Chapter 5: Long Time Ago

I slowly kept trying to back up and was heading closer and closer to the door. Maybe I could leave without him trying to chase after me or something. Every step back was closer to my freedom.

Part of me wondered if I could even escape. There was too much of a risk reporting an event like this, so I wouldn’t even have the courage to tell anyone about this. Besides, he could just pay a large amount of money to keep me quiet.

My heart was racing so fast, and my palms started getting sweaty.

Dax suddenly realized I was trying to leave and spoke up. “Wait. It’s not what you think. Let me explain Danica.”

Shit. I wasn’t leaving as discreetly as I thought I was doing.

Maybe I had gone about this the wrong way. I should’ve tried to render him unconscious instead. It was my fault for panicking too much.

“Why should I let you explain?” I coldly asked after seconds ticked by on his clock.

His face fell in horror as he put together what I was envisioning. I almost felt bad at seeing his expression. But it was hard to know what he was truly like.

Living in a bad neighborhood had made me wary of certain people. I couldn’t take any chances being alone with Dax much longer. All I had was mace, which wouldn’t help me if some of his workers came to his aid.

I finally understood why my friend had taken self-defense classes. It was dumb of me not to have gone with her when she asked me months ago. I hated feeling so vulnerable.

Dax snapped me back to the present and said, “Please let me explain. I’m really not the kind of person you’re making me out to be.”

I didn’t want to admit that I was curious to see what he had to say. I’d at least give him a chance to explain himself. Maybe he should’ve been more careful about saying he’d known me for years. It was the creepiest thing I’d ever heard.

Dax stood there in thought for a few seconds, as if he was thinking of what to say.

I waited impatiently until he looked ready to explain himself.

“A few years ago, I was eating at a high-end restaurant where you worked. I remember there were many wealthy customers who were so rude towards you. I heard a few of them even catcall you when you walked away.”

Flashes of that restaurant came back to me. It was a place that I worked at for a few years because it was a semi decent pay. The only issue was all of the rich assholes who harassed me there on a daily basis.

The harassment got so bad that I called in sick a few times after it started. I didn’t like people being jerks to me for no reason. They had no idea what I was going through in life already. I had almost quit on more than one

occasion there.

A few seconds passed before I said, “I had no idea you were even there. I can’t believe you noticed someone like me of all people.” I added, “I feel ashamed you had to see that.”

His face softened a little, and a flash of a different side of him came out. He did have emotion after all. It surprised me to see him affected by my words.

Dax continued and said, “Don’t feel ashamed. It wasn’t your fault that those people were real jerks. They shouldn’t have treated you that way.”

I almost had tears start to form but wouldn’t let them come out. I hadn’t heard many people be so kind to me before, especially people that were of his social class.

I felt a warmth at his words and said, “Thank you for saying that. It means a lot to me.”

He added, “As I was ready to exit the restaurant, I noticed you were about to leave too. You did something that really made me notice you. I saw you give all your tips to a homeless man, even though you looked like you needed the money yourself. I’ve thought of your kind act often over the years.”

What were the odds that he had found me again after all those years? I hadn’t recognized him, since he had been one face in a sea of wealthy and privileged people.

Seconds passed before I asked Dax, “Really? Why?”

“I admired you. Your kindness touched something inside me.”

It was a great feeling to know that I had affected someone else. No one had ever been affected by something that I had done or said. Normally, I was forgotten or overlooked by other people.

I wanted to enjoy the moment, because I wasn’t sure if anyone would tell me words like that again.

Finally, I said, “I was just being kind because I wanted to help that man out. He looked like he needed the money more than me.”

Dax looked at me in pure admiration. My heart began to flutter in response.

I was shocked that he would remember something from that long ago. Honestly, it was something I hadn’t thought of for a long time. Now I knew why he had wanted me for the position. I was surprised it wasn’t for my looks, as that seemed more likely from a man.

Suddenly Dax spoke up again and said, “Do you want to know the true reason I need a child so badly?”

“Yes. I’ve been wondering this for a while. But you always got so upset when I brought it up.”

For a brief moment, I thought he wasn’t going to tell me. Dax became very quiet and had a faraway look. His hands went into his pockets as I waited to hear his reply.

Dax sighed and admitted, “I need a child because I could lose control of my company if I don’t have one by a certain time. I’d rather that not happen, as I have put a lot of time and hard work into this company.”

I asked, “When do you need the child by?”

I hoped he would answer my question and not get angered by it. He was finally answering questions that I wanted to know. I had to try to get all the answers while I had the opportunity.

He looked away from me and said, “Before my thirtieth birthday. I never thought a birthday would be my potential downfall.”

It all made sense why he had put out the ad so urgently. Waiting too long was a risk to him. He needed someone fast. I knew he was running out of time, despite being a fairly young CEO.

“So, that’s why you’re hiring a surrogate now. I’m sorry that your position is in danger. That must be really hard to go through,” I told him.

Dax almost gave a smile and said, “I appreciate you for saying that.”

I didn’t want to admit it but his almost smile was charming. I hoped I’d be able to see it again. It made Dax seem less intimidating and a little more likeable.

I was surprised that he had a chance at losing his job. This changed how I thought of him. I guess no one was ever safe in their career, even at the top level.

At that moment, I realized that I would stay as his surrogate and help him save his job. I wasn’t sure why but I felt the urge to stay by Dax’s side and keep our agreement going.