CEO and Money

Sodemberg. The girl is a princess. But okay... I'll take that as quite a compliment coming from you. It would be the same as saying she's wonderful. My face remained impassive, and I could have thought of a thing or two to say to her and show her that I knew how to give compliments, but I preferred to keep quiet. Luckily for me, we were interrupted by the very little girl we were talking about, because, running and looking back, with no sense of direction, she ran straight into my legs and could have fallen backwards if I hadn't been quick enough to lean down and catch her.

Her little brown eyes widened as they looked into mine, as if she had just seen a big bad wolf. I could already imagine the kind of things her parents would say to her about me. "Did you hurt yourself?" I asked, holding her little arms, and she was visibly scared to death of me, so much so that she just shook her head in response. I heard Diana giggle, and she picked up the little girl, with the manner of someone who knew what she was doing. Then I was a little lost, watching the two of them, noticing that the little girl was gradually calming down in Diana's arms, until she started to laugh, throwing her head back. My secretary had a way with children, and she seemed to love them. It was mesmerizing and it made my heart ache to think that my son should be alive. He deserved to be treated by someone like that, although I could swear that Taís would never be exactly a loving mother. Pregnancy had been a mistake for her, something that would rob her of her youth and ruin her body – although she had access to all kinds of cosmetic procedures and abused them – so I couldn't imagine a scene like that. But there, in front of me, was a sweet and kind woman, beautiful and completely devoted to a little girl who wasn't even hers. With a playful wink at me, she carried the little girl away, in her arms, probably to return her to her father. I followed Diana with my eyes, watching her every step. When I looked at Flávio, my sales director, I saw him raising his glass to me, with a mischievous look. I knew what was going through his head, but worse was knowing what was going through mine. A million things I shouldn't think about.

I wasn't the kind of girl who went to parties or had fun constantly. Having to take care of a ten-year-old brother, my Friday nights usually consisted of Netflix, while I listened to him scream when he made some mistake on the video game I had bought with great effort last Christmas. João Pedro was a good boy, and I didn't have much to complain about. We got along well, with all the exceptions that are common to two people of such different ages and who have a relationship almost like mother and son. I had to set my limits, but I did it with all the love I could. And he understood. I understood perfectly well my daily struggle to make him a good man. I would have declined the invitation, but it was a company party. I really liked my colleagues, but I never participated in anything, and I knew that this made a difference. I had gotten a good job at a great company, and I could even try to advance there, with a bit of luck, since I didn't have a college degree. No matter how much everyone criticized my boss, the powerful Nicolas Sodemberg, calling him a tyrant, an executioner and a thousand other things, I had nothing against him. He was professional, respectful, competent, hard-working and... well... better looking than I should have noticed. The women in the office were unanimous in this regard. They all had an absurd crush on him, but the guy was an insurmountable wall. Always serious, always quiet, not giving anyone any openings. Not even me, with whom he would talk once in a blue moon – most of the time about work.

I couldn't help but smile thinking about the way he treated the little girl, despite the fact that he was clearly clumsy with children. Such an attitude showed a side of his personality that I hadn't seen yet, and I couldn't deny that, added to everything I knew about him, it made me a little more excited. Okay... the truth was that I had a crush on Nicolas. More than just the heat that other women felt, because he was an incredibly sexy and handsome guy, I felt a pain in his eyes, something very heavy, that would make me want to unravel him. He was mysterious, beyond everything else, and that intrigued me. Throughout the time we worked together, I learned to nurture an admiration for him, even though it was something completely platonic. Nicolas Sodemberg would never be interested in his mere secretary. But that was beside the point. It was time to take off my high heels, take a shower and get under the covers. The next day would be a Saturday, and I could sleep in a little later, if João would allow it. Ten-year-old boys could be very noisy when they wanted to be. I opened the door to the apartment where I lived, barefoot, and turned on the light as soon as I entered. I had hired someone to stay with João for a few hours, because, as much as he insisted that he was a big boy and could take care of himself, I didn't want to let him off the hook. "Kátia?" I called the babysitter, hoping that João would already be asleep by then. She didn't answer the call and I assumed that she might have taken a nap. I wouldn't mind if she slept there, but I knew that she also had a son, even younger than João, and as much as her husband was a great partner, waking up at home and having breakfast with the family was always her priority. Since it was already late, I planned to pay for an Uber so that I could get back safely.

