CHAPTER SIX
“What did you tell him? When he asked if you were a virgin, what did you say?” Mara asked, squatting in the floor beside me. They were picking beans for their dinner, Mara had plans to sleepover because Darren had practice and he was going to be spending the night at a friend’s place.Honestly Elizabeth knew that he was merely trying to get away from her for a while and their mother, seeing as she had sprung taking care of their mother for the duration of time she would be gone. She could hardly blame him for wanting to be free with the time he had left.“I panicked and I said no, now I regret it because what if he was asking because the procedure involves something going through my vagina. What am I going to do then?” Elizabeth wailed.“You have to tell him the truth, just let him know that you panicked and you are indeed a twenty four years old virgin, let’s see how well he would take you lying already. I am sure he would say ‘oh wow, that’s great. You are perfect for the job’”“Are you being sarcastic right now, Mara?” Elizabeth asked pushing her playfully.“There is no need for you to go back and tell him you are a virgin, just go with the flow of things. I highly doubt they are going to stick things in your vagina or you could ask your boss’ son, the one who is always around you smiling and laughing at everything that proceeds from your mouth to deflower you, I am sure he would be more than happy to.”“You are disgusting” Elizabeth said making a face while Mara laughed“Still, I don’t think I should even agree to his demands of using my egg. I mean, look at it, I would have an emotional attachment to the child. It would be my child too, isn’t that just to personal?”“Are you crazy? You are backing out on having a child for the top billionaire of this country. Did you hit your head somewhere, my friend?”“I’m not kidding, Mara. I don’t want to have to give out my egg for his procedure. Why does he so desperately want a child anyways.”“Liz, you literally lose the egg every time you have your period every month, I don’t know why you are finding it difficult to give out one now and remember your mother, she is the reason you are doing this. It is also not your business why he wants a child, just that you will be the woman to bear it for him.”“I don’t know Mara, I’m having a real weird feeling about this whole thing, I should tell him that I am virgin incase that is going to ruin the whole process.” I sighed“If you say so, now pick these things. My fingers hurt from filing paper all day at the office, I need a new job and you, my friend are my gateway.”“If I did not know better, I would call you a leech.” Elizabeth said laughing at Mara who stuck her tongue out and proceeded to lay on the floor.She was having bad feelings about being a surrogate but it was probably because that was new uncharted territory to her and she was going to have to give out her egg but as Mara had said, what was the big deal?…Jason was having the most irritating time of his life. He wanted to be anywhere but in this meeting with this old couple who had no idea what they wanted to do with their money.“Mr Badggerman, I believe your wife is right. You both should have a joint share in our company, seeing that all of your properties are in both your names.”“I don’t want that! I want separate shares from my wife’s.” The man yelled.Jason was sure he was probably deaf in both ears because he always yelled.“You cannot do that, we agreed to always have our money and properties together, this would not be an exception.” The woman responded, yelling too.Maybe she was also deaf, Jason thoughtHe tuned them out, his mind straying till it finally settled on Elizabeth, his surrogate… soon to be if she accepted his offer. She was a weird one, many girls would have jumped at the opportunity to bear a child for him at any time of the day but she… it was like she did not care about how important or rich he was, now that was intriguing and very weird.After much argument, the woman agreed to a separate account only if her shares were bigger than his.Jason escorted them out of his office and slammed the door but not before letting his secretary know that he won’t be accepting any more clients for the day, he could already feel a migraine coming on.His phone rang just as he was about to sit down“Jason Rodrigues speaking”“You would not believe what little information I just found out the girl you asked me to research.”Jason’s ears peaked up at the mention of Elizabeth’s name, he had employed a private detective to conduct a background check on her to be sure of what he was getting into.“Spill”“She has a sick mother, did she tell you that? Her mother has been diagnosed with cancer and she needs a lot of money to treat her. She is in dire need of the money but so far she is a very quiet and intelligent Individual, no scandal whatsoever.”“Thank you” Jason muttered, hanging up the phoneHer mother was sick, he thought to himself.He had been wondering why a person like her would want to be a surrogate but now he knew and suddenly an idea popped in his head. He was going to take care of her mother’s surgery and also pay her double for her egg, if she needed the money as badly as the detective had said then she wouldn’t reject such a generous offer from him.“Interesting” Jason growled.CHAPTER SEVEN“What decision have you made?” Jason asked over the phone.Elizabeth took a deep breath, she so desperately wanted to say yes, if not for anything but for the sake of her mother but she could not bring the words of her mouth.“Are you there?”“Yes, I’m sorry. I was just… forget it.”“Your answer, Elizabeth” Jason said, reminding her.“I really want to be a surrogate because of the money involved but I have thought about this so much and I don’t feel comfortable giving my egg out for your deed and I’m sorry if I have wasted your time but my answer is No.”“I see. Even if I tell you that you can keep the money and I would personally make sure your mother gets the best treatment, any doctor in the world has to offer? Would your answer still be No?”“How do you know about my mother?”“I have my sources, Elizabeth and I know she is the reason you are even considering doing the surrogacy. I understand and would like to take care of her treatment, you just have to say yes to bea
