**Surprise at the end of the chapter. Happy reading! ** 😊❤️

CHASE

The sound of my footsteps resonated in the dimly lit corridor. The atmosphere was calm and silent. My guards were, as usual standing in their positions, eyes down and shoulders straights as I walked by their sides, Ares behind me.

But as soon as I was going to walk into my room, a roar echoed from the other side of the corridor.

"GET THE FUCK AWAY FROM ME!"

It was Antonio.

Quickly throwing a look towards Ares, whose face was scrunched up in annoyance, we ran towards the direction. Antonio's condition had been very delicate and vulnerable. Totally dependent upon others, he had been a total mess.

None of his men had survived when Benjamin's second in command attacked his mansion in Italy, and those who did, switched sides when that motherfucker showed them how brutally they had treated Antonio. He had lost everything and everyone.

Everyone, except Mark.

"What happened?" I asked darkly, as soon as I saw Antonio's hand wrapped around a nurse's throat and she was getting choked badly.

The nurse's frame stiffened at my voice and Antonio threw her away, as soon as his eyes collided with mine. Sinking down on the floor she coughed vigorously, taking deep breaths and tried to massage her badly bruised throat. She was dressed in one of the most tightest uniform someone can ever wear.

"Thank God you are here Boss. Please get her away from me. She is harassing me!" Antonio said raucously, throwing a disgusting glance at the nurse.

Her uniform was way too slutty.

Sitting on the wheelchair for most of the time can be quite exasperating, especially when you could not even do the simplest task on his own. His body and face was still bruised.

Clicking his tongue in annoyance Ares grumbled out, "Huh! Don't play the victim here. You asked for a change in nurse. Now suffer."

3 weeks ago when Antonio woke up, his first words were, 'Fiona was working for Benjamin.' The way his voice shook, it was evident that betrayal had hit him hard. But his most gruesome loss was his baby. The baby Fiona carried was his, but she declared it as collateral damage.

The baby surely had been aborted by now.

Mark told me, how deeply Antonio loved Fiona and the baby. And now, he loathed even the sight of any girl. Melissa had been trying to take care of him being his nurse. But he always snapped at her, or tried to push her away whenever she was tending to his needs.

4 days ago, Antonio literally pushed Melissa away so hard that she got a cut on her forehead.
Ares being the protective brother, punched Antonio even though he was in a very delicate condition. Ares never tolerated any harm that had touched his loved ones. He had forbid Melissa to work as a nurse for Antonio.

Even Mark was disappointed at Antonio at his behaviour. Though he didn't say it, it was evident how he walked away with Ares and Melissa, leaving Antonio alone in his room.

Melissa was the best nurse here, that's why I assigned her. Cause Antonio deserved the best. But after Melllissa this was the 3rd time, Antonio was demanding a change.

"Boss, I don't need anyone to take care of myself."

Antonio said in a low but deadly tone, throwing a glare at the nurse, who ran away like a flash as soon as he looked at her, with his vicious gaze.

"Dont be stupid. I need you to recover as fast as possible. And for that you need to be taken care of," I ordered him, crossing my arms on my chest.

"Can I get a male-nurse?"

"We don't have that here," Ares taunted him, rubbing his jaw.

"Can-I, can-I get Mel....?"

Ares didn't even let him complete his sentence before he growled out in a menacing tone, his demeanour changed instantly.

"Don't you fucking dare to take her name though this filthy mouth of yours, you motherfucker!"

"You don't get to choose this," Antonio said, his eyes narrowed into slits.

"Yes, I do. She is my sister and I have a right to choose what she would do and what she wouldn't."

I scoffed at his word. He was forgetting who was the supreme ruler here. Who was carrying the crown on his head and who was their ultimate lord.

"You can't control anyone's action here. That's my job," I said, my voice powerful.

Antonio's lips curled up into a smirk and Ares turned to look at me, his eyes silently pleading me not to let Melissa work as Antonio's nurse.

Antonio was my underboss and Ares my second in command. They had enormous power in their hands, but not more than mine.

Yes, I was the King here and they were all my subjects. No matter how much ability they behold, they would have to bow down to me.

Turning my head towards Antonio I glared at him, who lost his smirk and visibly gulped.

"Everyone who are under my wings and work for me deserve respect. And you disrespected her that day. So no, you won't be getting Melissa as your nurse anymore."

Declaring my final verdict I walked away, Ares hot on my heels.

Sitting down on my throne, I ordered Ares and Keven for the reports. Keven didn't have a lot of duties, except taking care of my clubs. So I dismissed him after half an hour.

