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.

CHAPTER 9

"You're back." Evans said, staring at the man standing in her lounge. Audrey had just let him in her office. "I've closed for the day; you know."

"I'm sorry. I'm in a bind here too." Jason spoke in hushed tone. "We need to talk. Can we do that here or...?"

Recalling last night incidence, she chose her office, "Here."

"Perfect. I brought wine."

"I'll pass." she smiled still thinking of last night. She walked him to the corner where they had good view and sat. "So, how may I help you?"

He opened the wine even though she didn't want to drink so she went to get two glasses and a bottled water for her. He poured himself the wine and filled her glass with water. Then he handed it over to her.

"We needed a surrogate when my wife couldn't give birth." He said, launching into a story that was obviously painful to talk about. "That was before she had three miscarriages and we found out she was having womb cancer."

"Oh my God." Evangeline said, before she could caution herself. Her hands instantly covered her mouth to suppress whatever she had been about to say, knowing he didn't like that.

"It's okay." He smiled painfully and took a sip. "When it was obvious she couldn't give birth, she wanted adoption but I couldn't do that. I didn't want to. So she let me be. Then she came up with surrogacy. We wanted a child of ours. My sperm. Her eggs. It was not to be." He swallowed a gulp again and she reached for her water too suddenly wishing she could have the drink.

He saw her looking at the wine. "Want some now?" He asked. She nodded and he turned the water in the hand wash bowl just a few steps away and filled her glass with wine. She thanked him and sipped slowly.

"Surrogacy become the next option. She was okay with the child being mine. She was going to love her. Or him." He sniffed loudly. "But we agreed to do the selection locally. No strange online egg donors or surrogate mother. It had to be someone we picked."

He drank his whole cup this time. "When she suggested you as our surrogate, I didn't want burden you with such. But she can be quite persistent. She made Doctor Tom and I promise to at least inform you and have you turn us down than not saying anything."

So that's how Doctor Tom became involved in all these, Evans noted mentally.

"She started falling sick right after. There was no time to pick anyone. But she never gave up. It was her dying wish that I let you know soon."

"I'm sorry you lost her. She must have loved you so much." Evans said, reaching out to pat his hands. He watched the hand.

"She loved me, as I loved her." He stood up to leave. "I'll give you time to think about it. It doesn't matter what your answer is. I'll respect your decision." He said.

"Okay, I'll get back to you." She said standing up too.

"Can I take you home?" He offered.

"You can just tail me home. It's pretty late."

"Okay." He said and they both set out. She locked her door and went with him to the park.

The next day, Evans was in Miami to see her sister. "What couldn't we talk about on phone?"

"Surrogacy." Evan blurted out. She had come to Miami to let her sister know about the proposal and to see Doctor Tom about the procedure. Last night, she had deliberated all night about it. She was becoming excited about it really. "What will you say if I tried surrogacy?"

"I'm lost."

"I mean if I became a surrogate mother."

Adriana sighed heavily, "I'd ask if you are alright. Is this some kind of emotional breakdown? Are you not over Logan yet?"

"I'm okay, really." She smiled to sound convincing. "Okay here's the thing." She went into the full story of the Valdez.

"And you're considering doing this?" Adriana asked having listened to the whole story. She didn't know what to make of it.

"It's going to be my child too. His sperm, my eggs." She explained.

"This makes me want to throw up," Adriana teased, "You'd be having a baby. Your baby!" She said excitedly.

"The baby is not entirely... mine. I don't know why you're getting so excited" Evans teased.

"Wow... Mom's going to freak out."

"Please don't tell her. Until it's done, that is."

"Sure," Adriana promised "She's sure will faint. I'll let you do the honours."