Chapter 1 RUDE MUCH?

“The deal is simple, I need a healthy woman who will bear my child and in exchange I shall take care of her, everyday and five years after she must have conceived my child.” Jason said simply, his blue eyes boring into her. She kept her eyes down, giving him access to her defining features. “Look at me, I need to know if you are pretty enough and I want to know your blood type and blood group. Do you know them off the top of your head?”“Errr…yes, I know them” She said still looking down. “I asked you to raise your head, I will not repeat myself again.” What kind of nuts had his secretary allowed into his office, did she not know that he did not have the time for such nonsense. The girl slowly raised her head to look at him, she was pretty alright, if you liked them chubby. Jason stood from where he sat behind his table and walked over to her, a hand snaking out to her chin. “Not bad” he stated, running his eyes over her features. She had full, very kissable lips and her eyes… what were they? “What color are your eyes?” He asked absently, still moving her face right and left. “Hazel, sir” she managed to squeak. “Hmmm” He let go of her face and stepped back, allowing his eyes go all over her body, she was wearing the most horrible clothing he had ever seen but other than that, she was a perfect candidate to bear his child. “I will have my secretary draw up the contract for you to go through, you are to take a minimum of two days going through it and I am to see a signed document on my office table. After that, you are moving in permanently with me.”“Moving in?” The girl gasped, her eyes flying up to his face. “Is that going to be a problem? It is part of the contract and I do not need you flaunting my baby to poor and dirty environments like the one I am sure, you are from. You will be moving in with me and if you have an issue with that, I will cancel this meeting immediately and invite the next person.”“I have no problem at all.” She said, staring at her toes. “This would not do at all” Jason tsked “Excuse me?” She asked “You shall learn how not to always act like a servant, you are going to be in my face for the duration of your conceiving and pregnancy, I have enough people bowing to me daily and I have no intentions to add you to that list so you will look me in the eye, anytime I speak to you. Is that totally understood?”“Yes sir”“Good, meet my receptionist for my business card, the special one that includes my address. I will see you when you have signed the contract and although I see no need in reminding you, I am sure you remember signing a non disclosure agreement, meaning nothing I say here should leave this room.”“I know what an NDA is” the girl muttered. “Speak up girl, I cannot hear you if you whisper like that.”“I said I understand you.”“Good, now leave and ask my secretary to bring in air fresheners, you stink. Something we have to change when you become bound to me.” Bound to him… bound to that asshole?, Elizabeth fumed. The man had just treated her like dirt because she needed money, she had heard about his need for a surrogate from his blabber mouth of a secretary who let it slip when she was in the club. Fortunately, Elizabeth had heard it and confronted her immediately, they had both come to an agreement that she would come for the interview solely if she kept her mouth shut about where she had heard it from. Right now, Elizabeth was not so sure she wanted to go through with this, she was having cold feet and only because the man in question looked and acted like the devil. He had asked for air fresheners because he thought her stinky? Elizabeth guffawed in mirth at the way she had kept her head down just like the secretary had told her and made sure to answer the yes sir at every interval where there is a break in his talk. She patted herself on the back for having pulled off a very perfect plan and now she was going to back to her mother, who was sick and the reason why she was going to bear a child for an arrogant billionaire. …… “Sandra is here sir, should I let her in?” Jason’s receptionist inquired over the phone. “Yes but let her be aware I do not have time for chit chat and if that is what she is here to do, she might as well go back to where she is coming from.” Jason could hear his receptionist transfer his message to Sandra whom he heard elicited a litany of curses, all directed at him. They had dated for a while, Sandra and him. Both of them had known it was just a relationship of convenience and when the time had come to let go, they would do so without batting an eye lid. Reverse was the case as Sandra became too clingy, wanting more that he had no intentions of offering and he had broken up with all the intentions of even paying her off. She had rejected his money but instead came around once in a while to create mischief, he always let her do what she wanted but today he needed to be serious. According to his father, if he did not get an heir or a wife within some months, he would have to forfeit the company he had managed and scrapped to build. Jason was no fool, he knew his father was at the verge of dying, the doctor had told him that he was at the final stages of the cancer that was eating at his heart. His plan was to make sure he died with his eyes on someone who would take over company after Jason and so here he was planning to marry and even father a child with a total stranger, just so his father could get what he wants. “The Baddgermans are here and they want to see you personally, sir” The receptionist voice rang out loudly. “Send them in” Jason responded

Chapter 2 DEFINITELY SOME ATTITUDE PROBLEMS!

