His Human Surrogate (Monsters Love Curvy Girls #2) - Michele Mills Page 0,45

the one who’s the Billionaire. But both brothers are Billionaires? This is news to me. Although he did give me that luxury vehicle he said was used, but it’s obviously brand new. And there’s the fact that he won the auction and is paying me three times our contracted amount. And he’s paying for this currency pit he bought to be endlessly remodeled and never balks at the addition of custom-order materials. How can he afford that? Yeah, I guess I’m not all that surprised.

“You knew all along that he was a Billionaire? Well,” she sputters, “now I can see why you’re doing this job. Why didn’t you tell me this upfront? Oh my gods, how much is he paying you?”

I shake my head. “I can’t tell you that, it’s confidential.”

“Oh come on, I’m your sister. You can tell me.”

“Sorry, I can’t.”

“Grr.”

I can see her interest in this conversation is waning. Then she seems to remember something else. “Oh, another reason I pinged you…everyone keeps asking about you.”

“Asking about me?” I blink. “Really?” I’d pretty much thought the people I’d known back home had forgotten about me. But then I remember I switched tablets when I arrived here, and I only gave my sister the new code. I didn’t think anyone else would care, which was sad considering I’d grown up there.

“Yeah, it’s really annoying. No one can get ahold of you since you moved so they bug me with questions, questions, questions. Like I know what you’re doing! Please.”

I bite my lip. “I guess I thought I didn’t really have any friends on New Earth?”

“I didn’t think you did either. But, did you start some kind of business while you were here? Something with that junk you were always fixing?”

I smile. “Yes, I did, right before I left.”

“That’s the number one thing people ask about. They want to buy your junk.”

My junk? Hmm. “Can you do be a favor and start telling them that I’m on the shopping channel now with a new business profile? They can easily look me up and contact me there. I’m searchable by my name, Chloe Chang. And I bet they’d love my new merch.”

“You’re on the shopping channel? How did you manage that?” She narrows her eyes. “Is that Hyrrokin paying for your hobby?”

“No,” I say, annoyed that she’d think such a thing. “I had my own start up currency set aside before I arrived here. And my own business plan. I’ve actually been working on this bit by bit for years. I’m just now scaling my side hustle into a real business because it’s taking off. I have more product now that I moved to Tarvos. I started an Intelgram account that’s going viral. I could give you the code if you’d like—”

“No, you know I don’t like that stuff. I still fail to understand why you moved to that demon-planet in the first place. You could be doing all of that here. If you were so fired up to get off planet and see other species, you could’ve just visited Omega 9 again. You vacationed there plenty of times.”

And I can tell my sister still hasn’t gotten over her jealousy about that either. She’s never been on a vacation off planet, and it’s burning her up inside.

She blows out a breath and then I see her soften. She’s eyeing me more carefully than usual. “You look different.”

“I’m six months pregnant.”

“No, not just that… you look…better.”

I lift my chin. “Better?”

“You look…” she squints at me “pretty.”

My jaw drops. “Pretty?”

She looks stunned too, like she can’t believe she said it either. “And you look happy,” she admits.

We’re both quiet for a moment.

“I guess I am happier,” I admit. “I like the weather here. I like being with Riley and her extended family. I’m making new friends. Also, I’m really excited about being able to dive deep into this restoration and setting up my business. It’s what I love, and I enjoy sharing what I do with other beings who are into the same thing.”

“Heh…Xi’s family really likes you.”

“They do?”

“Yeah. Yesterday his grandma wanted to invite you over for dinner. I reminded her you were off planet and she actually looked sad.”

“She did?” I laugh.

“Oh shoot, I’ve got to go. Did I tell you we’re all moving into a bigger house on top of the hill?”

“Oh, really? You are? That’s wonderful.”

“Yes, I’m excited. Okay, I have to go pack. I’ll ping again soon. And, um, I hope you’re doing well with the pregnancy. Call