CHAPTER 29
Somewhere in the downside of LA, Logan and his team were running around trying to organize a surprise party. His office was bubbling with activity. The team, comprising three ladies and two men, went about moving tables and knocking out chairs. They rearranged everywhere in such a little time. Then they went on to decorate the room. The petal flower was arranged in a very big love shape. From the entrance, roses were sparsely sprinkled on the floor. They formed a unique welcome on the red carpet. At the center where the petals were arranged to form love was another inscription: Will you marry me?
The tables were arranged in a semi-circle of four. It was meant to be a private affair. So only a few chairs were brought in, cleaned and set alongside the table. He planned on having only important people attending the event. And, of course, Swiss. Her presence was crucial. She didn't approve of the surrogacy of her daughter. Like him, she found the idea 'unthinkable'. He couldn't even imagine Evan going for such. Somehow though, he feels he pushed her into this. If he hadn't been caught with naked pictures of himself and Mary online, he doubted Evangeline would have resulted in this.
Which was why he needed to do everything in his power to fix this mistake. Her mother would be thrilled to know he had something more, something better for her daughter. He instructed the team to place her chair right beside the seats decorated for himself and Evan. A bottle of champagne was set on each table. Glass cups, cutleries and snacks were placed on the table.
Logan looked around; satisfied with the arrangement, he proceeded to call the people to attend the small show. He called Zoe to help him get Evangeline to the location he had set up for the proposal. But Zoe apologized and bailed out. Her excuse wasn't even legit. Who picks up laundry at 5 pm and stay hours till it's done because she needed the clothes urgently? It was a lie. Zoe didn't want to be involved. But she had to be. He didn't let that stop him. He went on to invite Mrs. Swiss. "Oh, I'm sorry, Logan. I may not be able to get down to LA anytime soon. I have a couple of things going on here, and it calls for caution."
"Okay, ma'am. Another time then."
"Definitely." Mrs. Swiss said, "Again, I'm sorry to cancel. I know I promised to be there. Be sure to invite me another time."
"I will." He replied, his mind already thinking of what to do next. Frustrated, he ended the call and kicked the table. With his backed turned to the team, they looked at each other suspiciously. Logan took his car keys and stepped out. Did it mean he had wasted all these for nothing? He had been planning this occasion for a long while now. As he stepped out, he saw Jason dropping Zoe. He got angry. Zoe had just lied to him about her excuse for not coming. So she had been with Evan? And Jason too. Was she already switching sides? He thought she was one person she could count on to get his woman back to him. Evangeline stepped down to hug her friend briefly. From where he stood, he knew they both had something to whisper about. Both women said something in each other's ears, smiled, and Evan went back into the car. Zoe's car was parked somewhere there. She waved and went to get it. Curiosity made Logan follow the car. They were headed towards Evan's apartment.
******
"So, how did the meeting go?" Evangeline asked, stepping down from the car. Jason had come round to open the door and help her get down. When she got down, he brushed aside some hair that had escaped from the ponytail wrap she had her hair weaved into. Evan smiled her thanks, and they both went in.
Logan watched the two in fascination. They were so comfortable in each other's company. Something had changed between the two. They seemed friendlier. He brought out his phone and called his PI. "Did you say they visited the doctor?" He asked, shocked at what he was being told. "So she's pregnant?" wow! He didn't know she had gone ahead with the surrogacy. He sat down in the car before driving off. But even if Evan was pregnant, it didn't mean he couldn't have her. Could he? At least she wasn't going to be dating the man. It was simply going to be an arranged relationship. The surrogacy was intravenous, not sexually. He still had a chance.
Walking through the large corridor to the apartment, Jason replied. "The meeting went well. How's Zoe too?"
"She's okay. I should introduce you both." Evan said. "What are we having?" She asked, seeing opening a wrap he had with him. It was dinner packed in small plates: fried rice, roasted snail, salad, chicken wings, sauce and beef. He set the table and asked her to sit. "You're bent on fattening me upright."
"You finally got me." He smiled, "Plus, I've not eaten anything since breakfast. I'm famished." he admitted.
"Then let's dig in."
When they were done, he cleared the table and came round to sit with her, "I should head out now. It's getting late."
Evangeline lifted her head slightly to look at him, "You're not joking."
He started at her; a bit confused, "Joke about what exactly?"
Laying her head gently on the pillow he had helped adjusted, she nodded as if to bolster her words, "You are staying here tonight. I have more rooms than I can sleep in." She told him.
"Are you sure that's okay? I had James's book a hotel already."
"Cancel it. I want you to stay." She told him quite frankly. Then getting off the couch, she said, "I'll go check on the room. See if there's a need to change the sheets. I'll be right back."
Later, they settled down to watch a movie before turning in for the night. As they watch the movie, she realized she was very restless. The love couch wasn't comfortable any longer. She wished she could find something to rest on. Jason noticing her discomfort, passed her a pillow. When she smiled appreciatively, he switched the pillow and asked her to lean closer. She did, and he placed the pillow on her laps and gently laid her head on it. No one said anything about their kiss the other night, and it hung like an unspoken phrase in the air. 'Maybe it didn't mean anything to him after all,' was Evan's last thought as she drifted off to sleep.