CHAPTER EIGHT“It says here that you want me to move in with you immediately the contract is signed?” Elizabeth asked in disbelief.“Yes” he answered“But I cannot do that, I need to say goodbye to my brother and my mother. I have a life I need to put on pause for the next year.”“I am well aware of your life, Elizabeth” he drawled on the word life as though she could ever call what she had a life.“Then you should understand why I cannot agree to the clause of this statement. I need a week after this to prepare myself.”“Two days”“Four days” Elizabeth argued.“Two is all I can give you, starting Monday, I want you to be ready. The doctors who will treat and check up on you from time to time will be coming over to this house. I am a very busy man and so I can only squeeze out two days.”“Fine, two days.” Elizabeth said, her face sullen.What was she expected to do in two days?“My driver will drop you after you finish eyeing that document and signing it?” Jason said breaking her inten
CHAPTER NINE“You would not believe who I just encountered.” Elizabeth was giddy with excitement. She had always had a crush on Lucien Rodrigues and this was ever since he came for a family donation to her high school some years back. He had changed a lot, because she did not recognize him until he said his name. He had offered to drive her home seeing as her clothes were ruined but she politely declined and then he had asked for her number.It was funny because seeing your crush after a long while and realizing you still have a huge crush on them tends to mess with the head. She had declined giving him her number and watched him drive away, slapping herself mentally.“What happened to your clothes, did you get in an accident?” Mara asked concerned.“It is nothing like that Mar, a driver splashed dirt of me.”“Assholes, they do not look where they are going just because they drive cars.” Mara fumed.“No, let’s make an exception to this one. You remember Lucien Rodrigues right? Younger
CHAPTER TEN“You are back.” Elizabeth said to her brother. He had been gone for two days since he claimed he was going for practice and although she had tried calling him, his number never went through. He nodded once and walked straight to him room and although it was at the tip of Elizabeth’s tongue to call him back and ask him where he had been, she didn’t.She and Darren were exactly five years apart in age and she had always been his big sister, she had always been there to defend him against bullies until he could properly take care of himself and then their father had died, leaving their mother to cater for them and now she was sick. Elizabeth could understand why he just wanted to do away with this life and his family forever.She contemplated going to talk to him about the whole surrogacy thing but decided against it,He wouldn’t understand, she thought sadly.“Aren’t you going to work?” Darren asked some hours later when his sister had not made any move to go out.“I have to
CHAPTER ELEVENElizabeth woke up with butterflies flapping incessantly in the pits of her stomach. Today was the day she was supposed to move in with Jason, she hadn’t even packed. Mara was supposed to help her with packing after her working hours and she was supposed to inform her boss at the convenience store and officially resign. Officially because she had not gone there in some days and she was sure her space had already been filled but it was important she cut all ties to avoid suspicions from them and to also give her a good credit score when she decides to apply for a job again after this whole thing was over, although she doubted she would have to work in a convenience store again after getting paid by Jason.Elizabeth walked around quietly, she did not want to wake her brother who had stayed up all night and she most definitely did not want to disturb her mother’s sleep. Her sickness was getting worse and she was always in pains anytime she wasn’t sleeping. Elizabeth had plan
CHAPTER TWELVE“Thank you for dropping me.” Elizabeth said as she got down from Jason’s car. They had sat in awkward silence, the air sexually charged between them after her brazen attempt at watching him.“Do you want to come in?” She asked, mentally hitting herself on the head for even suggesting such a thing, why would he want to come into her house.“I would love to” Jason responded, his lips curling up in a smile.He and Elizabeth walked over to the door, she took a deep breath and knocked, knowing that the sight of Jason was going to knock the socks off Mara.“Great, you are back.. I am going to kick Darren’s…” Mara’s voice trailed off at the sight of Jason.“Mara, meet Jason Rodrigues and Jason, this is my best friend Mara.” Elizabeth said quickly.“Hello Mara, it is nice to meet you.” Jason said stretching out a hand“And you” Mara responded, opening the door wider so they could both come in and all the while maintaining eye contact with Elizabeth as if to ask her what the fuck
