Chapter Four – What Did She Agree To?

Danielle didn’t waste a single minute in speculation. She dashed inside the building, straight to her apartment before her stalker could get to her. She wasn’t in the frame of mind to face anyone now.

Once inside, she heaved a sigh of relief. Until the next morning, she was safe in the sanctity of her home. She could contemplate her next move later, before Knox Cromwell’s visit. 

The sight of her neatly furnished, cozy home soothed her jumpy nerves, and she headed for a shower. With no plans for tonight, she could retire early and rest her stressed mind. 

The moment she stepped out of the shower, her phone buzzed with an incoming call from Loretta. 

Danielle groaned with dread, knowing what this was all about. It definitely would be another of granny Emma’s loud get-togethers with her weird buddies! She hated those awkward parties where she and Loretta would be the only young people present. Therefore, they would overburden the duo with work! 

After five attempts, Loretta stopped, and Danielle released a sigh of relief. She just hoped her friend wouldn’t land up on her doorstep to get her. 

After five minutes, she walked out of her bedroom to the kitchen to fix herself dinner when the doorbell rang. 

Danielle panicked, knowing it would be none other than Loretta. She wasn’t in the mood to accompany her tonight. Her meeting with Knox Cromwell had already left her so stressed, she needed to rest her overworked mind now. 

“Go away,” she muttered, saying a silent prayer in her head. Yet the doorbell resounded and she sighed in defeat, heading towards it to let her friend in. She swore not to give in this time. 

She opened the door with an angry snort. “I’m not interested in going anywhere with you,” she blurted out blindly, only to freeze with horror.

“Good, because I intend to interrupt in your dating plans for tonight.” 

She gaped at the person she had least expected to see tonight. 

Knox Zachary Cromwell! 

She blinked and focused again on the arrogant jerk who watched her with a bored look on his face. His expensive suit clung to his muscular frame while his tingling cologne numbed her senses. His aura filled up the entire space, making everything else seem dull. She blinked those thoughts away. He was the enemy now, not her crush! 

“What the f*ck are you doing here? I thought we were about to meet tomorrow at the office.” She glared at the man, who looked unaffected by her unfriendly reception. Without answering, he took a step towards her, making her move backward. He barged into her tiny apartment and closed the door after him. 

“I asked you something, Mr. Cromwell. This is my home and you’re intruding.” He watched her like a hawk, his unwavering gaze taking her in. It irked her, since he didn’t seem interested in replying to her. 

“Stop before I call the cops.” His lips twitched, and he gave her a quizzical look. 

“For?” 

Danielle searched her brain for a reply. She couldn’t tell him she intended to call the cops to stop him from staring at her shamelessly. 

“For barging into my home at night. What else?” She placed her hands on her waist and glared at him, acutely aware of his eyes following her every little move. 

“Sign this and I’ll leave.” He took out a document from his suit pocket and handed it out to her. Danielle frowned at the legal document, wondering what it could be. Wasn’t she supposed to sign the surrogacy papers tomorrow at the office in the presence of a lawyer? 

“What’s this?” she asked, taking the papers reluctantly from him. 

“Agreement.” Danielle rolled her eyes at his reply. As if she didn’t know that already. 

“I won’t sign anything without consulting a lawyer.” His jaws clenched, and he reached her in two strides.

“Just read and sign it. Be thankful that I’m not involving you in a legal hassle even after what you’ve done,” he gritted out, stopping inches away from her. Danielle gaped at the arrogant jerk. What had she done now? 

“What have I done? As far as I can remember, you were supposed to bring a lawyer to my office at 11 o’clock tomorrow. I’m not signing anything now, Mr. Cromwell.” She stared straight into his furious eyes fearlessly, although her heart thumped wildly in her chest. She could feel him trying hard to restrain himself, but how could she give in? What he was forcing her to do was illegal! She had the right to consult her lawyer before signing a legal document. 

