CHAPTER TWO
1171 Words
The black Rolls–Royce Cullinan was tinted, reflecting my terrified face. I stumbled quickly in front of the car, slapping my trembling palm against the grille.
“Please… stop!”
The car came to a halt gently. Relief washed over my face. The driver’s door opened, and a man stepped out, neatly dressed, in a tailored black suit. He smiles slightly.
“Excuse me, ma’am.”
His voice was calm. Too calm as though we were in a conference room.
I turned sharply and pointed at the thugs approaching me with burning rage in their eyes.
“Please help me!” I screamed.
The suited man glanced slightly at them and faced me. “What seems to be the problem, ma'am?”
“problem?” My lips parted in disbelief.
Those men were seconds away from getting close, and he sounded like a receptionist asking about a delayed appointment.
“My father is in debt, I am being taken away for compensation” I whispered, bowing in shame.
Filled with panic, I turned again to run, but his hand caught my wrist. I gasped.
“What are you doing? Let me go!”
“My boss can settle the debt.”
The words hit me so suddenly I froze… Boss?
I looked through the window, and it was impossible to see anything— it was thick black.
My heartbeat stumbled. Who exactly was inside that car?
The thugs approached… I hesitated a bit.
“How much?” the suited man asked.
They exchanged glances, stepped aside, and made a quick call.
They returned, the tallest sneered. “Five million.”
“What?!” My eyes widened. “You thieves!”
One of them gave me a cold
He gave them a quick nod, went back to the car, and came back with a cheque.
“A cheque Just like that?”
“You may leave now,” he said, handing it over with the faintest smile. Without another word, they left.
He turned towards me, “Come with me”
I nodded and walked behind me, and he opened the back door for me.
What if I had escaped one devil only to enter another’s den willingly?... I got in.
The rich scent of expensive cologne wrapped around me instantly. Then I saw him.
The man seated beside me looked straight ahead;
Sharp jaw, dark suit, grey eyes colder than winter steel, with one resting lazily against the leather seat. The air around him felt heavy enough to suffocate me.
You are?” he asked suddenly.
My throat went dry. “A-Ava…”
Slowly, he turned. That single look nearly stopped my heart. “Ava Taylor,” I corrected quickly.
His gaze lingered on me for a second longer before returning forward.
“Drive.” The command was smooth. The car moved instantly, and silence swallowed the ride.
I sat stiffly beside him. “Who was this man?” I pondered.
**********
The moment we stepped into the towering building, my breath caught.
Bold golden letters stretched across the wall. “MILES OAKLEY, CEO OF BLACKOAK.”
My feet stopped moving.
“Miles Oakley… THE MILES OAKLEY?”
The ruthless billionaire people whispered about online, whose business rivals disappeared overnight?
“Sit.”
His deep voice snapped through my thoughts.
I quickly lowered myself into the chair.
The driver stepped forward. “I’m Ben Grayson, personal assistant to Mr. Oakley.”
A thick file landed in front of me. “Read carefully.”
I stared at it, confusion stirred inside me.
Why do rich people always make terrifying situations look so professional?
Ben adjusted his glasses. “Inside is a six-year surrogacy and marriage contract.”.
My head jerked up.
“What?” Heat rushed into my face as I shoved the file away.
“This is insane!” I shot to my feet. “You can’t force me into this. It’s k********g!”
For the first time since entering the office, Miles finally looked directly at me. My anger faltered instantly.
There was something terrifying about the way he stared at people—cold, emotionless… almost inhuman.
And yet painfully attractive.
“You have two choices,” he said calmly.
His voice was low, so low I could still hear my heartbeat.
“Become a loan shark’s mistress…”“Or become my surrogate.”.My mouth opened, but no words came out.
“Ben,” Miles called lazily.
“Yes, Mr. Miles.”
“Contact the loan shark. She prefers his offer.”
Panic exploded in my chest. “No!”
They both looked at me.
I had seen what happened to girls who ended up in men like Lucas’ hands. They never came back the same.
I sat back on my chair slowly. “I’ll sign.” Ben immediately handed me a pen.
My hands trembled slightly as I flipped through the pages.
Then, one line caught my attention.
NO LOVE OR EMOTIONAL ATTACHMENT.
A bitter laugh almost escaped me. “Love?”
Who could possibly fall in love with a man whose heart is ice.
“I can leave after signing, right?” I asked quietly, standing up.
Miles lifted his eyes toward me. That stares again;
Empty, Heavy, Dangerous.
“Sit.”
My body obeyed instantly. The office doors opened, and two men walked in—one dressed like a doctor, the other carrying legal documents.
“Good morning, Mr. Oakley.”
Miles acknowledged them with a small nod.
“This is Ava Taylor,” Ben announced. “The surrogate.”
“Surrogate” The word sliced through me. Not a woman, not human, just a surrogate.
The doctor approached with a polite smile and began drawing blood while the lawyer collected the signed papers.
“The test results will be ready in two…
“One,” Miles corrected without looking up.
The doctor stiffened. “Yes, sir”
The lawyer gathered the documents carefully. “The marriage papers will be processed immediately.”
“Marriage,” the word echoed loudly in my head.
The moment they left, I turned to Miles.
“Why do we even need to get married?” I asked. “i can carry the baby and leave delivery?”
He leaned back slightly and met my gaze fully for the first time. Those grey eyes gleamed beneath the office lights, beautiful, cold, and deadly.
“I don’t want my heir labeled illegitimate,” he said flatly. “Which means I marry the mother.”His answer seems logical
He glanced toward Ben again.
“Take her home”
Then he picked up his pen, resumed working like the conversation had never happened.
************
By the time I reached home, I saw my father lay motionless on the floor.
“Dad!”
His skin felt cold. “No… no, no, no…”
My trembling fingers pressed against his neck.
A pulse, weak, but there.
I scrambled to my feet, struggling to lift him.
“Please don’t leave me too…”
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