The Billionaire's surrogate

Opening night

"well! Ladies and gentlemen, we're finally here! The big day! The grand official opening of Grande hotel (Cooper industries)." Kevin's voice boomed in the staff locker room.

"Mr Cooper and some extinguished guests would be there, so I expect the best behavior and service. And believe me, there is a huge raiseeward for each and every one." He continued.

Everyone clapped and beamed.

The night begun early. Guests started arriving.

"Oh here comes f*****g Royalty." Maria nudged in the direction of the trio that just walked in.

Mr Cooper, Rose, his wife and Laura his daughter.

"O my! That's his wife? She's so young! Probably even younger than Laura? Christine gaped.

"Yes apparently Mr Cooper had exquisite, rich taste. Were you expecting some wrinkly old lady? Well that's not their mom if that's what you're thinking. She's just his wife.

"Wow! She is so pretty and hot. But where is.. Mr Alex? Christine strained her neck.

"Oh Mr Alex hates dramatic entrances and stuff like that, so he probably came in through back? Or he had been hiding out in kevin's office. Typical Alex." Maria chuckled turning away.

"Well! Who is that?!!" Christine nudged towards the lady who just walked in.

Maria turned sharply as everywhere went silent. "Ohh! That is the b***h ruler of b***h demons! It's about to get as hot as Hell in here."

This was strictly an all white outfit party, but apparently Veronica just walked in in a very bold blood red, strapless dress with blood red lipstick to match.

She had an insanely full blonde hair. And her curls were so healthy. Her perfectly pointed nose and dark coloured pupils gave her looks just the finishing touches it needed as the Wicked witch of the west.

"All attention must be drawn to her. So pathetic!" Steve shook his head.

"But wait I'm confused! Why do a grand opening years after the hotel has been running? Why all the wait? Christine whispered.

"Oh no nothing special. Well Alex is rightfully assuming his throne and taking what's his. This is the Grand opening with Alex as the new boss. That's what it's all about, why Mr Cooper is here." Maria explained.

Christine nodded.

"Well the party has officially begun, so has our work Ladies! Let's get to it." Steve stated.

They dispersed.

"And we meet again, Christine. I see you've gotten your name tag?" Laura pronounced as she graciously collected a drink from christine's tray.

"Yess Mrs Laura. Nice to see you again. You look amazing." Christine replied smiling.

"Thank you Christine. And I take it you are enjoying your job quite well?"

"Yess of course."

"Well then, I'll see you around I guess. " Laura said as she walked away with her glass.

Christine had wanted to ask about her wife, but she'd felt that was too forward plus she didn't want to look like she was trying to worm her way up.

"Here you go! You really looked like you needed one. " Laura handed her glass of champagne to Alex as she took a seat beside him.

Alex chuckled as he took the drink.

"Thanks. Hold on let me get you another one." He turned to flag a waitress

"No no of course not. 32 days sober now and would love to keep it that way." Laura countered with a smile.

"Mmm Dad must be so proud of you no? Alex teased.

Laura ignored him.

"So what is Mr CEO doing hiding here?" Laura taunted.

"And doesn't mrs Doctor have more important places to be than this miserable celebration." Alex countered.

"Actually she does. Like at home with her beautiful wife. But Daddy personally invited me and I would never miss an opportunity to celebrate with my baby brother." Laura said pulling his cheeks.

Alex scrunched up his face in disgust.

"Oh please! This is all Dad. You know I have no interests for unnecessary parties like this."

"Mmm" Laura nodded.

"And how is Beatrice? I would have sworn this was her scene."

"Oh make no mistake, it definitely is. But she came down with a little fatigue so she's resting but she sends her congratulations of course."

"And I send my Thank you to her."

"Well, on that note, i better get going and see how she's doing, plus it's only a matter of time before I grab a wine and chugg it. There's only so much temptation a woman can handle." Laura said getting up.

