It is today

“I bet you’re ready to take the offer now, right?” Arthur uttered with a smirk.

“Yes, I am. But I have my condition too.” Aurora responded with a straight face, making Arthur raise his brows.

“Really?”

“Really. You need my help, I need yours. I get to have my condition too, don’t I?” She further asked in desperation.

“Fine. Let’s hear what you have.” Arthur answered with a smirk, resting his back on his office chair and folding his arms.

“I want you to pay me upfront.” Aurora answered.

“What? Why would I do that?”

“Because I need the money as soon as possible, okay? If you give me the $200,000 right now, I’ll sign the contract, and move into your house. I’ll do whatever you want. I just need you to pay upfront. That shouldn’t be a problem, right? Given that you are a rich man.”

“You are the desperate one here, not me. I can decide to find another healthy woman to be my surrogate. Why does it have to be you?”

“Because I’m here right now, ready to carry your baby, and you know how long it took you to find me. Also, I am smart, so trust your baby to be smart too. I am 22 years old, and I’m not ready to be a mother, so believe me when I say I’d stay indoors to avoid being seen in such conditions, and I would not want a relationship with your baby. I want the nine months to end faster than you can ever imagine.” Aurora rapped, hoping this will get Arthur to give her the money.

Arthur watched her with a cold stern and after she finished talking, he let out a chuckle.

“Great. We have a deal then.” He responded, reaching for the contract again and giving it to her.

Holding the paper in her hand, she stared at it in hesitation. “How am I getting the payment?? Cash or cheque?” She asked, raising her to look at him.

He scoffed and shook his head. “Which of them do you prefer?”

“Cash. So that I can drop it at the hospital right away.” She answered, still not signing the papers. The last thing she wanted was to sign the paper and then he ends up going back on his word.

‘It’s not going to be a surprise. People of power and money can do anything to the less privileged.’ She thought, waiting for him to make a move… to show her the money before she sighed.

“You need to learn to trust me.” Arthur muttered as he picked up the landline to make a quick phone call.

“I can’t trust you, I don’t even know you. This is business. It’s better to do it the proper way.” She answered, as she hesitated to sign the papers.

After a few minutes of awkward silence and staring between them, Arthur’s office door opened, and one of his staff walked in, holding a portable bag.

He placed it on the table and gave Arthur a slight bow before heading out.

“There you go. Open it and even count it if you want. But in that bag is $200,000.”

Aurora reached for the bag and opened it. She gulped hard as her eyes fell on the neatly laid dollar notes in the bag. A part of her wanted to count it to be sure, but she needed to let him believe she trusted him, so she aborted that decision.

“Great.” She responded coldly as she signed the papers.

Stretching it back to Arthur, she grabbed the bag and stood up.

“Not so fast.” Arthur uttered as he also stood up. “Where are you going?”

“Where else? To the hospital of course.”

“So you really think I’d just let you go after handing you such an amount of money in cash? What if you run off? What am I supposed to do?”

She raised her brows in disbelief and scoffed at his statement.

“Run off? You’re rich and powerful. Where would I ever run to that you wouldn’t be able to find me? You said I should trust you. You should do the same to me too.” She answered, and he smirked, shaking his head.

“I trust no one, woman. My driver will drop you at the hospital, then take you to your house to pack your stuff and then bring you back to me. You’re moving in tonight.” He answered with a straight face, folding his arms on his chest.

“What?” Her eyes opened wide open. “It wasn’t stated in the contract that it has to be today.” Aurora muttered in disbelief.

“It wasn’t also stated that I had to pay you today… in cash.” He added, walking back to his chair.

Aurora gulped and nodded as she turned to walk out of the office. As she walked, she could feel his eyes on her back.

‘I hate him.’ She said to herself, letting out a deep sigh.

She looked at the bag she carried and smiled widely. Though everything seemed bad, getting the money was her utmost goal and she got it.

‘I couldn’t be happier.’

Getting out of the company, she was approached by a young man dressed in a nice black suit.

“Miss Aurora?” He called, and she nodded.

“Yes.” She answered, tightening her grip on the bag.

