If disappointment had a pictorial representation, it would be the plump fair man adorned with a goatee, a goofy grin and a lustful expression standing in front of Gina right now.

She eyed him warily, briefly recalling that she was almost completely nude a few minutes before. Had he been in her room the whole time? The thought had her a few threads away from getting piqued by his boldness.

"You," she began, momentarily forgetting his name as she subconsciously took a step back from the perimeter that contained her and the voyeur. "What are you doing in my room? What do you want?"

His flourescent searchlight comprising twin dark irises did not deflect from her bust region. "Madam say make I ask you if you wan' chop dinner?" For all the words he uttered, he sounded like an artificial intelligence while doing it, clear evidence that desire had taken over his common sense.

"I'm not hungry." Her response was curt, shutting down any follow-up question. She wanted him gone instantly.

"You are very fine. Chai!" He cried in adoration licking his dark lips to moisten them even as his pupils dilated at the obvious desire shimmering in them.

Getting uncomfortable, Gina moved more paces back until the foot of the massive wooden bed halted her progress unexpectedly. She yelped even as she plopped down heavily on the bed. The man was instantly there to help out.

He reached over to help her up, and while she cautiously lifted up her arm, the idiot grabbed her two legs and hoisted them up to his waist level and supported them there. Coherent thoughts left Gina at the brazen action.

"Ese, leave my legs alone right now." Anger began to rise from the pit of her stomach when the hold tightened instead.

"Aunty, I like it very much when you call my name like that." He laughed in a high pitched manner, sounding suspiciously like a maniac. "It is doing tingi lingi to my junior right now."

If the situation wasn't so dire, she would have muttered an 'ewww' and clamped her palms over her eyes. The man was lewd!

She yanked her legs back, -at least attempted to, despite the immobility- and when he wouldn't relent his hold, rage gave her strength to drag her body back ferociously. Not being prepared, the gardener banged his knee against the frame of the bed and went tumbling, landing in a heap on top of her. The sudden action nearly sprained her ankle but the huge weight on top of her was invariably enough problems for the day.

The door opened at that second to admit the scantily dressed scarecrow that was soon turning out to be Gina's nemesis.

"Oh, what do we have here? Already sleeping with the helps, are we Gina? Gabriel would thank me for this." She sing-songed merrily while holding in a strategic pose a few inches in front of her the rectangular-shaped flat metallic object that maintained her social life.

Click! Click!! Click!!!

Bemoaning her situation as a stripper, the rigid evil that got her into this surrogacy mess, the wretched gardener still on top of her presently and the teenage adult laughing foolishly at her predicament a few feet away, Gina bellowed a string of curses in her native language that had the man scrambling away from her in fright and bolting right out of the room as if being pursued by a thousand demons.

Still in her cursing spree, she focused a deadly glare at the unlucky girl who fidgeted and hopped from one leg to another, trying quite furtively to match her glower.

"You don't scare me with those eyes or your language for that matter. I will tell Gabriel to sack you cause you're sleeping around shamelessly. Even the last girl he brought here had the decency to maintain her levels. You are trash, Gina."

"Get out now before I hex you!"

There was no need to hear more. She was out of the room in two seconds flat. Witches in this country were as real as they come and it would be brainless to upset one.

++++++++

Days after had Gina walking on eggshells, trying to be at peace with her new family -situation wise.

After blabbing to Gabriel about the compromising incident involving Gina and Ese, Sisi got unbelievably infuriated when Gabriel brushed off the inconsequential matter. In retaliation, Gina was deliberately denied dinner and breakfast the next day. Gabriel, of course, would not tolerate negligence towards his child and took her out to get stuffed. The heated glare she received as welcome back gift was enough to empty her bowels in the blink of an eye. And the seemingly irrelevant matter was actually a grave one to Gabriel when Gina woke up the next morning to find an elderly man tending to the perfectly manicured lawn. Ese was nowhere to be seen.

Today, while Gabriel had left early for work, Gina decided a stroll round the house was in order. Gabriel didn't give her a full tour of his home and she most likely wasn't getting any help from his employ. A gardener got fired for coming too close to her, although inappropriately, and she didn't want that fate for this one.

She sauntered out of her room, lazily making her way about. She thought about humming but decided against it, not wanting to infuriate her family members yet.

She reached the end of the long hallway that housed five rooms including hers and Gabriels', and made for his room just for exploration sake. The employ had rooms on the ground floor and she assumed Sisi shared a room with her aunt. She couldn't possibly have been given a room upstairs, could she?

Suddenly, she heard moans coming from the last room in that hallway; Gabriel's room, and her curiosity got peaked. She could almost bet she knew who was making those sounds and why.

Tiptoeing, she reached the heavy oak door and paused, taking a breather. She held the metallic knob and turned it slowly and the door gave way without making a sound. Letting out a heavy breath, she slithered into the room before halting.