After almost 2 hours Ares finished giving me the details of every business I owned. Each and every deals they went through in my absence. Every profit we made, and the losses we suffered. Everything was well managed by him and Keven, except a few little mistakes here and there. No major losses.

"The government officials of Malawi called last week. They want to have a meeting with you. It was too hard for them to believe that you genuinely wants to help them."

"Off course. Fix the meeting day after tomorrow. Malawi is a special case. I would love to give it a visit." I smirked.

Malawi was one of the least developed countries of Africa. And also, one of the main spot of human trafficking for sex and labour. Malawi government had completely failed to provide protection to it's citizens and they were buried in huge debt, to ask for help to any one else.

Legally.

That's where I made my master entry. They needed millions for clearing the debt and also protection from human hunters. I could provide both.

"But what profit will it bring us Boss?" Ares asked, breaking the silence of the room.

"Once I clear the debt of Malawi, I would ask them to provide me men, who will be specially trained as soldiers. My soldiers. In this way, they will ne able to protect themselves too from being dragged into human trafficking and I would be able to expand my empire."

"Are you trying to capture Africa Boss?" Ares asked, shock evident on his face.

"No, capture is the wrong word here. Africa is one of the biggest continent Ares. It would take time, but I would bring it under my territory, slowly and surely, with lot of patience and investments. It would take years, but once I succeed, I would become the most powerful."

"Wow. You really know how to play games."

I smirked and gave him a single curt nod to dismiss him. He walked out, closing the door behind him. But soon another knock echoed in the room.

"Come in."

The clicking of heels resonated in the silent room and I looked at the figure of the woman who made her entry.

Ariadne's figure came to a halt in front of my desk, and she bowed her head. Raising her face with a smirk on her lips and a file in her hand, she sat down. Her face, vicious and cunning

"Reports." A single command.

"We have made huge profit in the last month. Here are the details," she said, handling me the account details.

"And what those 14 girls you took under your wings? Are they ready?"

"No, I need some more time for them. All of them are not as strong as I assumed earlier."

"They better be ready by the end of this month," I threatened.

"You won't be disappointed."

For the next half hour, she provided me every detail of the Imperial and it's branches located in different parts of my kingdom. There were at least more than 1000 women who were working for me, everyone specially trained by either Ariadne or a special pair of trainers I had assigned for them.

"The clients from Australia came last week and they want to buy one of our underground strip club."

"Any branch of Imperial is not up for sale. You know that very well Ariadne," I said, my voice gruttal. Those clube were the roots of my business.

"They are ready to offer 5 million." She smirked.

"I don't need it. It can make more than that in 1 month." I said, confidence oozing off my voice.

She scoffed and stood up from the chair, with the file in her hand. Straightening up her shoulders, she gave me a last look and strode out of the room.

Taking out my iphone I checked whether or not I got any message from the spies, I had send to watch over Vincent. He had taken over Germany, soon after the mysterious death of Paul and now it had turned into a very grave matter. Last week Paul's funeral took place, and Vincent was officially handed over the leadership of Germany.

The shrill ringing of my phone broke the thick silence of the room, and as soon as I looked at the caller ID, my face broke into a wicked grin.

"Amara," I acknowledged her.

"Boss, its over." She said, the voice thick and too gruff for a woman.

"Good job." I smirked at her victory, pride dripping off my voice.

"I have made all the arrangements. The legal papers will reach you by tomorrow."

"When are you coming home?"

Home. Yes this mansion was their home. The home to the most loyal and my trust worthy warriors, Amara being one of them.

"On Saturday."

"Good. I have got another mission ready for you."

"Thank you Boss, for believing in me."

"You deserve it."

"Ho....how is he boss?" She asked nervously.

"He has been doing great. I had handed him over the security of a very important person."

She sighed in relief from the other side of the phone. Amara loved her brother more than anything, but she would never admit it.

"Next time you come, I want you to meet him," I ordered her.

"I don't want him to grow weak." Her voice was strong.

"Family doesn't make you weak."

She became mute, and I disconnected the call.

I was just about to walk out of the room, when the door burst open and Ares barged into the room huffing.

"Ares!" I roared out. I warmed him last time about braging in, but he repeated the same mistake again

"Boss, he...he is here. You need to come with me ri....right now," he panted, taking the support of the door

"Who?"

"Andrew."

<<<<†††††††††>>>>

SARAH

Mr. Morgan?

I couldn't make a head or tail of Diana's word. Who was this? And why were all of them trembling? Keven swallowed down anxiously, before straightening his shoulders.

