THE BADASS BILLIONAIRE'S SURROGATE

CHAPTER 30

Robert Swiss parked a safe distance from the house. He got out of the car and looked around the city. Breathing in the fresh air seemed like something Evangeline, his youngest daughter, would do. He inhaled and exhaled, eyes closed and just let the Miami air sink in again. It was refreshing to be back here. He had grown up in the suburbs. Miami always had and would always be home. As he made his way into his home, he prepared himself for what he would meet. His wife, he was sure, wouldn't welcome him with open arms. Though she had called and invited him down here, he knew she was only fulfilling the obligation. Their parting hadn't exactly gone right. She had made it clear their terms on parting. It wasn't legal yet, but it was a written agreement.

He walked briskly towards the compound. Everything was exactly as he had left it. Even the gate's passcode hadn't been changed. The walls looked shinier, though, an indication at some point after he left, it had been repainted. Breathing heavy, he stepped to the door and turned the knob. As he opened the door, a cold fruit salad was thrown in his face. Shocked, he stood staring at the mess. If he had expected a warm welcome, this was far from it. This was a very cold welcome splashed all over his face.

The objects of his plight were his two grandchildren, Ethan and Elizabeth. They were having a food battle as they kept throwing things. He stood watching the drama. The twins paused to see the intruder. He didn't look harmful. If he did, mother said to run from such people. He didn't look familiar either. Mother said not to hang around strangers. So, they ignored the older man and went about throwing their fruits. Every fruit each twin dodged landed on the man. "Sorry." they'd yell and continue their game. He stood rooted to the same spot, bags in hands, looking from one twin to the other as they ran around the living quarters.

The kids reminded him of his own. Evangeline was always one to throw a tantrum. Her fighting instinct being to throw things first. He remembered the day he had come home to a messy apartment. The kids had been throwing things at each other. He hated that! Being the first home, he had been so sick at the sight he came home to meet. He didn't step a foot inside. He just closed the door and went to sit it out in the car. His wife came in hours later to meet him asleep in the .early

"What are you doing in the car?" Mrs Swiss asked, tapping the car glasses to wake him up.

"You should go in first." He urged. Mrs. Swiss laughed as she opened the door. "Here we go again." She sighed and entered the house to clean up. It was after she was done that he went inside. The following day, he sat the kids down and warned them never to throw things and mess up the home like yesterday.

Finally, with the weight of the bag weighing heavily on his hand, Robert Swiss was brought back to the present. "So good to be home!" He groaned and dropped his bag. Recognition finally dawned! The twins ran towards the man screaming, "Grandpa." Though they've never met him before, they had seen his pictures. Even now, they both stared at the man then at a huge portrait of him on the wall.

"Yes, that's me." the man said, smiling even as his wife walked into the room.

"Hello, husband." Seeing the mess the kids had made of the living room, she taunted, "Want to sit this one out too?" His wife asked, clearly remembering the incidence too.

He shook his head, "They didn't listen to me then, did they?" He groaned, "If they had, these little minions wouldn't have picked up on it."

The twins grinned at their grandfather, and he forgot he had been a little put off by the welcome greeting he got. "Welcome home, grandpa." They both chorused. Well, it's been a long time here.

Though it was late hours of the morning, Evangeline was just waking up. She was surprised to see that Jason, too, was still around and sleeping too. They had both slept in the living room while watching the movies. As she stirred, he moved too. "Hey." She greeted.

"Good morning." He replied, helping her up. "Did you have a good night?"

"I did, which is very funny. I didn't even wake up in the night."

"We did sleep late." He told her. He was still holding her hand. Evangeline looked at the hand and then pulled away. "What's your day like today?"

"Got some couple things to do at the office. But that can wait. I can have it done on the laptop too if it becomes a matter of urgency" looking closely at her, he asked, "Why are you asking?"

"Just to know when to get the breakfast started." She looked at the time, "Maybe even brunch. What would you like to eat?"

"Not sure. What do you have?"

She went towards her refrigerator. "I've got enough to last us many weeks." She told him, "Considering they could spoil, we better make good use of them now." Withdrawing some items from the fridge, she went towards the kitchen.

"You can take some with you on the trip back."

"I always come here too. I'm sure it will be okay." She was already moving plates and getting ready to get the cooking started.

Jason got off the couch and started to arrange the living room. Done with the chore, he went to join her in the kitchen. She was reaching for some container in the upper cabinet. Since he was very much taller than her, he helped her to retrieve it and set it down on the table.

