Lahat ng Kabanata ng The Billionaire's Virgin Surrogate : Kabanata 71 - Kabanata 80

OLIVIA
I leaned back against the headrest, my eyes drifting past the tall buildings as we sped by. I tried not to think about Christian but the memories kept pushing their way in.
Seeing him again yesterday had almost pulled me under. Those feelings I thought I’d buried came rushing back. For a second, I even questioned my decision about the party, until her name popped up again. 
This morning, I’d woken up with a clear head and a stronger sense of resolve. That part of my life, him, would not affect me anymore. 
Now, I was on my way to Blackwood Fashion with Greg and Grace to pick out a dress for the dinner party tonight.
I sighed, letting my thoughts drift to what I might wear. It wasn’t like I didn’t already have options—I just needed an excuse to get out of my room because I was extremely bored.
The car came to a stop in front of Blackwood Fashion. I stepped out, adjusting the flannel shirt I’d thrown on without thinking.
As I walked toward the glass doors, I noticed a fain

OLIVIA
Nicholas led me down the hallway, and I couldn’t help but look around, taking in the calm, elegant atmosphere. Everything about this place felt peaceful. Working here would be both easy and healing.
“We’re here,” he said, stopping in front of a clear glass door. A small smile played on his lips. “Your soon-to-be office.”
He pushed the door open and stepped aside. “This is what it looks like.”
My eyes widened as I stepped inside. I took in the space, stunned by how beautiful it was. Every detail, from the soft white walls to the stylish furniture, was perfect. It felt like walking into a dream.
“Wow,” I whispered, moving toward the sleek desk near the floor-to-ceiling window. “This is… beautiful.”
Behind me, Nicholas gave a polite scoff. “Right? And it only gets better from here.”
Maybe it would. But honestly, this already felt like more than enough. I was beyond impressed.
“So,” he said, clearing his throat, “do you like it?”
Was he serious? I loved it. But the way he l

OLIVIA 
I felt Liam step up behind me as I kept watching Ivy. 
She stood a few feet away, awkwardly adjusting the strap of her dress and smoothing down her hair over and over again. Those little movements told me just how uncomfortable she felt, and how hard she was trying to hide it. It was almost sad. 
Strangely, I wasn’t angry about the way she had snapped at me. I should’ve been because she humiliated me when I was only trying to be kind. But instead, all I felt was a mix of sadness and curiosity. 
“So,” Liam said, nudging me gently, “How’s the party? Having fun?” 
I shrugged, still half-distracted, my focus on Ivy. “It’s… okay. I’m not really used to these kinds of events. Not much of a party person.” 
He glanced at me, waiting for more. I shifted my attention away from Ivy to him. 
“Honestly,” I added with a small smirk, “It’s kind of boring. Maybe it’s all the old people but I feel like I walked into a retirement gala.” 
He laughed, a low, amused sound. “That’s fair.”

OLIVIA 
Wiping her nose with the handkerchief I handed her, Ivy sniffled and stared off into space. Her shoulders slumped like she was carrying more than just her sadness. 
“When I was twelve,” She began after a long pause. “My mom would always tell me to only make friends with girls who were in the same… bracket.” She lifted her hands and air-quoted, “You know status-wise.” 
I stayed quiet, just listening. Something in her tone made me feel like this wasn’t something she shared often. 
“She even forbade me from being friends with a girl whose mom was a hair stylist. Can you believe that?” she asked with a bitter chuckle, not really waiting for an answer. 
“And then at seventeen,” She went on, her words quick and clipped now, “She started taking me to parties filled with powerful, much older men.” Her voice tightened. “She made me smile, laugh, and play nice with them. She told me I had to climb my way to the top using their backs.” 
A hollow smirk formed on her lips, but her eye

CHRISTIAN 
I reached for my phone on the bedside table, hesitating before unlocking it. 
Just one more text. That’s all. What’s the worst that could happen? 
My thumb hovered over the keyboard longer than it should as I thought of what to send to Olivia. 
What do I even say? 
“Are you sleeping yet?” I typed it out. Read it, re-read it again. Then I hit send. 
The second I did, I dropped the phone on the bed like it had burned me, and turned my face to the wall, jaw clenched. 
I wasn’t going to stare at the screen like some lovesick idiot. I wasn’t. 
I tried to distract myself by thinking about other things but my mind eventually drifted back to her. 
It was almost ten p.m. Would she still be awake? Was she one of those early sleepers? 
And if she wasn’t sleeping… what was she doing?
Was she curled under a blanket, scrolling through her phone with that tiny crease between her brows? 
Was someone else texting her, making her laugh?
The thought made my fingers curl. 
Slowly,