MR. MORENO'S SURROGATE ✔️

25 - Leilah

There's no way I'm staying here in this house, especially not with Elijah. I haven't seen Cayson anywhere for the past week. Elijah went on some business trip in Bali six days ago and didn't really tell me what for. I just thank God that I haven't had to deal with him for this long. For some reason, he told me that I could find another room farther from his, but it's probably an attempt to get me farther away from him so he won't have to deal with crossing my path, and I couldn't have agreed faster. I chose a bedroom at the very end of the hall and asked Mary, the maid, to help me move my things.

The room is beautifully decorated, almost as if it was meant for me. It's painted a grey looking color that's not too dark or light, with a huge queen sized bed at the wall, a beautiful white canopy on top of it with decorative vines intertwined in the fabric of it. Everything else is either a black or grey color - the dresser, the computer desk, the nightstand sitting next to the bed, along with the doors. The closet is huge and it's literally like another room adjoined to mine. It's spacious enough for all the clothes and shoes I have in there, along with the dresses I've worn to the galas we've gone to. Then at the back sits my wedding dress. It's been washed of the blood that was left on it, but it still brings back unwanted memories.

The bathroom is a beautiful black color with white lines to separate the tiles in the room. There's a small white vase with white roses sitting on the sink counter, separating two sinks and in front of them is a huge mirror. There's a white little rug in front of the sink, and next to all that is a big bathtub. On the other side of the bathroom is a walk-in shower, just like my old room.

It might be unnecessary to pack all my things just to move it into another room on the same hall, but if it means getting as far as I possibly can from Elijah, I'll take it. Suddenly, my phone starts to vibrate on my nightstand as I lie in my bed. I pick up my phone and I immediately recognize the number on my screen as Tyler. He's been trying to call every few days since Elijah told me the news that would ruined my life, but I haven't answered. I can't afford losing my best friend just because Elijah wants to be an asshole. But what the hell, he's not here right now, so I pick up the phone.

"Tyler?" I answer, holding the phone to my ear.

"Oh god, finally. Why haven't you been answering my calls? I've been worried sick." he says, scolding me.

"I know, I'm sorry about that. Elijah's been... Elijah. I haven't been able to really do anything 'cause he's trapped me here."

"That still doesn't explain why you haven't answered your phone to talk to me. Are you.. are you avoiding me?" he asks, sounding almost disappointed.

"No, Tyler, I'm not, it's.. it's a long story and it's one that I can't afford to tell, but I promise things'll get better, I know it will," I lie. I can't give Tyler any explanations as to why I've been acting the way I have. All I can really do is hope that one day Elijah can take his foot out of his ass and let me live a normal fucking life. "Anyway," I redirect. "How have you been?"

"Worried. About you. When can I see you?" Tyler asks.

I'm probably gonna regret this. If I get caught, that is. I sit up in bed, and I reply with a smile on my face. "Today, actually. Could you come and pick me up? I sent you my location."

"What? Are you serious? Yeah-yeah, of course, I'm coming now," he says. I can hear his keys jingle as he moves around.

"Alright, I'll see you in a bit."