The man narrowed down his eyes and strode towards me. His face grim serious and his jaw was clenched. Dark cold eyes stared back at me keenly, and I staggered back involuntarily in nervousness.

Way too tall and with thick broad shoulders, he looked way younger than I was presuming his age was. There was a dark and dominating aura around him and his face was equally gelid, totally stony.

Stoping in front of me, he glared at me with piercing scrutiny. A chill ran down my spine at his disdainful look, and cold sweat appeared on my forehead.

"Who are you, little girl?" He asked sharply.

"Sar..."

"Mis...Mister Morgan, please sit down." I was just about to give him a reply when Keven stammered, moving all of us away from the couch so that the big intimidating man, that walked in a few minutes ago could have a seat.

But he didn't move. His didn't even look at Keven and kept his memancing gaze fixed at me, raising up his eyebrow a bit.

"Sarah Wilson."

As soon he heard the words I uttered, his hard face turned more harsh, and I swallowed down nervously. Rubbing my sweaty palms on my dress, I tried to take a step back from his piercing scrutiny. He still didn't move his eyes from me.

"Staring is rude uncle."

Pluck!

I involuntarily voiced out my thoughts, and as soon as I did, Diana's and Keven's eyes widen in the shape of tennis balls. Melissa looked as if she was inches away from fainting.

The man in front of me took a few steps towards me, flaring his nostrils. He was standing just a few inches away from me. He was gigantic and heavily built that I had to crane my neck to look at him.

"Aren't you scared of me little girl?" He smirked

His smirk is oddly familiar.

"Wh...why will I be afraid of you? I mean yeah, you lo...look a little scary, but them I am not some weakling who would be sca....scared of you."

"Do you even know who I am?" He asked, his voice gruttal.

"I don't need to. Diana said Mr. Morgan, that means you are some oldie, who is related somehow to this family. Keven and Diana are scared cause they work here. But I don't. So technically you are not my boss." I retorted, with a small sarcastic smile on my lips.

"Then who do you work for?"

"No one."

"Then what are you doing here?"

"You are asking a lot of ques....."

"Sarah, why don't you go with Meli...."

"You are dismissed boy," he sniggered, throwing a glance towards Keven and then raking his eyes all over my face.

Okay, that's it!

"Excuse me! You can't talk to my friends like that," I protested.

"Sarah! It's alright. Please stop talking," Diana gritted, trying to smile. Keven's face had turned pale and Melissa was looking anything but alright.

"Do you have any idea who you are talking to girl?" That man taunted me, clenching his jaw.

"No, I don't. And I don't need to. I won't tolerate any kind of misbehaviour towards my friends or anyone here."

He chuckled humorlessly and shook his head.

"And moreover, Chase doesn't like that too. If you don't behave then he would punish you severely, for disrespecting my friends."

As soon as he heard Chase's name, his face changed from smugged into curiosity.

"We are soooo dead." Diana whispered out to Melissa, which was quite audible to me. Melissa was taking shallow breaths now.

"Chase? How do you know him?" That man suddenly asked.

"Thats not imp....."

"She is Boss' girlfriend," Keven exclaimed out.

What!?

My eyes widened at his words. No we weren't boyfriend girlfriend. We are just..... I don't know.

But he definitely was not my boyfriend. Chase Morgan doesn't do boyfriend thing, neither he was a boyfriend material.

He was intense, dark, dominative and a mysterious man. An alpha male, the cruel, ruthless King of Underworld. Someone whom I would have kept distance from if we had met in past. But now the situation was different.

I had seen his caring, supportive and most gentle side. The warmth and the protective feeling he had provided me when I was drowning deep into the coma had made whatever I feel for him, stronger.

The way my stomach flutters everytime I see him, the way he leave me breathless with his kisses, the way my heart skips a bit whenever he rake his eyes over me, is unexplainable. His every touch is addictive and I will love to drown into an ocean if I get him by my side.

"You are what!?"

"I'm no...."

"She is boss' girlfriend and she is also carrying his baby, Mr. Morgan," Keven cut me off, before I can deny his not-so-true statement about the girlfriend thing.

The man suddenly clapped his hand twice, and without giving me a second glance Melissa, Diana and Keven walked out, not before giving me apologetic looks.

He turned his face towards me and studied me with his dark eyes from head to toe. Swallowing back nervously I gave him a toothy grin, my eyebrows furrowed in a weird way.

"Take a seat," he ordered in a hard voice.

"What?"

"I don't like to repeat girl. So you better do as I say, before you repent disobeying me."