I went to João's room, finding the door closed. I opened it very slowly, not wanting to wake anyone up suddenly, but I found it strange that the room was empty. Not even in the bed, where the child should be, was there anyone. "João?" - I called softly and decided to turn on the light. The moment I did so, I felt my body being grabbed from behind and my mouth covered by a huge hand. The man holding me was strong enough to lift me off the floor – not that I was very tall – and drag me into the living room, throwing me on the couch. He had a gun in his hand, and he wasn't alone. Two other men had positioned themselves near the door, probably so I wouldn't run away. The moment my eyes fell on the scoundrel who had held me, I recognized him. He was Leonardo Vilar, my brother's father. João Pedro wasn't my parents' legitimate son; he had been adopted when he was very young, after his mother, a friend of mine, died of cancer. His father never wanted anything to do with him. He was a half-assed little thug who worked for powerful drug dealers. At first we were afraid of getting involved with that kind of person, but the beautiful little boy that my brother had been won us over. Luckily, we never had any problems, but apparently that peace had ended.

- What are you doing here? Where is my brother? And Katia? - I asked, feeling my voice tremble. I didn't want to and couldn't give in, but the shock got the best of me. - The nanny is fine. A friend of mine took her home, safely. Then he took my son to where he belongs. With me. That was my worst nightmare; that that son of a bitch would take my brother away from me. He had already threatened, but I never thought the moment not goin

dragging me back to where I had been sitting before. "You're not going to take my brother away from me. You don't even want him! Why are you doing this?" I shouted. Leonardo still had his hand on his face, irritated by the retaliation. I knew my slap hadn't caused him much more than a slight sting, but the audacity would be taken into account. "Who do you think you are, bitch? I should teach you a lesson, you know?" As he said that, he stood up and came towards me. He looked me up and down, and I shifted in my chair, but quickly the two men grabbed me, immobilizing me, leaving me terrified.

"I have the key to your house. I can come in whenever I want... think about it and be careful. If you change the locks, the big boy will be the one who pays for it."

There was no point in even asking the bastard if he would have the courage to hurt his own son, because he was the devil himself, he felt no compassion for anyone. "I already asked: what do you want to leave us alone?" I sounded like a coward again. I wanted to defend my brother and protect myself, but I knew I wouldn't be able to get very far, since I was terrified of that man. "Money." I almost laughed at his face. If I had a little more courage, I would have done it. "I have nothing. How can you come and ask me for something like that?" I was indignant. "Not you, but your boss is one of the richest men in the country." "And what does that have to do with anything? I'm just the secretary." A mischievous smile appeared on his face. The son of a bitch had once been handsome, but his face was thinner, sunken, with a sparse, patchy beard, and there were two scars that stood out on his forehead, probably from some fight. "A pretty girl like you can get a lot of things from a guy." - He put his hand on my face, intending to touch it, but I turned him around, trying to get away. - Not only with that little face and that little body, but he must have access to some safe, to checks, to information that could be useful. Nothing that blackmail can't do. - I'm not a prostitute or a thief! - But you love your little brother, don't you? - I clenched my jaw, hating to have to answer, but not being able to deny it. So I nodded, full of anger. - Then you'll have to do what we tell you. I want a hundred thousand. I felt dizzy. He had to be crazy. - I'll never get that amount. - Find your way. You can pay in installments, kitten, but my son will only come back here when I have all the money. I'm screwed, in need. If I don't pay, I'm going to go to hell. I wanted to shout that it wasn't my problem, that he could easily be thrown into a ditch and that society wouldn't miss a thing, but I couldn't be so reckless and put João at risk.

"And don't forget that if you take much longer, we can come back here to collect in other ways." I could see that he was ready to touch my breast, but he was slapped, because I still needed to set some limits. He laughed, amused, and signaled to the henchmen - or his friends, partners, who knows -, finally leaving. I might even feel relieved, if it weren't for the fact that my brother was in the hands of those bandits. I couldn't even try to take into account the detail that João was Leonardo's son, because I couldn't believe that this would be a safety parameter for the boy. When there was money involved, many things could happen. It wasn't just his father who was dangerous, but the people who surrounded him. If he owed someone money, my brother became a target. Anyone could use him, hurt him, or even kill him if his father didn't pay. And all I could think was that my boy's safety depended on me. But I had no idea how I was going to get that money. Not at all.

