also pleaded that he let her go. Holding her hands, he sat down stoically beside her. "I'll miss you. I don't know how to live without you."

"Promise me you'll be fine. I can only rest knowing you are okay."

"Please." He pleaded unwillingly to make the promise.

As she struggles to breath, she smiled at him.

"What now?"

"Doesn't this remind you of something?" She asked still smiling but gazing at the scenery, "The view." She said, giving him a clue. Her finger was pointed at the opened blind. The view of the City.

"Oh..... When we first met." He chuckled. He had been sick barely two weeks after meeting her and was confined to his room. For a guy who had chased her fiercely for two weeks, it was strange when all through two days he hadn't called. So, she had decided to visit. He wouldn't eat anything made by the Chef, so she made him soup. Done, they had sat down afterwards looking out the terrain. He had told her then that he loved her.

"It was the closest I've ever being to being sick." He muttered. He had never fallen sick.

Ellen laughed and coughed in between, "You were a pretty sore sight to look at. Never seen a fine sick adult." She teased.

"Ever the complimenting one." He said, grinning from ear to ear.

Suddenly, everywhere was calm. Too calm. Ellen broke the silence. "You have to get our child, Jase. That child will need you, as you will need her."

Earlier that day, Ellen had called the doctor and then send him out. Worried about what she was going to make the Doctor do, he stood by the door listening to her. Her pleading that the Doctor get Evangeline to be the surrogate mother tightened his chest. His pain was real. What was more, she was planning her departure so easily he wept? "That will be my husband's saving grace. Please?" The doctor had promised to get in touch with the young lady. He didn't know what to think about that.

"Our child?" Jason asked his wife.

"Please, pro..." She began to cough.

"I promise. I promise." Jason said, as he gently patted her chest.

The cough subsided, "Thank you." She mouthed and turned to her husband again. "And always remember that I love you." That said, she heaved and went into a rigorous spasm. The life support machine started beeping loudly. The doctor was by her side immediately. Jason moved away and watched as the nurses trooped in. A tear drops as his wife struggled to stay alive. Then the machine's tone changed. The nurses looked at each other sadly.

"Nooooooo. NOOO!" He yelled and went to hold his wife. Her eyes were closed in pain. She was gone. His beloved wife was gone.

CHAPTER 7

A week after Ellen Valdez's burial, Evan received a call from Doctor Tom, and he passed on a very strange message. "What did you just say?" Evangeline sat up straight in her chair at once.

Though the burial had been a private event. The Swiss were all invited by the woman's relatives who were partners with the Swiss company. After the final rite, everyone waited in line to greet the widow. Jason was stone-faced, responding only with a nod.

When it was Adriana and Evangeline's turn, her sister had greeted the man casually. Instead of walking away, she lightly tapped the man, "I'm sorry," she said, then turned to leave. Jason managed a faint smile. A smile that her sister, and her mother had caught.

"I didn't know you knew the man." Adriana asked her sister in hushed tone as they walked out. Mrs Swiss looked at both women coldly. The cold stare made Adriana and Evan to chuckle. They were still in church and everyone was looking at them as if they had committed a crime.

"Must be the way the black dress accentuates your curves. It's a sin to look sexy inside this old pew," her sister teased. Evangeline sighed and pushed through the crowd. Ones out, she gulped in the cool air in rapid succession. Her sister took her bag and walked to the car.

Evangeline was about going after her when Doctor Tom sighted her. "It's been a while Doctor." She greeted. Then the doctor told her he would love to contact her about something so she had walked him to the car to retrieve her card.

"Afternoon Doc." Adriana greeted.

She handed Doctor Tom her card, and he went his way.

"What did he want?" Her sister asked the instant she was in the car.

"I don't know."

Apparently now, she had a good idea what he wanted. She had left Miami and was back at her office. There had been so much to do that she had ignored her calls all morning. The good doctor had called the office line when she didn't pick up after several missed calls. "Why would you even think of me in that way?" She asked in shock.

"Because Mrs Valdez asked me to." He explained.