“I am Mr. Arthur’s driver. I’ll be taking you to the hospital. Please come in.” He uttered, opening the car door for her.

“Ohhh… okay.” She answered.

Feeling his cold gaze on her again, she raised her head to look at his window, and there he was, staring at her again.

“Arghhh. I just hate the way he stares.” She grumbled as she sat in the car. The driver shut the door and hopped into the car too.

Arthur pulled out of his phone from his pocket and put a call across to his driver. Immediately he answered, he said;

“Make sure you bring her to the hospital before 7pm. And keep an eye on her. She seems like a pretty smart lady. Don’t you dare lose her.”

He hung up almost immediately, still looking at Aurora from his window. ‘Don’t try to act smart, woman. You don’t want to offend me. Trust me.’

*

After some minutes, Aurora got to the hospital. She alighted and ran into the hospital, holding onto the money bag firmly.

She headed right to her Father’s doctor’s office.

“Here is the money, Doctor. Please do anything you can to save my father’s life. Please.” She uttered, panting hard.

“Miss Aurora, where did you get this from? And why are you panting?” He responded, looking at her suspiciously.

“Does it matter, Doctor? I got the money. I may not be able to come around for a while, but I promise that once I have the chance. I’ll come and visit him. Please keep me updated on the phone.” She uttered, bowing, before heading out.

‘How am I supposed to tell him that I’m going to be a surrogate mother because of money? I still haven’t thought about it well.” She thought as she headed back to the car.

A part of her felt so relaxed, while the greater part was fearful of what was to come. Carrying a baby for a cold Billionaire.

‘I never saw that coming.’

“Please take me home. I need to pack my things.” She said to the driver as she sank deep into her thoughts.

*

“Aurora. Where the hell did you go? And why didn’t you pick my calls?” Rachel confronted her as soon as she stepped into the house.

“I was busy.” Aurora answered coldly as she made her way to her room.

“Am still talking to you, don’t walk away! Where were you? You went to accept that deal, didn’t you?!” She yelled, causing Aurora to stop abruptly.

“Yes! And so what?! I just went to pay the hospital for your husband’s transplant. You’re welcome!” Aurora smacked back in frustration.

“I told you not to accept that job! I was going to look for a better one!”

“I never told you to do that. I got enough money for his treatment. You don’t have to worry anymore.” She answered and turned to leave.

“But there’s no money left! We have so many bills to pay! Water, electricity, taxes…”

“I don’t care, Mom! Take responsibility for once too! I am about to start a journey I never saw myself on, and the only thing you worry about is money?! Stop frustrating me, okay? I’ve had enough frustration.

“At least I’m glad I wouldn’t have to put up with your crap for nine months.” She mumbled as she walked away.

“What did you say? Aurora! I’m your mother!” Rachel yelled, but she paid no attention to her.

‘You’re not supposed to be called a mother.’

In anger and haste, Aurora packed the few things she would be needing and headed out of the house, totally ignoring her mother’s rants.

Settling in the car, tears heated up her eyes as she stared at her house. Memories of her and her father came flooding her mind again.

Before the tears could drop down to her chin, she wiped them off with her palm and picked up her phone from her bag.

She went on the internet and searched, “How does it feel to be pregnant?”

She wasn’t sure if this was what she was supposed to be searching for, but she had to start somewhere.

***

“We are here, Miss Aurora.” The driver uttered, looking back through the mirror.

Aurora raised her head from her phone and looked out of the window. A wrinkle slowly formed on her forehead as she saw they were in front of no house, but a hospital.

“What are we doing here?” She asked, turning to look at the driver.

“Mr Arthur said I should bring you here. He will tell you more.” He responded, getting out so he could open the door for her.

“What? He never told me we’ll be coming to the hospital. All he said is that I’m moving in tonight. Are we doing the insemination today?” She asked as fear overwhelmed her.

‘He didn’t even let me settle down first! I need to be mentally and emotionally prepared for this. Why didn’t he tell me it’s today?!’ These thoughts filled her head in no time, making her fidget.

Lots of ways things could go wrong began to hunt her. She wasn’t sure if she could do it anymore.

“Are you going to step out or what?” She heard the voice of the last person she wanted to hear at that moment.