I wasn't a guy with a big preference for beers, but I had to admit that the craft beer, brewed by Flávio's brother, Francisco, was of the highest quality. The night was the ideal temperature for it, and the sip went down my throat nice and cold, delicious. It seemed like the universe was throwing the innocence of childhood in my face, because while I was talking to my two friends, Francisco's children ran around, making a lovely mess around the considerable house where he lived. My gaze was lost in them, and I could swear that someone would be able to judge my interest in the little ones wrong, if it weren't for two people who knew me well. The little boy was my main target, because he was about six years old, exactly the age my son would be at that point. The girl was about three years old, and he was very protective of her, as if his mission was to take care of her little sister. A hint of a smile appeared on my face, imagining what it would have been like if the woman I married had been a little different. I wasn't judging Taís. Some women simply weren't born to be mothers, and that was their right. My late wife never thought about having an abortion or abandoning her child; she just didn't want that life at such a young age. Marriage, family, the burden of motherhood, even though she had everything within her reach to have all the comfort my money could offer. Well, she liked money... Still, she liked to imagine that there could be a little girl in the future too. A little couple like Francisco's... But maybe I didn't deserve to be a father either. Maybe those children, my son included, shouldn't have had a father like me: controlling, with a touch of possessiveness, bitter. That's exactly why I kept a thought that popped into my head from manifesting itself more strongly. Because the moment I decided,

I would want to go all the way. "What about that stupid look on your face, Nick?" Flávio, always the most clueless, asked. He got a slap on the chest from his brother, who obviously had a little more sense. "Hey, damn it! What's up?" There were a few moments of silence. I remained impassive, but Francisco made some very characteristic expressions, implying that Flávio had done something stupid, and my friend apparently understood. "Oh, mate... sorry." I didn't even realize it. "It's okay," I replied in a deep voice, taking a sip of the beer that suddenly became more bitter than before. "Of course you do. You still miss him, don't you?" Francisco rolled his eyes. "What do you think, idiot. I know you don't have children, but I can't even imagine what I would do if I lost one of them. Yeah, that's exactly what it was. Before I became a father, I also didn't imagine the amount of love it's possible to feel for someone. After Junior was born, every time I looked at him, my protective instincts would kick in, driving me insane just thinking about having him taken away from me. I swore that would never happen, because I could find a way to protect him. But you can't control death. That conversation was getting a little heavy for me, so I took a sip of the rest of my beer and put it on a table, standing up. "I'm tired. Time to go home." My friends protested, Francisco complained to Flávio, and even the wife of the owner of the house came to mourn my departure, while at the same time gathering the two children to say goodbye to me. And they

Affectionate, sweet and beautiful. A little princess. I left the house with my heart in my chest, but trying with all my strength not to show it at all. Even in a car, alone, I didn't want to see my reflection in the rearview mirror and allow it to take me back down those winding roads. I arrived, stopping in front of the huge iron gate of my luxury condominium. The security guards opened it for me when they saw the license plate of my beautiful Jaguar F-Pace SVR, and I went in, heading to my house

– the last one in the condominium and also the largest. I parked, went inside and was not greeted by anyone. I had many employees, and two of them stayed overnight at my house: my housekeeper and my driver. They were mother and son, and I trusted them completely. However, that night I didn't use Carlos' services, because I liked driving. There were also two security guards I hired, who stayed around the house, but they were always different, so much so that I barely knew their names. Their schedule was determined by the company that worked for me. I went straight to my room, took a shower and threw myself on the bed. Maybe it would have been a good idea to try to sleep soon, even though it was early and Saturday, but I insisted on picking up my laptop. My head was too agitated to relax, but I could have done anything. Absolutely anything, but I chose exactly what I shouldn't have done. There was a folder in my laptop with a title: RESEARCH. When I opened it, I came across several articles about "temporary uterus transfer", which was the most pretentious name for the beast. To me it could be called "surrogate pregnancy".

