Leonardo Manolo had stepped on my toes and I wasn't going to let it slide. He threatened me with the woman I love and the child I was hoping to see soon. My heir. I considered it an insult when he called me to tell me he had taken them. I was about to lash out at my security when I remembered it was Manolo after all. He must have sneaked past them. The mansion was heavily guarded and I had my guess he didn't take Rylee from the mansion. In addition to that, no one knew what happened between us and he must have used that as an advantage. I left Los Angeles for Asia that week. We had a new product to be introduced into the market and I needed to be at our branch there. Our products were already in the US market so we decided to try them out overseas. I had no idea how Manolo knew about that deal. Did he do that because of how I was progressing or was it just to spite me? I couldn't wrap my head around it.I knew Rylee must have been so scared. My poor baby. I left that woman all alone.
RyleeMy life was flashing right in my eyes as I was bleeding heavily. I saw fear in Leo's eyes when I was wheeled into the hospital. I had no idea I would be in that situation. I was on the edge of losing my breath. Manolo had ordered his boys to make me cooperate by all means. I was stubborn on purpose because I knew Manolo would never hurt me. We were once close. We did almost everything together. He only needed money and I knew he would never put me in danger. Under that hate and disgust, I saw the caring Manolo but I was wrong in the end. Manolo looked scarier by the second. The hatred in his heart took over him and he never blinked an eye when Leo called him to apologize and also offered to help him. It triggered him more. Manolo never wanted to be beneath Leo. According to him, he had been in his shadows since he was born and he was ready to step up to him.Manolo took the wrong turn. I was convinced Leo would never forgive him for hurting me. I was losing blood and I closed my
RyleeIt’s a new year….the Xmas celebrations are over. Hearts are in love and some are heartbroken. Shops are closed and the streets are as dry as a graveyard. After the Xmas celebrations, we were expecting a fuller street for the new year but it seems people are over it already.“Hey, you, we baking today?” Laura said smiling broadly at me “We have to, it’s our job..the streets look dry and empty but we can still do deliveries” “Miss Jolie didn’t think it’s a good idea to open the shop today but I insisted we should ““What harm would be done when we are only trying to fill a lot of bellies with our delicious cakes”I shruggedShe moved to open up the sign and rearrange the Xmas decorations.“Good morning Miss Ry”“How are we today” my work husband comes through. Lucas is my favorite person. He must be in a good mood seeing he was wearing his jumper. “We are all good, Lucas”“How was the Xmas celebration at your end ““Good, good” he drank from his little bottle “Come to my end whe
RyleeMy alarm rang the next minute and I struggledto lift my head. It was a very busy day the previous day and it was looking so hectic already. We sold a truck full of cakes and the orders we had for the day were close to a hundred. Good griefLaura and Lucas would have a hard time if I decided not to show up for the day. My head was heavy and all I needed was rest. I had to be there. Miss Jolie trusts me to be there. I am like her assistant now and it’s been incredible. I love the duty and recognition that comes with it. A lot of our clients compliment my management skills and that keeps me going. Being invited to exclusive events was the little cherry on top. It helped me build my self-confidence. Hell, it made me feel like a badass.I was grinning from ear to ear until the thought of the previous day popped into my head. My parents are crazy. They have been so selfish over the years and they still are. How can they accept money from a stranger because they feel I’d go with thei
LeonardoStepping into a cake shop brought memories of childhood. Memories like fighting for cakes with my siblings, waiting for the delivery man, and running around with pieces of cake all over the mansion. I love cakes. It's part of my childhood. I wished I could go back there but I needed to figure my life out. I stood at the cake shop reminiscing old times with different flavors brushing through my nostrils.I was enjoying the feeling when I turned to a large number of people struggling to get into the shop. They were already cursing me with their looks and I couldn't care less. I was there to see Rylee. It wasn't going to take long until I convinced her to go home with me anyway. Some were cheering us on and hoping to get my contact or at least perceive my scent. I hadn't been on television for a while but was still popular. Good name attracts good people.The paparazzi were everywhere the next minute. I had no idea how they knew I was going to be there. I haven't been on televisi
