Ariel's POV

BILLIONAIRE'S SURROGATE STRIPPER

               Ariel POV

   I got home with a sad face, my eyes were swollen and I felt heartbroken all day. I’ve been lost for words after the lady mentioned I was dropped.

 I had no option but to take my things and leave. I was paid and I’ve not opened my envelope to know the exact sum.

  The envelope was staring at me as I got home and l showered immediately, I wore my Pyjamas and switched on my television set.

Walking to the kitchen, I switched on the lights and saw some cooking utensils lying carelessly on the kitchen sink.

  Eunice must have made some food before stepping out of the house. I walked over to the gas cooker and my eyes met a well-cooked pasta. The other pan contained meatballs and some veggies sauce.

Wow, that was amazing. I got my spoon and dished out some pasta and meatballs to eat. Boy, I was starving and didn’t realize the major reason I was crying was hunger.

   “Hahahaha…”

 Sitting down on my worn-out couch, with steady eyes watching the television I relished my meal. It was tasty and spicy.

  Eunice was one great cook, and I always wished she could run a restaurant.

  I was still eating when Eunice walked into the house, she was very tired from her outlook and I gave her a questioning glare.

  “Hey, doll, how are you?” I asked as she sat on the couch messaging her foot.

  “Well I feel half-dead, I met a very demanding client and my joints feel weary. How did it go? Tell me the good news!” She exclaimed excitedly.

  “It went well but I was dropped and the most confusing part is I didn’t do anything wrong but follow their instructions.” I pointed out, and her eyes scanned and rested on my envelope.

 “Well, I got paid alright for my time. But I’m in my feelings, I wish I was chosen and did my part.” I replied, chewing on my food.

“You got paid, that seems like a worthy exchange to me.” She reasoned as she stood up sluggishly and made her way to the bedroom.

 I stood up and went into the kitchen and took my time washing the kitchen utensils, I arranged them neatly and switched off the kitchen light.

  I walked off and sat again on the couch, I could hear Beatrice talking over the phone and it was pretty loud.

 I heard her scream excitedly, and that got me curious. With no time to waste, I rushed into the bedroom with a confused face.

She finished her call and twirled with happiness.

  “What was that for? Are you going insane?” I asked with an arched eyebrow.

 “Well the news I just got demands a shout, scream, and whatever it takes.”

“So, what’s the occasion?” I questioned.

  “From a confirmed source a billionaire is searching for a surrogate, and the audition is held next week Monday.” She answered happily, flipping her hair.

   “Surrogate?”

 “Yes, a surrogate. What is wrong with being one? I get paid well and live my life with luxuries after the contract.” Eunice explained with a nonchalant attitude.

 “I’m not throwing surrogate moms under the bus. Just that I won’t be able to be a surrogate mom, my feelings won’t let me.” I replied with a low whisper, I could barely hear myself.

“Well that’s your problem, I’m sure, I’m killing no one. This is an opportunity we can both try out.” She insisted, I shook my head negatively and sat down on the bed.

 “You lost a job, and your family needs money. Your mom is battling for her life, and your brother is chair-bound. I feel your pain and how hardworking you’ve been to cater to their needs.

  This is an opportunity for a lifetime, you just have to carry the child to term and when born off you go. But you’re not leaving without a lot of money. That seems like a worthy exchange to me.” She says, clicking her tongue.

  “No, I can’t do that. I don’t think I’m strong emotionally to part with my child. No matter how much is involved.” I knew there was a lot of money involved but my conscience would kill me.

  “Ariel, I know you too well but think about everything properly before you refuse dearie.” She patted my hair, and I nodded with a tired expression.

  “Let me have some sleep, I feel so tired.” I yawned and my eyes were weak.

   laying in bed and covered with the huge comforters and slept off.

  Floating through space I found myself in a dark surrounding, there were huge walls on both sides. I walked a bit and met with one of the huge walls and touched it.

 The wall parted and gave way, and I carefully walked into the entrance.

 This place looked familiar, life was bubbling here and people were all about their private businesses.

  Once I arrived at the entrance, It was as if this place truly existed. Something was intriguing about this place, that just validated my suspicion from earlier.

  I look at a familiar confectionery joint at a corner of the street where I frequently buy cakes and candies.

 The woman who sold the cakes was old, and my late father would most times take me there to buy her cakes.

