08

Vanessa’s POV

“Good morning” I greeted her royal highness immediately I was taken to the room where she was.

I woke up this morning with a negative feeling and anytime I feel that way, things never go right. As I was trying to decipher where the feeling could be coming from, I got a call from her royal highness, Richard’s mother, to see her at the Italian restaurant I’ve always dreamed of going to.

As I stepped into the heavenly restaurant, I was welcomed by one of their staff who asked if I had a reservation or an appointment, after confirming the latter, I was taken into the room where she sat in all her glory away from the noise and issues of the world, I guess.

I still don’t know the reason why I’m here but I don’t think it’s about the surrogate matter, it can’t possibly be.

“Good morning” I greeted the second time trying to get her attention from the magazine she was reading and I was ignored, after standing for what seemed like five minutes, she finally looked up from the magazine and gave me a weird look before dropping the magazine on the table beside her.

“Ooh you’re here, you may seat” she finally talked. She can talk! After several minutes of standing here, if only wishes were horses….

“And please bring the hand sanitizer for her; I can’t afford to get germs on my table. It’s only the VVIP that uses this room’ she directed the instruction to the man who had been standing by the door, he bowed and went out of the room to get the hand sanitizer. I know she was referring to me as if I was a pile of walking germs.

“I bet you must be hungry, what can I offer you?” she questioned.

“Nothing, I already had breakfast. Thank you very much” I rejected politely, I can’t afford to get poisoned too.

“If you say so, but how come you look so skinny and dry, I don’t think you feed really well” I was getting irritated by her words already, but since she’s an adult, I think I’ll let this one slide.

“At least I work for the money I use to feed this so-called tiny body of mine” I muttered under my breath and I could swear she heard me because she glared at me after that.

“What do you do for a living?” she asked with the type of attitude that’ll make you think you’re the poorest person in the history of mankind.

“I work for Richard’s company as his secretary” I replied

“No wonder you were able to get my son’s attention. I’ll go straight to the point. I did one research about you and I realized you’re from a lower caste in the Philippines, your father works for a construction factory and your mother sells goods on a very low scale in the market. You ran away from home with your boyfriend and ended up here with nothing after he left you”

she paused a little when the man brought her the hand sanitizer. She told him to take it back since I won’t be needing it and from their conversation,  I think the man is the family’s butler.

“To what I was saying, I called you here to ask you about your worth. Tell me, how much should I give you so you’ll leave my son alone?” What! After she had the goddamm guts to talk about my life like she owned it, now she’s trying to buy me.

“I mean after you deliver that thing inside you. Richard has a bright future ahead of him and he shouldn’t settle for something like you” my boss does get his attitude from someone.

“No one said anything about me having a dead, dark future. I can’t stay here and watch your step all over the little pride I have left. I’ll have to go now; do have a nice day, your highness” I stood up from my seat

“The only reason why you’re still alive is that you’re pregnant with his child, if not Vanessa, You’ll be long dead, so if I were you, I’ll be careful about everything especially with that child” I was shocked to the core that I stood still for minutes.

I managed to drag my feet out of the restaurant and tried everything in my power not to lose my sanity. The emotions were becoming too overwhelming for me and I just couldn’t hold back the tears from falling.

Where do I go from here? Maybe I should just go back home to the Philippines. I cursed Richard under my breath for everything he had done to me.

I can’t go back home, not now, things aren’t going smooth back at home and I just can’t take my own burden and add it to theirs. Even if mom wants me back home, I can’t go back just like that with anything.

If the Amaans get to know that I’m not pregnant, if they get to know that it was all a lie, I’ll be long dead before I can say cheese.

The ringing of my phone brought me out of my thoughts and when I checked it, I realized it was from home

“Sis, it’s me, Rachael”

“Rachael, what’s up, where is mom? Why are you calling me with her phone?”

“mom is in the hospital, sis” What!

“What happened to her?” I stood up from the roadside bench I had condemned myself to as fear started creeping in.

“Mom said I shouldn’t call you, but I have to. Father had been in the hospital for over a month now, the doctors discovered there was a hole in his heart. We were told to look for money so they’ll start the necessary treatment for him and possibly surgery”  No!, this isn’t happening to my father, he deserves far better than this

“Are you there, sis?”

‘I’m here, I can hear you. How much have you been able to gather?”

“Mom is planning on selling the house but the money will still not be enough for the treatment. We don’t know what to do. Father is dying sis. He’s dying’ she cried and dropped the call.

I was transfixed at the same spot for a long time brainstorming for just four letters word H.E.L.P.

After brainstorming for options, I opted for the worst and last one.

Hailing down a cab, I headed for that destination, a place I had refused to go back to, my office.

I ran all the way from the first floor to the boss's office hoping and praying that the offer still stands. Three hundred thousand can go a long way right now, I know what I’m doing is not right, but I’m too desperate to differentiate between right and wrong and also I’m not in my right senses.

Taking only two reasons into consideration: without the pregnancy, I’ll be dead, and without the money, my father will be dead too and pregnancy equals to money.

“Boss….” I ran into the office without knocking and I watch my boss banging a red hair girl on the office desk.

She was moaning out loud and I couldn’t get myself to look away.

I was tongue-tied as I watched a lady climb down from my boss's desk and adjusted her gown while my boss was busy adjusting his trousers. This useless manwhore. If only wishes were horses….

“I’ll see you later Richard, thanks for the treat” she winked at me before walking out of the office. They just had s*x on the office desk, can I unwatch this, please?

My head will not let go of this scene for a long time.

‘How can I help you, Vanessa?’ He queried snapping me out of it.

Taking a long deep breath, I finally said it. ‘I’m ready, I’ll be your surrogate’ The bastard could only do nothing but smirk with surprise evident on his face.