Chapter 7

Apollo drank from a tiny metal flask just before the door opened. Earlier on, Iris made him leave the room; something about Jake feeling cornered by his presence.

Being alone gave him time to sort out his thoughts. And right now, he was more troubled to see the pest leave the building.

Apollo went in with a billion reasons why Jake was not fit for the job.

"He said no." Iris broke the news after listening to his complaints. Apollo instantly shut up, too shocked to admit that it was unbelievable. "It's probably for the best," he said.

"No." Iris pushed herself out of her seat. She approached the balcony, calming her mind with the view. "My mother always said that if one was patient enough, one could dissect an ant and harvest its organs without damaging them."

"This man is a nobody." Apollo pointed out.

"Everybody is nobody, Apollo." Iris checked her wrist for the time. "I asked your men to dig up information about him. Is there something I can use?"

"..."

"Apollo." Iris did not appreciate the stalling.

"Nothing." Apollo lowered his eyes. "He grew up in an orphanage and has been alone since. Before the internship program, he worked three jobs. Now he just does one at night, on weekends."

"Is that all?"

"We also found out that he deposits the majority of what he makes to a special needs home."

"Huh?" Iris' fingers landed on the handrail as she turned. "Did you find out why?" She did not play dirty unless necessary, but there was a sudden ease when Apollo nodded.

*

The following weeks were one of the most confusing times in Jake's life. Larry found it hard to digest his tale about leaving Club 45 by himself- unnoticed. Larry also apologized for the drinking incident, but Jake brushed it off as if no damage was done.

Forgetting a bad night with irresponsible workmates was the easy part. Jake could not dismiss the ominous energy he experienced at work after that night. That omen was a person. A person he could not escape.

Iris' latest playground was the marketing department. She would pass by anytime she got bored, and it made Jake aware of himself. Although he put up a professional front, he lived those working hours with anxiety.

Iris would call on him, pitching her request like a business deal. Of course, Jake would show up to her office or sit in her expensive car- he was not manly enough to fight those highly trained bodyguards who look like they were made out of steel. But he was firm about his decision.

**

Gemma was behind her desk, using her free time to watch videos on the internet. Her boss was in one of her isolation modes, brainstorming. Iris cancelled all appointments and specifically asked not to be disturbed.

Gemma crossed her legs, leaned in her chair and giggled at funny clips. "Kangaroos are hilarious." She stuck one hand into her purse, fishing for the candy bar she snuck into the building. Times like these shot up her love for the job.

When the elevator bell dinged, Gemma sat up. Her phone was left on her desk as she rose, stretching and gearing her neck at the narrow hallway. Then came a petite woman in a grey suit walking sharply as if she had a problem with the floor. Her blunt-cut bangs and long face gave off the vibe that she was trouble. Indeed she was, for Gemma scurries over to block her from entering the boss' office.

"What do you think you're doing?" Charlotte sized her from head to toe.

"I'm sorry Ma'am, Miss Iris is in the middle of an important meeting. You can't go in." Gemma said. Such lies used to work on the other Amery siblings who sought to make her work difficult.

"What, is she taking a dump in my father's fancy toilet?" Charlotte switched her designer bag from one hand to the other, then dropped it like a rock on the Secretary's desk.

'Oh boy.' Gemma pursed her mouth. 'At least I have faith that the boss won't fire me for kicking out her annoying sister.' Iris' orders were company law- Gemma did not wish to break the law.

Iris had one ear plugged with a communication device as she stood in a corner. It was her doctor; reading the new list of fertility drugs on the market. "And the side effects?" Iris pinched her chin, focussing on the building next to hers.

'There are some, but nothing you can't handle.' The specialist assured her.

"Schedule the appointment. There is not much to do today." Iris rubbed the nape of her neck as she moved away from the glass

*Thud!*

Iris did not flinch when Charlotte's forehead collided with the door. She was more concerned about Gemma throwing away her pride to drag her estranged sister by the foot. Charlotte was undeterred, ready to tug the weight on her foot along.

"Gemma, that's enough," said Iris.

"Ma'am I did everything to stop her." The Secretary got off the floor and straightened her clothes.

"I'm not blind. I pay able-bodied men as security, yet you fail to use them."

"..." Gemma could not defend nor rebut that.

"Go back to your desk." Iris took the device out of her ear.

"Is this the kind of people you hire?" Charlotte smoothened out her hair.

"Are you returning to your family?" Iris had other things to worry her head about.

"Not when I've not been given the money due me."

"Feel free to stay then. That husband of yours must be having the time of his life in your absence."

"Not so fast, sister!" Charlotte's shoes hit the ground like knives as she walked to Iris. "Baron and the others will be here in a week. Be prepared to explain why you're hoarding all the profit the company makes."

"Great, then you'll be moving into his house. Thank God, I was feeling bad about wanting to kick you out."

"You have no right to drive me out of my father's house!"

"It used to be your father's house before he put my name on the papers. I decide who stays or not."