CHAPTER THIRTEEN“Are you okay?” Jason asked Elizabeth who had her eyes squeezed so shut he was sure she would get an headache.“I’m fine, I am really motion sick and the fact that I am going to some strange place is not helping matters.” She said, her eyes still shut.“You can hold my hand if that would make you feel better.” He offered.Hold his hand, how would that make her feel better? Elizabeth thought to herself.“No, thank you… just keep your hands on the steering and eyes on the road please.”Jason suppressed laughter at her scrunched up face and his eyes moved involuntarily to her lips; full lips so succulent and as if on cue, her tongue snaked out to lick them. He suppressed a groan this time, wondering if she knew how being in close proximity with her was making his body react, he was sure she would bolt like a deer caught in the headlights she even had an inkling of what he was thinking of.“You should at least leave your eyes open, it is weird seeing your eyes closed.” He
CHAPTER FOURTEENIt was weird sleeping in a strange bed and Elizabeth could barely close her eyes. It was so quiet and serene, she was scared to sleep. After her encounter with Lucien, who is Jason’s brother and who also she had a mighty crush on, they had eaten with Lucien staring at her throughout and Jason watching the both of them. She had been so uncomfortable and self aware that she could barely get the food down her throat and into her hungry stomach.The house keeper brought her bags inside and on a signal from Jason, went somewhere with it.“She will drop it in your room.” He said later to herElizabeth nodded not trusting herself to speak“Why did you declining giving me your number.” Lucien asked mid food.Elizabeth was of the idea that she had hurt his feelings, he probably had never had a girl refuse him something before.“Because I can.” She said curtly.From her side eye, she saw Jason smile into the glass of wine he was drinking and she smiled too involuntarily.“What
CAMILLAAfter the previous day encounter and the kiss… I wasn’t sure I wanted to be on the same team with Nathan.In all honesty, I wasn’t sure exactly what I wanted.My lips still tingled from the memory of Nathan’s kiss, and yet, the feeling did NOT settle in the way I expected. It wasn’t the passionate rush of desire or the warmth of something more. No, it was an unsettled ache, a reminder that whatever this was between us was anything but simple.I stared at the ceiling, my mind spinning in a hundred different directions. My thoughts kept circling back to that kiss.Why had he gone and kissed me?The last thing I needed was to get caught up in Nathan’s mess, in whatever internal struggle he was going through. I could not afford to lose myself in him. Not again. He had kissed me, and now I had to decide whether to let it go or pull back before things went any further.I dragged myself out of bed, staring at the clock—7:00 AM. My meeting with Nathan was at 9:00, but I had a hundred t
NATHANI was stalling.Her apartment had grown quiet except for the rhythmic ticking of a clock on the wall, but I stayed seated at her table, watching her stack dishes in the sink. My car was fixed. My excuse to linger here was gone. Yet I couldn’t bring myself to leave.She moved with a confidence that was uniquely Camilla. She wasn’t trying to impress anyone…least of all me…but damn, she did. I traced the curve of her spine with my eyes as she walked back into the living room, her bare feet soft against the floorboards.I should have been thinking about Eleanor. About Trish. About Alicent. About the cold-blooded satisfaction I would feel when the truth about Eleanor’s death finally saw the light of day. But all I could think about was how Camilla and how I should be apologizing to her.“You’re awfully quiet,” she said, sitting across from me, tilting her head to study me.“I have been accused of worse.”She rolled her eyes. “You are always like this. Mysterious and brooding. You wou
CAMILLA “Good morning.” I started at him, unsure of exactly what I was looking at. Then it hit me: the smell. Warm and savory, the scent of something cooking drifted through the air…eggs, maybe toast. It was so out of place… he was out of place here. I moved, the motion sending a fresh wave of pain through my skull and a queasiness to my stomach. I groaned again, slower this time, trying to steady myself. “Morning,” I mumbled hoarsely, my voice barely more than a croak. He was standing by the stove, his back to me, a pan in one hand and a spatula in the other. His shirt was untucked, the fabric clinging to his broad shoulders in a way that made him seem even larger than usual. In my tiny kitchen, he looked impossibly big, like he didn’t belong there, yet somehow…he fit. “What are you doing?” I asked, my voice weak but laced with confusion. Nathan glanced over his shoulder, his profile catching the morning light. His hair was a little messy, like he hadn’t bothered t
