Mysterious CEO's Last Surrogate

"Mum!"

"Dad!"

"Wake up!"

A soft but firm voice kept screaming, matching the knocks vibrating on the door. Loney woke unexpectedly, followed by Danica as the sound grew louder. They didn't have to guess who it was. They slipped into their robe and picked their scattered clothes on the floor, dropping them into a laundry basket before Loney headed to the door.

His eyes glistened with tears as he eagerly unlocked the door. Two small hands wrapped around his legs tightly. "Dad! You are back!"

Loney knelt to meet his form, pulling him into his arms. The last time he held his son was five years ago when he was just a month old. He had grown. It felt good seeing him physically and not through video calls. He had his mother's brunette hair but his father's facial features. Same grey eyes and thin lips.

"I missed you, Lord."

"I missed you too, Dad. Will you leave again? I don't want you to go. All the kids at school have their dads come to drop and pick them. They help them with sports too." The young man rattled. Only if he knew how his innocent words inflamed his father's guilt.

"I'm not leaving again son, I will help you with everything and even more."

"Forgot your mum so soon?" Danica couldn't help being pushed out of the happy moment.

"Mum! Come and see. I have a surprise for Daddy." The little man went to hug his mum, dragging her from the bed.

They followed him, casting lustful glances at each other when he wasn't watching. He led them to the dining room, pulling chairs for them. Loney watched in awe, his eyes glassy with tears as his son ran off to the kitchen and brought out a large cake that made him stumble and almost fall if Loney hadn't reached him in time to help. Then his eyes caught the writing, 'Welcome Home Dad!'

"How did you know I'll be here?"

"Uncle Jones told me. He also said you-"

"I think you should save the rest for later, don't you think?" Loney winked.

The little man, as smart as his dad, understood quite perfectly. "Of course." He made a sign, showing his lips were sealed.

Nonetheless, Danica caught their exchanges. "What are you two hiding?"

"Lord, where did you get this enormous cake?" Loney ignored her question, a smirk appearing in the corner of his lips.

"I made it myself. I've been helping mummy in the kitchen a lot."

Loney could still not believe he actually made that cake. "Lord, are you sure grandma Mabel didn't help you?"

"No, I didn't. Except for the oven, I never did anything else for him," Mabel chipped in from the kitchen before making her way to the dining room. "Welcome home, Master." "Thank you, Mabel. How have you been?"

"Very well, master. We hope to see more of you."

"Well, you will be seeing me every day."

The middle-aged woman looked elated. At long last, Danica would be happy again and the family would be complete. "I will prepare everything we need for church." She left the dining room. "Thank you," Loney yelled after her.

"Wait, you are coming with us?" Danica didnt comprehend him coming with them to church.

"Why not?" His response sounded casual.

He tasted the cake with a fork, ignoring her O shaped mouth. "This is delicious. Are you sure you didn't order this Lord?"

"No. I made it. I had it recorded because I had a feeling you won't believe me." The young man reached for the camera he set in the kitchen.

"I think he might be a chef like his mum." Loney acknowledged, as he intently watched the video. The young man was like a junior chef in the kitchen.

"I'll be right back." Lord ran up the stairs. He returns shortly with a model. Loney's eyes widened. "Where did you get that?"

"I made it." His response was curt and proud. "What do you think Dad?"

"Do you want to be an engineer, astronaut?"

"I don't know yet. The idea only came to mind. I want to build a house in space and I'm still working on the model. It's not finished anyway," he shrugged.

Loney couldn't help by wonder, the complicated gifts their son harnessed.

"Perhaps, he's taking after his dad instead." Danica thought loudly, not understanding the model Loney was keenly admiring with their son.

"Let's hurry up. Uncle Paul said I was going to preach at the children's service and little Martina will be there. I have to impress," the little man lifted his chin and strengthened his pyjamas.

