C5 Chapter 5

VALENTINA's POV

My jaw dropped when the name bounced inside my room. I heard about him a lot of dark, mysterious, and cold but nothing like his father. Years back, there were rumors about him dating a model from showbiz. I never saw his picture and only heard from other strippers who died to serve him one day because that man had zero interest in other women. Even, I never heard that he ever attended our bar during my working years.

Heavy footsteps began to echo towards my room. I swallowed hard, preparing myself to answer carefully. One wrong word with him could drag me straight to hell. Julie left the door open for him. I felt his presence behind, powerful and intimidating. As soon as I turned around, a loud gasp of surprise passed through my lips.

It was him! The man who ignored me!

I swallowed heavily, mentally slapping myself twice because I had invited my own death here. Pretending to be cool on the surface, I asked to pull my eyes up to meet his cold eyes,

" How can I help you, Mr.King?"

He smiled maliciously, shaking his head slightly as if I cracked a joke. He leaned against the door head, watching me intensely,

" I want something from you, Miss Avery."

My jaw clenched hard at his response. I could understand where he was heading. Sticking firm to my pride, I blurted with rage,

" Mr.King, you must have already heard that I don't sell my body."

He chuckled more dangerously, raising one of his eyebrows playfully,

" Who said that I want your body, Valentina?"

My brows were crooked together, confusing,

" Then?"

He sighed heavily and began to approach the room. I stepped back subconsciously, making a perfect distance between us. His eyes held mine, my mysterious dark and it was hard to predict what was going on behind his mind. His thin lips quirked upward, giving me a slow, handsome smile that left me bewitched in my place,

" I want to hire your bump, Valentina."

His words left me stunned, paralyzed for a few couple of moments. Honestly, it was the weirdest proposal that I ever got in my lifetime. Most of them came to offer money for their bed services except him. There was something else behind his eyes, the power he carried whenever his presence surrounded me. This thing didn't happen before and I was sure that Mr.King had successfully managed to leave his best impression on me.

I gulped, scrutinizing tightly,

" What do you mean?"

He smirked, his eyes paying close attention to my thick eyelashes. He didn't sound like a playful man but at the same time, these words sounded odd to me.

Who wants to hire a bump seriously?

His words came out stern and firmly,

" I want you to become the surrogate mother for my child. In other words, you will get money and I will have my child."

Wordless, I stared into his eyes blankly to ensure that he didn't crack a joke with me here. In society, we, strippers are highly degraded upper-class families like them. But hearing something different from him really left me with a lot of questions.

"Why me? ", my question blurted out subconsciously, earning a silent glare from him. Well, I had every right to know why he wanted to hire me as a surrogate. There were plenty of women out there to become his surrogate. Above all, bearing a child wasn't a easy process. I didn't even complete my college.

What would others think of me?

He smirked at me mysteriously, dragging his bodyfeett closer until we were a few inches apart from each other,

" One thing, I would like to clear Ms.Avery that I don't like anyone questioning me. If you want to do it, just say yes."

I tugged on my lips nervously. Truthfully, I was in bad need of money now. The rent, college everything required a lot of money which wasn't in my captivity now. Although I was the infamous Stripper here, that didn't feed me off entirely. I still struggled to fulfill my daily basis. But the confusion and insecurities still lingered in my mind.

What would happen to my career?

Pinching my palm lightly, I replied suturing,

" ..I need time.."

He nodded agreeing and left after plucking out a card from his pocket,

" Take it! You have 24 hours to consider, Miss Avery.If you still think yes, come to my office."'

Clutching his card into my fist, I watched him, heading outside in urgent steps. He didn't tell me why he chose me but the address 'Miss Avery' warmed my heart somewhere. The first time, someone showed me this much respect.

But why did he choose me?

An hour later, I arrived at my apartment, spotting Emily between the stairs. Her face was still stained as if she was crying for hours. Our gaze met and relief contoured her expression.

Emily ran over to me, hugging and sobbing,

" Valentina..our house.."

I patted her back, coaxing,

" Hush! I have gotten money, Emily. No one can kick us out."

After that, I went straight to the landlord's apartment and paid off our rent before cursing a few times. This lady was too ruthless to be appreciated. She had a face like witch from movies.

Free from charges, Emily and I both dragged our staff back inside, panting and huffing all the way. I couldn't understand how she managed to kick out all this stuff singlehandedly. No wonder all those fat belly!!

Emily's voice pulled me back on earth,

" Val, this...this isn't happening right..I feel like we will be kicked out again sooner or later.. Your job isn't stable. Sometimes, you can barely make money to buy a meal. How are you going to manage everything, Val?"

I bit my lips together tightly. I knew it very well. The chances of getting kicked away were high as I had to pay money a few places. Surely, this comforting apartment was out of my way. Keeping her questions aside, I blurted suddenly,

" Emily, Lorenzo King came to me with an offer. I don't know whether I should do it or not."