CAMILLAIt was useless feeling sorry for myself, I thought.The lighting in the club was low as I stepped in with my friend, Bella.“Not bad” I murmured.“Told you” She responded triumphantly. “This is what you need to get over him. Nathan Clark is an asshole and should dump him in the dust where he belongs”I wanted to correct her that he wasn’t an asshole, he was merely disturbed but I did not.I was not here to sympathize with him or even think about him. I was here to have fun and that is what I am going to do.I was putting on a red dress and it complimented my eyes way more than I thought it would.“Come on, we should get a drink” Bella pulled me to the bar.The bartender winked at both of us and then asked what we would likeIt was at the tip of my tongue to say nothing but I was at a club, wasn’t I?“Sex on the beach” I announced.Bella turned to me, surprise in her eyes. I was pretty sure she thought she would have to force me to drink.“I would have the same” She told the ma
NATHANThere was nothing to say as I dropped Camilla off at her home.I waited until I was sure she had gotten in before I headed in the direction of my mother in law’s house.I pushed in Christian’s number, my teeth gritting as it rang.I was furious.I did not want to admit I was more furious at myself than anything.“How did your date go?” Christian’s asked as soon as the phone line clicked.“Send me the name of the witness” I grunted.“What is wrong?”“Send the name, dammit”“You need to calm down, Nathan. Where are you going?”“To settle this once and for all” I told him. “Now send the damned number to me”I hung up before he had the chance to say anything or convince me to back away because I would not.I drove way above the speed limit, stopping only when I had gotten to the mansion’s gate.It brought back memories of family dinners where I had to defend Eleanor over and over again. Where snide remarks about the reason I was with her reached my ears and she said nothing about
CAMILLA“I did not think I was ever going to see you again, Camilla” Sarah smiled as soon as I entered the restaurant.She wagged a finger in Nathan’s direction, shaking her head at him.“With the kind of food you sell? I will be coming in here for a very long time” I smiled back.Nathan and I took our seats and waited.She had a queue as usual and I could not help the smile as I glanced around.“You would have watched your father kill me” Nathan commented.“I admit that would have made me feel better for a bit” I told him.He appeared shocked but I could tell from the way his eyes twinkled with delight that he thought it hilarious.I had not expected he would go over to my parent’s house especially seeing as I wasn’t there in the first place.My father however had called me when he arrived with a gun to his head and asked if I wanted to see him. I had hesitated just for the fun of it“I deserved that”“Yes you did” I agreed.“Thank you for coming here with me”I nodded once.Sarah dr
NATHANI was pacing like a fucking clown.I was expecting Camilla at the office today to discuss the project that we were involved in together and I could not help the restlessness coursing through my body.I wasn’t one to be this nervous about anything.“Deep breaths” I told myself, trying to go along with my instructions but to no avail.So much so that when my receptionist announced her presence, I had worked myself into a frenzy.My breath caught in my throat as she walked in, her eyes taking the room before settling on me with stark clarity.What had I been thinking? I thought.Starved of attention?Who was the blithering idiot now?“You look well” She commented, taking the seat in front of me.“You look beautiful” I murmured.She paused, her eyes meeting mine.Sparks flew, that was for sure.“How do you feel?” She asked instead.“Much better. Thank you for attending to me yesterday. For even accepting the phone call from me”“Of course, I am not a demon even though I do hate you
CAMILLAI stared at my ringing phone with Nathan displayed boldly as the callers ID.What the fuck did he want?I however put it to my ear, my heart jumping at the sound of his voice“Camilla, I know you can hear me” He rasped“What do you want?” I asked.“To talk” He answered.His voice appeared tortured… like there was something wrong with him and for a minute I was concerned before my head overrode my stupidity.“Concerning the project-” I began“Not concerning the-” He sighed, his voice trailing off.“I need you” He muttered softly that if I had not been paying attention, I would have missed that simple statement.“Mr Clark” I stopped when I heard his labored breathing.“Is something wrong with you?”“No, its nothing… I just need to speak with you”“Nathan, what is the matter? You sound distressed”He chuckled and then I heard him cough in the background“You are not concerned about me now, are you?”“This is not a joke, what is wrong with you?” I asked again, feeling panicky.He
CAMILLAMy father drove us straight to the house and I did not argue nor say anything when we arrived and my mother enveloped me in a hug.“Oh baby” She crooned.“I am okay” I reassured her“Come on in”I inhaled the familiar scent of home, my muscles relaxing.“I am going to bed” I announced.Their words fell over themselves as they agreed immediately to my request.My eyes closed as soon as I fell on the bed. I did not want to think of anything, I did not want to begin to analyze the anger in my heart directed at one person in particular.When I finally opened my eyes, it was noon.I made my way downstairs and was met with the searching eyes of both my parents.“Are you okay, baby?” My mother asked.I took a seat beside them.“I am not some fragile child you have to be worried about always, mother” I said.“You are my child and I have every reason to be worried about you” she countered.“I am going to be fine” I told her.My father said nothing but I turned to him anyways.“I have d