All through the day, Evangeline was confused. She went about her work half-heartedly. Even Audrey knew something was wrong with the boss.

"I made another mistake, right. Didn't I now!" She blurted out when her PA came in with the same file she had treated twice today. It wasn't easy not being distracted after getting such a call. She wondered what Jason thought about all these.

"Yes ma'am." Audrey replied. "Do you want me to get the Accountant to work on it?' she asked, a deep frown edged on her forehead.

"I think you should. I'll like to check when he's done though."

"Okay ma'am. Then Zoe is here." Audrey informed her boss, who was already heading out.

"Send her in."

The PA left and, in few minutes, her friend walked in. "Can we go out? I'm feeling stuffed in here." She asked her friend, her bag was packed already.

"Hey you too." Zoe eyed her viciously. "Where?"

"I want to be distracted." She said and began to walk towards the exit.

"I know just the place."

As they stepped out, Evangeline watched Logan coming out of his car with bouquet of flowers. Eyeing her friend suspiciously she asked, "Did you do this?"

"I didn't come with him, I promise."

"I don't want to talk, Logan. Can we do this some other time? Now isn't a good time." She started to walk past him.

"Do you even care to know what really happened?" he asked trying desperately not to show he was angry at the casual way she was dismissing him, "You've been shutting me out. It's really not what you think."

Evangeline stopped and turned to face him. "You keep saying it isn't what I think. Didn't you sleep with her?" She flared. Logan looked down in shame.

Zoe bristled angrily. "Oh boy." She said in hushed tone, then left the couple to handle their private matter. She collected Evan's car keys and went to wait in the car.

"Make it snappy." She said, as she walked away.

The two moved towards the other end and sat down on the couch by the security man's office. Turning to Logan, she said to him "So, you have two minutes. Let me know what I don't understand."

Logan didn't bother trying to defend himself, "Not this way. You're too upset to__"

"I'm not upset Logan." She cut him short. "I'll help you with one important question. Who posted the picture? Answer that and you will know why I think it's best we part ways." She started to leave. "Your two minutes is up."

"Evans? Please." Logan watched irritated as the woman she had lost walked away from him. If only he could honestly answer what had happened that night, he wouldn't have been in this mess. But she had a point. He had been so busy getting his team to take down the pictures online and threatening bloggers running the story with lawsuit.

He had ignored the most important question. He watched Evans drive off, then picked out his phone and called his team leader "James, I need to know who posted those pictures ASAP." He told him.

Zoe directed Evangeline to the newly opened bar. They opened during the week and were running promo which made the place exceptionally packed to the brim. After getting a good parking spot, the ladies got down and walked to the far end of the bar. The loud music was deafening.

"Just what I needed," Evans yelled to Zoe above the blasting song. "Told you I know just the place," She mouthed, not bothering to speak. They were at the bar then. Each grabbed a seat and ordered drinks. And they were sipping when a tall, dark-skinned guy came to ask them to dance. Evans ignored his outstretched hand, but Zoe, up for the game, took it. Leaving her friend with a bottle of bourbon, she excused herself.

For a while, she danced excited and must have danced for what seemed like ages. Zoe had even changed partners somewhere on the dance floor. And the guy who had asked her to dance was nowhere in sight.

Zoe bristled, he had a good physique. She had been hoping to get him down later tonight. So sad, she thought and started to make her way to the bar. All the while, Evangeline had been drinking. She had finished the bourbon and was on her fourth bottle when Zoe came back and found her wasted.

"I hate when you do this." She said and grabbed her. They both staggered about of the bar. Pushing her gently into the back seat, Zoe tucked Evan in and locked the door. She managed to get them in one piece. Dragging her into her apartment was a tug of war. After several pulls and tugs, they were at her entrance. She punched in the code twice before it dawned on her that her friend had changed her passcode.

"Code please." She screamed in utter frustration.

"You know it." Evans slurred.

Zoe sighed in annoyance, "You changed it."

"Ladies." Jason greeted seeing both women arguing on the door way. He had come to see Evans and met her door locked. Though he knew where she was, he stayed outside her apartment waiting for her to come.