Loney and Danica stared at each other. Their eyes were wide. Martina was Paul and Herty's three-year-old daughter. Lord had found an extraordinary liking to her since she was born. Yes, Paul and Herty got married four years ago. Two years later, Paul went into full-time ministry but he learnt from his father's mistakes. He never neglected his family, always making time for them.

One hour later.

"Loney, that's not the route to church."

"It is mum?" Lord grinned.

Danica was confused. "No, it's not."

"Let's wait and see. Perhaps I developed a new route. Who knows?" Loney shrugged.

Danica scanned on as Loney drove to a huge ultra-modern church building. "This is not the church. I told you. Now we will be running late." She was upset. She hated being late to church.

"It's a surprise. Come and see!" Lord yanked his mother to the auditorium.

Danica's mouth opened in a quake when she entered the multiplex. Everyone she knew at church was there and the music exhumed the atmosphere. She could hear Jones leading the worship session and Daniella was sitting on her wheelchair in front, her eyes glowing with joy and satisfaction as she sang along. Banners and

decorations were showing the

building was new and yet to be dedicated.

From the pulpit, Jones' eyes locked with Loney's. He held the microphone and continued singing, while he matched towards the latter. Just as he finished the last line of the song, he embraced Loney without permission.

Loney frowned, uncomfortable with the gazes around him. He tightened the embrace and whispered. "If you dare mention my name Jones, I swear by this building, I'll kill you."

Jone's lips stretched as he went

back to the podium. Loney lowered

himself beside Danica. It was his

first time being in church but he felt comfortable. Lord had left to the children's service, supervised by Herty. He couldn't wait to see Martina. Paul took over the podium and gave the sermon. When he was done, he took the time to thank the mysterious donor who had blessed the church with this enormous building worth billions. But he also said there was more.

nét

A few meters from the church building was a new home. It stood on a fifty-acre of land. It was a home for the homeless. It was designed with the most expensive and luxurious furniture. Loney thought that no one should be called less privileged because they lost a family. The church should be able to cater for such. The building had the capacity of holding at least five

thousand children at a time.

He might not know much about the things of God but he saw God in everything around him; his wife, his child, Paul, Jones, Herty, Pastor Lawson and even Daniella. If someone like Daniella could change so much, then there was hope for the future. Even for the likes of Ray who was currently serving a jail term of 25 years.

Daniella got married to Jones six months after the incident. It was a big luxurious wedding. They also adopted five orphans. Ricardo, Manuel, Fernando, Josephina and Patricia who loved her unconditionally and yes, she learnt to love unconditionally too. She no longer felt envy for her sister because she understood that everyone's destiny was different.

Loney cancelled the signed bond between him and Jones after two years when he saw the change in Daniella but Jones had no intention of leaving Hubert Engineering anyway. However, when Loney said he was going to beg him, this was the project he talked about. Jones brought the design according to the needs of the homeless and Loney remodelled it and made every fund available.

He returned earlier but stayed away from his family to complete this project. Now that it was done, he could breathe in satisfaction.

At the moment, everyone working full time at the children's home was his responsibility. This was his gift to the church, moved by his experience of having a tough childhood.

When Danica went to see the children's home, she didn't need anyone to tell her. The church building and children's home were donated by Loney. Tears welled up in her eyes, she thought she had lost her voice till after the dedication.

"You did this." It wasn't a question. It was a confirmation. Her voice sounded hoarse from crying happy tears.

"You inspired me." Was Loney's casual response.

"I love you so much," she said with teary eyes as she plastered her lips on his. She didn't care anymore that their marriage was secret. Eyes widened except for those who knew the pair had been married five years ago at the hospital.

Loney was unpredictable. His ways might remain mysterious and no one knows what he might do next but he would always remain to her, the only man, whose presence and appearance, made her heart thump.

They must have met at the wrong time, in the wrong places but love bound them together. It was love from the beginning, and Love in...

THE END.00☐☐☐☐☐☐