Elizabeth was led into one of the most beautiful house she had ever seen in her entire life. It was furnished with taste and exuded class and affluence. The person who had ushered her in had taken one look at her shabby dressing and decided she must be one of the homeless on the streets always begging for some change or food. It wasn’t until she had stated her business and mentioned the name of the secretary that she had been escorted in to wait. Elizabeth gazed around the house, she was awed by how many antique furnitures were present and effectively clashing against the modern equipments, it was almost like they were involved in a game of tug of war. “The mister shall see you now.” The lady whom Elizabeth guessed to be the housekeeper said to her and led her into a small, also classy office. He was already seated and flipping through some papers in front of him. Elizabeth thought for a moment if those were her replacement, should she fail to either give him an heir or agree to the ludicrous demands in the contract she was holding. “Sit. My secretary told me you are here to hand the papers over to me and discuss some things you found uncomfortable in the contract?”“Yes, I am. I haven’t signed it yet because I have series of questions as to how this is supposed to go.” Elizabeth answered, taking a seat in front of him “Good, I would have been startled if you did not have questions. So what part of all the clauses in that contract is hard to comprehend.”“The part that says once I move in with you, I won’t ever go back or anywhere without your permission and I am to be escorted even if I want to get some fresh air in the gardens.”“What was not clear?” He asked. Elizabeth stared at him like he had just sprouted a second head. Was he joking, was this his idea of a joke? She thought to herself as she stared, waiting for him to get the memo. Was this some kind of test directed at her to know her abilities at calming her anger? “Is this some sort of test or trick question whatever.” Elizabeth asked “No, it isn’t. What pray tell is not clear to you, I am a very busy man and as at right now, I have an ongoing meeting in the second room. I hardly have time for such shenanigan.”“Shenanigan? You are literally confining me for months if not years because I am going to be having your child. That clause of this agreement is nuts, I should have the right to move around without being shadowed by security.”“You are unbelievably outspoken today, aren’t you miss…”“Elizabeth… my name is Elizabeth”“Of course. It seems you still do not grasp the situation on ground, which is quite understandable seeing your type of person. You are becoming a surrogate to the top man of the country after the president, I have enemies who would love to see me in total shambles and I would not allow your stupidity cost me that. Like I told you yesterday, if you are having problems with the way things are going to be done, you are totally free to leave so I can move on to other interested parties.”“You are an absolute condescending jerk, do you know that?” Elizabeth said, glaring at the asshole in front of her. “Excuse me” Jason wasn’t sure he had heard her correctly. “You heard me quite alright, how dare you think you can speak to me in any manner you please because I am in this situation with you. Were you taught no manners? How dare you sit on your high horse and decide who you call stupid, you asshole.” Elizabeth knew she was kissing this surrogacy thing and the only hope for her mother’s treatment goodbye but she wasn’t about to allow this man speak to her like she was an irritating fly buzzing around his ear. Jason sat deathly still as he watched the girl in front of him rant, he could see that she was way past caring about who he was which he found absolutely commendable. Very few people could talk to him in such a manner; men and women alike. “I have most certainly endured your condescending attitude but I have had it up to my neck with your choice of words to me. You will speak to me with respect and I do not give two fucks who you are. I am never signing this contract and you can kiss Satan’s ass on your way to hell.” Elizabeth did not wait to see the look on his face before she slammed the papers she was holding down on his table and practically fled. What the fuck have I just done? Elizabeth thought to herself as she made her way out, hailing a cab immediately. … “Did something happen?” Agatha, his housekeeper asked. She had seen the girl walk out in a rush and had wondered if something bad had happened. She has been working for the family of the Rodrigues' ever since Jason was a child and it was only right that when he had gotten his own apartment, she decided to become his housekeeper. He had that look on his face, the one he always had whenever he was shocked about something but a happy kind of shocked. Agatha wondered what the girl must have said to put him in such a mood. … Jason threw back his head for the second time that day and laughed… it felt absolutely good to laugh. She had cursed at him but he was feeling good… how crazy was that?. He had thought her weak and pathetic while she had been anything but that. Jason wondered what exactly it was that had made her try for the job of being his surrogate. True enough, there was no way he was going to employ her for that after the antics she had displayed in front of him but for the first time in a while, a woman had caught his attention.

