He knew about my family, even my sister, and all the things he shouldn't know, especially about her illness. Where did he get so much information about me? Was that bastard told him?
"What are you talking about? What has it to do with my sister? Don't you ever dare to touch her!" I said intently. I couldn't let anyone ruin my life, especially my sister's. She had been through everything, and I didn't want anyone to touch her.
"It's not about your sister, Alejandra. It's about you. The agreement has been made, and you can't refuse or run. But I need you to say you're obedient before we move forward to it," he said.
His face, which had amazed me in the first place, changed instantly and made me shudder in fear. He stared at me intently, waiting for my answer. What could I do to accept what he asked? After all, I just had to carry a baby, right?
It wouldn't kill you. It was just a baby, Alejandra.
"Before I answer, may I read the contract between you and my father? I must ensure that that will be no harm and you won't deceive me." The man chuckled after hearing my words. Was there something funny? "It's serious, Sir. Why are you laughing?"
"Sorry. I just think that you're funny, Alejandra. An agreement is confidential between parties A and B, and no one could see the content except the one I mentioned. And you are not even one of them."
"But you're talking about me in the fucking agreement, Mr. Dawn! You knew that."
"Yes, but still, you have no business with it."
I couldn't speak my word anymore when the man said that firmly and stared at me as he stripped away all the courage I had. In my mind, now was just about my sister's safety, and I couldn't rely on someone like my father, a uselessly irresponsible man.
"OK. I agree with all your will. I just have to carry a baby, anyway, right?"
"Well ... that was a part of many things written in the contract."
"What are you talking about? You said that I just have to be a surrogate mother. No more."
"There are many things I ask, but one of them, yes, it's about my baby." He paused his sentence and got up to approach me. "I think we should do it in the right way."
I didn't understand his narrative this time—or permanently—since we only met for a few hours. However, he clearly wanted to have offspring, and the women he had asked for couldn't do so and withdrew.
"I don't think I'm capable of it," I replied, then got up, and he intervened by grabbing my hand. Instantly, I felt something tighten around me, and he immediately released his grip. "Y-you..."
He took his hand away from me, but my mind was already on the previous incident. He was... very cold—in an actual definition. I didn't know what made him that way. With a face that was already pale and increasingly paled, he tried to shift my focus.
Was this why he was trying to have offspring without marrying a woman? Was it because he didn't like a woman or because he was sick and didn't have long to live?
***
"I will fulfill all your needs. You can stay in the pavilion at the back, which is connected to my room, to ensure I can keep a direct eye on you. Tell me whatever you need; I will fulfill it." Mr. Dawn said. He looked much calmer and stopped in front of an alley door when it opened, enough to make me gape. "This is all yours."
All of this? No way. The room couldn't be called just a pavilion because it looked so luxurious, and everything I needed was available there—including clothes that fit my body perfectly.
"Di-did you prepare everything?" I asked, and he nodded. But I haven't agreed to cooperate yet. I'm still questioning why you chose me. Is it just because of my father's debt? Seriously?"
"I saved you," he replied.
"What?"
"Yes. Your father intended to hand you over to my business opponent. I wasn't sure of his character, so I made him an offer to give you to me to run this partnership."
"Wait, wait! You said my father has debts to you."
"Yes, he had a debt to other people, and I paid it. So his debt is now to me." The man stepped to erode the distance between us, and I had to raise my head to get a good look at his face. He was so well-built, and I had no idea how tall he was that he looked so far above me. "Look, I've learned a lot about you, and you'll be grateful for agreeing to work with me. It's not only for my sake but yours as well."
"Tell me what I should be grateful for if my freedom is restricted. You said I would be living in the pavilion, and from what I see, the access is only from your room, which means I can't go anywhere other than to your room. Correct me if I'm wrong. Or are you hiding a secret door that I will find out about later after agreeing to this cooperation?" I asked him in long sentences that he could manage to answer immediately.
"Don't take me for granted, Alejandra. You'll never know until you try to enter another life. You'll be more honored here than at the club." The man reached out and tucked a strand of my hair behind my ear, automatically bringing out an unexpected tingle in me. "Get some rest. We'll talk about everything again tomorrow. Regarding your sister, you don't need to worry. I've already sent people to take her to the hospital for intensive care."
"You mean I'll be staying here starting tonight?"
"You are the future mother of my offspring. I don't want any harm to come to you and my future baby." Hearing him utter that sentence, my goosebumps instantly bristled. Was this what it would have been like if I had gotten married to my former lover?
Would we be expecting our baby with a sense of overwhelming happiness and joy?
"Please come in and rest. I'll be here whenever you need me," he added, closing the door connecting his room to the pavilion he had provided me.
After cleaning myself, I put on the already available nightgown in the walking closet. I tried to close my eyes and unconsciously drifted off for a while before something woke me up and made it difficult for me to move.
Something I didn't recognize was on top of me, squeezing and confining me until I couldn't move even a finger. Its gaze was so dark that it leaned closer to me and sniffed the hollow of my neck, which made my blood rush strangely.
"Mr. Dawn!" I shouted his name. However, the creature seemed undaunted even if Mr. Dawn came and caught it about to do something to me. But he didn't come. Everyone must have been sleeping, and it would be in vain if I still screamed for help, and what would happen next must be futility.
Something suddenly stuck and tore at my skin. Immense pain instantly enveloped my screams, which were drowned out by the sound of bat wings flapping and the night wind whistling. I was just transfixed and enjoying the arrival of the Grim Reaper, who I was sure was ready to take my life.