2. The sexy millionaire

He mentally reviews if he made any overpayments, but it's impossible. He hasn't used that card, and his cell phone is password-protected. Furthermore, he checks the details of the bank transactions and realizes that the money has been transferred to an account belonging to his brother.

It had been stolen by him. Somehow he hacked his phone, which wouldn't be too difficult, since it is old technology. He leaves the bank cursing his brother and then thinks of a way to get money back. Eleanor's voice echoes in his head, so he calls her.

The day passes slowly, Arya keeps thinking about it as she walks back to the clinic. Would she have what it takes to be a mother at such a young age?

The need was definitely greater than her fears, she would have to face them if necessary. When she arrives at the clinic, she goes straight to the assistant. She informs her that her mother had a heart attack and had been taken to intensive care.

“The doctor will see you once you come out of surgery and explain your mother's condition”, the assistant informed her and then left.

“Eleanor?” she asked when the call was picked up.

“Yes, who is this?”

“This is Arya, hey, is the payment secure?” she hesitantly inquires, and her friend knows what she means.

“Yes, the company that handles that, they make sure the clients are reliable. They even assign you a lawyer to look after your interests,” Eleanor confesses, noticing that her friend is still worried. Are you okay? Has something happened?

“My mother got worse, could you please help me? I'm rushing for the money.”

“Like I said, I have no choice,” she thinks once more and sits in the living room waiting.

Arya was relieved that her mother was stable, but every detail about the procedures echoed in her head with only one word, money.

All that day she stayed at the hospital, her mother was in ICU, and she hoped for better news. She didn't want anything bad to happen to her, she had been her anchor when she needed her most. At noon, her neighbor Lora visited them and brought a couple of sandwiches for Arya, she knew the girl was too thin, and it wasn't exactly for keeping in shape.

She knew she had a good body, but malnourished as she was, the curves she once had were now hidden under her ample clothes.

Arya, who hadn't slept a wink all night, accepted her friend's proposal and over the phone helped her fill out the application form. The next morning, she decided to check her email account in the hope that the scholarship amount had been increased by a divine miracle. As soon as she logged in, she noticed that there was one from a lawyer, Daniel Cheng, inviting her to an interview for the surrogate position.

“Surrogate position.”

That made her feel like it was just a job and that was it, it took the humanity out of such a beautiful act of love as having a child. But she couldn't complain, she decided she would do it, and this way she would settle the account at the hospital and be able to find a better place for her mother and herself. Away from her brother and that ugly neighborhood.

Mr. Daniel Cheng.

I accept the interview, please state date, place and time, do I have to bring specific documents or does my lawyer do that?

Greetings, Arya Harley.

He sends the mail and waits a few minutes as he continues walking to the bus stop. Once she gets on and takes a seat, the notification of new mail arrives. She is amazed that the company she applied for has responded so quickly.

Arya Harley,

The appointment would be tomorrow at the Plaza Hotel restaurant at ten o'clock in the morning. Just bring your ID card.

Fifth Avenue at Central Park South

New York, NY 10019

See you then.

Daniel Cheng.

Arya checks the mail several times, that's in New York, and she's in Boston. She goes on the internet and checks how she can get there, on the way by bus it would be at least almost four hours, the ticket costs her thirty to forty dollars… She has just enough money to get there and back. The train is even more expensive, so he decides to take the bus.

On the way home he buys some instant soup, takes a thorough shower and sleeps for a couple of hours. She picks up a small, larger bag with one more change of clothes and returns to the hospital. The next day falls on Saturday, Eleanor will be off, so he asks her to help him take care of his mother, so she can go to that interview in NY.

Arriving at the hospital, she finds that the doctor wants to talk to her.

“Is my mother okay?” she asks anxiously as soon as she sees her progenitor's cardiologist.

“She is stable, but she needs a valve repair, the one she has is damaged, and we need to operate on her again” the doctor informs concretely.

She knows what he is talking about, she is a medical student. Even so, the fear does not leave her and the anguish of not having money is even worse.

“Is it urgent?” she asks, not knowing what to do.

“No, she's stable, but she can't make it past tomorrow.” suggests the cardiologist. “It's your decision whether you want to operate here or take her somewhere else, just know that in her condition it's better not to move her.”

“Okay, give me time and I will give you an answer, will she resist?” she asks. She knows that the surgery must be done if or yes, but first she wants to negotiate.

“Yes, as long as it doesn't get worse,” the doctor clarifies.

He has decided, and now he has to make everything go according to plan.

Eleanor stays with her mother, and she takes ourbus straight to New York. With a high ponytail, a little make-up, her best tailored pants and a blouse with matching jacket, she manages to look presentable for a business appointment.

A business deal where her belly will be the raw material to negotiate. Her low heels click on the polished floor of the Plaza Hotel. She had never visited New York, but the place dazzled her. Arriving at the front desk, she asked about the restaurant and a young woman directed a porter to take her to the site.

The domed sky of beautiful glass marveled her as soon as she entered.