It wasn't something legal in Brazil, unless it was a relative of mine volunteering for the process. Otherwise, I would need authorization from the court, which would probably be denied, considering that I was a healthy man who could try to have a child through conventional means. And I had no relatives. No sister who could help me. With the money I had, it was unlikely that anyone would agree to help a complete stranger, especially since I wasn't exactly friendly, in exchange for a hug and eternal gratitude. I would have to go for something less... correct. That was, of course, if I went through with that idea. I spent a few more hours staring at all that crap, until I got irritated and dropped everything. It was more than obvious that it wouldn't get me anywhere, but I also wouldn't be able to sleep. It wasn't even midnight yet, and I was tossing and turning in bed, restless, as if there were fleas on it and not a very expensive sheet, 100% Egyptian cotton, with a 300 thread count. It was almost ridiculous. Picking up my cell phone, I made the decision I always made when that kind of thing happened: I called the agency that served me at those times, of which I was practically a VIP client. "Good evening, this is Nicolas Sodemberg." "Good evening, sir. The usual?" "Yes. I'll be at the usual place too, in forty minutes." "Perfect. We're very happy to serve you." Getting out of bed, I put on some clothes and grabbed a suitcase, which I always had packed and organized for those occasions. I left the house, taking advantage of the fact that there was no one else wandering around – although my employees were already used to my nocturnal outbursts – and went to the usual motel, hoping that the girl would be ready. I didn't even know their names, but I trusted the company that acted as the intermediary. They were always beautiful and knew my fetishes. They were prepared for this. Someone always accompanied them, to prepare them for me, because I paid a high enough price.

When I arrived, the girl was already tied to the bed, wrists and ankles, with a blindfold on her eyes and she squirmed when she heard me arrive. It wasn't the first time that they had sent me that girl. A redhead, with a slender and toned body, and her lips were always red. She moaned like a kitten and responded very well to everything I did to her. It would be fun. At least for a few hours, I would forget all the shit that was going on around me and I could let it all out. That was exactly what I wanted. CHAPTER FOUR On Monday, I arrived at the office a little later than usual, because there was nothing scheduled for the morning. Normally, I arrived to find Diana's desk empty, although she was extremely punctual. That day, she was already seated, focused on changing something on my schedule on our shared calendar, and she seemed startled when I said good morning to her. When she turned her beautiful blue eyes toward me, I realized that it wasn't just the normal startle of someone who is distracted and hears a voice out of nowhere. The girl looked terrified. "Excuse me. Good morning, sir." There was none of the usual joking or casual tone. Diana was tense. I should have not worried, pretended not to have noticed, simply walked into my office and ignored it. I was just the boss, I didn't know her well, the woman could have any number of problems that would never be my concern. But Diana was always a source of joy to me. She always smiled when I arrived and seemed to tolerate my presence much better, while everyone else just accepted me because they had to. I couldn't close my eyes when I saw her visibly ill. "Did something happen? You don't look very well today." Diana took a deep breath, visibly uncomfortable. I should have known she wouldn't open up to me like that, and I had to respect that. "No. I just didn't wake up feeling very well." It didn't seem true, but I couldn't contradict her. "Do you need to go to the doctor? I can let you go." "It's nothing. Just something I ate." She gave a forced smile. "I'll be fine." Not wanting to insist, I nodded and left for my office. It wouldn't be a good idea to stay there. Considering my temperament, I would end up being too incisive with the girl, and she might feel even more uncomfortable.

My morning was quiet, with just some tasks that I advanced without any difficulty, and I had time to have lunch with Flavio, which was always my company when it was not very widely wrapped. But it was not always possible. It was the price that power was charged, and I needed to accept it. They ... all thought by the tourism team with care and respect. We were with some new projects, but Flávio was not long to realize that I was a little dispersed.

Answering no. I really wanted to make that subject die and simply jump to another, that it was a little more comfortable, but I needed to vent with someone.- I want to be a father - the statement was made with such fierce certainty that it could have scared even me. And it did, in fact. But Flávio, in turn, was completely confused, with a frown,