"Ms. Reyez, it’s good you made it," Xander was the one to speak. He stood up from his seat to shake Anastasia’s hand which sheplied to do with a soft yet tight smile on her lips.
Samantha only nodded at her in acknowledgment, and her face was as frozen as a stone with no single expression on them.
During theirst meeting, she’d tried to stop Xander from making thest decision, which could only mean she wasn’tpletely convinced enough.
The air was chilly and tense as if they’d just finished a heated argument. The proof Anastasia needed was written all over Bruce’s face. He was all red from rage. He gave her an acknowledging smile to mask it, but it was still there.
"Well, now that you’re here, let me bring out the documents so you can read through them and sign," said Xander.
He was eager to sign things and immediately start things. Xavier was giving him a hard time, so it was understandable he wanted more security over his business.
Anastasia took a seat offered to her.
"Unfortunately, one of my hideouts was infiltrated by X. That bastard," Xander gritted his teeth.
Anastasia had no idea why he was talking about that now. However, she yed along.
"Really? I had a business associate who informed him he escaped as soon as he could before he was captured. Are you the owner of that trade?" She asked.
"Of course I am. X keeps closing in, destroying everything I have. Luckily, he can never get into Xattlewood, and even if he does, he will never be able to find this baby factory. Sucks for him," he replied.
Anastasia admired how confident he was spouting words like that. Now her mind went back to Tracie who tried to convince her to coborate with Xavier. He wants to end things also, get rid of Xander, just like her.
’That wouldn’t be a bad idea at all,’ she thought to herself.
Anastasia didn’t reply and simply signed the document before handing it back to Xander.
"This is the start of our coboration together. I hope we have a smooth ride up ahead," she said.
Julian watched everything with a stoic expression, but if one looked closer, one would see the faint grin lingering on the corners of his lips.
"Now that everything is finalized, let us show you around the factory, and discuss when we would make our trip to Regalith to expand the business," said Xander.
"Of course," Anastasia replied. She darted her eyes to Samantha who still hadn’t uttered a word yet. Probably because Bruce was around. The daughter and father didn’t share a good rtionship after all.
They left the office to head down the stairs where Anastasia caught sight of the figure she’d seen earlier when she was about to climb the stairs.
It was Eve, the woman who had been with her when Angelina and Elizabeth were killed.
She had a baby bump, meaning she was already carrying the child of a client.
Anastasia tore her gaze away from her and continued to follow Xander and Samantha for the tour.
Bruce had already excused himself and left the factory, making Anastasia wonder where he’d gone.
"This is the area we have the girls checked up on throughout their whole pregnancy semester," Samantha exined when they reached the long hall filled with so many doors.
There were faint noises of women screaming that frightened Anastasia.
"What was that?"
"That’s the scream of the women that are putting the bed," Samantha exined.
They went on to check the chambers where the expecting mothers were getting checked up.
"I’ve been meaning to ask," Anastasia started, and the trio—Xander, Samantha, and Julian—turned to look at her. "Do the girls get paid after they’ve delivered the babies of the clients?"
Her question waspletely unexpected as Xander and Samantha questioned an awkward look with each other before turning to stare at her as if she’d lost her mind.
"Why would we do that? They’re sex ves that were promoted to be surrogate mothers for our clients?" Samantha was the one to ask.
Anastasia slightly shrugged. "I was just thinking, wouldn’t it be better if they’re getting paid so they can have a little something for themselves?"