“A surrogate mom?” Raul asked, amused as he washed Riana's body in the soapy bathtub.
"That's a sure way to outplay my mom," she replied, and he chuckled, focusing his hands on her shoulder, leading to a massage.
"Most times I wonder exactly why these rich folks place so much importance on having an heir. What about women?" Raul scoffed.
" I mean, heiress sounds pretty good too." He added with a shrug.
"That's business for you, my love. Men appear to be the stronger ones so they believe. I really can't imagine myself being CEO. I would run down the business in one week," Riana said, and he laughed.
"Of course," he tugged at the chain holding the drain plug, and the soapy water began to drain out as Riana rose up to her feet and turned on the shower, rinsing off her body.
Raul stood up too, watching her intently and Riana pushed her hair backwards, facing him.
"Waiting for an invite?" she asked, and he chuckled, tugging down his pants then he climbed onto the tub.
· · ·
Brianna paced to and fro, feeling perturbed, then huffed, coming to a halt.
"Ariel!" she called out.
"Auntie?" Ariel responded from her room and rushed out, trying to pack up her finally brushed hair, and Brianna ran her irritated gaze through her.
She spent a whole lot of money getting Ariel ready for that photoshoot, and even got her a new dress, but it has been three whole days, and not even the man who was the agent that linked her has reached out to her.
There was a huge price tag on the head of whoever gets to work for that family. But even the family's name is unknown.
Brianna knew using Ariel to collect the two thousand dollars every two weeks was best. At least that would better hers and her daughter's life.
Ariel watched her obviously vexed aunt, scanning through her frail body.
"You know, all these years I always suspected you had very bad luck looming over you, but it's finally been confirmed," Brianna said, and Ariel furrowed her brows.
"I spent so much money, and I made sure you looked real good, but your evil ruined everything just like it killed your father," her aunt taunted, and Ariel felt her heart drop to her stomach.
Her aunt barely reminded her of the death of her father, but whenever she did, she always made it so painful and unbearable.
Her eyes grow moist with tears, which had no problem escaping, and Brianna scoffed at the sight.
"This is just the start of your suffering, Ariel, until the day you eventually join your dead father. Now go in there, pack those dirty clothes in those bags, and wash every single one of them clean. You'll be dry cleaning people's clothes until the money I wasted comes back in triple folds.”
" Move, witch," Brianna ordered, and Ariel dragged herself away.
· · ·
Adella replied to a servant's greeting and walked into the kitchen to see Nathaniel seated on a high stool by the island.
He had a glass of water on the island, supported by his hands, and his head was dropped low, covering most of his face.
Adella furrowed her brows, going to his side, and carefully placed her hand on his back and he lifted his head to see her then sighed.
"Good morning, Mom," he muttered, and drank from his water.
"I wasn't expecting to see you this early in the kitchen, son. What is it?" Adella asked, totally worried, and Nathan dropped his head low, then sighed, facing his mom.
"Can you get the surrogate before the week is over? I'm worried about Audrey, and stepmom isn't helping," Nathan said, surprising Adella.
"Are you… cool with it?" she asked carefully.
"No, I'm not, but I have no other choice," he deadpanned.
· · ·
Brianna gasped, eyes wide, and Ariel glanced at her from the floor she scrubbed.
She was on a phone call, gloomy at first, and suddenly she looked so happy.
"Of course, she'll be ready by noon tomorrow," her aunt spoke up, and Ariel furrowed her brows deeply .
Did Daphne get into another fashion contract? she wondered, and quickly looked away as the call ended.
"Ariel, I have great news," Brianna announced with a wide grin, which surprised Ariel, who watched her while still leaning on the floor she was scrubbing.
"Oh dear, stand up, stop doing that," Brianna said, taking the rag from Ariel, who was gobsmacked.
"Come on, get up," she urged, and Ariel stood up, watching her aunt, whose attitude had suddenly turned so strange.
"Remember that photoshoot you had four days ago, the one I yelled at you about? They finally called," Brianna announced, confusing Ariel even more.
"Should I be happy?" she asked carefully, and her aunt scoffed.
"Of course, my dear. Now we have to get you washed up again today. Try fixing that thing on your head, because we're about to get rich," her aunt announced, shocking Ariel.
"Wow, that's amazing, Aunt," Ariel exclaimed.
"Uh-huh," Brianna chuckled, but a thought hit Ariel hard.
"But why am I getting ready again, Auntie?" Ariel queried, and Brianna scoffed, then pulled on a smirk.
"That is because I am sending you off to a very rich family," Brianna replied, and Ariel's shoulders dropped, as expected.
"As a maid, right?" she muttered, dropping her gaze.
"What maid? As a pleasure toy, pig," Brianna sneered, and Ariel felt a loud bang in her head, and she staggered, staring at her aunt in shock.
"What?" she tried to scream, but it all came out as a stunned whisper.
