Chapter 9

Rylee

Mr Leo said words that made the room drop in silence. if anyone dropped a pin, they would have heard the sound of it. The housekeepers mumbled words. Manolo was shocked but calm and I looked at him intently. I had no idea of what to say or how to go about it. I heard that right. He said I was his. His surrogate?His property?His object?His pleasure girl? whatever he meant. I was certainly not any of those. I would never be. Not in a billion years. I was convinced that I heard the wrong sentence. Just when I wanted to say a word, he stuttered.

"I mean…I mean. She's my guest. So hand's off"

"Keep your hands to yourself, young man," he said pointing at Manolo, smiling weirdly. I must have heard wrong. Whatever he had to say didn't get to me anymore. Manolo charmed his way into my life and he had my attention all morning.

His fingernails were so clean, and his shirt and trousers fitted just fine. He was fully dressed so I figured he just got there. I hadn't seen him when I got there the previous morning. Mr. Leo had a brother he never showed to anyone. it must have been his little secret. I wondered if he had other siblings no one knew about. I googled a few things about him the previous night and nothing about his family came up. They must have been taken down or he chose to keep his family private but not his relationships.

Mr Leo left for his office and left his access card with me. He ordered me to stop by the office to discuss business. I figured he never wanted his brother to know about our deal. I liked it much more. I looked forward to appreciating him. The news would have made Manolo look at me a different way and I wouldn't have had a chance with him. He took the privacy of the deal to the next level. His family had no idea about the deal. Not his brother.Not his father.Just his lawyer. He had trust issues. I was convinced he did. Or I was just a poor lowly girl he was embarrassed to introduce to his family. The rejection kicked in. Reality set in. I thought about my family and waved off the feeling. Manolo was giving me butterflies and I wasn't ready to kill them just yet.

The contract could wait. Surrogacy could wait. I just wanted the man for myself. Watching him slowly sipping on his tea, giggling by the side, and talking about how crunchy the bread made me realize we had a connection. It felt like I was in a fairytale. Playing dress up and meeting my prince. That man right there was my Prince Charming.

I was still in the clouds when a call from my Mother. The call instantly snapped me back to reality. it reminded me of what I should do. I ignored it and pressed the phone down. It was bad looking and I didn't want Manolo to see that. He heard it ring and locked eyes with me.

"You can pick it up"

"It's fine"

"It's just you and I here"

"I'll just call her later. It's my best friend" I smiled at him

I had to leave the house. I didn't know how long it was going to take. Whatever feelings I had was temporary. I had siblings back home. I wasn't interested in getting another man's child in me. Not at that moment.Not when freedom is waiting for me outside the mansion. I knew I had to start planning my escape. The mansion wasn't a place anyone could escape easily. The security was on the White House level. The plan had to be carefully curated.

I had almost cleared my plate when he asked the same question I was avoiding the whole morning.

"Do you mind sharing the business you have with Leo or did he make you sign an NDA"

"Are you investing in the company?"

I swallowed hard.

"He seems so protective of you"

"I know Leo doesn't act that way with other women"

"Are you his girlfriend?

There, he took the bull by the horns.

"Noo.Not at all"

"I'm…"I looked for the right words but none came forth.

"I know Leo dates only models but... I mean you are very pretty" he scanned me with his eyes and winked at me.

"Thank you" I responded in a low tone

I had no idea what to tell him. I didn't know how to tell him I was going to be a surrogate. I almost thought of telling him about my plans so he wouldn't see me differently. We had a great connection and I was sadly going to put an end to it.

"I'm not his girlfriend " I finally summoned the courage to say.

"Good"

"So me and you gonna hang out today?"

"I see you are all dressed up already"

"I'm meeting Mr Leo in his office today" I responded firmly. Noting that I had prior knowledge about the meeting.One rule about men. Don't ever make them think you dressed up to impress them. He might have thought I knew he was going to show up and decided to make the extra effort. That was Emily's favorite quote.

"Maybe we can hang out later "

"Absolutely"

"Anything for you, My Queen"

Oh well, I was a Queen. I dressed like one.

I requested my bag and then left for the office the next minute. Douglas was driving a Rolls-Royce that day and I hopped in the back seat. I reminisced about the last time he pulled up at my house and took me to the mansion. I told him Mr Leo wanted me at the office and he nodded. He smiled and looked at me through the mirror.

"You look beautiful Miss Rylee" he finally uttered the words he had in mind.

"Thank you," I said shyly

I dropped at the office and the secretary was there to take me in. A bunch of ladies admired my outfits and some officials greeted me with respect. I dressed well and I looked good. I liked that no one knew who I was and what I was doing there. The respect and the bows were genuine. It was off my looks and my designer bag.

Mr Leo was in a meeting when I arrived and I offered to sit at his office. It was a large room with clear glasses full of awards and designs. The table was as long as the dining area at the mansion and the scent of the office was exactly like I had imagined. Nothing short of perfect. I was eager to get a tour of the office but I was scared the employees would ask questions and I would put him in a weird spot.

He came in the next second and asked if I needed coffee. I declined.

"This isn't going to take long" he continued.

"You must have figured out my brother doesn't know anything about the contract"

"I will tell him much later"

"You need to get your tests done, sign the contract and the pregnancy has to be confirmed first"

"Here are the rules" his tone changed. it sounded professional. I guessed right. Whatever happens in the office is professional.

"Be careful of Manolo"

"I know he makes you laugh and you feel he's into you"

"Manolo is just like that"

"He's like that to every girl he sees"

"He's a player and doesn't take women seriously"

"You are here to be my surrogate"

"Sign the contract, get pregnant, and leave when it's due"

"I won't tolerate you frolicking with Manolo under my roof"

"I have had a lot of girls come to my mansion, staging protests because of him."

"It always ends badly"

I felt he was genuinely concerned about me. His voice turned peaceful and soothing. Manolo must have put him through a lot of stress. I was smiling all through because I knew Manolo and I wouldn't have the time to get involved with each other. I was leaving once I get implanted and he won't have a glimpse of me.

"No worries. I'm good" I said happily

"I'm dead serious, Ry"

"You are not his type "

"He doesn't do poor girls"

The moment he finds out who you are, He will drop you the next minute"

"Give me an heir and leave once you are done"

"Manolo will be another body count and not a husband"

I swallowed the words and bowed like a repentant sinner. I was hurt. His words pierced my heart but I acted like I was okay. He pulled out a package in his office and handed it to me.

"I ordered it to the house"

"It came in and I never got the chance to give it to you"

"You will need it"

"Get ready for the tests tomorrow"

"We are done here"

"Douglas will take you home"

Mr Leo adjusted his coat and got back to work. He acted as if I was nonexistent. He knew he dropped a bomb and couldn't look me in the eyes. I had to retaliate. They hurt you once. Hurt them twice.

"What if I want him to hit me from the back and run" I blurted out