"Of course. See you tomorrow mrs sober. And speaking of wine, I need a lot more." Alex gave her a peck on the cheek as he stood up.

Laura left laughing.

Alex walked up to the bar where Christine had moved to cover for Steve who had an emergency, to get a refill.

"Vodka, please."

Christine stared at him in mild shock.

Now she realized why Laura had looked so familiar. They were the spitting image of each other. Except of course, instead of Laura's blonde hair, Alex had dark brown hair that was constantly ruffled in the sexiest way. But the deep Hazel eyes were the same. The intense cupid shaped lips were the same. The perfectly arched brows. And a well carved masculine Jaw that seemed to be a plus for only Alex.

He was insanely attractive.

"One would have thought my memory cleansed of such an unfortunate incident but apparently the faces of jerks are quite hard to forget." Christine stated firmly as she poured out his drink.

Alex look around in confusion.

"Are you talking to me?"

Christine flashed her huge eyeballs at him.

"I'm sorry, do I know you?"

"No of course not. I have no fancy title to my name." She replied as she handed him his drink with a smile.

Alex shook his head slowly struggling not to smile.

Veronica came slightly panting.

"Alex where the hell have you been? Your father wants to make his toast now. Where's Laura?" She glanced briefly at Christine.

Alex shrugged.

Veronica pulled him away with her arm in his.

"And I see you've met Mr Alex." Steve announced as he came back.

Christine's face had already gone pale when she heard Veronica call his name.

"This is mortifying! I really have terrible luck." Christine muttered.

"What is? Maria chirped as she came over to the bar.

Steve glared at her.

"What?! I saw you both here already and figured it was time for some gossip." She defended.

"No it's not. Christine was only covering for me. Now we need to get back to work, we don't want Mr Kevin to catch a whim of our terrible service. I really need that raise." Steve's voice was firm.

"I'm really gonna lose my Job" Christine muttered again as she buried her face in her hands.

"Uhmm christine what's the matter?" Maria asked as she eyed Steve.

"Alex Alex. That's his name, i never actually got to know. I didn't even do my research on this hotel otherwise I would have seen his picture and known and comported myself." Christine continued groaning.

"What the hell is going on Christine?" Maria almost yelled.

Christine raised her head and narrated the whole story to them.

"Okay wait, so we're clear? You meet a random stranger at the cafe you used to work in on Campus, you guys have a connection and talk for hours, and then eventually kiss, he collects your number and promises to call but never did. Now years later, you are working in his hotel and you run into each other again, but he doesn't recognize you and you don't know he owns the hotel so you kind of insult him and now there's a 50/50 chance you might get fired?" Maria asked for absolute clarity.

"Yess Maria. Please don't be dramatic about it." Christine breathed.

"What do you mean? The whole situation is already dramatic enough. It's like straight out of a Telenovela." Maria added with a chuckle.

"Okay ladies, the night is almost over. Let's just get back to work and then we'll have enough time to analyze this whole Telenovela situation okay?" Steve appealed.

Christine nodded as she grabbed a tray.

"Ughh steve really always has to be the fun killer." Maria groaned.

_______________________________________________

"Just a few more months darling and we'll have just the exact life we want. You just have to keep persuading him to stick with you." Kevin said smiling.

"It's hard Kev, he's already given up. I have too but the only thing that keeps me going is the prenup money." Veronica replied as she rubbed her head against his chest.

They were lying tangled in the sheets.

"Yes and that should be enough! Just a few more months and the prenuptial agreement becomes valid, then you go ahead and divorce him, we get our money and leave here for good. Alex wouldn't know what hit him." Kevin continued.

Veronica smiled. The plan sounded perfect to her.

"What about a baby?" She sat up.

"What?" Kevin stared at her.

"A baby would help us stick together for the next few months. And the divorce money would go up plus child support." She was smiling proudly at her idea.

"I don't know V. A baby seems like too much responsibility. I thought we wanted a simple life?"