"You have no shame! Just wait, Cadell. One of these days, you will lose everything, and I will be there, gloating over your corpse."

"Save your threats for your husband and his numerous mistresses." Iris showed no emotion whatsoever. That could not be said for Charlotte, who run her mouth till one of the guards showed up.

As Charlotte was escorted out, Gemma came through with a call. Another person wished to meet with her boss. It was an intern. Gemma was unsettled about telling Jake he could go to the boss' office. It was unheard of that the President of Amery would engage with unripe underlings like interns. Iris didn't even give face to most of her permanent staff.

Jake went in with confidence, yet he lost half of it when he set eyes on the lady. Iris looked more intimidating in that suit and a fedora hat. She did wear the pants around here.

"I'm listening." Her eyes were dull and unimpressed.

"I got a call from a nurse. Your men went to Bayclove Homes For Special Needs, asking questions about me." Jake shook himself into character. "Are you not going too far with this?"

Iris pulled a drawer and soon dropped the same folder she showed Jake earlier. "Sign the contract. I've made amendments that will interest you. Whoever you're spending money on in that shelter will be well taken care of. I can transfer them to the best facility in the country if that's not satisfactory."

Jake rubbed his face in frustration. He paced back and forth, sorting his words out of courtesy for what Iris represented. "I do not want your money, and I am not interested in becoming a donor to your cause. There are hundreds of men out there who would kill for that offer, try them."

"Those men are not you. They do not share your genes or features." Iris said. Seeing her victim rattled, Iris took the discussion down a dark route. "I have considered you in many ways, Jake. But I am getting sick of you dragging the process. Sign the document, or I will retreat everything I have offered. You will lose the internship and the job, and I will ensure you never work for a company in Southall or anywhere else." She did not miss a beat.

Jake's soul left him at that instant. What returned was a spirit filled with regret and disappointment. He went up to the table and drew the contract closer to read. Iris was quick to hand him a pen- which he took. No lie, what Iris Amery brought on board would cut short most of his problems and set him up for good, but it still didn't feel right.

Jake glanced at Iris intermittently, wondering if she saw his fingers tremble over the paper. He was heartbroken. Again, life was cruelly toying with him- threatening to shove him back into the dirt if he did not change who he was.

"No."

"What?" Iris assumed she had heard wrong.

"I will not sign the contract," Jake made a definite statement about his stance. He decided at the last minute that he wasn't going to be anyone's specimen or puppet. Fuck life.

"Ha! Haha." Iris was truly amazed that in this age, there existed a man who could refuse her so bluntly when she had the power to ruin his life beyond repair.

"You do not understand the generosity of what I'm offering you. It will transform you into a whole new man, Jake."

"Thank you for thinking about me, but I will not be taking that offer." Jake maintained a cool aura, despite the turmoil in his heart. Better to leave with his dignity intact than be labelled an aggressor. The fact that the only reaction drawn on Iris' face was a grin left him more agitated.

"Are you sure about your decision?" Iris poked further as if she had not taunted Jake enough.

That was the last straw. "I do not know how the world works for you, Ma'am. I've never been rich or privileged. What I do know, is that children are blessings I will make out of love and respect for the woman who has my heart, not for material worth." Jake set aside his restrictions and spoke up.

"I am not disputing your morals. I'm only asking for an exception. They will be well taken care of," was Iris' response.

"They?" Jake stressed.

"If your goods are good enough, I will have more." Iris simply shrugged.

"And who is going to carry those goods? Or will you borrow another woman's body to complete that task?" Jake grimaced. He was livid at how one woman could prove to be so manipulative. "You are a horrible person Miss Iris. Don't bother firing me. I was already going to pull out of the internship program. Seek your donor elsewhere." He tossed the pen on the table and turned toward the exit.

"Do you know me, Jake?" Iris pressed her fingers on the office desk, her eyes brushing over the document she worked hard to alter and prepare. "Do you have any idea of the things I've had to overcome on my own? What gives you the right to judge me?" Her subtle tone struck the man to a halt.

"I am not judging you." Jake looked over his shoulders, panting rather slowly.

"When did it become illegal to seek a donor or surrogate? In what way does that make me a bad person?"

"You cannot force people to do something just because you willed it." Jake twirled around to protest.

"It would have been wise if you paid attention to the details of the contract. I am not interested in third parties, Jake." Iris positioned herself in front of her desk. She lifts the hat off her head, resting it somewhere on the table.

It does not end there. Jake was not expecting anything when Iris took off her coat. She almost looked manly in a striped vest. Jake's orbs widened slightly when Iris seamlessly undid the buttons on her vest and proceeded to take off the last layer. He could not move a muscle when suddenly faced with the view of Iris' chest.

"Perhaps I'm not sending the right message." Her hands went behind her back as she unhooked the lace bra and slid them down her shoulders nonchalantly. With a sharp gaze, Iris declared, "No one but me will carry that child."