Chapter 2 Cocky, Handsome Man

• VAUGHN
• “Babe,” I said into the phone, letting the familiar softness of my voice carry through the receiver. “Aren’t you coming home today?”
• “You know I have a shoot today, baby,” Alina cooed. I couldn’t help but smile. “I’ll go home tomorrow.”
• I ran a hand through my hair, still hearing my mother’s voice from earlier.
• “Break up with that woman and start a family of your own already, Vaughn. You’re not getting any younger, and I’m sure you already want to inherit our family business.”
• “Have you thought about what I asked you yesterday?” I said carefully, keeping my tone neutral.
• There was a pause. Then a sigh. “I—I can’t, Vaughn,” Alina said. “I don’t want to carry your child yet. My career as a model is only starting out. I can’t ruin my body for a baby.”
• I pressed my lips into a thin line, but I understood. She was twenty-four, just getting her name out there. Meanwhile, I was twenty-eight, already waist-deep in the family’s empire.
• “Okay,” I said quietly. “I guess I’ll see you tomorrow then?”
• “See you tomorrow, baby,” she replied with a teasing tone. “Can’t wait to see you and probably…have some fun.”
• I chuckled and shook my head, already knowing what her version of “fun” meant.
• “Can’t wait,” I said, and hung up. But even her flirtatious goodbye wasn’t enough to shove my mother’s words out of my brain.
• I needed a distraction. Something stronger than wine and silence.
• So I picked up my phone and dialed the one person I could always count on.
• “Let’s drink,” I said, skipping any greeting.
• There was rustling. A groggy voice followed. “What? I was sleeping, you little shit,” Xavi grumbled.
• I grabbed the keys to my Harley and swung my leg over the bike. “Call the others. Meet me at the Royals.”
• “Whatever, man,” he said, yawning. “I’m going back to sleep.”
• “I’m paying,” I added as the engine rumbled to life.
• “Well, why didn’t you say so?” he perked up immediately. “We’ll be on our way.”
• I smirked. These bastards, no matter how rich they were, loved free stuff.
• By the time I reached Royals, they were already there.
• “What’s up, man?” Xavi said, handing me a drink. “We already ordered.”
• I filled a cup with whatever was closest—whiskey, I think—and downed it.
• “Whoa, slow down,” Dylan said, eyes widening. “What’s going on?”
• “Same old,” I muttered, pouring myself another.
• Xavi leaned back in his seat with a knowing grin. “Don’t tell me—your parents are back on their ‘start a family’ agenda?”
• “Yup.” I swirled the liquor in my cup. “And this time, they’re serious. No family, no company.”
• “What?” Red nearly spilled his drink. “That’s insane! You’ve been working at that company since college.”
• “Tell me about it.” I sighed and downed my second glass.
• “Well,” Xavi started carefully, “have you talked to Alina about it? You’ve been together for what, two years?”
• I ran a hand over my jaw. “That’s the other problem. She’s not ready. She wants to focus on her career now that she’s getting noticed by big brands. And my parents never liked her to begin with.”
• “Yeah, your mom doesn’t even speak when she’s around,” Dylan said, shaking his head.
• I groaned and tipped my head back. “I’m honestly thinking of just giving up the company.”
• “You can’t do that,” Red said, slamming his drink on the table. “You’ve sacrificed so much. That company should be yours.”
• “Then what do I do?” I looked at all of them.
• Silence.
• Then Dylan leaned forward. “You guys know about surrogates, right?”
• “Yes,” Xavi said slowly. “Women who carry someone else’s baby.”
• “Right,” Dylan said, getting excited now. “They’re common. You pay them, they carry your child.”
• “You’re saying Vaughn should get a surrogate?” Xavi laughed, shaking his head. “You’ve officially lost it.”
• Red frowned. “Plus, his parents don’t like Alina. That won’t fix anything.”
• “That’s the genius part,” Dylan said. “Just marry the surrogate. Have the baby, get the company, then divorce. Alina doesn’t want to get pregnant, right? This works for everyone.”
• “You’re insane,” Red muttered. “But I hate that it makes sense.”
• Xavi looked at me. “What do you think, Vaughn? I know it sounds wild, but… it could work.”
• I stood up, grabbing my wallet.
• “I’m going home.”
• “What?” Dylan looked betrayed. “You’ve barely been here.”
• “Put it on my tab.” I tossed my wallet to Xavi. “Give it back tomorrow.”
• As I walked off, Dylan called out, “Wait! What about the plan?”
• “You’re all insane,” I said over my shoulder.
• The ride home was fast. I was tipsy, but I could still keep the bike steady. Still, my friends’ advice stuck to me.
• A surrogate, huh?
• My lips parted as I muttered, “No way…”
• And then I heard a blaring honk.
• I snapped my head forward.
• Shit.
• ***
• When I woke up, I was in a hospital room with the ugliest fluorescent lights ever. My body ached, my head throbbed, and I had the pleasure of being interrupted by two loud voices.
• “Relax, grumpy. We’ll keep it down,” she said, making me frown.
• “Unbelievable,” I muttered. I opened the curtain once again.
• “It doesn’t take away the fact that the two of you have disturbed my rest,” I said, not wanting to lose.
• The girl was about to bite again, but the guy next to her squeezed her hand.
• “We’re sorry, sir,” he said politely. “We’ll try to be quieter.”
• “That’d be appreciated,” I replied with as much sarcasm as I could squeeze into five words.
• The girl glared. “Don’t apologize to him. He’s the one being a sensitive asshole.”
• My brows shot up. Bold. That was a first. People usually didn’t talk to me like that—especially not on day one.
