Chapter 1
716 Words
"Sixty-three dollars?!"
I stare at the ATM in disbelief. There isn't enough for me to afford food and pay all the bills.
Again.
"I guess I'll go without electricity again," I mutter grumpily.
There's still six more days until I get my paycheck and I know there won't be more than two
hundred dollars on there, but that's what happens when you get blackballed in New York.
Heaven forbid I report s****l assault in the work place!
Now nowhere good will hire me and I have a below minimum wage paying job.
How did I go from being a paralegal to being a dish washer? Oh yeah, Ryan Roberts.
My old boss. He might have been somewhat of a looker to anyone trying to find someone
without a beer belly, but to this day I have no clue if I was the only one he tried to touch like that
or if it was a habit.
Either way, I reported him and even though he got fired by his boss, it never took away his reach
of influence. Everywhere I go calls him for a reference and Everytime, they stop considering me
for a job.
Lesson learned. Never trust somebody with two first names.
It only takes two minutes to reach my studio apartment. Everything is in the same room, kitchen,
living room, and bed. All except the bathroom that is.
It's small, but it's nice and all I can afford. The only reason such a nice place is so cheap is
because my view out the window is a lovely orange and rusted red brick wall. Such sunlight I
get.
Deciding I'd like there to be a day when I can eat more than a meal and half, while also having
full water, electricity, and internet benefits, I pull out my old dented Mac and turn to Google for
help.
Pulling up the website I go to when I'm desperate for fast cash.
"Drug drop off... Never.
Movers... Nah.
Selling virginity... Already did that,"
And boy did that cash last. In fact, that's what got me off the streets after getting evicted. It also
helped me eat well for almost a full year.
Unfortunately, cash runs out.
I'm aware I'll never get my innocence back, but it's what I had to do to survive.
"Escort... Maybe."
I don't think I have a nice enough dress. I have summer dresses sure, but no ball gowns or gala
appropriate getups.
"Surrogate..."
I want to say no, but when I see that the average pay is $70,000, I hesitate.
It's a good chunk of cash, but less than half of what I sold my virginity for.
How would I afford the food to keep the baby healthy, or the transportation to the doctors
appointments?
I'm ready to dismiss the idea all together when I see a stories section below.
Scrolling down, I notice you can click on pictures of different couples to read about them.
They all look quite average, but one of the couple's stand out to me.
Their application is older than most. The man has a dangerous look about him and cold presence,
while the woman next to him looks oblivious and self concerned.
Interested in their story, I click the picture and a whole paragraph pops up below.
Jasmine and Troy Moretti have been together for three years. With the wish for children, the
couple is in need of a surrogate. Their expectations however, are a bit peculiar.
They would like to spend one week getting to know whomever sends in a serious offer and if they
agree on the surrogate, there are initial expectations.
The surrogate will move in with the Moretti's for the duration of the pregnancy and until the
child is done with breastfeeding. Housing, food, excersize programs, and all activities will be
paid for in full and the surrogate will walk away with $100,000.
To apply for an interview with this couple, call ***7446896.
The amount on the monitor makes me breathless. That's enough for me to leave New York and
get new housing somewhere that people will actually hire me! I could go to...
Well, I'll think about it later.
With a smile on my face, I dig my cell phone out of my pocket and dial the number.
- Writer