"You're making ..." He was saying before he notices her swooning. He quickly held her. Holding her in place, they stayed that way for a while.

Evangeline had been about turning to thank him when she misplaced her foot and started to fall. The shock of almost tripping made her still, so still Jason asked what was wrong. She nodded stiffly. He lifted her and carried her back to the living room. Then he went to get a cup of water. She drank gratefully, passed him the empty cup and laid down on the love couch.

"Are you okay?" He asked again, sitting beside her.

A tear dropped down her face. She was still in shock, and though she didn't understand the tears, she was only too relieved he had been there to prevent the fall. What could have happened to the baby? She shivered. He gently brushed off the tear and pulled her closer. As he did, his hands encircled her in a hug. It suddenly becomes hot in the room. Evan shifted uncomfortably under his hug. He pulled her back and looked at her. Evan noticed his eyes had gone dark. The look in his dark blue eyes drew her in. She reached for his face, tracing the taut line of his jaw. He captured the hand, turned the palm to his mouth and kissed it. She felt her stomach fluttered. It was just a kiss to the hands, yet he made her feel so alive.

He lifted her face to his. Their unspoken kiss hung in the air again. They both remembered, and both wanted it. Yet, he did nothing but look into her face. It appears like he was seeking her consent before kissing her, or was that him giving himself a million and one reasons why he shouldn't. She pulled away, not sure she could give him the go-ahead he desperately needed from her. He had to figure it out himself. But he didn't let her stand. He reached for her hand and pulled her back to him. When his head came down to hers, and his mouth parted hers, she opened up to him without any resistance. That was as far an answer she was ever going to give him.

The kiss was light at first. Like he had been testing out a theory, trying to know what was it about their kids that made him so excited. She was as curious as he was, wanting to know if he felt this current between them. The kiss was a gentle one, with both savoring the other. He lightly held her in place while his tongue invaded her crevices. She drank him in, pulling him in, demanding more.

Jason was all too happy to oblige her. There was no thought. No way to think about what he was doing or what she was making him do to her. All that matters were the way he felt this very minute. The kiss changed from a mere sampling to something more. Evan was demanding more, and he wanted more too. His hands drew her closer, pressing her to him. Then her hands unbuttoned his shirt, and she was in his naked skin. He sucked in a breath when she lightly brushed his nipple. He was so hard it hurt. He returned the favor by releasing her mouth and kissing her neck. Her moan was all the invite he needed to pull her clothing down. He started to kiss her again then bent to kiss her nape. She gasped, throwing caution to the air. She opened his shirt.

He reached for her too. Her boldness turned him on. He liked a woman who knew what she wanted and wasn't afraid to demand it. He let his hands slide down her boobs. She wasn't wearing any bra underneath her nightwear, so it was easy to get her breast out. He looked at her in pure lust before letting his hand cup each breast. As he let their heavy weight get used to his palm, he returned to kissing her. Evangeline moaned when he kneaded both breasts. And just as they were in deep throes of passion, her phone began to ring. The ringing phone made them pull apart. Evangeline's breath was uneven, and so was his. She was happy she had that effect on him as he did hers.

"I'm sorry." He said

He looked almost sorry. Her mood plummeted, just like that. She checked her phone to see that her caller was her sister, "Not a good time." She whispered, gritted teeth and all. Then sitting up straighter, she asked, "Dad is where?" She said, staring into Jason's. "He's back in Miami. Wow"

CHAPTER 31

Adriana finished clearing the living room and the dishes and went to the kids' room. Noah had come home exhausted after his two-week travel and was up with them. She was exhausted herself, too, from the office stress and the workload at home. Guilt didn't make her put Noah up for it. She would have dodged the chores.

But he did look exhausted, so she had asked that he put them to bed while she cleared the place. But that was half an hour ago. He wasn't back. She had tried to be casual around him despite the doubts she had. Mother's discovery had been weighing her down lately. Since he got back, she had been putting a few distances between them. Sure, she kissed him when he came in. But it wasn't easy kissing Noah, not getting swooned by his exotic kisses. Still, she had been able to pull back.

"I need to turn off the gas." She lied and bolted. The twins kept him distracted after that. Dinner had been loud and noisy as usual. The kids bombarded him with questions. An occasional 'table manner' from the parents, only keeping them quiet for few minutes before someone would remember something he or she had to say. Which meant the parents barely had any chance of speaking to each other. 'It was good in maintaining the status quo', Adriana thought gloomily. Better to keep him at bay for a while. So, when she suggested he put them to bed, it was so she could put a distance between them.

