The Billionaire's Surrogate Minx

“Pick up, Calia,” Ava cursed under her breath immediately after the call went to voicemail again. She had been standing just outside Grandview inn for the past thirty minutes.

As usual, she dressed to be seen. A short skirt that didn’t get as far as her knee and a rather small blouse that clung to her body like a second skin. Her crimson lips curled in irritation as she dialed again, wavy blonde hair falling into her face.

After a while, the double glass doors to the hotel pushed open and Calia stepped out, eyes all red and puffy. Tears welled up and spilled over, streaming down her cheeks as she walked over to Ava.

“Hey. What’s going on?” Ava questioned, wrapping her arms around her friend warmly. “Talk to me.”

Calia raised a trembling hand, pointing to a distinct direction. Ava’s gaze followed to see a man walking out of the hotel, hands in his pocket, posture relaxed like nothing could rattle him. Ava clicked her tongue and turned back to Calia.

“I’ll be right back,” she informed and stormed off to the man who was approaching the parking lot. Ava increased her pace and eventually stood in front of him, crossing her arms on her chest.

“What did you do to my friend?” She snapped, glaring daggers at him. The man tilted his head and Ava pointed to where Calia was standing, dabbing her eyes with a kerchief. He turned his neck effortlessly, and on seeing Calia, his eyes widened slightly in realization.

“Tell your friend I don’t do love,” he spoke, eyes glazing over her with disinterest. “Although I already made that clear to her.”

He took a step, about to walk away, when Ava stood in front of him again blocking his path, her eyes burning with unfiltered rage.

“That doesn’t answer my question,” she barked, voice carrying strength which for a moment, left the man stunned. “WHAT DID YOU DO TO HER?”

Vincent raised a brow, his lips curling by the side as he stared intently at the woman in front of him. He leaned closer to her until his lips were few inches away from her ears. Then he whispered softly,

“She thought one night could change a man like me.”

Ava gritted her teeth. What was he talking about? Nonetheless, he had made her friend cry, and that was unnecessary.

“Go apologize. Right now,” she ordered, her eyes flashing with a fierce warning. “How do you feel making a lady cry? No real man does that.”

Vincent shrugged.

“I don’t need your validation,” his words were frustratingly calm and it fueled Ava’s annoyance. “Excuse me.”

He shoved her aside harshly, walking away, and Ava staggered, losing her balance. The only save from her butts kissing the floor was Calia who had closed the distance and was quick enough to catch her.

He.. he pushed her?

For a moment, disbelief washed across her face. He pushed a lady.. and not just any lady, HER? She quickly picked herself up running after him. He wanted a fight? He would get one.

“Ava,” Calia called out running after her. “Let him be. Ava!”

Ava eventually stopped, turning to Calia with a glare. Why was she yelling that loud?

But that name had also made Vincent halt in his steps, his brain recalling something. He turned briefly to see the two ladies now conversing. His eyes briefly narrowed down on Ava before he continued to walk away.

“Why did you stop me? I was going to put up a fight,” Ava said, tapping her foot impatiently. That cocky bastard. She hated men like that. Men who thought they could do whatever they wanted to a woman. And he even had the nerve to push her aside like she was a pest. “Did he.. touch you?”

Calia nodded, face grim.

“I.. I lost my innocence with him and confessed my feelings hoping we would be a thing,” her voice cracked, lips trembling as she spoke. Tears rolled down her eyes as she remembered the dreadful moment. “He outright rejected me. He said I’m not deserving of him.”

Ava’s fist clenched by her side. He had sullied her friend only to abandon her and the memory of his hand on her shoulder, shoving her aside seemed to irritate her even more. Who did he think he was?

“I’ll ride you home,” Ava huffed, beginning to walk away to where she had parked her car earlier and Calia jogged to catch up with her.

“You mentioned having an occasion with your family. Skipping it?” Calia asked, now walking by Ava’s side.

“I’ll drop you home first before going to mine,” she got into her car while Calia entered too, settling in the passenger’s seat. Ava checked her phone to see she had over twenty unanswered calls and all from her father.

“Old man must be disappointed in me again,” she muttered, not loud enough for Calia to catch what she said. She started the engine and drove under the night sky, heading to Calia’s apartment located in the heart of the city. After dropping Calia and promising her everything would be okay, she began to speed through the streets heading back home. What waited for her back at home was something she couldn’t shrink from even if she tried.

Her phone vibrated again and she clicked her tongue. Surely, he would ring her endlessly. He was about to give her out to a man the instant she got home. She took the call, one hand still on the steering wheel.

“Ava!” Mr Curtis’s shrill voice came from the other end. “Where are you?”

She sighed softly before responding. “I’ll be home soon.”

“Why have-”

She hung up and dropped the phone aside, breathing out a sigh. The family’s legacy was dying, their funds running dry. As if that wasn’t enough trouble, her mother was terminally ill and needed a hefty sum weekly for treatment. There was no other alternative than to marry Ava off to a wealthy suitor. And tonight? She was going to meet the man her father had handpicked.

‘I’ve found someone who will rise our family back from the ashes we’re falling into.’

She remembered her father spouting those words with his heart and soul. Power hungry man. He couldn’t care less about giving her out. What really mattered to him was to keep on sinking in wealth. Ava would never have obliged to the decision, but her mother… She didn’t have the heart to watch her die. If marrying a stranger meant keeping her alive for as long as she could, Ava didn’t mind. Besides, it was only for a year. She could cope.

Her car sped through until she reached her father’s luxurious mansion. The gates were opened by the servants already stationed there and she rode in, driving to the parking lot before stopping and stepping out of the car.

“Good evening, ma’am,” the butler greeted immediately he saw her enter the mansion and Ava responded with a curt nod.

“Where’s my father?” She questioned.

“In his study, ma’am,” he replied, addressing her with utmost respect.

Ava didn’t wait for another beat and she walked away. She was prepared to be scolded and somewhere, she hoped the suitor wouldn’t be in the study with her father. But judging from how many times he had rung her phone, she already knew what awaited. Reaching the study door, she paused wondering the kind of man her father had handpicked. Probably the wealthiest. Her fingers wrapped around the door handle, before she pushed it open.

Her eyes met with her father’s immediately she stepped in. Anger simmered beneath his calm exterior. Slowly, her gaze shifted from her father to the man seated on the opposite couch and her eyes widened.

Vincent sat, legs crossed, leaning on the couch.

No, no way.

Her mouth went dry. It couldn’t be.

That cocky bastard… was her suitor?