Chapter 3 READY OR NOT!

“You what?” Elizabeth’s friend, Mara screamed at her. Elizabeth after much deliberation had told her friend about the surrogacy thing and also that she had just botched the one job she had to do to take care of her dying mother. “You can’t be serious, I mean you talked about it at the club and I just assumed it was the drink talking cause we were both drunk but actually going through with it?”“I went alright, met the man I am supposed to have his baby and even went over to his house, it was almost settled. After nine months I am to be paid $80000 and then taken care of for five years after. Do you know how wonderful that is?”“Liz! Being a surrogate is a very big decision, I can’t believe you made such decision without telling me and how do you think your mother would feel when she hears you had to get pregnant to foot her bills, she would blow the roof down. Come on, this isn’t you talking.”“Well it is not going to happen ever again because I yelled at the man in question, you know Jason the billionaire whose family is literally involved in all things that make the world running. I am not supposed to tell a soul but he’s the one, I agreed to get pregnant for.”“That’s crazy, he needs a baby? Do you think he is still accepting applications. There is nothing I wouldn’t do to have him impregnate me.” Mara squealed The look on Elizabeth’s face was enough to quieten her down. “I am sorry, I know how much of a bad temper you have, Liz. You should have just held whatever it was in for the sake of your mother.”“You think I did not try? I just couldn’t with him sitting down there looking so smug and talking down to me like he believed I was stupid or something. Nothing in the world should make someone so condescending towards his fellow human being.”“I mean, he owns almost everything on this side of town, a little attitude should definitely be in place.”“Whose side are you on right now, Mara?”“You know I am always on your side, maybe this is God’s way of telling you that he doesn’t approve of what you had been about to do.”“If he doesn’t approve, does he think he could make my mother get well on her own so I don’t have to do preposterous things.” Elizabeth sighed slapping her palm against her forehead. How could I had been so stupid as to yell at him? now that I thought about it, he had just sat there and stared at me as I raved no doubt surprised at my sudden outburst. “I don’t know what I am going to do, I can’t keep working at the convenience store forever. The money I make there isn’t be enough to take care of me, not to talk of treatments for my mother. This surrogacy thing was like a once in a lifetime opportunity and I botched it.”“It wasn’t your fault, Liz. Blame it on the arrogant asshole who could not accord respect to the one who is going to be carrying his own baby and heir. You are not in the wrong here so stop slapping your forehead, you will get a bruise.” Mara said, patting her friend on then shoulder. She knew how much her friend needed money at this point in her life and wished that she could offer that help, they had been friends since high school and it was because Mara was always bullied and then one day Elizabeth had stood up for her. Mara could remember that day like it was yesterday, Elizabeth standing over her and waving her fists at her bullies while she sat on the ground where she had been pushed, they had become inseparable after then. “There is no use for me crying over spilt milk, I have an evening shift at the store so I will see you later. Please take care of my mother for me till Darren gets back from school or wherever he is at this moment.”“I will, just go and stop thinking about what could have been… instead focus on the future and what would be.”“Shut up, Mara. You sound stupid” Elizabeth said smiling at her friend. “I do, don’t I? It sounded so much better when I heard it on TV” They both laughed, hugged and waved each other goodbye. Elizabeth got to her workplace in high hopes, she had plans to ask her boss for a salary raise and also that more shifts be given to her so she could try to raise money for her mother’s treatment before it became too late as the doctor had said. The door to the store opened and without looking up from the book she was reading, Elizabeth answered. “Please do come in” she yelled The person came in and stood in front of her. All Elizabeth felt was an overpowering presence and the scent of very expensive masculine spray. “What can I help…” Elizabeth sucked in her breath at the sight before her. It was Jason! But what was he doing here on this side of town and in particular store except… wait was he here for her? “You were saying?” He asked, an eyebrow raised “I’m sorry, what can I get you?” She said, trying so hard not to look at his startling blue eyes. They were like pools, you could literally drown in. “I want us to come to an agreement concerning the surrogacy and you can get me anything you think I need as a stress relaxing meal.” He said. Elizabeth’s eyes shot up to stare at him. He had to be joking right? Or she had not heard him correctly. “You look shocked.” He commented, his eyes twinkling with mirth. “No…I mean Yes, I just… why?”“Why I need the stress reliever? Well isn’t that quite obvious, I am a…”“No, you know what I am talking about, why do you still want me for the surrogacy”“Well because, Miss Elizabeth, you intrigue me and the fact that I don’t have you quite figured out like the others is driving me crazy.” Elizabeth gasped at his words and the half smile on his lips. She was in deep shit