She had a quick shower and then went to the kids' room to kiss them goodnight. As she turned the doorknob, she heard Elizabeth giggling and stayed hidden behind the door. Their dad was telling them a bedtime story. "Bedtime stories don't make you giggle." Elizabeth said, then laughed at her father. Noah patted her hair and kissed her forehead. Adriana watched as he pulled Ethan closer too. For a seven-year-old, Elizabeth acted more mature and too smart for her age. "Bedtime stories are lullabies. Tell us something to make us fall asleep." She insisted.

"But I just did. You chose not to fall asleep." Noah feigned ignorance.

"Dad, you told us about a giant rat nibbling a boy's shoe and mistakenly swallowed the rattle. When the boy came, he couldn't run fast enough." Ethan chuckled, lifting himself off the bed.

"Nice recap there, Champ." Noah ruffled the little boy's hair while he, in turn, hopped into his dad's laps. He intentionally pushed his sister aside, looking for her trouble.

"Hey." Elizabeth yelled, her hands instantly on her brother's hair. Noah pulled the two apart and placed himself between them. The two glared at each other.

'Behave or no story." He threatened. The twins smiled at each other in mocking sweetness and turned to their dad with innocent eyes.

Adriana chuckled, "who taught them that?" She whispered and quickly covered her mouth. Thankfully, the three occupants of the room did catch that.

"Another story, please." The twins pleaded with their dad

Noah stretched, before saying "Promise you'd sleep after this story."

"If you sing as mom does, we will." Elizabeth replied smartly.

"I won't sing. But I can call your mom to come over so she could sing?"

"No. Mom's been stressed all day. You tell us." Ethan replied.

Adriana pressed her two hands towards her chest, so happy her kids are so understanding. It always amazes her how they can be so smart for their age even though they can be naughty. She waited a while, interested in the story their dad would tell them.

"Well, move closer." He said. They moved closer, and he pulled the duvet higher, then moved down himself. This way, all three were tucked in bed and covered to the neck. "Did I tell you the story of the Owl that sleeps at night?"

"No." Ethan said, shaking his head vigorously. "I don't think so." Said Elizabeth, too.

"Then, I'll tell you that one." He gently eased into the bedtime story by changing his voice tone, "A long time ago." He began. The kids chuckled but still, he went on with the story. "An owl...."

"Wait a minute, dad. Do owls sleep at night?" Ethan asked curiously. "I was wondering too. Mom once told us a story about Owls and Bunny. The owl slept during the day leaving his friend, Bunny sad and bored." Elizabeth added.

Expecting that already, their dad smiled at them and replied, "Yes. Owls are strange creatures. They sleep all day and wake up in the night when the world is just about going for its nap."

"So did this one...?" Elizabeth asked, and Ethan quickly butts in. "Let's listen to the story, Liz." he scolded his twin and inched closer to his dad.

"Okay, so no more interruption, kids." And he continued the story. "Owls always sleep all day only to wake up in the night. They saw nothing strange in this. After all, everywhere would be silent and every other creature asleep. The world, as it were, big and beautiful, was all theirs to play with. It was fun that way until one particular owl became too curious."

"Oooh." The twins chorused.

Their dad smiled and continued the story. From behind the door, Adriana stooped down to listen to the story too. "This owl was sick and couldn't sleep all day while his family slept. He was given every available drug.

Eventually, when night came, he slept." Noah adjusted himself in the bed. Ethan was almost sleeping now. He tickled the little boy, "So when he slept, he was awake the following day and a little better. His family went to bed, as usual, leaving him. The poor owl was bored. He had nothing to do. So, he stepped out to play, thinking he wouldn't have anything to do. To his surprise, he was greeted by a beautiful world that was bright and beautiful. The world shines brighter. The moon was hidden behind a bigger, brighter light, the sun. The water seemed to have changed in intensity. It wasn't a deeper shade of blue anymore. It was a lighter shade. For the first time, he could tell the color of the tree. They were green with freshness..."

A gentle snore beside him made Noah stop the story. He had been stalling intentionally, hoping the kids would be bored and doze off. He looked at the kids. They were both sound asleep. Stretching quietly, he got down from the bed and lifted Elizabeth off the bed. He moved her to her bed.

