Mysterious CEO's Last Surrogate novel Chapter 48

Daniella's heart did some dancing at the sound of Loney's voice or perhaps, butterflies were romping in her stomach. Her lips curled into a smile, as she tucked a strand of her behind her ears and followed Loney.

Paul's gaze held Mabel's, his fist tightening around his glass, it almost broke, before both of them pinned their gazes on Danica. She was fighting to hold back her tears. 

"Hey, relax okay? From what he told me, Daniella was the first girl he fell in love with but she didn't want him. It was a long time ago okay?" Paul forced a smile and was impelled to let go of his hard feelings at the moment. 

He wanted Danica to feel better but she only got worse. If Loney loved Daniella, then he would never love her. She pushed her plate away and stood on her feet. Turning around, she ran up the stairs.

"You made matters worse Paul, why couldn't you keep your mouth shut?" Mabel chastised. If she had known that getting Loney home would be in Daniella's favour, she would have found her way around getting Danica to eat.

"I was just trying to help," Paul pushed his plate away, standing in the process.

"But you didn't." Mabel was upset. Danica hadn't finished her food and she was greatly disturbed.

"Let the girl come out. I will speak with Loney afterwards," Paul said and turned to leave the table. Mabel gave no response. She only imagined a way to help out Danica.

*******

Loney led Daniella to his room, the latter gaping in amazement with the conviction that this was where she belonged. Finally, she achieved her dream. "Sit," Loney pointed to the expensive sofa and went to his closet. Daniella sat, admiring the room like an idiot. 

Despite all the expensive hotels she went to do illegal things for Ray, she never came across anything like this. Loney's taste was beyond her foresight.

When Loney returned, he had changed up from his work clothes, wearing a t-shirt and shorts. He carried something like a briefcase and dropped it on the table. Then, he brought out some pictures and laid them on the table in front of Daniella.

"I need advice," he said casually. Daniella's heart fluttered. Loney wanted advice from her. That only meant that he trusted her. Her dumb sister was good for nothing. She was the right person. She grinned like a fool, "I am willing to help with anything."

Loney smirked, "good. Do you know anyone in these pictures?" He spread about fifteen pictures on the table. Daniella's eyes travelled eagerly through each of them.

"Oh, yes, the Frankenstein nerd. Our college clown." She remarked, not taking her gaze off the pictures. Loney froze as Daniella continued to speak. "Where did you get his pictures?" She asked.

Loney composed himself, hiding his bitter sentiments. "He is seeking a job in my company but how do you know him and what do you know about him?" Loney's voice went flat. Something in him had been poked.

"Don't hire someone like him in your company. Look, we were in the same college but no one wanted to be-friend him because he was below everyone's standard, wearing the same clothes every day and hardly eating anything nutritious. He was poorer than a church mouse but the only thing he had was the academic brain. Such a waste,"

Daniella concluded. Her voice was a little higher pitched than Danica's which got Loney irritated, aside from the fact that she was courageous and always spoke before thinking, unlike Danica who thought carefully about her choice of words.

"Is that all?" Loney clenched his teeth to keep from speaking anymore.

Daniella paused as if recalling something she was ashamed of. "I met him at the beach once and he had the guts to ask me out on a date. It was my worst embarrassment," disgust coated Daniella's words.

Loney was embittered. The past began to play on his mind, his eyes darkened in fury. "So what did you do?" He didn't fight to hide the coldness in his voice. He had restrained himself long enough.

"I told him my peace of mind. His appearance and everything about him was so disturbing and his presence was so.."

"Irritating," Loney concluded for her.

She gaped in shock. "How did you know?"

Loney forced a smile and said, "look at the picture again, what do you see?"

Daniella assessed the picture carefully this time, hopeful to show Loney how smart she was. "The eyes, it looks like.." Suddenly, the realization hit her. 

"Oh my God, it's you? Loney Hubert?" She began to curse herself internally. Loney tricked her and she fell for it. Why couldn't she be a little smart? Why did she have to talk too much?

"Yes Daniella, and you haven't changed a bit," Loney stood up as he said flatly, hiding all the bitter emotions. His expression was unreadable. 

Daniella had to think fast. She couldn't let the opportunity pass her. "Come on, we were just laughing about the past, nothing serious right?" Her stomach tightened in fear of Loney's dark expression. It was new to her but one thing was sure. Loney had changed so much.

However, she didn't go to her room immediately. She went to Danica's and was met with surprise. Her sister's room was much more beautiful than hers. She couldn't accept it.

"Why are you here?" Danica wiped her tears and asked. Her eyes were red from shedding so many tears.

Daniella felt excited, seeing her sister broken. "Oh, I just came to warn you. Loney and I used to date in college and now he wants me back. I told him I would think about it so don't sell me out with information about all the money I owed those mafias okay?"

Danica felt her heart shatter but she won't show her weakness in front of her sister. "You are so bold, Daniella. You stood in front of him and lied. Well, I'm done covering up for you."

"So, you are going to sell me out like that?" Daniella was amazed. She ascertained that her sister would do anything for her so why would she give up on her now?

"Get out, Daniella," Danica calmly said. She didn't know how to yell, no matter how angry she got.

"I'm not leaving. Besides, this room should be mine because it's next to Loneys'. You are his surrogate and I am his girlfriend. You should get out."

Danica got down from the bed and strode to the door. She opened it to let her sister out but found herself bumping into Loney.

Loney was trying to reach Danica on her phone but it was switched off so he decided to come to her room since it was just next door. 

"What's going on?" Loney asked. He realized Danica had been crying. Besides, she was cold towards him when their eyes met.

"Daniella was just leaving," she said to him without eye contact. Her sister's disclosure of her relationship with Loney stabbed her so deeply, she couldn't hide it.

"Oh Danica, we will talk again later," Daniella said. She was startled upon hearing Loney's voice and rushed out of the door.

Something didn't add up to Danica. Why would her sister run off upon seeing Loney if the latter wanted her? 

"Come with me, Danica," Loney's deep voice pulled her from her thoughts. Her heart banged in her chest.