Chapter 4 SUCH A PRICK

“What do you mean by you will be going away?” Darren, Elizabeth’s brother inquired as he watched her type away on her laptop. He could hardly understand why he had to be the one to take care of their mother at such young age, no offense or insult intended but he had his own life ahead of him and he could hardly imagine himself being bound by his ailing mother. To him he felt it was his sister’s job to take care of her and ever since their father had died some years ago, she had been doing that just fine without his help. “I need to go work to get money for her treatment, Darren. You just have to be with her for some months and I will be back. This is really important to me and it is literally the only thing that can get us out of this level.”“What kind of job is it? You know I am playing for the local football club and I just recently got selected to represent at the international level. I cannot botch this, coupled with the fact that I have school and a life.”“Who do you think is working so hard so you could have this life you have always wanted? Do not mess with me, Darren. What is more important to you, mother’s life or your football career.” The look on her brother’s face was enough to tell her that he had chosen the latter without hesitation. Elizabeth sighed, closing her laptop “I’m so sorry that I am springing this up on you but I had no idea this job would even come through, I merely applied because there was literally nothing to do and now I have to go because I have been chosen.”“You still haven’t told me what sort of job it is, what job has you going away for months without contacting your family or coming to see them.” Darren asked, folding his arms. “I cannot speak of it because I signed a non disclosure agreement but I promise it is nothing horrible, the person involved just thinks it is better I do not make any contact until I am done with it. Please Darren, try to understand me. I would ask Mara to check up once in a while and before you know it, I will be back.”“Yeah, whatever. I have practice right now so I will be leaving, see you.” Elizabeth watched him go and sighed again, this was not what she had expected when she had applied to be a surrogate for Jason, she had thought she would be allowed free access to her family and every other thing but it seemed that would hardly be possible. Elizabeth’s eyes went round her house and over to where she had dropped the card he had given her yesterday, it was his personal line and she was to call him by 7:00 pm today. She wondered what this was all about, her stomach knotting in anticipation. I find you utterly intriguing His own words, not hers and still she could not stop thinking about how that had made her feel, the pounding of her heart as he smiled at her and the way she had been lost for words. This wasn’t supposed to be happening and not at the time, it was merely a job and she was going to get it over with. Even as she said this, she still could not stop thinking about that smile, he looked less like an asshole with that smile. Elizabeth waited till it was 7:30 before picking up her phone and giving him a call, her hands jittery. “You are late” he stated simply immediately she identified herself. “Yes I was just contemplating whether it would be wise to call on you at the exact time you gave me.”“I gave you that time for a reason, Elizabeth.”“Yeah sorry” she muttered and then wondered why she had apologized. “It’s alright; now according to the form you filled, you have a mother and a brother? How does your mother feel about the whole surrogacy contract.”“I did not inform her that I am going to be a surrogate.”“How old are you, Elizabeth and I do not mean the age you put in the contract, I want your real age.”“I am twenty four, why do you ask?”“What is a graduate of business administration doing working at a convenience store.”“What business of it is yours? Is this an interrogation?”“No, it is an interview. I would like to get to know the person I am employing and if you feel uncomfortable answering the questions, I could simply employ the help of a private investigator.”“That won’t be necessary.” Elizabeth retorted. She did not want to answer any questions this man had to ask but at the same time, she did not want him formally aware of her mother’s illness. “Why did you decide to be a surrogate for me?”“Isn’t that obvious, Mr Rodrigues. I want the money and also the five years extra on top of it.”“ I did not peg you for someone who had much interest in money but I might be wrong.” Elizabeth was quiet for a while before clearing her throat “You are absolutely wrong, now if you are done interrogating me, I would like to call it a day.”“Come tomorrow to my office and we will finalize our deal… and please for God sake, wear something less beggarly or you are going to be appearing on the six o clock news.” Elizabeth was still trying to form a rude retort before she heard the line click, he had hung up. The arrogant prick, she fumed but got up immediately to look for something presentable to wear, no need angering him before she actually had her foot in the door. Plenty of time later to tell him exactly how much of an overbearing asshole he was and by all means she was going to make sure he knew.

