Chapter 3

Emeraude woke up to the sun's rays caressing her face, slowly opened her eyes, and quickly shut them due to the intensity of the light. Damn! She had forgotten to close the curtain again. With a sigh, she grabbed her phone and checked the time: it was already nine-thirty, almost ten in the morning.

She got up, heading to the bathroom still feeling sleepy. She took a quick shower and went through her morning hygiene routine. Emeraude stepped out of the bathroom wrapped in a towel and headed to the closet, where she picked out a pair of shorts and a tank top. After putting on her underwear, she chose the selected outfit. With her phone in hand, she headed to the kitchen, deciding to bake some cheese bread and prepare fresh orange juice.

Upon returning to the living room, Emeraude flopped onto the sofa. She was still groggy and aware that she needed to find a new apartment. She planned to stop by Cassian St. Clair's company to collect her payment and then start her search for a new home. As she contemplated this, she ended up falling asleep again.

A sudden jolt woke her, and she glanced at the clock: it was already 1:28 p.m. Emeraude got up quickly and went to the bedroom, selecting a tight pair of jeans and a black tank top in the same style. She applied light makeup to hide the look of just having woken up, slipped into closed leather flats, and grabbed a light pink coat. Her loose hair completed the look. Finishing her preparations, it was 2:10 p.m. in the afternoon when she picked up her bag and left her home, locking the door behind her and heading for the elevator.

As soon as she reached the lobby, she requested a taxi, and they told her it would arrive in about ten minutes. While waiting, she checked her phone until the taxi finally appeared. She entered the vehicle, provided the address, and smiled at the middle-aged driver. The gentleman began to drive, and it didn't take long for him to pull up in front of an imposing company. The building was large, with many floors and a dark glass facade. Emeraude paid the driver and got out, heading towards the company's entrance.

"Good afternoon," she greeted, giving a discreet smile to the elegant young woman behind the reception desk.

"Good afternoon. What can I help you with, ma'am?" the receptionist asked formally.

"Is Mr. St. Clair available?" Emeraude inquired, growing impatient with the questions.

"Mr. Cassian St. Clair or Mr. Thaddeus St. Clair?" the receptionist noted something on the computer.

"Cassian St. Clair," Emeraude replied.

"Your name, please," the receptionist requested.

"Emeraude Kensington," she answered, receiving a visitor badge in return.

"Ms. Kensington, please proceed straight ahead and take the next right, then take the elevator to the second to last floor, where a blonde lady will be waiting for you," the receptionist informed. Emeraude nodded with a slight smile and followed the instructions.

She continued straight until she reached the elevator, pressed the button, and waited for it to arrive. Upon entering, she pressed the button for the second to last floor. The elevator stopped on the desired floor, and Emeraude exited, heading to a desk where a blonde woman awaited her. Everyone in the company seemed well-dressed and extremely polite.

"Good afternoon, how may I assist you?" the blonde woman asked, smiling cordially at Emeraude.

"Good afternoon," Emeraude replied with the same courtesy. "I would like to speak with Cassian St. Clair," she requested.

"Mr. St. Clair hasn't returned from his meeting yet, ma'am," the woman informed, looking at Emeraude.

"Do you know how long he might be?" Emeraude asked, and the woman shook her head. "Thank you," she said, turning back towards the elevator and pressing the button.

"Emeraude?" she heard someone call as the elevator doors opened. "Sorry for the delay; I went out for lunch and ended up running late," said an extremely attractive man in a dark blue suit.

"It's okay, Cassian. I just arrived," Emeraude replied, allowing him to lead her to his office.

"Hannah, cancel all my appointments for this afternoon and let them know I'll be busy," he instructed his secretary, who simply nodded.

They continued to walk towards Cassian's office. He opened the door and let Emeraude enter first, closing the door behind him.

"You can have a seat," Cassian offered, pointing to the chair in front of his desk.

The office was splendid, with a glass wall providing a panoramic view of the city, a bookshelf filled with books, artistically painted pictures adorning the walls, and in one corner, a small sitting area with a coffee table and two black sofas. Cassian settled into the chair behind the imposing wooden desk and took his wallet out of his pocket.

"Emeraude, before I make the payment, I'd like to talk to you," he said seriously, taking a wad of cash from his wallet. "I've been researching about you," he added, and Emeraude widened her eyes in surprise.

"What do you mean?" she asked with a trembling voice.

"I need a child, and I'd like you to conceive it for me," he stated calmly. The shock was so intense that Emeraude almost choked.

"Are you insane?" she exclaimed.

"You're not committed to anyone, and you need money to avoid eviction," he observed. "Would you consider being a surrogate?"

"Absolutely not! This is absurd! Do I look like a prostitute to you?" Emeraude retorted indignantly.

"Of course not, otherwise, I wouldn't be making this proposal," he replied with an eye roll. "Just hear me out."

She glared at him, crossing her arms and waiting.

