Mr. Grey-Book I

21

Emilia

I stood before the full-length mirror, turning this way and that, scrutinizing my reflection from every angle. I'd been at it for nearly 30 minutes, desperately trying to ensure there were no visible signs of my pregnancy. Today was the day I was meant to see my parents, and I couldn't risk them suspecting anything. They would flip if they knew the truth.

Letting out a light sigh, I smoothed down the front of my loose-fitting blouse for the hundredth time. A knock at the door startled me from my anxious preening.

"Come in," I called out, my voice barely above a mumble.

The door opened, and I turned, expecting to see Nina or maybe Lucas. Instead, I found myself face-to-face with Kim. My breath caught in my chest, a mixture of surprise and unease washing over me. I hadn't seen her since the party and had assumed she'd left the Grey estate.

"You look like you've seen a ghost," Kim remarked, a hint of amusement in her voice as she shut the door behind her.

I shook my head, trying to regain my composure. "I wasn't expecting you," I managed to utter, wincing internally at how obvious that statement was.

Kim's lips curved into a smile that didn't quite reach her eyes. "You know, Emilia, I've been thinking about you a lot lately," she said, stepping closer to me. Her proximity made me want to back away, but I held my ground. "How until that day, I wasn't aware Lucas had a girlfriend and Damien always defending you. Then suddenly, it all made perfect sense."

I swallowed hard, my throat feeling dry. "What are you talking about?" I asked, my voice trembling slightly despite my efforts to keep it steady.

Kim's gaze dropped to my stomach, lingering there for a moment before meeting my eyes again. "You're the surrogate," she stated matter-of-factly.

My heart felt like it might burst out of my chest. There was something about Kim that frightened me, though I couldn't quite put my finger on what it was. "You knew?" I managed to whisper, the words barely audible.

"Yes, I have ears in this house," Kim replied, sauntering over to my bed and perching on the edge. Her casual demeanor was at odds with the bomb she'd just dropped.  "How far along are you?" she asked, her tone conversational, as if we were discussing the weather.

"A month," I whispered, my hand instinctively moving to my still-flat stomach.

Kim's eyes followed the movement. "If it's any consolation, you don't look a day pregnant," she said, her voice taking on an almost kind tone. But I wasn't about to be fooled by this sudden show of nicety.

"What do you want?" I asked bluntly, my patience wearing thin.

To my surprise and growing alarm, Kim stood and walked to the door. She checked the hallway before closing and locking it. As she turned back to face me, I felt my legs growing weak, my mind racing with terrifying scenarios of what she might do to me or my baby.

"What do you want?" I repeated, my voice shaking.

Kim held up her hands in a placating gesture. "Calm down, Emilia. I'm here to help you," she said.

I remained tense, unconvinced by her assurances. Kim sighed, her shoulders dropping slightly.

"You know, I used to be just like you, hopeless and trapped," she began, her voice taking on a wistful quality. "I had a happy life before all this, but like you, I wanted more. I was greedy for it."

She paced the room as she spoke, her eyes distant as if lost in memory. "Then I met Damien. He promised me everything I had ever desired - money, fame, luxury. But it came with a price. I had to agree to marry him. At the time, he needed to prove to his company's highest investors that he was mature and responsible enough to handle their shares."

Kim paused, her gaze focusing on me once more. "I knew Damien wouldn't be capable of love, or even anything close to it. But I accepted anyway. A year after our engagement, I began to feel trapped and suffocated. I was no longer free like I was used to. I wanted out, but Damien wouldn't let me."

Her expression hardened. "That's when I met Danish Rob. He happens to be one of the Grey's archest enemies. He told me everything about the Greys and all their secrets. He promised me a way out, but I had to do something for him in return. All I had to do was get some evidence - anything that would help bring down the Greys once and for all. I accepted, and I've been working undercover for him since then."

As Kim finished her story, I felt like all the air had been sucked out of the room. "You're using Damien?" I breathed out, almost choking on the words. The magnitude of her betrayal was staggering.

She moved closer to me, reaching out to rub my hand in what I assumed was meant to be a comforting gesture. I resisted the urge to pull away.

"Emilia, you know more than anyone how horrible the Greys are, especially Mrs. Grey," Kim said, her eyes boring into mine. "She would ruin you and everything you hold dear if you don't beat her to it first. Join us."

A chill ran down my spine at her words and the intensity of her gaze. She seemed almost manic, like a person teetering on the edge of sanity.

"Danish has promised to protect you and your child," Kim continued, her voice taking on an urgent tone. "But only if you agree to help him bring down the Greys."

At this, I finally found the strength to jerk my hands away from her grasp. "You're crazy," I spat, disgust and anger coursing through me. "I would never stoop to your level." 

Kim didn't seem fazed by my outburst. "He's willing to give you the money," she pressed on. "You could finally be free from the Greys and possibly gain so much more."

She caught my hand again, forcing me to look at her. "What happens here and now is your decision. I'm not going to force you to do anything you don't want to do. But if you don't want to live the rest of your life wondering about your child or what kind of monster he or she might turn out to be, then let us do this for you. Help us get rid of the Greys. Danish and his team already have a perfect plan. Once it goes through, you never have to see the Greys again."

For a fleeting moment, I found myself considering her words. The promise of freedom, of protection for my child, was tempting. But Kim didn't know me well enough to understand that I would never agree to such a barbaric plan against anyone, no matter the potential rewards.

"Emilia, you're a good person," Kim said softly, misinterpreting my silence as hesitation. "But once in a while, we all need a little darkness in us."

She walked over to the table, pulling something from her pocket. "I'll be leaving soon. Here's my card, and I hope to hear from you before I go." She placed the card on the table, turning back to me one last time. "Remember, it's only how we choose to use that darkness that defines us."

With those parting words, Kim unlocked the door and left, closing it quietly behind her. As soon as she was gone, a wave of nausea hit me. My head spun, and I barely made it to the bathroom before emptying the contents of my stomach onto the floor.