Chapter Three


    Danica woke up in a strange bed, a strong arm held her by the waist. The room whiffed of expensive


    cologne, the interior wasvishly designed. She couldn''t tell whether it was a mansion or a hotel. All


    she knew was that whoever owned this ce must be very rich. She felt a hot breath fanning the back


    of her neck. Her hair was pulled to the side. Instantly, she turned around,ing face to face with a


    gorgeous man. His hair was ck and messy but didn''t shadow his handsome features. His thin lips


    were stretched in the form of a smile. ''He must be having a good dream'', Danica thought.


    She wanted to get up but the arm tightened around her. She dribbled in fear, without a memory of how


    she got into this mess. She imagined how to get out of there alive. Gently, she removed the man''s arms


    slowly and lifted herself, only to realize that she was naked and sore. Warm tears washed her cheeks,


    at the thought of what had happened to her. She could not remember a thing aboutst night.


    Unfortunately for her, a phone rang and the man woke up. His grey eyes met hers. One couldn''t tell


    that he had just woken up from sleep. His eyes were bright and attractive but they also held a


    profoundness and admiration in them. They locked eye contact for a second but it seemed like a


    minute. The man''s chest was exposed, but his lower body hid under the nket. Danica thought he


    looked like one of those models in a fashion magazine. His features were perfect.


    "Danie?" The man''s voice was deep and alluring. Without waiting for a response, he turned around


    and picked his phone. Danica wanted to escape at this moment and looked around for her clothes.


    They were lying pitiably on the floor. Her heart sank, as she crept out of the bed and put on her dress.


    She searched for her pants, her eyes settling on her stilettos. She couldn''t imagine wearing them all


    the way home.


    She saw the man move into another room and as if in a queue, she quickly slipped into her dress,


    strode to therge double door, turned the knob, and pushed it open. Her eyes met four pairs. They


    were bodyguards at the door. They stared at her with an unsettled and questionable look. Danica


    panicked, butposed herself and ambled into the elevator at the lobby.


    The bodyguards stared at each other in confusion, the senior one, Carlos, walked hastily into the hotel


    room. The man was still speaking on the phone, "What do you mean by she lost the child?" He


    sounded indignant.


    "I mean she attempted abortion and with the process or artificial insemination, her chances were


    already slim. We did our best but lost the child,"


    "Why did she do that? Where did she get the medication for it?"


    "We interrogated her and she said, her life will be ruined. We asked her to return the money and she


    said we should escort her to the bank but we lost her when she entered the bank," the voice rang from


    the end of the line.


    "What do you mean you lost her?" The man roared.


    "We couldn''t find her anywhere. She escaped. I think, someone helped her."


    "This is the fifth time a surrogate has escaped. What have you been doing to them, Paul?"


    "Nothing. We did everything you asked but I have a feeling that they were bought by Ray and he finds


    a way to make them do as he wills. I think he has some kind of hold on them."


    "That is why you were supposed to watch them. That is the reason why you are paid so much," the


    man raged.


    "I''m sorry, I failed you again," Paul said apologetically.


    "Just tell Doctor Jeff to cancel my request for surrogates." Paul was about to speak when the man was


    interrupted by Carlos and hung up.


    "Mr. Hubert, should we bring her back?" Carlos said without pleasantries. Loney Hubert absorbed the


    urgency in his voice but gave him a ridiculous stare, "What are you saying?" He asked with a frown.


    "Sorry Sir, the girl left. She was walking barefooted. Should we bring her back?" Carlos knew that


    Loney never cared about the girls they brought for him but what intrigued him was seeing Danica


    barefooted. It was rather odd. It looked as if she was running away.


    Loney had regained himself after the sad news, "What? Why did you let her leave?" Carlos gawked at


    him with confusion. ''Wasn''t she in the same room with you?'' Carlos wanted to ask but he feared losing


    his job.


    "I..we..will get her back," he said, running out of the room.


    "What? Don''te back if you don''t find her," Loney roared after him.


    "We have to get her back," Carlos yelled at Dexter, his partner, at the door, panting.


    They stared at each other, nodded, and began running towards Danica''s path. They took the elevator


    and pressed the button to the down floor. They searched everywhere but couldn''t find Danica. They


    returned after 30 minutes to report. Loney sat in a recliner, His face stony, as he worked on hisptop.


    He lifted his head and said, "speak."


    "We couldn''t find her," Carlos said dejectedly.


    "You mean, a barefooted girl who just came out of my room disappeared?"


    "No, I''m just saying that maybe someone was waiting for her. If we get her name, we can conduct a


    search," Carlos said.


    "Her name is Danie Howard," Loney said carefully, with his eyes glued to hisptop.


    "We will get to it," Carlos said encouragingly to himself. Then he recalled something."


    "But sir, she wasn''t the girl we arranged for you. I think she was supposed to be sent to room 101 and


    they mistakenly brought her to 1001. When we brought the girl we had arranged for you, the two of you


    were already busy so I sent her away. I''m very sorry but do you still want us to look for her?"


    Loney was now out of patience and yelled, "Yes. I want to know everything about her."


    The guard was amazed. His boss never took interest in any girl. The only reason why he found this girl


    different was because she walked out barefooted. This new interest in this girl by his boss was so


    strange to him but he did not dare ask any further questions and said,


    "You will have it in two hours."


    ************


    At the pub, Danie found herself kneeling before Justice once again. This time, she wasn''t too fearful


    and spoke.


    "It wasn''t my fault. I can''t even reach her because she left her phone on the table. I should be the one


    aggrieved for losing a sister."


    Justiceughed loudly, puffed out a cloud of smoke from his cigarette, and said, "Look at you? ying


    the role of a responsible sister. Have you ever cared for anyone but yourself? Mr. Somo is vexed. You


    have to pay back our money," Justice''s voice was firm and void of any room for retaliation. Danie


    feared for her life and thought to defend herself.


    "I did my part. If your guards had done theirs, we wouldn''t have been in this situation. You should let


    me go," she pleaded.


    "Yes, it wasn''t your fault but it doesn''t change the fact that the goods weren''t delivered so you still owe


    us." Justice paradoxically said.


    "I will find my sister but I doubt if she will still be a virgin. You should give me time to get your money,"


    Danie pleaded.


    "Look at me, little girl," Justice said, bent down and lifted her face with his finger, "What makes you


    think we would do anything for you?"


    "You are not worth my time. Seven days is all you have. Bring my money or your beautiful body will rest


    with the corpse of dead bodies. " He puffed a cloud of tobo smoke on her face. Danie coughed


    vigorously and ran out of Justice'' office. The only thing she hasn''t done is smoke because she doesn''t


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