The CEO's Surrogate Stripper

|| LORENZO'S POV ||

" Mr. King!! Please wait a second!" The reporters screamed, stumbling, pleading to step forward but they failed halfway miserably. My guards surrounded me closely as they guided me in, opening a path for me. The most awaited night was finally here.

" The annual party of King Enterprise!"

Not only the reporters, but the entire Humbsblock ity waited for this grand event to be telecast on television. The King Enterprise has been ruling over the business world for the past three decades. My father, Arnaldo King had built his empire single-handedly and made sure to leave a remarkable footprint in the world of business. Naturally, we were called the number one family in this state. Although the focus should have fallen on Arnaldo King only here, I had all the flashlights and sole attention from the media. Because Lorenzo King had his empire.

After eighteen, I didn't rely on my father's business. Within three years, I had my own business though it wasn't as big as King Enterprise. Still, it had managed to place third among the leading companies of Humbsblock. I was hopeful that in the next few years, I would be able to turn my own company as big as King Enterprise.

Harlo guided me inside, stopping under the dazzling chandelier that we had for the party that night. I spotted Luka in the distance who waved back at me, smiling. He left the crowd behind, marching on my way, and pulled me into a bear hug, " Goodness, Nana was so worried. She thought that you wouldn't come. I have been pampering her for hours."

He grumbled lowly and I chuckled lightly at his response. Nana could be dramatic sometimes. She still refused to believe that she was 90 not 23 anymore. Well, I couldn't argue that much. She still had her beauty and young mind, flourishing every single day perfectly.

I muttered sarcastically, gesturing at a staff member to serve us drinks, " How can I miss the show, Luka?"

We toasted our drinks together as Luka's eyes followed something in the distance. He spoke while whispering, leaning onto me slowly, "Do you think that he will announce it tonight?"

I replied, shrugging off as the warm liquor flowed in my throat, "No idea! Everyone is expecting to hear tonight like always but it never happens."

Luka pulled his brows together in concern, gulping his liquid down in a shot, " I guess, he will say something this year as Leonardo is a married man already. The legacy rules should follow."

The name 'Leonardo' made my jaw clenching hard. One single name was enough to remind me how much I wanted this enterprise. My pain, anger, frustration everything was pulled and pried open in a single shot. My teeth sank deeper into my lips and I swallowed hard, looking away furiously.

" Yep, my brother should be a married man too.", a sudden voice traveled from behind. We both snapped our heads together behind to see Leonardo smirking at us.

There he was! The mysterious devil of our conversation!

That face reminded me of my lost childhood. He looked exactly like a carbon copy of his mother, the woman who destroyed our lives. His smile stretched more once his gaze tracked my hardened jaw, enjoying the wrath building inside me. Leonardo walked down to us, speaking again wearing his big fake smile, " Welcome to the annual party, brother. I thought you wouldn't come. What changed your mind though?"

He sipped from his wine after blurting those words to me. His eyes glistened with a twinkling feeling as if he was ready to face the battle with me. I scoffed through my clenched teeth, " Didn't I tell you to stop calling me ' brother'?"

I didn't fucking like that. His mischievous smile stretched further playfully, stepping forward to challenge my patience, " Why? Aren't we from the same blood or do you think that your mother had fucked someone else to have you?"

That was the end of all my restraints. I approached forward in a rush, ready to blow his brain out but Luka grasped me from back hastily. I growled, struggling to break free from Luka's grip, " Let me go, Luka. I will kill this bastard and end this game."

Luka hushed me down quietly, eyeing around worryingly, " Hush, calm down, buddy. Why don't you understand that this is what he wants? Angering you! Manipulating you with his words so that you lose your temper. You have to understand that. This isn't the right place to fight. If your father sees this, you will be the first to cut it off from his choice list."

I slowed down after Luka's wise reminder. That's why, I loved this friend of mine. He had always been very mature and wise when it came to making any decision. He had always been there to support me. After putting his thoughts inside my mind, I sobered down subconsciously. Indeed, Luka had uttered the undeniable truth. That's what Leonardo wanted. Losing my mind so that I could become a sick bastard in front of this thousand people.

Looking back, I saw Leonardo staring hard at me with blazing hatred in his eyes. He didn't stay longer, turned around, and disappeared into the crowd.

Oops! His plan failed!

***

" Lorenzo!" my nana's voice pulled me back to reality as I was lost thinking about all the possibilities, reigning through my mind. I spotted the 90-year-old young lady in her dark red lipstick. Relief flooded across her eyes after she saw me with her own eyes.

