Chapter Five

I wait until his shadow under the door finally disappears.

As soon as he's gone, I rush back to the walk-in closet, parting the few remaining hanging clothes to reveal the heap of more clothes.

'Oh no. She's actually suffocating.'

A dark laugh escapes me, unbidden. 'She's pregnant,' I remind myself, suppressing the twisted humor of the situation.

With a sigh, I peel back the layers of clothes, revealing her sweat-drenched face, now a sickly shade of blue. Quickly, I rip the tape from her lips. "Goodness, Maya, you should've said something," I remark, my voice dripping with biting sarcasm. The devil on my shoulder laughs, while the angel merely shakes her head in silent disapproval.

My gaze search hers, and I can see the question in her terrified eyes. "You're probably wondering why I'm keeping you alive," I say, knowing full well the cliché I've just indulged, but sometimes a monologue feels necessary.

Maya looks like she's on the verge of labor, sweat and the acrid stench of urine filling the air. My eyes drift downward to the damp stain spreading across my designer coats. 'Lovely.'

"Maya, you're seven months pregnant. The stress you're under could throw you into early labor if we're not careful," I say, settling back to give her space, though my tone carries little of real concern.

"I don't want the baby," she sobs, her voice shaky and broken. "He wanted—"

"I know, I know," I whisper, patting her head as if she were a child, smoothing out the tangled mess of her hair.

Her anger flares, her brows furrowing in defiance. "It's because of you—" she starts, but I silence her with a harsh tug on her hair.

"Watch yourself, Maya. The only reason you're still breathing is because of what's inside you. Once you give me the child, we'll see what happens to you," I remind her coldly. 

Her face goes pale at my words. "Don't worry," I say, feigning comfort. "Your child will be in the best hands."

"You'll be compensated, of course," I hum thoughtfully, my gaze drifting. "With your life, for now, that is. Anything more feels a bit generous, especially considering everything I gave you as my employer. Some of it... unwillingly and unknowingly," I add with a bitter smile.

Her breathing slows, the weight of my words sinking in.

"You know, I could easily pin this whole mess on you," I muse, watching her freeze.

"But I won't," I continue, twirling the gun idly in my hand. "Because I'm not that kind of person."

She bites her lip, struggling to hold back her fear and frustration.

"But don't push me, Maya." I chuckle softly, opening the pistol to check the remaining bullets. Two left. Three already spent on him.

Her eyes flicker to the gun, and I click the chamber closed with a deliberate snap.

'Why do I have the gun? Simple. You can't exactly feel safe around a jealous man, no matter how much you pretend.'

I watch as her face tightens, dread battling fear. "You are what? Lower class, struggling upbringing, and, worse, an immigrant. This job was supposed to be your family's salvation, wasn't it? Their ticket to a better life." My voice takes on a mocking tone. "You gushed about it all the time."

"Sleeping with Giovanni and marrying him should have been your golden ticket," I say, seeing the flicker of memory in her eyes. "But he's dead now."

I sigh dramatically, leaning back. "And I could easily make it look like you're the one to blame."

Her face drains of color as I meet her gaze, unflinching. I feel no sympathy. None.

"The media would tear you apart," I continue, my lips curling into a smirk, though I quickly school my features into a mask of disapproval. "And that's coming from one woman of color to another."

A heavy silence fills the space between us, broken only by the soft rustle of clothes as I nudge the pile with my foot.

"You still breathing?"

A faint, tremulous hum is her only response.

I nod, my voice turning businesslike. "Here's the plan. You play surrogate. No sense in hiding the fact that you got knocked up by my husband." 'Late husband'

My tone sharpens. "In return, I'll pay you enough to keep your family quiet and happy after the baby is born. We'll keep things civil until then."

Her panic-filled eyes search mine. "After that... well, I'll sleep on what happens to you." I tilt my head thoughtfully. She flinches slightly. 

"Now, let's get you cleaned up." I move the clothes aside and help her to her feet, guiding her toward the bathroom.