Married to the Wrong CEO

Chapter 99: Dark

Dora returned home, and weeks passed before she could stop it even as she neared her fourth month of pregnancy. Her bump was bigger, even as her diet and exercise schedule became stricter. Every meal was weighed, every step counted, every movement monitored by the nurses assigned to her.

Everything was good—so much so that Dora realized that she had never had a more peaceful time in her life, when all she needed to do was lie down and eat. There were no arguments, no running, no fear of being pulled back into something she didn’t want. Just soft sheets, quiet rooms, and the hum of luxury around her.

Watching movies and playing console games, she was aware that once the baby was born she would simply collect her money, having hardened her heart to the thought that the baby was hers. She had repeated it to herself often enough that it had begun to feel true.

I see why surrogacy is a booming business, she thought to herself even as she chewed on the potato chips the chef had carefully made and salted to perfection. The crunch echoed faintly in the quiet room.

This is the life, she told herself as she scrolled with the remote, looking for something new and exciting to watch. The options seemed endless, each more extravagant than the last.

She was yet to speak to her father and had no intention to do so for a while, regardless of how many times he called. Which was why even as her phone rang, she didn’t so much as spare it a glance. It vibrated insistently against the side table, lighting up the room briefly before going dark again.

She wanted him to realize the errors in his ways and not only apologize but see how dangerous his decision was to her. She wanted him to sit with the fear she had felt.

If she forgave him easily, he would make another one that would send her down another rabbit hole.

Chewing on her chips and scrolling with the remote, even as she heard the phone continue to vibrate almost like background music to her ears, Dora didn’t flinch. Finally, it died down and she relaxed, clicking on a TV show she had finally decided on—only to hear it ring again.

This time around, she grabbed it to shut it off, surprised to see the caller ID, which made her instantly pick up.

"Llara!" She called out into the phone with joy even as she heard Llara respond on the other end.

"How is my favorite pregnant/future rich lady?" Llara asked, teasing her even as Dora slowly shook her head, smiling.

"I’m good! Pregnancy also feels good. It’s my fourth month and I feel great," she told her honestly, shifting slightly on the bed.

"...aah..." Llara chuckled in response. "...you still have five more months. I’m sure we’ll soon find out why women before you have complained to high heavens," she added, amused.

"Anyways, I called cause I got a new gig and as per tradition, to ensure that I don’t get kidnapped with my organs harvested, I’m sending you the address and details."

"If by tomorrow morning you don’t hear from me..." Llara began even as Dora cut her off.

"I know... I know! Search for you like you’re the only gold element left in the world just after gold had gone extinct!" freewёbnoνel.com

"This is why I love you!" Llara gushed in return, telling her to have fun and relax, even as she mentioned that apart from serving part-time at the party, she also intended to have some fun.

Dora chuckled in response. "...as long as you do it responsibly," which was an inside joke between them since it was how Llara always referred to how Dora lived her life.

"Talk to you tomorrow!" Dora said.

"Talk to you tomorrow!" Llara instantly responded before cutting the call.

Dora tossed her phone on the bed after putting it on silent, then settled back against the pillows as she stared at the huge screen she had lowered from the ceiling down in front of her.

Her toes wiggled in excitement as she switched off the lights and waited for the thriller movie she had clicked on to begin.

Knowing that she only had an hour and a half before Guila knocked on her door—or the two nurses did—to remind her of her evening exercises.

Can’t a girl have a lazy day? she wondered to herself even as she put everything else out of her mind, most especially the one thing she didn’t want to think about.

Dante.

*************

Llara knew enough to pack a very skimpy, shimmery silver gown in her bag along with heels. The fabric caught the light even when folded, promising attention.

She would be serving drinks at the VIP area for the first two hours before she would then change back to the outfit she was taking and let loose.

"Three thousand dollars for two hours," she murmured aloud to herself as she continued to pack, folding the dress carefully.

"I can sell half my soul if they’ll have it!" she thought to herself even as she stared at herself in the mirror, packing her long black hair into a bun as she slowly began to do her makeup.

Reddening her lips a bit more than usual as she applied blush to her cheeks, her eyes sharp and focused in the mirror.

The money she was being paid was a lot, which meant that whosoever was going to be at the party clearly had money to waste. Which they often did—on waitresses or anyone lucky enough to catch their eye.

Llara’s goal was to one day have a big club of her own, which she would run, having seen the amount of profit the owners made simply from selling overpriced drinks—not to mention the watered-down ones.

I’m going to be rich in this life whether or not I like it, she murmured to herself, which was basically a mantra she hung on to with her whole body and soul.

Money and fun, everything else can come after, she thought to herself as she stared at her reflection in the mirror, liking what she saw.

She wore another set of comfortable low heels before heading out, locking the door behind her.

Taking a taxi, which she directed straight to the high-end parts of the city. The club was called Lights, somewhere she had only heard of but had never been to—especially since it was invite-only.

Most ironic was the fact that although it was named Lights, Llara had just stepped inside with the service card she had been given, having arrived early enough to see that it was mostly dark.

The main area and even upstairs where the VIP area was. The signs were lit and there were some low lights scattered around the walls, but apart from that, it might as well be called Dark.

Someone picked her up at the door and she instantly got changed, getting ready for work alongside three other people even as the lead spoke to them.

"You’re being paid a lot! As you can see, the club is poorly lit on purpose—which means you can’t afford to fall even if you can’t see!"