"Veronica groaned. "I know I know! I just don't want him to finally give up before the time is right."

"Then make him not to. And I know you can do it because I happen to know about your charms and their irresistibility." He said as he gave her a deep kiss.

Veronica giggled as she got on top of him.

"I would love to continue this but i should get back to the party before anyone starts to suspect." She tapped his bare chest.

They had lodged in one of the hotel suites.

"Ughh i thought Laura left? She's the only one smart enough to notice anything." Kevin argued.

"Ouch! You just insulted my husband." Veronica laughed as she sat up.

"Well what can I say? Narcissists are always too busy thinking about themselves to realize they're being played." He continued sitting up as well.

Veronica turned to stare at him. His muscles were all tensed.

"Relax Kev! Just a few more months yeah?" She massaged his shoulder a little.

"Now I should really get going." She added as she put on her clothes.

Veronica heaved a sigh when she came out the room and arranged her clothes one last time.

She looked around the hallway. It was empty except for a young man who seemed to be checking in to his room.

Veronica got into the elevator.

Lucas looked after her and at the hotel room door 16 which she'd just come out from.

Just as she got in the elevator, erratic noises came from downstairs mixed with screams.

Christine

Lucas dashed down the emergency stairs as he couldn't wait for the elevator.

Downstairs a man had fallen off the window of one of the hotel rooms and fell straight on the crystal statue right in the middle of the courtyard where the party was going on, got impaled and died on the spot.

On getting closer, Christine saw that it was Kevin. She could immediately feel vomit in her throat.

Everyone was screaming. Alex and the hotel security were trying to get everyone to evacuate the courtyard. Veronica was throwing up. Maria was crying into Steve's chest.

Someone had already dialed 911. Christine could hear the distant sirens.

Amidst all the chaos, Christine thought she saw Lucas. She stood transfixed in that spot till the person ran up to her.

It was indeed Lucas.

"Lucas.. what.. what are you doing here?"

"Come on let's get you out of here." He wrapped his jacket around her.

Lucas drove Christine home and narrated her mom what happened.

"Oh princess! I'm so sorry !" Dominique was saying.

"Lucas what were you doing there?" Christine asked.

"Well, i got us a room. Thought you could use the relaxation and some room service after the party. Didn't see this one coming."

Christine smiled. "Thank you Lucas." She took his hand.

"Mmm" he nodded

"I'm gonna head back, cause I wanna be a part of this investigation. But take care of yourself yeah?" Lucas continued.

"Sure. Actually Lucas please could you help me make sure my friends are okay? Maria and Steve? Please?

"Of course." He gave her a kiss and left.

"Ohh Chris! Come inside. Should I get you tea? Anything?" Dominique was saying.

"Mom I'm fine. Really."

_______________________________________________

You have reached Alex Cooper. Please leave a message. Beep!

Laura groaned.

She had been trying to reach both Alex and her dad. She was getting worried.

After she left the party, she had gone to the office to get some work done and now she was headed home.

" Beatrice??!" Laura called out.

"I'm home!"

Everywhere was radio silent.

Laura squeezed her face in worry.

Laura climbed the stairs in fear mixed with worry.

She opened the bedroom door to find Beatrice and a random redhead stranger in bed together.

"Beatrice?"

The woman jumped off and grabbed her clothes, running out.

"Laura? I can... Explain please." Beatrice sat up.

"Of course you can. Get out of my house."

"Please Laura.. please.

The tears were gushing down Laura's eyes now.

"Beatrice i want you out before I get back and I don't want to ever see you again."

Laura drove the night streets, half blinded by her tears to no particular destination.

She wasn't surprised. The closer she always got to someone, the more they hurt her.

She finally stopped at a random pub.

She walked to the bar.

" You have reached Alex Cooper, please leave a message."

Laura slammed her phone in frustration.

"Vodka please." She spoke to the bartender.

And just like that, all the self control she had possessed for days flew out the window.