She found Maya sitting on the floor sorting through a heap of sketches “Where is it? I am sure it was in this stack” She didn't even notice Cassie walk in.
“I will not help you clean up this mess when you're done” she teased, relieved to see it was just her sister in the apartment.
At that, Maya turned around, the shock in her eyes was quickly replaced by excitement. “Surprise!!!!” She yelled, jumping up to catch Cassie in a bear hug.
Cassie laughed, fighting off the rain of kisses coming from her sister as she spoke “I wasn't expecting you sweetheart. You didn't tell me you were coming to visit”
“Because you're always home Cassie. And I have good news!” Maya replied her eyes dancing with excitement. Cassie took a good long look at her and knew.
She couldn't stop her smile, her first real smile in months “You got in! You got the scholarship!” She yelled and Maya spun round the room giggling
“Yes! You always know!” Cassie’s heart was bursting with joy.
“You have been trying to get into the Royal Art Academy for the longest time Maya. It is all you talk about” She remembered the mini van and quickly turned to shut the door. She took a quick glance at the window, hoping to check for the van without alerting her sister.
“I can finally learn from some of the best teachers in the world. It is my dream come true” Maya was dancing to imaginary music now, going in circles round the room.
Cassie couldn't help the feeling of dread that rose in the pit of her stomach. She was so happy for her sister but the Royal Art Academy was in New York. Maya was going to be close to home and easily within Frank’s reach.
She tried not to let her true feelings show as she helped Maya sort through her pile of sketches and put them back in a box
“Can we go to see Dad tomorrow at the cemetery?” Maya suddenly asked. When she saw the silent question in her sister's eyes, she quickly explained “I need to tell him that I made it. I finally got into the Royal Art Academy….and I wish he was here to see it”
“Of Course. We can go when I am back from work” Cassie replied fighting back the surge of anger that rose in her heart at the mention of her father.
It has been there since the day she found out that he broke his promise to stop gambling and had put his family in danger by borrowing from the most dangerous loan shark in the city.
Her phone alerted her to a new email. It was from Executive surrogacy “Your documentation has been processed. Kindly present in person to any of our accredited clinics to complete your medical exams”
She will focus now on saving the only family she has left. She watched her sister who was happily looking through one of her sketches.
Their father had failed them but she would never fail her sister.
*******
“I don't like this. You should marry someone else and have babies the proper way”. Dr. Melissa Scott complained with a sour expression on her face as she sat on a sofa in Zander’s study with a glass of champagne in her hand.
Zander ignored her. His mother had never supported his relationship with his late wife so he wasn't surprised by her reaction.
“Your duty to this family…..” she started speaking again but Zander interrupted her, his voice as hard as steel
“My duty to this family includes bearing children and continuing my father's legacy!”
“Then get married son!” His mom retorted, her face red with anger.
“You should know better. The process of finding a surrogate has already begun. There is no going back now. You will have to deal with it” Zander replied.
His mother took one last look at his face and realized that it was a bad idea to push any further.
“Well…..I hope that your legal framework is airtight. This can easily turn into a custody battle in the future if you do not take necessary steps” She replied with a frown.
Zander laughed. His mother really thought he would be that careless?
“I have it under control mom. Now…..is there any other reason you're in my study on a weekday morning drinking champagne?” He asked staring at the half empty glass with suspicion. But his mother stood and filled her glass up with more champagne.
“We haven't spoken since I returned from my trip. There's something important we should talk about” she replied.
Zander’s face turned serious. He adjusted on his seat. “Go on”.
“It is about your role as CEO in the company” she replied as she walked away from his desk towards the windows avoiding his eyes.
“And what about it?”
“Your father has a second will that addresses the matter of succession in this company”. She spoke solemnly knowing the news would trigger him.
Zander sat up straight watching his mother closely. She wasn't joking.
“What is that supposed to mean?”
“It means that your position may be at risk.” she replied, her eyes filled with concern.
“What!?”
“I don't know the contents of the will or the lawyer in possession of it yet. Your father made sure to keep it a secret from me” She replied taking a long sip of her champagne again.
Zander was deep in thought. His father's will was read few days after his death and even though no mention was made of the next CEO, it was assumed that he would take over as the first son. But he wasn't exactly surprised to hear of a second will. His father always kept him on his toes.
“He is trying to keep me on my toes even from the grave” Zander mumbled ruffling his hair in annoyance.
His mother finally turned from the window “Your father has always been that way Zee. I am looking for the lawyer but so is Cameron's mother”
The rivalry between the two women never seemed to end. His mother had divorced his father who went ahead to marry Brenda, Cameron's mother who was also his longtime mistress soon after.
When Zander met Cameron those years ago and learned that he was just a few years younger, he realized that his father had kept a son hidden from the family and married Brenda the first chance he got.
The brothers had found a way to get along but their mothers remained in cold war over the years.
“I will look into it mom. But now I have some business to attend to”. He turned to his laptop signaling the end of the conversation.
His mother gulped down the last of her drink and picked up her fur coat lying on the sofa “You better…I will be on my way. Oh…and make sure to keep me updated on this surrogate madness”
With that, she exited the room, the sound of her heels on the tiled floor announcing her departure.