The room was dimly lit since all the drapes had been shut. The only source of light was filtering in from the glass panelled double doors that led to the balcony overlooking the backyard. Adjusting her scrutinising gaze to the room, she wasn't surprised to find Sisi twerking in red bikinis to a framed picture of Gabriel on the bedside table. If the situation wasn't so pitiable, Gina would have laughed.

"Can you see how well I move my ass? Do you like it when I do it, huh?" She drawled sexily, trying to act like a seductress.

Annoyed with herself for forgetting her phone in her room, as these would have made for good blackmail, she cleared her throat noisily.

Stunned, the girl plummeted to the floor in a heap, her eyes wide open in shock. Her mouth was gaping, partly in shock and mainly because she was panting.

"What are you doing here? You're not supposed to be in this room!" She claimed, scrambling quickly to her feet.

Gina rolled her eyes at the distasteful act of cover up. "Do you like him? Is that why you're making that stupid video?"

Sisi's eyes flew to the bedside table she indicated, her gaze locking directly on the sleek, black object. That was her birthday present from him three months ago. If only he knew she would have preferred something else, someone else, instead of the gadget.

Remembering she was expected to reply, she pulled up a passive look and fibbed. "Of course I like him. He's my boss."

She scoffed at the white lie. "You're lying through your teeth. You said you don't work for him. He told me that you're like a younger sister to him."

She saw the young girl flinch at being sister-zoned before her mask fell in place. "He's a very good friend of mine. I only like him as that."

Gina expelled a breath meant to give her patience in this situation. "If you like him, I can help you get closer to him, so he'll stop seeing you as his little sister." She didn't even know why she was offering her help. They both knew none of them could get the man to fall in love with either of them.

Sisi quickly saw through her lies. "I don't need your help, you manipulative whore. Why are you acting like you want to help me when it's glaring that you want him for yourself? That's why you moved into his house even though you guys are not dating," she retorted, a smug smile playing on her lips for calling her bluff.

Rude, much? Gina glowered at her before deciding she was obviously wasting her time. Luckily, she wasn't the one he'd never consider having anything romantic or sexual with.

"Just so you know, you're wasting your time perfecting your twerking skills. He's never seen you as anything more than his little sister so you better grow out of crushing on him, and start acting like the woman that you are. Maybe, then, he would notice you." The free advice was out there. It was left for the foolish girl to either take it or leave it.

She turned and marched out of the room, icy chocolaty twin daggers followed her movements squarely until she was well out of sight.

Two days later, Gina realised her free advice had been put to good use. Or so she thought.

Earlier that evening, after enjoying a delicious lunch, Gina went up to her room to relax and await Gabriel's return. He made it a routine to spend every night changing sheets with her even though he was always gone by morning. She changed out of her pastel gown to find her wardrobe open. She thought nothing of it, as she went to have her bath, change into her silky nightie and placed a call to her sister who still voiced her displeasure about the situation but urged her to stay strong and always fight. Gina would decide to take her words literally.

That evening at dinner after taking a generous sip of the red alcoholic wine just to indulge, Gina finally caught a glimpse of what she had noticed earlier when dinner was being served. Sisi was dressed to kill.

The girl was clad in a shimmering black and red bust cut all hidden cleverly by her white free flowing gown. Any man with half a sense would know she was out to seduce which was why she had the whole ensemble on her, and Gabriel had more than a half.

"Is that my cloth that you are wearing, you little thief?" She blurted out, meaning to call the girl out in front of her boss but it seemed the boss in question did not share her sentiments.

"Are you okay?" Gabriel quizzed, breaking into her confuzzled mind. She frowned at him. Why were his words sounding slurred? Was he drunk? She didn't take him as a drunkard.

She wanted to nod but her head felt heavy so her eyes went back up to their specimen of study instead.

"Are you okay, Miss Gina? You look very tired," cooed the girl with a charming, mischievous smile that had goosebumps rising on her body. The manipulative girl was up to something!

Gina tried to raise a hand to point at the girl but they felt suspiciously like lead so she didn't bother. Her speech would do for now. She opened her mouth to rant out her complaints, starting from finding the girl in his room, to the break-in into her wardrobe and the poisoned drink just now. She had to clamp her mouth shut when Gabriel quizzed,

"Why are you talking gibberish?"

Her lips felt too heavy to move otherwise they would have dropped open in shock. Was she drunk?

"She's probably very tired and drunk. During lunch, she asked for a whole bottle of Don Perignon so I'm not surprised."

She took only fruit juice at lunch! What was going on here?

The two continued to converse about her but she could barely keep up when sounds started swirling together in static motion around her until consciousness left her completely and everything went blank.

The next morning, Gina stretched and yawned. The sunlight was already filtering into the room illuminating it. Wanting to go back to sleep and fighting the feeling, she rolled to her side and paused. Things went from bright, sunny day to awkward and confusing in two seconds flat.

The sheets wrapped around her body confirmed she was completely naked underneath. Check.

The weight beside her on the bed told her she wasn't alone, and since Gabriel didn't do mornings, another weirdo had found his way into her bed. Check.

