Chapter 4

JOANNE contd.

I stared back and forth between Hardy and Theodore.

The two men were trying to kill me before I could get a chance to life.

The words Hardy had breathed seconds ago were still making my entire body shake.

I would be carrying his child and I signed a contract on it?

On what planet did that happen?

“She’s not the one, there has been a mistake Hardy” Theodore repeated his words, getting Hardy’s face to slowly morph into anger.

I had no idea who Theodore was to Hardy, but I could tell they were really close, because of the way he spoke, he didn't care to place the formal tone everyone else did.

But what is actually going on?

"What do you mean? What mistake?" Hardy spat getting on his feet.

Theodore breathed out a sigh, before he started speaking.

"Joanne here, is here against her will, she did not sign the contract or any contract from us, she doesn't even know what she's doing here. She was basically robbed."

"And How did you find out? Why are you just finding out? Hardy asked through gritted teeth.

"Trinity, she told me all about it."

"Get her in here now!" Hardy ordered and Theodore walked out of the room immediately, the heavy boots on his legs making hefty noises as he walked out of the room.

Hardy glanced at me, before breathing out a disappointed sigh.

We both remained quiet, waiting for Trinity.

I could feel my heart beating almost right out of my chest.

I had no idea what was going on, all I wanted was to get out of there.

And I was a bit relieved Theodore had walked in to clarify the air.

Of course all this was a mistake. I have never met this people in my entire life.

Even where I worked, before getting kidnapped by Hardy’s men.

And fact that the contracts would end with me carrying a child. Yeah it was definitely something I would never sign up for.

The door to the dining room opened and Theodore walked in with Trinity behind him.

"Master." Trinity called stepping forward.

Hardy balled his hand into a fist

"Trinity, what's Theodore going on about a misunderstanding." His voice was thick and frightening.

Trinity glanced at me before turning back to Hardy and breathing out a sigh. "According to the arrangements. Miss Joanne isn't the person-

"But the contract." Hardy interrupted. "I saw the documents with my own eyes. It even had a picture of her, She is Fedrick’s daughter."

"She is the one in the contract, yes, her name, her picture, but a forged signature. She wasn't the one who signed it, according to Isa who runned everything, the person supposed to be in the contract is Bailey Lockwood, daughter of Fredrick Lockwood, she is the one in your debt, she did agree to be your surrogate, but ended up making up someone else's detail in the contract, which happened to be Miss Joanne, I reached out to Isa three days ago, to throughly go through everything because Miss Joanne kept asking questions. "

My jaw dropped heavily at Trinity's words.

The word surrogate repeated itself three times in my head and then stopped, but the name Bailey Lockwood never stopped repeating itself.

Bailey Lockwood, the same Bailey who I consider a sister and also my roommate?

"So Miss Joanne here was clearly robbed off her life." Trinity added.

The three of them turned to look at me as I tried to break out of my frozen state.

I tried to speak, but my voice failed me horribly.

I managed to break out of my frozen state.

"Trinity" I called, thankful I could find my voice.

"What do you mean Bailey Lockwood... What do you mean she's in Debt. What's going on?" I tried not to stutter.

Trinity sighed. "Miss Joanne, Bailey is the one wh-

"There's no need for her to know." Hardy interrupted shutting Trinity up.

"Now that we've found out that we've been fooled, set an arrangement to bring Bailey here and Joanne leave as soon as possible."

"Yes sir." Theodore nodded, and then turned to me.

"But Bailey…." I managed to say.

"It is none of your business." Hardy spat, he seemed pissed, but the only person who should be rightfully pissed was me.!

"Sorry for the misunderstanding, Miss Joanne, you will be compensated heavily for this." Theodore said assuringingly.

I slowly shook my head. "This is my business. Bailey, Bailey Lockwood." I started but stopped when my voice gave out.

I was about to go crazy.

"Do you seem to know this Bailey.?" Theodore asked, taking a step forward.

"Yes. She's... She's my best friend, she’s almost family to me." I swallowed, even my words sounded funky.

Theodore shared a glance with Trinity and they both turned back to me to share their sympathetic look.

I could feel my eyes getting wet as I spoke.

"So what do you mean? That she's in some kind of debt? And she'll be paying her debt by playing a surrogate for Mr. Hardy, and... And instead of doing so, she sold me out instead? Is that what you all mean?"

My voice trembled horribly.

No way.

I shook my head. "That can't be Bailey."

Hardy glanced at me briefly before walking out of the room..

Trinity and Theodore shared another glance before Theodore trailed behind Hardy.

Trinity took a step forward and took my hand in hers.

"Look Joanne. We'll sort this out. Just place it at the back of your mind that this is all one big misunderstanding."

"Misunderstanding?" I scoffed.

The fact that my best friend sold me to be a surrogate for a rich man in her place? She used me as collateral?

"Whatever debt it is. It can never be compared to being a surrogate". I shook my head at Trinity.

I know I shouldn't be siding with Bailey. She did me dirty.

But it was just the fact that I liked Bailey so much and also felt irritated that I was actually backing her up even when I should be hating her.

“You do not know the kind of debt she’s in with Hardy. It could be more than being a surrogate, whatever it is, they had an agreement on something and Bailey was to be here not you. And you shouldn’t be taking her side right now Miss Joanne… she literally sold you off”

"Bu-

"Have a seat" Trinity interrupted and my body trembled as I took a seat.

"We'll sort this out. I promise, just have something to eat. Drink a lot of water and don't think of anything else." Trinity’s voice was calm and assuring.

And everything in me just believed her.

I nodded.

"Good, just wait here. I'll be back." She smiled and with that, she walked out of the dining room.

I stared at the delicacies in front of my eyes, I wanted to scream and yell but I remained at my best waiting for an answer.

Hoping that all these would get sorted out.

And something in me hoped. Bailey didn’t do this.

.

The night was old and my body ran cold. The door to the dining room opened, and as Hardy walked in with Trinity and Theodore behind him, after what felt like years, I breathed out a sigh.

I thought all would have been sorted out, but Hardy's expression said otherwise.

And it scared me a bit.

Not a bit, it scared the living out of me.

I turned to Trinity for a brief answer and she shook her head at me.

This is bad. And I kind of saw it Coming.

Theodore stood in front of me and after clearing his throat, he slammed a paper on the dining table and pushed it toward me.

He began. "Your friend Bailey. Tricked us. And now, she's nowhere to be found, seen or heard."

"What?" I said but my voice cracked.

"And well the conclusion is. Since she used you as a replacement. You will be taking her spot as Hardy's surrogate." Theodore’s words was as clear and sharp as a crystal horn.

I shuddered as I glanced at Hardy who didn't look my way.

"What. No. This is madness." I said getting on my feet.

"That is what you will do miss Joanne. And I'm sorry, you have no say in this since your best friend put you as collateral. You have to Sign the new contract, and since you are in no debt. You will be given a lifetime compensation after the birth. And Bailey will be dealt with when caught." Theodore explained.

Contract? Birth.? Compensation?

None of it made any sense.

My head was already hazy. Everything was happening so fast. The unfamiliar words, the lump in my throat.

I started to feel this hotness in my stomach and back of my head.

My lungs felt tight and my respiratory system suddenly felt blocked.

And before I knew it, everything went blank.

.

...*