I strode over to her, caging her with my bare arms, and planted a sweet kiss on her cheeks. She beamed into a happy smile and muttered with a relief sigh, " At least, you used some brains this time. Let's go forward. Your father is going to make the announcement."

Nana pushed me forward through the crowd. Others also came near the stage as Mr.King was going to give his speech.

|| LORENZO'S POV ||

My eyes traveled into the crowd, spotting Leonardo with his newly wedded wife. They both looked like a perfect match. One was beauty without a brain and another one, ugly with a criminal mind. They married six months ago at a backyard wedding. Leonardo's wife was the only daughter of his father hence the family business fell under Leonardo's observation.

I knew his mother planned for that woman since his son could not build his own business. It was expected from them and now, they were targeting the King's empire. I wasn't going to let this happen at any cost. It was my right, my legacy.

The host's excited voice pulled my attention back on stage, " Ladies and Gentlemen, Please welcome Mr.Arnaldo King."

The crowd clapped thunderously, welcoming the man who had never paid attention to me. He wore a grey suit today. Even in his early sixties, he walked with that dominating aura. His presence brought a stiff aura to the party as he climbed onto the stage, facing the crowd. His second wife followed him closely, setting a plastic smile on her face. I knew her real face for a long time but she was too good at hiding. I remember the day when I ran to my father to tell him that I saw her, giving money to strangers. He didn't believe me a bit instead I was slapped hard in front of servants. From that day, I believed that I was no longer important in his life.

Nana held onto my arms tightly. I could feel her tense muscles. I knew that she was worried about me. Even though Leonardo was also her grandson logically, she never accepted that family. My mother was like a daughter to her. Her demise left a great impact on her mentally. She wanted me to have all the rights that I deserved. I hated to become the reason behind her stress and did everything to make her happy. Nana was already too old and didn't deserve this mental pressure in her poor health.

My father held the mike in his hands, staring and smiling at the crowd to maintain his perfect man face. His voice bounced against the top walls, pitchy and clear as he spoke through the speaker, " Thank you, thank you for coming everyone. It has been a glorious year for me to see the pinnacle success of our company. I know, you all are anticipating the next successor in my position and I have something to declare about that today. But let me begin with that I am proud of both of my sons. I believe that they can work together to make King a better Enterprise. But I have a lifetime plan for this business. So I wish to confess that my position will be shifted to my son who bears the first junior successor of this family so that I can die in peace. Now, the answer only depends on the future as one of them is still unmarried. No more questions today. Please enjoy!"

" He did on purpose, Nana! He knew that I wouldn't be fucking married ever let alone a child!", I slammed the glass down, breaking it into pieces. The announcement shocked all of us to death. I could guess that it was that witch's plan. She knew that her son wouldn't be chosen by his father ever. Hence, she played this cheap trick to snatch the empire from me. Leonardo was already with his wife and they could try for the baby anytime. But I had none not along with a girlfriend and marriage, love was out of my subject.

Luka and Nana exchanged meaningful glances as they had nothing to console me. They were equally shocked like me. A successor? A grandson? Does this man want to rule for eternity?

Luka came behind me, placing his hand on my shoulder, " Calm down, Lo. We will find a way."

Nana finally spoke, marching through space, " I should have guessed it from the beginning. That bitch has played this trick. She knows that you don't want to get married. How did I give birth to this moron son? He can't even notice her acts. Pity!"

I blurted, my chest falling up down in rage, " I am not going to tolerate this man. I am going to fucking tell this man how his wife—"

Nana stopped, blocking my path with a sullen expression, " That won't work, Lo. You tried it already. You will be misjudged again."

Luka agreed to come to my side, " Nana is right, Lo. I think you should get married fast."

" No way!" I shouted instantly, dragging my feet to the other side of the window. I had lost my faith in love. Love was now a toxic thing for me. There is no such thing called love except wanting and personal needs to me.

The room fell silent and Nana finally suggested, walking behind me to put her hand on my back, " Lo, why don't we try calling Nina once?"

" Never, Nana!", I shouted back, jerking away from my hand. In a splash of moments, my memory drifted back to the bitter memories that I buried long inside my mind. Turning around, I continued speaking, laughing out loud bitterly, " Do you think that she will return because I need someone to marry now? No, Nana! She left me for her precious career. How can you even think that she will bear a child for me?"

Nana looked away, hiding her tears. Only she understood the pain inside me. After building my happiness, it was hard to move on with my life.

The room went silent again and all I could hear was my heavy breaths. Memories were hitting me hard and I no longer wanted to have this conversation. My eyes found Luka who was staring at me pitying. I mumbled, heading for the doorway, " Let's get some fresh air tonight, Luka."