"CALL me if there's a problem, Olivia," Aunt Marina told me as I drove her to JFK Airport. 

Today is her flight to Madrid. She wasn't supposed to go back yet, but her secretary called yesterday, informing them there was a problem in her business. 

"I will, Aunt Marina." I gave her a smile. "Take care."

She sighed and looked at me with serious eyes. "You know I don't want to leave you here alone."

"Well, Leandro needs you," I answered. "Don't worry, I can do this alone."

"Update me often, then." She said before giving me a hug. "Thank you so much for doing this, Olivia." 

"Anything for you, Aunt Marina." I gave her another smile as we let go of each other.

She picked up her luggage with her gloved hand. I waved at her and watched her disappear into the departure area.

After leaving the airport, I went back to her apartment. I  still needed to pack the things that I would bring to Duke Harding's penthouse. 

Yesterday, after signing the contract Denise had brought me, I officially became Duke Harding's babymaker. 

It was stated in the contract that I needed to live with Duke until the 'baby' was born.

"Is this all you're going to bring?" Denise asked when she arrived in the apartment three hours later. She was looking at my luggage on the sofa. 

I knew she was my aunt's mole in the Harding empire, but of course, the woman didn't know our entire plan. 

"Yeah." I knew I wouldn't stay long with Duke Harding. Aunt Marina and I had already talked about that. Before she left, we had already planned everything out. 

"Well, I left most of my things in Spain," I answered. "I guess I'll just buy everything else I'd need."

Yesterday, I already went shopping and bought most of the essential things I'll be needing for the succeeding months. That includes self-defense kits like pepper spray and taser. 

I would be living with a man I don't even know. Even though we were bound by a contract, I still needed to be careful. Who knows if that Duke Harding is a psychopath or something. 

"Alright." Denise nodded before we left the apartment. I knew she was curious why I applied to be his boss's babymaker. But she never asked me questions. 

We were welcomed by the chauffeur and a bodyguard as we left my apartment building. They led us to a black SUV. 

Harding Tower 

I read as she stopped in front of a high-end building. I remembered that Alexander Harding's main business was hotel and real estate industry. 

"How long have you been working for the Hardings?" I asked Denise as we entered the elevator. 

"Ten years. I was the secretary of Mr. Alexander before I became Duke's."

"Why did you agree to become Aunt Marina's mole?" This time, I couldn't help but ask her. 

I thought she's not going to answer me, judging by the way she averted my gaze. But she looked at me again and smiled a little. "I know your aunt. She's a good friend of my mother. They're high school friends."

Oh. Aunt Marina and my father were originally from Portland. I wanted to ask her more, but I stopped myself. Her mother's friendship with Aunt Marina was no longer my business. 

We stopped at the top floor of the building. The whole floor was occupied by Duke's penthouse. 

"This is your room." She led me to one of three bedrooms in the unit.

The penthouse was huge. Aside from the three bedrooms and two separate bathrooms, there was also a movie room, jacuzzi, and gym. 

"If you need anything, just call me." Denise handed me her calling card. "I don't know why you're doing this, but I trust Marina."

"Thanks, Denise. You're a big help." I put her card in my jeans pocket. Denise Wang. I was right, she's Asian. 

"What about Mr. Harding?"  I asked her. "What time is he going home?" 

The last time I saw Duke Everett Harding was when I did my final interview in his office.

"He's still in Mexico for a business trip. He'll be home tomorrow." 

"Oh." I shot my brow. If that's the case, then the whole penthouse was mine for the whole day. 

I roamed around the penthouse after Denise left. The place was minimalist. 

The interior was a combination of black and white. Just like his office. There's a black leather couch and a glass center table. There's also fireplace. 

My bedroom was big and spacious. Its interior was a combination of white and beige. There's a queen-sized bed and an empty closet. 

The kitchen was also huge. The cupboards and double-door fridge were stacked with food. My face lit up in delight when I saw a collection of expensive wine in the cabinet.

"This is not as bad as I thought," I said as I prepared my dinner for tonight. "I feel like I'm only on vacation." 

With the bowl of food in my hand, I went to the living room and settled myself on the couch. I wouldn't be shock if this couch costs a million dollar. Everything in this place looked fucking expensive. 

And just like what I've seen in his office, there was also a huge Monet painting hanging on the wall. 

"So he's a fan of Monet, huh," I pursed my lips. "Too bad..." I clicked my tongue and took a forkful of salad in my mouth. "All of this will be taken away from you, Duke Everett Harding."

"Olivia!" I was watching my favorite show on the wide screen TV when my phone rang. It was Camila, my friend. She was half-Filipina, half-Spanish who was based in Madrid. She's a manager at Aunt Marina's company. 

"¡Hola, mi amiga!" I greeted her as I picked up the bottle of wine and my wine glass with me. I went to the balcony where I could see the whole New York skyline. 

"Marina said you're still in New York. Is that true, Olivia?" 

I closed my eyes as I let the cold wind brushed my skin. It was spring here in New York. 

"Yes. I'll stay here for a while, Camila. I feel like I need a vacation."

"How long do you plan to stay there?" 

I played the wine glass in my hand and brought it  near my nose. Domaine de la Romanée smelled really good. 

"Six to seven months, I think."

"That long?" 

"Well… I realized I've been burned out with work." I shrugged. "I never had any long vacation in the past years." I took a sip from my wine. 

Like I said earlier, Aunt Marina had already planned everything out. She already paid a doctor for our plan. I just hoped that everything would turn out in our favor. 

"Well... I have some news for you," she said on the other line. "Sebastián is back. And he's asking for you."

I stilled when I heard that name.  Sebastián. 

That bastard was my first love. We've been together for three years. He was the reason why I almost killed myself. 

"I don't want to hear anything about him, Camila," I said in a cold voice. 

"The next time he asks about me, tell him I already went to hell."

I picked up the wine battle on the glass table and poured wine on my empty glass. This time, I drank it straight. 

"How dare he ask for me again after what he did," I said after Camila said goodbye to me. My grip on the wine glass hardened. I poured another into my glass. Suddenly, the wine tasted bitter in my mouth. 

I didn't know how long I stayed in teh cold. The wine bottle was almost empty when I went back inside the penthouse.

My senses heightened when I heard footsteps coming near me. Damn. Did I forget to lock the door earlier? But this was a high-end building with tight security. 

I almost… slipped the bottle of wine when Duke emerged from the kitchen. 

"Miss Rose?" 

His eyebrows were almost in one line when he saw my look. 

"Are you drunk?" 

Shit! I thought he's in Mexico?