As soon as she left, Zander reached for his phone and dialed a number “It has been a while Stone. I need you to keep an eye on someone for me”
“Give me a name Zander and I'll be their shadow for as long as you need me to” the voice on the line replied calmly.
“Brenda Scott. Her name is Brenda Scott” he answered.
The line went dead but he didn't call back. Stone got the message loud and clear.
The sound of gunshots echoed in her dreams, forcing her eyes wide open. Clutching her stomach protectively, she tried to sit up but a sharp pain stabbed through her shoulders, forcing her backwards.Strong hands pushed back on her hands and she opened her eyes to see Zander staring into her face, his eyes filled with concern.With his rumpled shirt, ruffled hair and the dark circles under his eyes, he looked like he had not slept in days.“Where am I?” Cassie asked. Her hoarse voice sounded so strange in her ears.But one thing weighed heavily on her mind as the memories of the shooting flashed back to her mind.She clutched her stomach. It felt round and soft underneath the soft fabric of her hospital gown. She felt no pain on her belly.“My baby?.....” As the words left her mouth, she suddenly remembered that she had never told Zander. Her eyes flew to his eyes which remained fixed on her face. Did he watch the video? Did he know about the baby now?Zander nodded and as their eyes
The creaking sound of the light bulb dangling in the center of the empty room was the first thing Cassie heard when she woke up.Squinting to see clearly in the dimly lit room, she glanced to the side and sighed in relief to see Maya sprawled on the floor, deep asleep.She wasn't sure how long they'd been sleeping but everywhere was silent. A bodyguard sat by the door, wide awake and scrolling through his phone.Someone had loosened the ropes around her arms. The door suddenly burst open and Cameron stormed in with Frank following closely behind.Cassie sat up in the chair, her eyes and ears on full alert.What happened? Why was Cameron looking so angry?“I told you he would try something crazy, didn't I? My face is all over the news!” He yelled, banging his fist on the concrete wall.Her legs shook beneath her. The news? Frank suddenly turned to glare at her as if he had just remembered that she was in the room.“Your boyfriend seems to enjoy pissing me off huh?”She stared at him.
The tension in the room was palpable as Frank and Cameron exchanged glances behind the scene.After a long pause, Frank turned back to the screen, an evil smile hovering on his face.“You have 30 minutes. If I call back in thirty minutes and you haven't granted my requests, then you will not see your woman ever again”The threat was loud and clear. The billionaire heir to one of the largest business empires in the country was being asked to choose between his inheritance and some random woman.Cassie blinked hard to keep the tears from rolling down her cheeks. She knew he couldn't see her from the video chat. They were keeping her as a last resort.She whimpered softly, watching the dread cloud his face as he nodded before the screen went blank.They were asking him to choose between her and his company? Frank gestured to one of his men who moved over to turn the camera towards her.“Now, you're going to read that letter to the camera for your little boyfriend” Frank ordered.She lif
She blinked again to be sure. “What…..what is this? Why?.....” She wasn't even sure which question to ask. He stopped a few feet from her and stood with his hands in his pockets, staring at her.She met his gaze and shivered at the icy look in his eyes. It almost felt like she didn't really know him anymore.The silence in the room was deafening. But not as loud as the pain of betrayal slicing through her ribs, squeezing the air from her lungs and leaving a trail of bitterness in her throat.Her eyes followed him as he lowered to a squatting position.“I am sorry, Cassie but I had no other choice….”She narrowed her eyes at him. What on earth did he mean by that?“What connects you to this….this man?” She blurted out, struggling to keep the tears from spilling over.“Why are you helping him?” She asked, throwing a quick glance in Frank's direction.Cameron sighed.“I just want to claim what is mine and Zander is standing in my way. He took you from me…..he has taken everything away
(TWO DAYS LATER)“Do you think we are making a mistake?” Zander asked, glancing at the document in his hand.He watched silently as Stone typed rapidly on his computer, barely listening to the conversation.“I am sorry but I don't think Miss Cassie has the patience to wait.” Stone replied.Zander nodded and glanced again at the file in his hand. It has been barely 48hrs and even though Cassie appeared to be calm and following their instructions, he had just received an update from Jeffrey.“She has just sold her jewelry collection worth over 5 million dollars to a collector and was seen making trips to the bank in secret just this morning." Stone added.He had to agree. It was a suspicious move. She didn't trust him enough to wait and decided to take matters into her own hands.“You think she will pay the money?” He muttered.He already knew the answer. There was no sacrifice too big for Cassie to make for her sister.Could he blame her though? Would be have done anything different?
“He called again?” Zander asked, the disappointment clearly written all over his face.Cassie nodded, lowering her eyes. He ran a hand through his hair, barely concealing his frustration.“I am not surprised. I expected another call and that is why I left some of my men behind to keep an eyes on things….” Stone murmured.As he said the last part, he turned slowly to glare at the officers who quickly lowered their heads in shame.“Why did I leave you behind if you had to miss such an important update?” He scolded them.Cassie sighed. “It isn't their fault. They didn't know that I had a phone with me in the room and no one could have known when I woke up and took the call….”They had only found out that she was awake a few minutes ago, when the detective and Zander had returned. She caught an officer trying to stifle a yawn.They must have been awake all night.“What did he want? Did he make any demands?” Zander asked, breaking the awkward silence.Cassie’s head snapped up and her conv