When Doctor Tom had told him Evans had been somewhat irritated when he called her earlier, he felt obliged to explain things himself. Perhaps if he explained, she would understand.

He had called his pilot and was here before thinking things through. It was a whole lot to dump on someone. Now, he wasn't sure he made the right call. Ellen! The things you make me do. He had been on call with the doctor when he saw them stumble in. At least they would have ample time to settle down before he made himself seen, he thought. "Need help?"

"Who are you?" Zoe asked.

Evangeline looked at him and drawled, "Oh, it is the hostile Valdez."

"You know him?"

She nodded in her wasted state and started to swirl around. Zoe quickly hold her, "Yes, from Miami."

"What's going on with the door?"

Helplessly, Zoe replied him, "She's too drunk to give me the pass code."

"I think I can help with that." He brought out his phone and moved the screen to the door. Zoe who had been about to make a sarcastic comment kept quiet as the door opened instantly.

"I'm a Tech Guy." He explained and helped them inside. They settled Evangeline into the couch and got her water. It didn't take a gulp to have her throw up immediately. Resigned to the work she had indirectly brought on herself, Zoe started cleaning the place. When her phone began ringing, she passed the mop stick to the man she was yet to understand his mission. Jason took over to allow her pick up.

Some minutes later, she was back and very surprised to see Evangeline had been safely tucked in the couch and was sleeping soundly.

"You managed that pretty fast." She complimented.

"I've had help." He replied mysteriously.

Looking desperate, she asked him to sit "It's urgent." She told him worriedly, "Can I trust you with her?"

"I'll be a perfect gentleman."

"When are you leaving?"

"That I'm not sure about." He looked at the sleeping lady, "I came to talk, but it seems none of that would happen tonight. Tomorrow then."

"Good, I'll keep in touch. Thank you." Zoe said, rushing out as the phone started ringing again.

"Bye." she called from the door.

CHAPTER 8

Evangeline woke up with a terrible headache. Her head was a big mass of pain. As she turned stiffly, she hit a warm presence. The warmth drew her in. Sometimes during the night, she had felt chilly.

Then she had been moved from her living room to the bedroom. Turning again, she hit the strong wall. Startled, she sat up straight. Jason Valdez was in her bed. Why was he in her home and on her bed sleeping so soundly? How and when did this happen? She remembered vaguely that he had arrived sometime last night to help them with her door. Tapping her head lightly, she realized she must have made a mess last night. She slipped out of bed, took her phone and stepped into the bathroom quietly.

As she closed the door, Jason who had been awake the instant she had stirred, stood up. He had actually woken up before she did and was watching her sleep. Her stirs had made him close his eyes, scared of being caught doing something he wasn't suppose.

Though he desperately wanted to have this conversation and be done with, he wasn't sure he should do that right now. He fetched his things and looked around for something to write on. Luckily, there was a pen and notepad on her dresser. He scribbled in it and left it where she could find it easily. Then he eased himself out.

Not knowing that Jason already left, Evan voice spoke in whispers as she called Zoe.

"You're dead babe. How could you leave me with a total stranger." She scolded her friend

"Well, in my defence even in your wasted state, you knew him as the man from Miami. So, what gives?"

"Did I make a mess of things?"

"Other than the snoring? No.... wait, you threw up?" Zoe started to laugh.

Evangeline covered her face in shame, recollecting that particular episode, "Oh, God!"

"And why are you whispering?"

"That's because he's sleeping.... On my bed, by the way and I'm in the bathroom trying to find out how much embarrassment I caused." Her friends laugh echoed insanely loudly.

"My head aches." She complained.

"Get some aspirin." Zoe advised, "Say hello to that cute man right there."

Evangeline tiptoed back to the room, only to find Jason gone. Like he was in bed one minute and not there, the other. She shrugged and went about getting ready for work. It wasn't like she expected anything from the annoyingly irritating man.

What had brought him to her place? On her dresser, she found a note stuck on the mirror.

I've a meeting in 20. See you later.

She tore it away and threw it in her waste bin. Whatever man! Something told her he had come in to talk about the surrogacy. She didn't even know what to think of that yet.