Adriana seeing that he was almost done and would be headed to the room tiptoed back to their room. She got into bed and pretended to be asleep. A few minutes later, Noah came in, saw his sleeping wife and went for a shower. When he came back, he slides into bed tiredly. He was already snoring by the time Adriana finished counting to fifty. Then she turned slightly and wondered as she drifted off to sleep what had brought their father back after many years of silence.

She had intentionally kept that little bit of information from her husband too. It would appear there's a lot of that between them now. She hated going through this to him. But she was torn between finding the truth and the shreds of evidence staring at her. The PI whose contact Evan had shared was yet to get back. She desperately hopes her mother was wrong about it.

CHAPTER 32

It was not the kind of reunion one could hope for. His daughters were no longer the teenagers he left behind. Adriana was married to twins, he heard. He had been checking up on her social media accounts for regular updates. His wife wouldn't update him. So, desperate times and desperate measures. He had resorted to social media for the checks.

Pete, his chief security officer, had also been handy, always monitoring the kids if they were in any danger. Of course, Pete dug into his first daughter's family and found the butter truth. He was the one who later informed him after series of in-depth follow-ups about the man his first daughter had married. But the news had come in too late. They were already married with the kids. So, he did what every father could have done in the situation: to let the drama play out and let Noah deal his cards. And now, the young man finally seems to be showing his card.

His second daughter, Evangeline, had a certain glow. He couldn't place that just yet. But he had a feeling she might be pregnant. Pete had also hinted at an affair. He sat down stiffly and let them dictate the pace. Adriana awkwardly hugged him. That was something he hadn't expected. But he let himself get swept into the warm embrace. Then Evangeline came over too for a quick hug. They were civil with him. In that atmosphere, he asked how they've been, even if he knew exactly how. The family sat down in their inner dining room to eat but mostly to have that talk. The maid served them and closed for the day following Mrs. Swiss instruction. As they ate, everyone awkwardly checks out each other.

Evangeline dropped her spoon, sensing her father's gaze on her. He was different, maybe a little fatter and older too, "So, why are you here?" Her father stared right back at her and smiled genuinely. She didn't know what to make of the smile. For someone who had left without a simple goodbye and suddenly appeared after almost fifteen years, he sure had some balls coming back home. She didn't return the smile.

Instead, she gave her bossy smile, the one she used when Audrey was too much of a pain in the ass that lasted all but a second, and she then turned away from him. She looked at Adriana, who, on her part, pretended to enjoy her meals. She was stuffing food in her mouth. It was something she did when she didn't want to say anything. Evangeline could understand why she didn't want to say anything. It had been long. They probably got used to the idea of their father not being available. His sudden appearance now...it did no good as far she could tell. She picked her spoon and resumed eating.

Mrs. Swiss sighed. "There's something you both need to know. Perhaps I should let your dad do the telling part." She nudged her husband.

"The question was directed to him actually, Mother."

Mrs. Swiss nodded as if not noticing the sarcastic tone in Evan's voice. Robert Swiss nodded too. Both parents looked at each other. They said nothing for a while.

"We made some decision years back that changed this family." Robert Swiss began. "And now, it's time we corrected that." He sat straighter in his chair. "I made a mistake."

Adriana dropped her spoon with a loud clang. "If this is you trying to apologize for walking out on us. Please don't. We made peace with it. That happened years back. Can we please leave that chapter close." She said a little harshly? "Why are you here is what she wanted to know? I honestly don't even need the answer to that. So...?"

"Adriana." Mrs. Swiss cautioned. "You will not disrespect your father that way. Whatever he did then, it was for everyone."

Evangeline scoffed. "Really?" She stares at her mother coldly. For one, she wanted to know about the mother's role in it all. But there was no way she would get that answer. Dad would never let her take the fall. He wouldn't tell her even if she asked.

"Let's exercise a little patience, okay?" Turning to Mrs. Swiss, He said, "I deserve every insult and disdainful look they throw at me. Leave them. I can take it." Then he turned to the two ladies. The look on his older daughter hurt him. The disappointment was written all over her face. He turned to Evan, and the look on hers wasn't good either. "I didn't walk out." He blurted out, his frowned expression showed how much he hated hurting them. "I was forced to because I made a bad call during a case."

"You?" Evan said in disbelieve. It was just like their father to cover up for mother. "You, not mother?" She asked deliberating looking at her mother, who shook her head and turned away from her abruptly.

