CHAPTER THREE

MANNY

Avery hated Manny on the spot. She made up her mind to keep the fashion house now that it had fallen in her hands on a platter of gold.

After all, her dear cousin might never find someone to marry her.

Manny tried to avoid Avery all through the night till the morning.

She couldn't bear being with someone who was taking something that was hers.

Meanwhile, her mother seemed to be avoiding her. She was either busy designing or staying in her office doing who knows what all day.

Manny had so many questions.

She felt mistreated, how could her mother give something that's rightfully hers to an outsider– although Avery was a long-distance cousin?

As Manny was in her office stuffing her face with food, Avery walked in like she owned the place.

“See Manny this is why no one will ever want you. Look at all these junk food” Avery said, her face contorted with disgust.

“What do you want Avery? Aren't you supposed to be overseeing the models?”

A twain of a frown appeared on Avery's face. She hated that she was the one doing the work when she was also the same person inheriting the fashion house.

At least that was what they both thought.

“Your mum wants to see you in her office right now.” Avery told Manny, rolling her eyes.

Manny thought that it was weird that her mum asked her to come to her office. They hadn't spoken since she retracted her inheritance.

Praying that it was not another marriage discussion, she got up to go.

“And Manny, try to lose some weight or your mum might lay you off completely since you can't seem to find a husband.” Avery said ignorantly as walking out the door.

All Manny thought of was strangling her and stuffing her in a body bag.

“Come in, come in,” Kari said, peering at the papers in front of her as her glasses slid down the bridge of her nose.

Closing the door behind her, Manny was shocked to see papers scattered all around her mother's office.

She was caught off guard when she threw an insane question at her.

“How do you feel about getting a sperm donor?”

A sperm donor? The thought of a stranger's sperm swimming in her and fertilizing her eggs made her body crawl with distaste.

“You want me to put the sperm of some stranger in my body? Mum seriously?”

“Yes, seriously Manny! What's the harm there?” Kari retorted.

“What could possibly go wrong? People are starting to talk.”

“Who cares what people say? It isn't their life. You don't expect me to have a baby for some random guy's mother.”

Manny could see that her mother was trying really hard to be patient with her but you could clearly see the frustration in her eyes.

Not giving her daughter an opportunity to argue any further, Kari brought out a bunch of paper from under her desk.

“I’ve already done some research so you don't carry just anyone's sperm. And you'll also be doing the process at Limi’s specialist hospital and you'll be going there tomorrow for counseling.”

Rolling her eyes, Manny scoffed. Just yesterday her mother didn't want her running the fashion house and now she wants her to have a baby??

Taking a look at the papers laid on the table she discovered that the sperm donors were all business partners.

“Why are all these people sons of the people you work with? They'll probably want to take the baby for themselves and besides I haven't even agreed to this insane plan.”

“Did you really think I'll hook you up with a stranger? You're doing it and that's final. You can't argue your way out of this one dear.”

Without giving her daughter any more room to reply, Kari shoved the papers into Manny's hands.

“Make your choice by the end of the day”

Her mother said firmly signalling that the discussion was over.

Manny left her mum's office feeling numb.

For other ladies, it would have been a perfect opportunity but she couldn't go through with it knowing that the baby might be taken from her one day.

No words could describe exactly how she was feeling at that moment.

As she was still sulking, a deafening shriek came from behind her.

She turned around to see Josie bolting towards her with her hands wide open looking like she was coming in for a hug.

“Manny! Oh, my dear Manny. How I've missed you so.” Josie said pulling in Manny for a tight hug.

Josie has always been a fanatic for historical dramas which made her talk in exaggerated manners.

But that was one thing Manny loved most. She always knew how to make her smile; Josie was always like the sister she never had.

“Why are you back so early? You aren't supposed to be back until next week. What happened?”

As Josie stretched out her hand gleefully, a wide gasp escaped from Manny's mouth as she saw the huge diamond ring on Josie's finger.

“Oh my gosh…Tristan proposed? When? Why didn't you say anything till now?" Manny asked excitedly, squealing aloud.

“It happened while we were in Chicago. I honestly thought it was a normal vacation till one day he got down on one knee” Josie replied trying to contain her joy as she revived the moment in her head.

“I'm so happy for you baby girl. You're finally marrying your dream man." Manny said, almost tearing up.

Now that her best friend is getting married, she has no other choice than to take up the offer her mother gave.

If Josie marries, then she'll be truly lonely.

“Let's go out for lunch and then you can tell me all about the vacation." And then, they both left hurriedly giggling like little girls.

****

“A sperm donor? How can she allow that?" Josie yelled so loud that she had to be shushed by other customers.

They had taken a long lunch break and Manny already gave her the d******d of all that went down.

“What do you think I should do? I don't want a sperm donor but that's the only way I can get back the fashion house."

“And it would also put an end to all the bad blood between me and my mum." Manny muttered, filling her mouth with fries.

“So what? You'll sacrifice your happiness for some business?”

“Manny, you're my best friend and all I want is your happiness but if you insist on getting a donor, I could follow you to see the doctor tomorrow for support."

Josie comforted her by grabbing her hand tightly.

“Thank you. I better get back to work, I don't trust Avery with the models.”

“You should give her a chance, you know. She might be nice."

“Yeah, I'll think about it." Laughing and taking the last bite of their food, they left the restaurant hastily.

Promising to meet her tomorrow, Josie headed home while Manny rushed back to the office.

As she ran in, she came to a quick halt as she came in contact with her mother staring at her madly.

“Where the hell have you been!? You know very well we have to make everything perfect for tonight's fashion show."

her mother stated furiously looking back at her and demanding an answer.

“Josie is back so we went on a lunch date.” Manny said, eyeing her mum and wondering why she was so cranky.

“Oh, I see. Is she engaged yet? Kari asked expectantly.

But Manny refused to answer because knowing her mother, she knew exactly what was coming next.

Seeing as her daughter wasn't ready to answer her question, clearing her throat, she went on to the next question.

“Anyway, have you chosen anyone yet? I need to inform the sperm donor on time."

Taking in a deep breath, Manny gave her an answer.

"Yes, Mother I've decided.”