*****

Later that day, Logan was being told about where the picture came from. "Mary sent the pictures." Logan's PI informed him. He handed him the chart and proceeded to explain it. "She sent the pictures and somehow changed location."

"VPN." Logan added, getting the concept.

"Yes. Whoever she sent it to however wasn't smart enough to change his location. We traced him using his IP and discovered he's a start-up blogger." He explained, tracing a line in the graph presented.

"But why would she do that?" Logan asked, speaking more to himself than his PI who didn't bother replying him. "I need another thing. Get me the CCTV of that night. I cannot remember what happened. I may have been drugged."

His PI smiled knowingly, "I'm not sure about that. Your team were there."

"I dismissed them when Mary showed up. I was to meet with Evans but she wasn't picking up. Mary came to tell me she was in one of those business meetings. That's all I remember. I had a few drinks."

"Alright. I can have someone send it now."

"That would be nice." Logan leaned back in his chair and rolled towards the other room leaving his PI to work his corner. Why would Mary do this knowing how he felt about her friend? And most importantly, how had he stoop so low to be caught in this web? The pictures had caused quite a stair among the shareholders. He hated having a tainted front. It created perfect entrance for dwindles to wriggle in. His PI came in then to show him the recording.

"A part is missing, but I think you might want to see this."

Logan watched the video were Mary was giving him a drink. It looked like something a friend would do. Nothing out of the ordinary was there to see. He backtracked the video again. "I don't see anything usual."

"At first, yes." He paused the video. "Here, look." Mary had swapped the drink. She was the one who brought in the drink. She had been sipping from it or so and then she swapped it with his. Somehow also, the recording was missing a few clips of where she got the drink and what happened after. If she had played a foul game, she had the resources to pull off the CCTV recording to cover her track.

"Little, slimy..."

The phone rang out cheerily. Annoyed, he picked and groaned, "What?"

His secretary on the other end informed him, "Sir, Mary is here."

"Let her in." He said and dismissed his PI "Let me get to this."

"Hey baby." Mary greeted, eyeing the PI as he walked out of the room. She went to sit down on Logan's lap. The latter pretended not to mind. "How are you?"

"Did you speak to Evans?" He asked.

"No, she wouldn't pick my calls." Mary said, avoiding his eyes, he could tell that she lied.

"I've missed you. How about lunch?" She added.

Logan refused to fall for her gimmicks, "I'm worried. She isn't talking to me either."

"Let her steam a while. She will get over it."

Logan was undone with that statement, "Steam a while? Are you somehow deriving some pleasure from all these? She is your friend for Pete's sake." He yelled.

"And that didn't stop you from having a good time with me."

"The good time you got from drugging me?"

Mary stood up, and gazed at him hard, "Don't play with my emotions." She said getting teary. Logan didn't say a word. The Tablet was still there. He pressed play and pushed it to her. Mary stared at the recording. She was surprised to have left evidence. She had specifically informed the guy to erase this. Watching the clip, she could see nothing that gave her away, she relaxed visibly. "I didn't do anything."

"You swapped my drink." Logan stood up angrily, she cringed back in fear. "What happened May? You were my friend. Did she offend you and you wanted revenge somehow?"

Mary laughed hysterically, "Offend me? You did. Not Evans, you?"

Now he didn't know what she was talking about, when did sleeping with someone who offended you become a thing? "I don't understand."

"How could you? You didn't for years now. Will you ever?" She started crying. Logan moved to her and helped them both to the seat. He gave her some tissue to clean her face. "I love you Logan. I always have but you've never noticed. I watched you jump from one girlfriend to the other and told myself you'd be done soon and let go."

"You didn't tell me. I didn't know." Logan said at loss.

She snickered, "You always were done with the girls after a month or so. Then you met Evangeline and I knew I'd lost you."

"But you introduced us." Logan said, "Why would you when you have feelings for me?"

"Why do you guys keep using that line? I introduced my two friends. Did I say date? No. you guys decided that on your own without consulting me. You didn't even tell me until months later."

She stood up angrily and left his office.