Rylee 24 hours. That's all he gave me. I wasn't expecting to see a man of that nature. He looked so calm and approachable the minute I met him but turned vicious the next. Surrogacy must be important to him. I would say he was some sort of a human trafficker but he didn't look like one..He is a corporate Man. He seemed like the type that owns a big company in the city. A technological company or a business firm.That sort of man.The one who drives a limousine for Fun.The one that has his garage filled with cars of different ages. He gave off a vintage vibe coupled with a contemporary style. His perfume could be used for fumigation as it overwhelmed the entire building. His scent was all over the place…He must be a powerful man. One that knows what he wants and goes for it. His face looked vaguely familiar. I had seen him a couple of times on television. Then it hit me. He is a wealthy man A powerful man How on earth did my parents get money from that kind of man? He is so controllin
Rylee The 24-hour window was almost over. Carrying a child was never what I planned for the year but I had a plan and I was going to stick by it. I couldn’t possibly let my siblings suffer because of me. if I was thrown in jail it would have been disastrous. Life was already unfair to us and that was the last strip I wanted it to be. Regardless of the situation, I had to make a decision that would be favorable for my siblings and me. Accepting my fate, I moved towards my room and started packing. I had no idea of what I was going to take there and what I was going to leave behind. The few items I had I was already out of them. I packed a few toiletries and soaps. I threw a few items in and broke down the next minute. I wasn’t sure of what I was going to do next. I had the idea of calling Emily. She was the only one I had on speed dial. Lucas would come through but I wasn’t going to drag him to the edge. He had seen me break down a couple of times and I assured him I would be fine. I
Leonardo There she was. Rylee. my surrogate. I never doubted for a second she would show up. I went out of character to bring her home. I’m never the one to threaten anyone. I was under pressure. My father was on my neck for an heir and I couldn't think of anyone but her. She was perfect.Her legs. Damn, she's beautiful. She wore a transparent gown and her thighs were separated. I looked beyond her frizzy hair and smiled at her. She seemed nervous and fierce at the same time. She murdered me with her eyes. I could tell. I was thankful she was there to help me out. Believe it or not, She was there to help me but I knew she was yet to realize that. I couldn't do without an heir. I would have my company taken from me and probably given to another if I had failed to produce an heir. It wasn't a thing to do so easily but I had to take my chances.“You are here”“Wasnt expecting to see you here” I had lied. She saw right through my eyes and shrugged in disgust. “Mrs Alice showed you aroun
RyleeMy life was flashing right in my eyes as I was bleeding heavily. I saw fear in Leo's eyes when I was wheeled into the hospital. I had no idea I would be in that situation. I was on the edge of losing my breath. Manolo had ordered his boys to make me cooperate by all means. I was stubborn on purpose because I knew Manolo would never hurt me. We were once close. We did almost everything together. He only needed money and I knew he would never put me in danger. Under that hate and disgust, I saw the caring Manolo but I was wrong in the end. Manolo looked scarier by the second. The hatred in his heart took over him and he never blinked an eye when Leo called him to apologize and also offered to help him. It triggered him more. Manolo never wanted to be beneath Leo. According to him, he had been in his shadows since he was born and he was ready to step up to him.Manolo took the wrong turn. I was convinced Leo would never forgive him for hurting me. I was losing blood and I closed my
Leonardo Manolo had stepped on my toes and I wasn't going to let it slide. He threatened me with the woman I love and the child I was hoping to see soon. My heir. I considered it an insult when he called me to tell me he had taken them. I was about to lash out at my security when I remembered it was Manolo after all. He must have sneaked past them. The mansion was heavily guarded and I had my guess he didn't take Rylee from the mansion. In addition to that, no one knew what happened between us and he must have used that as an advantage. I left Los Angeles for Asia that week. We had a new product to be introduced into the market and I needed to be at our branch there. Our products were already in the US market so we decided to try them out overseas. I had no idea how Manolo knew about that deal. Did he do that because of how I was progressing or was it just to spite me? I couldn't wrap my head around it.I knew Rylee must have been so scared. My poor baby. I left that woman all alone.