Deciding it was best not to panic, she clutched the sheets to her bosom and sat up slowly to catch a glimpse of the mystery man. He was sleeping soundly beside her which gave the advantage of taking in his features. Plump lips, flat nose, low cut hair and an oval face had Gina nearly cursing out loud. He didn't even spare her a glance. How they have possibly ended up together in bed?!

The door opened and her eyes followed the movement as Gabriel walked in dresses in his navy blue suit. He appraised the room, probably seeing more things she had yet to take note of before his scrutinising gaze found the occupants of the bed and rested there.

He ignored her presence and harrumphed loudly, causing her supposed lover to fly up on the bed, nearly heading her in the attempt. His confused eyes swept the room haphazardly before his mouth flew open in shock. Words seemed to desert him at that moment.

"Did you see them? I told you I noticed him sneaking up to her room in the night." Sisi barged into the room to come stand beside Gabriel, her eyes alight with mischief.

"Gabriel?" Gina heard her mouth blurt out, already guessing what was going on in his mind.

He raised a hand to indicate she kept her mouth shut, obviously not wanting to listen to any explanation. The evidence spoke for itself.

"Sir, it's not what it looks like. I swear." The young man cried, still bewildered at the situation this morning found him in.

Gabriel did not need to see more. He opened his mouth.

"Dami, I want you gone from this premises and from my employ by the time I return. I would not require your services as my driver any longer."

Without pause, he turned and marched out the room, his long and powerful strides echoing after his departing frame.

+++++++++

"Gabriel, please reconsider. You can't fire him. This is all my fault. Fire me instead," she cried, trying to not let a young man's fate be on her head. She was framed, they both were and she knew who the culprit was. She just needed undisputable evidence, and for the stubborn man behind the desk to listen to her.

He sighed and turned the page of the document he was perusing through, plainly bent on ignoring her. She must be delirious if she thought for a second she had the right to demand things from him. Didn't she understand she was at his beck and call for the next nine months?

"Get out. I don't need a wailing donkey deafening my eardrums." He dismissed her, turning another page.

Annoyed with the brush off, and mainly because she couldn't get another employ fired just because she had underestimated her opponent, she slammed her hand powerfully on the document, forcing his gaze to snap to hers.

When he held them unblinking, she squirmed and withdrew her hand. "Your desk is very hard. Is it made with iron?"

He glared at her as if she were stupid before spitting out. "Now that you're done raving like a mad bull, you can take your leave. I need peace and quiet when I'm working."

Actually, he needed to forget about what he saw this morning. First, the gardener and now his chauffeur. Was she that beautiful that men flew to her like a moth to a flame? He clamped his eyes shut, willing the image to go away. Of course, who was he kidding? She was gorgeous and she knew the act of seduction like her second nature, not the pathetic attempt Sisi had tried to display after he had put an inebriated Gina to sleep.

Come to think of it, if Gina was too intoxicated, when did she become a willing participant in the coupling? Something did not add up.

"Gabriel, Dami is innocent despite what you think. I just don't know how to prove it to you yet." She insisted, cutting into his thoughts.

"I think he took advantage of you and should be locked up for sexual assault."

Gina's lips dropped open in perplexity. This hearing was obviously not going according to plan. Since he was working from home today, she believed the odds were in her favour when she found him in his study doing some paperwork. Despite his countenance earlier, he had given her an open session to plead her case. She soon realised she was doing a horrible job when the matter took a nose dive into something else.

"That is not true, O. There was no sexual assault here." Since she slept with men for a living, she'd know if she was sexually assaulted, right?

"Then explain to me why he was in your bed this morning but you didn't remember how he got there?"

She fumed at his observation, seeking for a way to turn the tides in her favour. "Sleepwalking?"

He smirked at the absurdity. "Nice try, but, no. Sisi told me she'd seen him creep into the house late at night several times. And they say one day is surely for the owner."

She sighed knowing she couldn't prove against that scenario if it was true and Gabriel didn't look like he'd budge on his decision so she relented, but not on what she'd do that vulture once she left his study.

"Sisi is a conniving manipulator and I wish you can see her for who she really is behind that good girl mask. I wasn't drunk last night. She poisoned my drink!"

Gabriel didn't reply, barely taking her word at face value.

Seeing no headway again, she sighed and turned to leave. She might as well spend her time looking for how to punish that girl for pulling this kind of wicked stunt. She might even start right now.

"Truthfully, I don't care who you sleep around with," Gabriel said to her departing frame in a passive voice that betrayed nothing. It was then she realised she was yet to figure out how he felt about the scandal.

"I understand that it's your chosen career path but I'd plead that you restrain your indulgences till after you have given birth. I don't want you passing unnecessary infections to either me or my child during your stay here, Gina."

Suddenly, she knew his true stance on the issue at hand.

Indifference.

~~~~~~~~~~~

Damn! This Sisi girl is turning out to be a sly fox. I hope she can be tamed, and who better to do that but Gina. Go, girl!

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