Chapter 5 NEW RULES

Elizabeth thought against putting on makeup, he had said dress nice but did that mean she had to look good for him. She did not want to look good for him but she still found herself applying some lips gloss, no need getting her lips chapped just so she could look gross. Her mother was still asleep when she slipped out of the house, she has been sleeping much these days, no doubt to conserve energy. She looked so fragile and this only strengthened Elizabeth’s resolve at going through with this surrogacy thing and getting her mother up and about again. Darren was also still asleep, he had come back very late at night, drunk and had called her a coward. She knew he meant nothing by it and it was only the booze talking but she could not help but think about what he had said. What if this was her own way of running away, by bearing another man’s child and claiming she was only doing it for her mother while she just wanted to escape, she thought to herself She arrived at the office building at exactly 9:24 pm and was directed by the receptionist to a part of the building after she had stated her name. Elizabeth thought fleetingly about how where she was headed was not the route to his office, the place she had been led to the first time she was here before the door opened. “Come in, Elizabeth” a voice from inside called. She walked in clutching her purse like a lifeline and came face to face with him, Jason. He was looking at her like she had just dropped from the sky and she was feeling pretty uncomfortable. “Take a seat, you look nice by the way. Can I offer you anything before we begin?” He asked Elizabeth blushed to the roots of her hair, muttered a no, thank you and took a seat facing him. “I know we have both agreed to the details in the contract but I would still like to go over them with you one last time before it is sealed. You graduated top of your class according to the documents I am holding.”“Yes I did”“Well that’s great, we can say you are not stupid which is a good thing.” He said Elizabeth glared at him but nodded, waiting for him to continue, meanwhile her mind was already dissecting his comment about her dressing. She looked nice, he had said. “Earth to Elizabeth, what the fuck are you thinking about?”“I’m sorry, you were saying?”“I was asking you a question Elizabeth, about how you would feel if your egg is used for the procedure.”“My egg? Don’t you have someone else’s egg in place for fertilization. I am not much of a science person but I am pretty sure that is how it works.” Elizabeth stuttered, her mind going back to all of the research she had done on surrogacy. “You are right and I should indeed have an egg ready but I don’t and you don’t look so bad yourself, your blood group and type matches mine and it says here that you have no underlying illness and no inherited medical condition. You are as fit as they come so I was wondering how using your egg would sound. Before you refuse, I have made plans to draw up a new contract if you accept. I will be paying double the money and instead of five years after, we could make it six.” He said waiting for her reaction. Elizabeth was dumbfounded at the amount of money that was being mentioned just so one of her eggs could be used. She could already imagine her mother alive and well and thanking her for taking such risk. “You are smiling” Jason noted He was pretty sure this girl was crazy but a mysterious type of crazy. He wanted to know what it was she was thinking about that had made her smile in such a way but he knew she would never tell him. “I would have to think about this whole thing, I mean this is new and I need time to think about it.”“I am afraid I do not have much time on my hands but I understand your need to think about this new situation, so I would be giving you till noon tomorrow to come up with a response.”“Noon! That is so soon, this is a life changing decision and I would like more time to think.”“Life changing because your eggs are now being taken into consideration? Elizabeth, I have no time for this like I stated earlier, you will give me a response by noon so I can move on from this once and for all. What difference does it make if your egg will be used, I don’t see what the fuss is about.”“The fuss is that before I thought it would just be a baby cooking inside me who Is totally unrelated to my DNA but right now saying you want one of my eggs changes everything, I would be a mother to the baby genetically.”“Noon, Elizabeth. Think about it and give me a response by then.”“Fine, you will have an answer by noon tomorrow.” Elizabeth retorted, she was sure it looks could kill, the man before her would be dead already and she knew, he was thinking exactly that too. “Thank you, I would have my secretary see you out”“I can find my way out, there is no need for that. Have a great day Mr Rodrigues.”“And you too, Elizabeth.” Elizabeth got up, her knees shaky and her head fresh with ideas on how she was going to invest that much money into her mother’s treatment and her brother’s football career. She was absolutely giddy with excitement and was tempted to let out a whoop but refrained herself. “One more question, Elizabeth.” Jason’s voice stopped her hand on the door knob. “Yes?” She said turning around to face him. “You are not a virgin, are you?” He asked, eyebrow raised.