"I was the one who made the wrong call during a case I presided in court. It brought a lot of chaos. Our lives were on the line. We needed help, and I had to get it. Your mother tried to stop me" when Evan scoffed in disbelieve again, he repeated the last line. "She did try to make me stay. But a united front wasn't what we needed then. We needed allies. And that was what I left for."

"We needed allies." She seems to turn the phrase over in her mind. "Allies for what?" Adriana asked.

"For the battle that is about to start." Robert Swiss replied raising a brow. "That's if it hasn't already started."

Evan looked on, quite shaken about what she was about to ask. 'Noah?' That was what she had been about to ask. Instead, she asked. "At the company?"

Adriana hoped they weren't about to say what she was thinking of. "Noah?" Evan's look confirmed she had been about to say that very name.

"Someone has been robbing from the company. It's a start. Any attack on our finances is an attack on cutting off our financial power." Both Evan and Adriana stared at him, even his wife. "To attack us. That's how they work." He dropped his cutlery and moved his chair back. "Okay this is it. When a cartel plans to destroy a foe's family, they start with the finances. If the money flow is cut off, their enemy has little resources to fight back or hire help. Got it?"

"Oh! That's why you said to call when the money starts missing." Mrs. Swiss looked bewildered. "You think they're ready to attack us?"

"Yes." He replied. Everyone was silent, taking that in.

"So, I take it we must have offended this cartel people to be on their blacklist." Adriana said. "What is it?"

Mrs. Swiss decided to give a brief recap of the events that happened years back. "The case your father presided over-involved the founding members of Miami. Two powerful families were at war; the Monterey and Smiths. As the judge, he did all he could to serve justice the right way, but things went south. The families had been having series of clashes over the years." She sighed heavily. "Nothing serious until the last one. It was a total takeover. They fought dirty. The Monterey was brutally murdered. A few escaped. Of course, the ones who escaped will very blame us for their ruin even though they brought it upon themselves." She sighed.

"The Smiths doesn't trust us either. When they assumed power, it may have looked like we supported the Monterey all along." Robert chipped in. "So, we were left in the middle of a war." he concluded the story.

"The summary of it all being that we made two enemies. The Monterey and the Smiths. Either of them could be after us now." Evan said. The Parent Swiss nodded.

"Noah is a Monterey." Disclosed Robert Swiss.

"No, he is Noah Dwayne."

"Did you listen to anything we've just said? The..." Mrs. Swiss said and was suddenly cut short before she could go on.

"As we said, the Monterey's' who escaped changed their names. For survival." Robert Swiss cut off his wife, giving her a seriously sad look. This was their child going through something he couldn't even imagine. He knew it was difficult to hear this. What more could hurt more than having someone you thought loved you become an enemy that had a vendetta on the family?

"Are you saying he married me to get his revenge?"

"I'm saying he shouldn't have married into this family at all."

And it was all Adriana could take in. She didn't know when the tears began to drop. It was her sister offering her a handkerchief that made her realise it. She stood up from the dining and went to her old room. Evangeline stood up to go after her. She met her sister crying bitterly. "I'm so sorry this is happening to you, Ad." She said, patting her sister's back. "I know how much you love him. For what it's worth, I know he adores you too."

Adriana sniffed loudly in the handkerchief. "You think so too? The other night, I saw him with the kids. He's so good with them. He takes care of them." She sniffed again, "Me too. You'd think it's real."

"Don't do this to yourself."

"Oh, but you heard, dad. Noah changed his name. he had come after me to avenge his family."

Evangeline suddenly remembered the other day when he mentioned he had lost most of his family. So he had been right about that. "Did he ever talk about his family?" she asked.

"No. not much. He claims it's a sore topic for him. So, I try not to bring it up."

"Did he ever talk about losing his family? Because the other day, when he made the macaroni cheese, he said that the twins were the best thing that's happened to him in a long time and that he had lost most of his family members. But he suddenly stopped talking. I didn't see anything wrong in that."

Adriana smiled sadly. "You assumed he didn't want to talk about it. Because it must hurt." She hit the bed angrily. "How could not wanting him to hurt come back to haunt me this way?" She wailed. "I feel so stupid."

"You're the smartest woman I know."

She laughed. "Please, don't patronise me." Still laughing sadly, "I feel so stupid right now. I don't even know how to handle this."

Evangeline smiled. "You'll figure it out."