RyleeLife became the perfect breath of fresh air for Leo and we were expecting Manolo to show up but he never did. I had to get used to staying with just Leo in the mansion. It wasn't so bad but I had a lot of adjustments to do. Going in and out of his room, eating any meal I craved, and occasionally bullying him into doing things he thought he would never do. I fell in love with my new life. Leo turned into a chef, a foot masseuse, a wardrobe manager, and a diet planner. With all the stress I put him through, he never complained once. He seemed to have been enjoying it more than I was. He went from a loner who had cigars as his buddy to a man with a date cooking up the storm. A playful man.A generous man.A caring man.An intentional man. I got all of it. It was incredibly beautiful to watch.Leo made me the happiest woman on earth. The glow I had was out of this world. It was evident I was in a happy place. From the days we took parenting classes to the ones we went out shopping, he w
RyleeWaking up in Leo’s bed felt surreal. I kept flipping my eyes and watched him sleep peacefully. He looked so calm while sleeping. He looked so gentle and I giggled when I recalled he was a beast the previous night. He was romping off of me like a tiger seeking his prey. I knew he had that vibe but I was still surprised he was jerking off of me. I never imagined I would be in bed with him. I was starved and I needed him so badly. Leo explored my body and satisfied me in the best way possible. I was already imagining what our lives would become after that night.I was moved to take a few pictures of Leo as he looked peaceful and had the look of a newborn. With the sound of the clicks, he woke up holding my phone while I covered myself in shame.“Hey”“What are you doing,” he said in a deeper voice and I responded by mimicking him.“Taking pictures of you”“You look good ““C’mon Rylee”“Don't be like that,” he said, stretching his back.“Should we take one?” I offered.“Go ahead but
Leonardo Recounting my family story and encounter with Williams gave me a sense of belonging. He was my best friend and my confidant. If he was there in times of celebrations, I figured he should be there when we were falling apart. I called him the night before and told him a bit of what had happened and he was ready to hear me out. I knew I could rant to him. He looked more serious with every passing second and became more concerned about Manolo. I was worried I made the wrong decision about letting him go but Williams convinced me it was the best thing to do. Williams had a degree in business but could read everyone as a book. I trusted his instincts and he assured me we were going to be fine. He gave me clarification on what my worries were and I became more relaxed about it. Talking to Williams on a normal day would always feel like a job but it was different that time. It was about my family and he knew I strongly needed him by my side. He was helping me out this time and I was
LeonardoThe arrival of my parents took me to the abyss. I was confused about how to address them. I had a valid reason why I avoided talking to them. I still had no idea how to go about the whole thing but I knew they wouldn't understand the dilemma I was in. I held my brother hostage and also let the company run on its own for a little while. Of course, no one died and I was being dramatic but I wasn't ready to face them yet. I wished they had understood that. My father's blood pressure was already off the roof and I never wanted to send him into an early grave. Adeline was sweet and I never figured out how to break the news of her son’s rebellion to her. My lawyers were quiet about it but I knew they wouldn't keep it in the wraps for long. I had to put on my courage pants and lovingly address my parents.I staggered towards the stairs as Rylee looked concerned. I had little to drink but it was holding me down way more than I had expected. I never wanted to see them in that state an
RyleeRudy's homecoming was exciting and healing. It was more like a party as everyone surrounded him with love. He got presents from Mr Leo and Emily. Rudy was a strong boy and needed to be celebrated. We got home to a banquet while Mr Alice and my parents received Rudy. They had prepared a feast and we couldn't wait to divulge it. Emily and Lucas had been with us all through the day. Since the first week Rudy was admitted they were still there till his discharge. We took wine, and pictures at the set up and it was another awesome day to remember.My parents were closer to us than I had imagined. The few weeks turned into a bonding experience. I had got tired of fighting with them. They promised to change their ways and I had looked out for positive changes. There were ground rules in the mansion. Mr Leo warned they weren't allowed to smoke in the mansion. They cleaned up and occasionally approached me but I declined politely. I avoided making contact with them on purpose. Mr Leo wou
Leonardo Rylee looked distraught. Her parents looked worse. I had never set my eyes on them after giving them money for Rylee’s surrogacy. For some reason, I never visited them. Rylee had never brought them to the mansion and whenever I asked her about them she would wave it off. I had no idea she went through a lot. I must have been an asshole for dragging her out of the life she was used to but they never seemed to have a parent /daughter connection.From the way she treated them, I knew they never had a good relationship. I had no idea what broke up their bond whether it was the surrogacy or they had an awful relationship before that. I must have contributed to Rylee's hate towards her parents. I bought her from the life she was used to and they never gave her the support she needed. The first instinct to find out who they were, would have been when they collected money in place of their daughter. Looking them right in the eye? I could tell they never used the money wisely. They r
RyleeOur vacation ended halfway and we were on our way to meet Lucas. The private jet took off the minute we entered it. Manolo and Montelle were being paraded to the plane While Manolo acted indifferent, Montele gave me a daunting look. I ignored them and walked by them, sitting close to Mr Leo. He never took a second look at them. My blood pressure was shooting through the roof and I almost had a panic attack. I had prayed silently for Rudy while Mr. Leo continually assured me everything was going to turn out fine. I was unstable and I blamed myself for not being by their side. Hell, my parents never did and I felt I failed as a sister. We had a good time together while they were at the mansion but I wished I did better. It was the heat of the moment that made me push them away. In the brighter view, I was glad they were never part of the drama.Rudy never had any underlying sickness. He was a cheerful boy. Growing up, the only health concerns he had were flu and occasional cough. A