Chapter 6 OF VIRGINITY AND TRUTHS

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 thought He 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 phone Her 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 7 OF HEAT AND ACCEPTANCE

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 bearing my baby.”“Why are you so hell bent on making me your surrogate?” Elizabeth asked confused. “I don’t know yet, that’s what I want to find out, why I am intrigued and interested in you.”“I am still a virgin, I lied yesterday when you asked me.” Elizabeth blurted and then wondered why she had said that. There was a pause on the other side of the line and for a minute Elizabeth thought hat maybe he had given up and hung up… she thought wrong “Why are you still a virgin?”“What business of it is yours? I am a virgin and I don’t think surrogacy allows virgins, right?” Elizabeth asked. “It does but it is quite obvious you do not want any part in this and I am sorry if I seem to be forcing you. You shouldn’t do something you do not want to do, if you would excuse me. I will have your name taken off the list. Have a good night rest, Elizabeth.”“No…wait! Please wait, I’m sorry, I just have… I am interested, my answer is Yes. I would give you my egg and be your surrogate if you promise not to renege on your deal to treat my mother.” Elizabeth breathed “I don’t break deals, Elizabeth. When should I expect you tomorrow, you still have to sign the contract.”“I will be at your office as early as possible" “No, you will be coming over to my house, you still have my card that holds my address?” He asked “Yes I have it with me.”“Good, see you.” He said and then the line went dead. Elizabeth looked up from the phone and saw the concerned look of Mara’s face. “I thought you said you wouldn’t go through with it.” She muttered “Yes I did and that is what I told him the first time but he knows about my mother being sick, I don’t know how he found out but he said he would send her to the best hospital in the world if I accept his terms of surrogacy.”“He said that to you? What does this man want from you? Isn’t it strange that he is hell bent on you being the one that bears his child?” Mara noted sitting on the bed with her friend. “He said he finds me both intriguing and interesting and he wants to get to know me. For God sake, the man is a freaking billionaire. Why would he want to get to know me at all, I am nothing.”“You are smart and beautiful, Liz. You are far from nothing and I can see exactly what he sees in you, do not ever downplay yourself.”“Thank you Mar, I love you so much.” Elizabeth said hugging her friend. “Don’t worry, everything will be fine and you are going to absolutely nail this and be so rich that I will be booking appointments just to see you.”“Don’t be silly Mar, you are going to be rich alongside me.” Elizabeth smiled. “I am a leech remember, stuck to your body forever.” They both laughed as Mara made sound she considered leechy. When Elizabeth laid down to sleep, she thought about how her life was about to change for the better if she could just make it through a year being a surrogate. She was going to do this for her mother and brother and also for Mara. The next morning, Elizabeth woke up with a new surge of energy, she hummed as she took her bath and hummed as she kissed her mother goodbye and circled to Jason’s house. The housekeeper welcomed her again and directed her to some waiting room, this one equally breathtaking. She wondered if she was going to live here for the duration of the pregnancy and hoped she was, it was a beautiful home. “You are here” Jason said on entering. Elizabeth stood up immediately he entered, her heart slamming against her rib cage, he had jeans on and no shirt. Breath whooshed out of Elizabeth’s lungs at the sight of his flat, well muscled belly and hair running straight from his chest and down into his… Her eyes flew up immediately to meet his, she was blushing to the roots of her hair and he knew why. “You can sit” he said watching her with intense eyes. Elizabeth resisted the urge to fan her face as she was still blushing so hard, her face was probably looking like an overripe tomato. He wasn’t saying anything, just watching her which made Elizabeth very self aware. “You are really beautiful, blushing hard like that.” He finally said. Elizabeth groaned and then looked up at him. “I am so sorry for staring, you caught me off-guard and I could not help myself. It won’t repeat itself again, I promise.”“What if I want it to” he murmured quietly Elizabeth pretended as though she did not hear him but she was still blushing hard and that was enough proof that she had heard every word he had said.