  I loved eating them as a kid and would cry to my papa to get one for me.

  But now I could see the woman happily selling her cakes to her customers, as they stood patiently waiting in turns.

  Things here looked odd, I was trying to understand how my past could be in a replay.

  “Hello, I am Ariel, and please what is this place?” I talked to a lady who sat down in a corner, her face was blurry but she didn’t respond or even blinked in my direction.

 She got up and walked out. “Hello, can you help me…?” I halt when she turned back, I was shocked when she walked through me.

 It was shocking how she passed through me and hugged a man, who I think to be her lover or husband seeing them them walk towards a narrow route, so I followed suit and could see people going about their daily activities.

  I tried talking to a young girl but there was no response, I tried to touch her but my hand went through and she disappeared.

  My eyes couldn’t believe it. I began to realize this might be an illusion.

  This place feels like a memory from a long time I observed. If the people and houses here are blurry and were non-existent.

  I saw a toy shop and instantly I knew where it was located, it wasn’t far from where we lived when I was much younger.

  I tried to remember my childhood home, I recalled my father had a bookstore downtown. And my mom worked as a nanny to a certain family, I couldn’t remember.

   I quickened my pace and walked towards the direction of the book store. Not long after, I saw the small building. By this time he would be here, it was still daylight.

  I quickened my pace and knocked at the door but there was no answer.

 I pushed the door open and met a quiet book store. There were books arranged in their Alphabetical order neatly placed. I searched around and I couldn’t find my father. Where could he be?

My heart felt constricted with pain, and tears were almost escaping my tear duct.

  I rushed out of the bookstore and missed my step and was awaiting my fall when strong steady rough hands held me up.

“Th-ank-s..” I muttered trying to stand on my feet, and when my eyes laid on the stranger, I turned pale.

My father was standing right in front of my eyes, he was well and hearty. I could remember how dad was murdered on  Christmas Eve.

  He just came back from the store and we were having dinner with mother. Someone knocked and I ran to the door excitedly to check if the pizza was delivered.

Only for me to see scary-looking men with masks on in all black, they held me before I could scream and pointed a gun to my forehead.

They got into the house and threatened my family, they beat up my mother and shot my father.

I could remember seeing him dead in the pool of his blood, he couldn’t speak.

  Those hands that comforted me turned cold and motionless. When I hurt myself and grazed my knees, he would buy me dolls, candies and take me for a walk carrying me over his broad shoulder.

  Those memories have haunted me for years, I had to go for various therapy to help me heal and function.

  His death was a big shock to me, Mom was taken to the hospital and she slowly recovered despite her heavily pregnant state. She was badly beaten and her head was pounded with a gun.

 Mother was carefully watched for months and the sad thing was she couldn’t take painkillers to numb the pain because she was pregnant. It was a sad time for my family, as my father was laid to rest.

  When Mom birthed Matthew, I felt Father was back to me even though he was diagnosed to be chair bound but we loved him.

  “Ariel, you look all grown up.” My father spoke, and I sat down on the floor shaking in trepidation.

  This can’t be, was I dead? Was I under an illusion, or lost in my thoughts? My head made no valid reason.

  My dad knelt and held my hand as I stood up, we slowly walked into the bookstore and sat on the wooden chair.

I could remember the wooden chair, it had an armrest and it was my father’s favorite. There were two in number, after school, I would disturb my mother who would take me to the bookstore because I wanted to see Papa.

  My heart felt warm seeing him again, and there were a lot of things I wished to talk to him about.

  Talking about things I’ve faced, my aspirations for the future, Matthew, and lots more. These were things I dreamed about telling him, he died before Matthew was born and I remembered writing letters that were directed to him during his passing.

 I hid those letters in a box, for years those letters were kept safely.

 “Father, I have a lot of things to tell you!” I exclaimed with tears streaming down my cheeks. Those were tears of joy, I loved and missed him a lot.

 “We have much time for that, now that we are together again.” My father wiped my tears away, he smiled at me and kissed my forehead.

  “Daughter, I’ve been waiting for this day for a long time. But first, we need to talk about more pressing issues.” My Father’s tone became stern and his smiling face changed to an angry look.

   I looked at my father with confusion. What is the pressing matter is he talking about? Is it about my mother’s deteriorating health? Was there something I didn’t know about?