"I'm listening," she said with a mocking tone.

"We would conceive a child, you would take care of it, with my assistance, of course. I would provide you with an apartment and a car in your name in exchange for you bearing the child," he explained, leaning his elbows on the table.

"Why don't you get a girlfriend, get married, and have a child?" she asked curiously. "You surely wouldn't have trouble finding a woman."

"No! I don't want a woman by my side, just the child," he asserted.

"Sorry, but I can't accept such an absurd proposal," Emeraude stated, standing up.

"The amount I'm offering is quite generous," he argued, also standing up.

"Money is not the issue here; we're talking about a child!" exclaimed Emeraude indignantly.

"How do you plan to pay for your father's treatment this month if you don't even have the rent money?" he asked, making Emeraude look at him in shock.

"How did you..."

"I said I researched about you," he replied, shrugging.

"Open the door," she requested, feeling tears in her eyes.

"Consider the proposal I made and call me if you change your mind," St. Clair said, handing her the money.

She put the money in her purse and walked toward the door. Cassian walked past her, opening it, and she took the first step to leave, but he held her by the waist, turning her to face him.

"I could provide you with a wonderful life," he whispered in her ear, sending shivers down her spine. "Just say yes," he added.

"The answer remains no," she replied in a low voice.

"I know you'll say yes," he asserted, smiling. "See you soon."

Emeraude turned without looking back and headed for the elevator. The secretary gave her a strange look, but she ignored it and got into the elevator, pressing the button and squeezing her eyes shut.

Amid all this mess of finding a new home, she had forgotten about her father. How could she forget something so important? The monthly fee must have already been due, and she only had half the necessary money. That's why her mother called her yesterday. She must have received the call informing her about the late payment and become worried, but she didn't want to discuss it. Her head was spinning, and she needed to sort all of this out and get St. Clair's absurd proposal out of her mind.

As Emeraude left, Cassian headed to his father's office and knocked on the door, entering without waiting for the secretary's permission. He was confident that this place would soon be his. His father was engrossed in some paperwork when he entered.

"Knocking on the door is good practice, St. Clair," his father said, without taking his eyes off the document.

"I've found the young woman," Cassian announced, taking a seat in front of the desk.

"And has she already agreed?" his father asked, pushing the paper aside and steepling his hands on the desk.

"Not yet, but I'm sure she'll agree," Cassian replied, smiling faintly. "You can instruct the lawyer to prepare the documentation now."

"It wasn't difficult, was it, son?" Thaddeus asked, typing something on his computer. "Do you remember the story we'll tell your mother?"

"Yes, it was an accident and all that," Cassian sighed, rolling his eyes. Thaddeus snorted but nodded.

"I've already sent an email to the lawyer. He's typing up the contract right now. Try to talk to her later today and have her sign the contract tomorrow. That way, we'll be secure."

Cassian agreed, stood up, and left the room. After all, there was still much work to be done.

***

St. Clair stopped in front of Emeraude's building, went to the entrance, and asked the doorman for her apartment number without announcing his arrival. The doorman promptly complied. Cassian took the elevator and reached the indicated apartment, ringing the doorbell. Emeraude answered, and he couldn't help but admire her figure. She was wearing an oversized blouse that seemed to be a size bigger than hers, and denim shorts. She wasn't ugly; she was pretty and attractive.

"What are you doing here?" she asked after a moment.

"Can we talk, or do you prefer to discuss the matter here?" Cassian questioned. She observed him before making space for him to pass. He entered and turned to her, watching her close the door.

"I don't want to hear about your proposal if that's what you came to discuss," she said, crossing her arms and looking at him seriously.

"I paid for the clinic where your father is hospitalized," Cassian revealed, and Emeraude looked at him, surprised.

"Why... You shouldn't have done that," she muttered, unsure of how to respond.

"Emeraude, I can help you. Your life will be much better. All you need to do is accept," he stated, locking his eyes with hers and maintaining eye contact. He saw her swallow hard.

"I just need to have a child?" she asked, running her tongue over her lips, showing nervousness.

"Yes, I'll take care of the rest," Cassian confirmed. Emeraude ran her hand through her hair, pushing it back, and closed her eyes, taking a deep breath for a moment before opening them again. He could see the confusion in her gaze, a part of her wanted to accept, while the other resisted.

"I'm not sure; I need to think," she said after a few minutes of silence.

"If you decide to accept, I'll be waiting for you in my office tomorrow at 6:00 p.m., until 6:30 p.m.," Cassian informed her, and she nodded, opening the door.

"I'll consider it," she replied, her voice weary. Cassian nodded and left the apartment, heading for the elevator. "Cassian?" she called out as he was leaving.

"Yes," he replied, waiting for her response.

"Thank you for paying for my father's treatment today," she thanked him, with a weak smile on her tired face.

"Consider it one of the things I can do for you," Cassian said, smirking before stepping into the elevator, which was already on the floor.

Now, all he had to do was wait...