I scurried off and sat down on the couch, keeping a good distance from him. Taking his seat beside mine, he fixed his gaze at me.

Nervousness was gripping my throat and I swallowed down a lump audibly.

"Is it true?" His gruff voice broke the thick silence of the room.

"What is true?"

"That you are carrying Chase's baby?" He was scanning me sceptically.

"Yes."

He exhaled loudly, but it almost resembled a sigh of containment. A small smile gazed his lips for a second, before it vanished.

"When did you two meet? Where and how?" He asked.

"Uhh....."

What was I supposed to say? That I was kidnapped and his son made me his surrogate by threatening me? And now, it was more than just the surrogacy. Something had changed between us, but I didn't know what was that actually.

"We met at a cafe. Precisely 4 months ago."

I am sorry God. Please forgive me for lying.

Honestly, I didn't even know why was I lying. But I didn't want anyone else to know that I was just his surrogate. I still was, cause we had not confronted each other about what was going on between us. I felt something for him. Something very strong, passionate and pure.

But an outsider didn't need to know that.

"And why did you agreed to become his girlfriend?"

"He...um.....he saved me once from a goon. And after that I invited him to my home for coffee, as a token of gratitude and then....."

"Let me assume. Then you too fucked each other, just as a one night stand, without protection and boom! Here you are with his baby in your womb," he exclaimed out, his face scrubbed up in disgust.

"What!? Geez, No! We didn't do that. Eww," I explained out, my eyes widened horrifically.

"Then what did you do?"

"He took me to a couple of dates and then asked me out 2 weeks later. I agreed cause I started feeling towards him. Now we are deeply love each other. And now here I am, at his mansion."

Lies. Lies. Big fat lies.

"And you don't have a problem what he do?" He asked suspiciously.

"I didn't know at the beginning. But when he told about his business, I was already in love with him. And if I have learnt anything from my father it was loyalty, and how to sincerely love and support your partner."

His face broke out into a genuine smile and I gasped out. He looked so charming and young, smiling.

"You should smile often. It suits you."

"I will, now that my grandchild is coming soon." He said, grinning widely.

Grandchild!?

My eyes widened at his words. Grandchild!? He was Chase's father.

Oh.My.God!

I messed up really bad this time. What if he didn't like me?

"I am really sorry for being rude like that. I didn't me to Mr. Morgan. But you really behaved rudely with my friends," I apologized, my voice, hardly audible.

"It's ok dear. There was not feign in your behaviour towards me. Whatever you said or however you acted, it was natural and I like that. Not everybody has the guts to stand and talk with Andrew Morgan without flinching," he replied, patting me head affectionately.

"Thank you Mr.Mor...."

"Call me Andrew sweetheart. After all you are going to be my daughter-in-law soon."

Teras broke out at the back of my eyes at his words. Did he just approve me? And the way he was caressing my head. It was so similar to the way papa used to fondle. I was missing him so much.

A shrill voice suddenly echoed in the silent drawing room.

"Huh! Please for God's sake, can everyone please stop giving so much importance to a fucking surrogate in this estate."

It was none other than Ariadne.

<<~~~~~~~~~~~~∆~~~~~~~~~~~~>>

Hey lovelies 😊

I know, I know 😓😥 I am terribly late, and I am extremely sorry for this late update. 😔😔

Last month I got busy with editing my story for Wattys and last week, the chapter was ready, but got deleted before I could update. 😣😣😫 And it took me a lot of time to rewrite it.

Well, they are still excuses. And I am extremely sorry for this long wait. 😢😟

Hope your enjoyed the chapter, Please Please Please Vote and Comment ❤️ 💕💖 Atleast a single comment, each one of you.

The next chapter would be updated before you can guess.😻

∆∆∆∆∆∆∆

"How can you love a monster like me?" Vikrant's rough voice resonated in the dark room.

"Because I see the inner you. Not the scars that run down your face, not the beast everyone presume you are. Not a monster that the world take you for." Her gentle voice broke his inner dilema and before she could assume what was going on, Vikrant grabbed her shoulders and pinned her to the bed.

"I am nothing but a monster. And tonight you are about to witness the beast."

∆∆∆∆∆∆∆

Excerpt form the new book I am working on. 😁😁 It's is going to be an intense, fiery and vehement love story. Filled with lots of mystery and thrills.

A good news. TMS had been Nominated for THE FICTION AWARDS!! And if you haven't already voted for it, please go and vote for Chase and Sarah. The procedure had been explained in the next chapter.

See you all soon. Love you guys ❤️😘

Take care 😇

Thank You 😉