• “Sis,” Cameron sighed. “Let it go. My doctor’s on the way.”
• She shut the curtain once more, but not before shooting me one last dagger of a glare. I couldn’t help but smirk.
• With that, I texted my friends to come pick me up. However, their voices interrupted me once again.
• I wasn’t trying to eavesdrop, but the curtains in this ward were a joke. One thin sheet and suddenly you’re a fly on the wall in someone else’s tragedy.
• “Eloise and Cameron,” a man’s voice said. “I heard you passed out, huh?”
• The young one, Cameron, I guess, muttered a small ‘yes.’
• “Still feeling better than ever, though,” he said, trying to play it cool.
• “I’m glad,” the doctor smiled. “Where is your mother?”
• “She went home,” Cameron replied. “Eloise is here with me today.”
• Eloise. So that was her name.
• “I see,” the doctor said. “Will it be alright if only your sister accompanies you today?”
• “It’s alright,” she said right away. “I’m also his guardian.”
• She didn’t look much older than him.
• The doctor nodded and pulled out some papers. I could hear them rustle.
• “So, your test results just came in,” he said.
• I could feel the tension in her silence. It made me hold my breath too.
• “And it seems like your blood work has been getting worse.”
• Damn.
• “His platelets are down while his white blood cells are up. With this kind of result, I would suggest that he get chemotherapy as soon as possible.”
• “How much would that cost?” she asked.
• “Around 6,000 dollars per session. Now, we don’t know how many cycles he needs yet, but I would prepare around 50,000 dollars for the complete treatment.”
• “Do I have to start right away?” the boy asked.
• “As soon as possible, Cameron,” the doctor replied.
• “I’ll try to have him start by next week,” she said.
• “What?” Cameron asked, stunned. I didn’t even know these two, but I could tell he knew how impossible that was.
• “I have 6,000 dollars saved up for your first treatment,” she told him.
• “That was supposed to go to your tuition for acting school,” he shot back.
• “And I won’t be going to acting school anytime soon,” she said. Her voice cracked a little. “I don’t even want to be an actress anymore.”
• “Liar,” Cameron said.
• “Where are you going?” she called out, and it seemed she had stood.
• “Out,” he muttered, and just like that, he was gone.
• The curtain was still drawn, but I could tell she wanted to cry. I stayed quiet. What was I supposed to do? Comfort a stranger?
• Just then, a nurse stepped into my room.
• “You’re all cleared now, sir. Fortunately, you only bumped into a tree and incurred minor injuries on your leg,” she said. “Just head to the billing counter and you can get going.”
• “Right,” I mumbled. “Thanks.”
• I limped my way over to the billing counter. That’s when I saw her again.
• She was talking to the clerk. When our eyes met, she gave me a look of annoyance.
• “You again,” she muttered.
• “Scoot over, miss,” I said coolly. “I’m also here to pay for my bill.”
• “Whatever,” she replied, pulling out her phone.
• I turned my attention to the lady behind the counter and gave her my best charming smile. She blushed.
• “Vaughn Ryder,” I told her.
• “Wait a second, sir,” she said, all flustered. “Here you go.”
• 400 dollars. Not bad.
• I reached for my wallet… but nothing. I patted all my pockets again. Still nothing.
• Then it hit me—Xavi. I tossed him my wallet back at the bar.
• “Shit,” I muttered.
• “What’s the matter, sir?” the clerk asked.
• “I don’t have any cash with me.”
• “Do you have a card, sir?”
• Another sigh. “Nope. Left that with my friend too.”
• I reached into my back pocket, grabbed my phone—and of course, the battery was dead now.
• Awesome.
• “Can you wait a second?” I asked.
• I looked around and saw her again—Eloise. She was still standing nearby, phone in hand.
• She caught me staring.
• “What are you looking at?” she asked, instantly on guard.
• I walked over to her.
• “What are you doing?” she said, stepping back.
• “Let me borrow your phone.”
• Her jaw dropped. “Are you insane? I don’t even know you.”
• “Vaughn,” I said. “What about you?”
• “I’m not going to tell you that.”
• “Eloise,” I said. “There—we already know each other.”
• Her eyes narrowed. “How do you know my name?”
• “I heard it from the doctor,” I admitted.
• Her expression changed. “Don’t tell me… you heard everything we were talking about?”
• “We were separated by a thin piece of curtain. What do you think?” I snapped. “Just let me borrow your phone.”
• “And what makes you think I’ll give you my phone after acting like this?”
• I exhaled slowly. “Look. I don’t have any money. My phone’s dead. I can’t contact my friends unless you help me out. Just one call.”
• She hesitated. I could see her thinking about it.
• She sighed. “Fine,” she grumbled, shoving her phone at me. “But make it quick.”
• I smirked as I took the phone. “How can I make it quick when your phone looks like it’s from the 1980s?”
• She scoffed. “Do you want me to take it back?”
• She reached for it, but I held it high above my head. That brought us face to face.
• I noticed the way her breath hitched.
• She was pretty cute.
• “I’m almost done,” I said, pulling back a little, though my heart was suddenly beating faster than expected.
• I punched in Xavi’s number—thank goodness I had it memorized.
• “Come to the hospital,” I said as soon as he picked up. “And bring my wallet.”
• I ended the call and handed the phone back.
• She stared. “Aren’t you going to say thanks?”
• I shrugged. “Just think of it as payment for being loud in the ward earlier. Now we’re even.”
• “What?” she snapped.
• “See you, Eloise.” I gave her a cheeky wave as I turned around.
• Behind me, I heard her mutter under her breath.
• “Asshole.”