Chapter 18 Investigating Danica
Loney was guilt-stricken after he heard that Danica had lost her parents. She was an orphan just like him. He anticipated how lonely life must have been for her, just as it was for him. Whereas, he was perplexed as to why Danica applied to be his surrogate. If she had no family, then what did she need the money for?
Instantly, he anticipated that something must be wrong. Instantly, he called Gideon.
"Boss, how may I be of help?"
Loney thought carefully, stood up from his desk and watched Mexico city through the large glass windows, "I want to know everything about Danica Howard."
Gideon nodded and asked, "to how many years down the line?"
Loney frowned and uttered coldly, "everything, I want to know everything."
Gideon nodded and this time didn't ask more questions. He trotted out to get the requested information as if his life depended on it. As Loney waited, he pondered over the situation of keeping Danica for this long. His plan was working but external forces had begun surfacing, making him uneasy. Herty's visit to the hospital has awoken the fact that people who knew Danica even if they weren't family, would begin to look for her.
Oddly, he was flashed with remorse but not for long, after consoling himself with what Daniella did to him. Throughout his life, he loved only one woman and that was Daniella. Time and age weren't able to erase the bitter love that constantly stabbed his heart.
It wasn't long when the search on Danica arrived. Instinctively, he pulled out the death report on Daniella and found their surnames to match. When he checked the records of Danica's life, she had always lived as Danica and there was no trace of her attending the same college Loney did. He also recalled that Herty told Doctor Jeff Danica didn't have any siblings.
Thinking through it, he confirmed that Daniella, was indeed Danica and a greater part of her life, had been forged. He also concluded that Danica wanted money to continue with her lavish life, which was her reason for being a surrogate but the one question he couldn't find an answer to was Danica being a virgin. He could swear that Daniella had several boyfriends while in college and couldn't believe that she kept herself but since Daniella, despite all those guys flaunting around her remained a virgin, it only increased Loney's love for her. With this assertion, Loney decided to surprise Danica by bidding by her request. He was going to see her next week as she wanted but he wasn't going to tell anyone, not even Paul, as he began to fear that Paul was beginning to take Danica's side.
Danica, after her short conversation with Herty, felt her heart drawn to her tiny house. She missed her small bed and the smile of those kids in Sunday school. She also missed being busy in the restaurant and most of all, she missed her friend, Herty, who had been a greater part of her life. She recalled how they used to share a cup of ice cream, not that they couldn't afford more, but because they embraced it as a friendship bond. Herty's last words on the phone swang a stone of panic in her mien.
She could understand J to mean Jones but what did Herty mean by replacement, and Jones being happy. Danica perceived that Jones should be the most worried of all, therefore, when she thought deeply, she could only understand that Jones was in a relationship and Daniella and Herty wanted her to know about it.
Her heart sunk at the thought, as she tried to discourage it in her mind. She wanted to see Herty or speak to her to ask more questions but didn't know how to go about it. She hadn't intended on being a traditional surrogate but now, she wasn't only going to not have her baby through artificial insemination, but by natural means. How could she tell Jones that she had been sleeping with a man to carry his child? The more she thought through it, the greater it dawned on her, just how much she had lost herself in the bid to help her sister.
Her eyes turned glassy, while she busied herself with preparing supper, holding her tears from falling. Someway somehow, she was hurt that Jones would date her sister, even if Daniella faked being her. They might have the same features but couldn't he make out the difference? The more Danica reflected on it, the more lonely and heartbroken she felt. If only their parents were alive, things wouldn't have turned this way. She hoped she could perform her obligations earlier, leave the mansion and begin a new life or perhaps, there was a lot of mess waiting for her to clean up at home.
A week passed and Loney decided to put his plan into action. After a long day's work, he began his two-hour journey to the villa, after confirming that everyone was asleep. He parked in the underground garage and opened the door to the living room. However, before he took a step further, a baritone voice sounded behind him. "Loney?"
He turned around, instantly coming face to face with a revolver pointed at him. Paul lowered the gun after confirming it was Loney. "Why are you awake,?" Loney whispered after Paul lowered the revolver.
Relief washed over Paul, as he responded rhetorically, "I thought someone called me a bodyguard who sleeps too much? I set my own devices in the garage to wake me when there is an intruder. I didn't deactivate it since you didn't tell me you were coming over," Paul clutch the revolver to the holder on his waist, while he spoke.
Loney responded casually, "no point deactivating it even when I'm coming over, we shouldn't compromise on security at any time.
The talk of security poked Paul's ears, "have you heard from Ray?"
"After sending Jonax after him, No but I think he should be back in Russia now. The only problem is, there are other mafias here in Mexico City. They operate low key so I can't seem to get much information. They also haven't attacked or shown their faces but they have spies around me. I caught a few but they escaped before I could get any useful information," Loney explained while pouring himself a glass of cold water.
Paul followed, leaned against the wall and said, "maybe they haven't moved forward because you haven't invaded their territory."
"I might, sooner or later," Loney shrugged and sat on the chair in the dining room.
"Why can't you forgo certain contracts and have some peace?" Paul suggested, ambling toward him.
"Just as I always said, I have nothing to lose," Loney smirked.
Paul was annoyed, "you are planning on having a baby. Shouldn't that be a concern?"
"Not until it materializes. It's not the first time I've tried, she's not my first surrogate, and I'm still childless," Loney said unfazed before asking, "how has she been?"
Paul shrugged, "acting weird and sober since she spoke to that friend of hers. Jeff said the friend gave her information that he couldn't understand but it seems Danica figured it, which has changed her mood."
"Do you know what it is?" Loney was curious. He wanted to know more about Danica.
"He said something about a J being happy with her replacement," Paul divulged thoughtfully.
"What does it mean?" Loney squinted.
"You are asking the wrong person," Paul responded, as he sat on the chair opposite to Loney in the dining.
"Could J be an abbreviation for a name?" Loney felt oddly envious, of anyone symbolizing so much importance to Danica, when he didn't have the chance to get close to her in college.
"I think so, it's the most reasonable clue," Paul confirmed.
Loney frowned thoughtfully, "did Danica ever request to speak to her friend again?"
"Strangely, she didn't, even when I thought she would. For a week now, she's always sad and buries herself in her cooking."
Loney flared in agitation, "what do you mean cooking? I pay everyone in this house to do their chores. Danica's responsibility is to eat well and be nourished. She isn't supposed to busy herself with anything other than that. Where is Mabel?"
Paul was guilt-stricken. He didn't perceive that Loney will be angry to hear that Danica did most of the cooking, and felt sufficed, "sleeping. You probably should wait till morning to talk to her."
"You know I can't do that."
"Why? Because you don't want your surrogate to know who you are? Why Loney? You are driving her crazy," Paul pointed out to Loney but latter remained unfazed.
"Whatever it is, she deserves it. I will wake Mabel, we need to talk," Loney stood up, and headed towards the stairs.
"Hey hey but you can't do that, and come on, you look tired. Do you have the strength to...you know what I'm talking about?" Paul uttered while he followed Loney closely.
A surge of anger flew though Loney. He turned aburoly, "Paul, that is enough," he voice was solemn.
"No offence man, but I'm beginning to think that you being stressed out all the time is the reason why she isn't getting pregnant," Paul said politely. Loney wasn't moved because he knew the reason for Danica not taking seed but he hid it well,
"What? Are you saying that i'
Loney's words were drowned by Pauls' interference, "I'm not making any assumptions. I'm just stating the facts here but maybe, you arriving when she is in her fertile moment might make a difference. Why did you change your mind anyway?" Paul asked tacitly.