“Don’t bloody act innocent here, Ms. Hartford. I have proof that Happy Matchmakers are still catering to my grandfather’s request. You have even fixed him up with one of your grandmother’s old cronies! So how much are you making out of this deal? I had asked you to decline him. Didn’t I? He didn’t seek further help from you, yet you kept on tempting him. Is that how you do business? Tempting disinterested clients with pictures of your relatives?” He bared his teeth, his eyes flashing menacingly. 

Danielle gaped at the impossible man, not understanding a word he was saying. Did Loretta backstab her? Did she really set him up with one of granny Emma’s friends? Why didn’t she inform her? 

“Your allegations are baseless, Mr. Cromwell. I’m aware of no such thing. Still, I will find out from my partner and get back to you.” 

He whirled and punched the wall beside him to take out his frustration. It made Danielle’s eyes widen in panic as she watched the paint chip off where he had struck. What was the guy made of? At that moment, she just wanted to sign the documents and see him get out of her apartment. 

“I don’t give a damn who did what. You can play your blame game later. I’m a busy man. I have to show this signed deed to get my grandfather back home. So, just sign the damn document before I lose my patience with you.” Danielle massaged her temples and flicked through the pages in a state of panic. 

“Can I read it at least?” He gave her an impatient look and shrugged, turning away to march towards her kitchen. As if he owned her apartment while she was the guest here! 

Danielle quickly skimmed through the paragraphs. It was actually a surrogacy agreement! Why did it contain ten pages? It should mean she would have no demands on him, on the child she would bear him, or on anything else. She should leave with the money he gave her in return. 

Somehow, the thought made her heart ache. Should she take the plunge? Was this the only connection she would have with the man she had pined for all her life? 

After reading the first two pages, she gave up. It only contained paragraphs on how she would have no demands on his wealth! As if she was after his wealth! 

She could sense him watching her every move as he stood near the refrigerator with a bottle of water in his hand. Reluctantly, she picked up a pen and signed on all pages. She knew she was paying a heavy price for Loretta’s irresponsible behavior, but what choice did she have? Knox Cromwell wouldn’t think twice before destroying her mom’s dream company! She couldn’t see that happening. At least this would pacify him and give her sometime to drill some sense into her partner’s head. 

She looked up at him and held the document out to him. “Done. Can you leave?” 

He approached her like a predator, a devilish smirk tugging at his lips. 

“You’re coming along with me.” Danielle’s heart sank as a feeling of dread clutched at her heart. What exactly did he mean by that? 

“Where? Stop playing games with me, Mr. Cromwell. I’ve signed it as you had asked me to. Now can you leave, please?” 

“I don’t play games, Ms. Hartford. You’ve signed the agreement. So you’re coming along with me. Pack your essentials and come along willingly, or I have to use force.” Danielle gasped at the determined look on his face. It didn’t look like a useless threat. He meant every word he said. 

“Where are you taking me? I won’t go anywhere with you.” She stood her ground, refusing to budge. 

“Didn’t you read the document well, Ms. Hartford? It states that you have to live with me in my house until you conceive my heir.” 

“C-conceive? We can go to the hospital and get it done. Why do I have to stay with you?” She gasped for air, not having thought of this angle before. Did he expect her to agree to have physical intercourse with him? 

“I won’t accept medical assistance when I can perform the job better. You have signed the document, Ms. Hartford. There’s no way you can opt out of it.” 

Danielle gaped at the jerk, wondering how she ever fell for such a twisted creature! 

“I hate you, Mr. Cromwell!” She could feel the tears prick at her eyes. The humiliation was too much to bear. 

“The feeling is mutual, Ms. Hartford. So will you accompany me, or shall I carry you home?” 

“I’ll never go with you. I’m calling the cops.” He laughed, his voice echoing in the small apartment. 

“Fine. You leave me with no choice.” He picked up her apartment keys from the bowl nearby and strode into her bedroom. To her horror, he randomly threw her stuff into a suitcase and zipped it up. 

“Stop it immediately!” She tried to stop him, but he paid no heed to her protests.

Before she could realize what was happening, he picked her up on his shoulder and marched out of her apartment angrily.