“Reservation for Daniel Cheng” she announces to the host. He invites her in and guides her past the tables and their diners.

She feels the nerves in her stomach, her heart is racing, and she is a little afraid. Her small bag with only her cardex, an old cell phone that she has borrowed from her neighbor and pepper spray in case she needs it, is all that accompanies her. The money, she has better keep it in her bust, all in all, she only has about fifty dollars left.

“Come in” informs the rubbery-haired boy opening a door to a private room.

She enters and finds a couple of men in suits, one better looking than the other, one with a sour face and the other with a gentle face.

“Arya Harley?” asks Daniel, standing up when he sees her arrive.

“Yes,” she extends her hand and greets him.

“Daniel Cheng, the lawyer who contacted you” she warns. “This is my client, Ayden Emory.”

Arya out of inertia goes over to shake his hand, but he looks at her with disdain and indifference.

“Have a seat, miss,” he says instead, pointing to the chair closest to Daniel.

The young woman is conflicted by his attitude, but accepts with a hint of annoyance, for if there's one thing she doesn't like, it's taking orders.

“Did you have a hard time getting here? I know you came all the way from Boston” Daniel warns, pouring her some wine in a glass.

“No, from the terminal I came by cab” she assures him nervously.

“So they do know I live there, and they still made me come all the way to NY” she thinks as she takes a sip from her glass to calm her nerves and build up her courage.

“Do you drink very frequently?” asks Ayden out of the blue.

“I don't usually drink, I'm in my last year of medical school and I have to keep my wits about me” she explains, then points to the glass. “I'm nervous, I just wanted to take courage.”

“Okay, we wanted you to come because we wanted to know how interested you are in this and if you're really aware of what you're going to do” explains calmly, Daniel. “No one who is undecided of what they will do would travel all this way just for an interview, are you decided?”

Arya takes a breath, is she?

“Yes, I'm decided, I need the money” she says out of the blue, causing both men to look at each other, which leads to her having to explain. “I have… some family business.”

Ayden wonders what kind of problems this young woman with wavy brown hair, waspish chocolate eyes and flushed cheeks could have.

“I didn't think the company was going to place me in an interview so soon” she hesitantly resolves.

“We are not linked to that company, a friend who works there passed me your contact, and pointed out that you were rushing for a payment, as much as my client is rushing to have a child” clarifies Daniel. Taking out some documents and placing them on the table.

“Will this be legal? I would rather not end up without organs and voted in a corner” he blurts out without thinking about it, fearing that happening.

“I assure you it won't, the applicant, my employer here” she points to the man on her right side. “You are a public and respected figure in the New York community. That is why we summoned you here, for your safety and confidence, but on future occasions, we will go to Boston.”

Arya nods, assimilating the information and glances quickly at the man in front of her, he is handsome.

“Why would I want to hire a womb? Surely, any woman would be willing to give him a child” she muses, noticing the squared shoulders and biceps that are marked now that she has her arms crossed in front of her chest.

“I'm going to ask you a series of questions, okay? Be as honest as possible” asks the lawyer, who in contrast to his -employer- is more polite.

Arya takes another swig from the wine glass as the man prepares his list of questions.

“Are you a virgin?” Arya almost spits out the drink, but holds it up. Ayden is shocked and looks at her with disgust. Daniel for his part laughs and passes her a napkin. “Sorry, it's things I have to ask.”

“Okay, no problem,” she says, pulling herself together. “No, I'm not.” Ayden takes a drink from his glass of water as she takes the opportunity to follow up with her answer. “I mean, if a vibrator counts.”

She notices how Ayden swallows hard and struggles to pass the water. Daniel laughs again, but when he notices his boss's frown, he relents.

“Well, this is awkward, but I'm going on,” he says and picks up the pen. “Number of sexual partners?”

“Well I've only had a couple of dildos, turns out the latex ones are very sturdy” she replies smiling and Daniel lets out a laugh.

Ayden stands up in annoyance and breaks the good mood in the room.

“This is not a fucking game, Miss Arya” says the millionaire threateningly. “Get out.”

“No, wait, I was just kidding” she clarifies seriously.

“I said, what, get out!” he punctuates each word and slams the table.

Arya, who sees her only chance, shattered, regrets having joked with the lawyer as she did, she never thought it would have such consequences.

She walks devastated to the exit without expecting anything, now she doesn't know what to do or whom to turn to. She goes into the nearest bathroom and locks herself in and cries.

“I missed a good opportunity, I'm finished” she thinks to herself mentally over and over again.

After a few minutes, she refreshes her face and lets down a few strands of hair to help hide the puffiness of her eyes. He takes a breath and walks back to the restaurant, walks to the exit and from there to the street.

She sees many cabs coming and tries to hail one, but instead a dark-colored Aston Martin pulls up in front of her. It is Ayden Emory.

“Get in,” he asks, but she ignores him. “Is she always so hard-headed? Get in or no deal.”

I hope that it wasn't all overtakes hold of her, and she gets into the sexy millionaire's car.