CHAPTER3
1108 Words
What Susie had said made me wonder what exactly I could do. My father's days were numbered, but I could postpone it if I could pay it all up.
I wanted to cut ties with him, but I didn't have the guts to let him be tortured. No company or loaner would lend me some money due to his popularity as a chronic debtor.
The smell of antiseptics clouded with some other chemicals filled the air as I walked into the hospital. The white fluorescent lamp shone brightly on the wall, making the white color of the wall glow.
"I'm here to see Doctor Sterling," I said upon reaching the reception. The eyes of the receptionist shone brightly as I spoke of him. It seemed she thought highly of me as his wife, and from her stare, I could tell she liked him.
"Miss Darcie, nice to see you," Doctor Starling walks in, hugging me in front of her. I could see the raging hate she felt as his hands settled on my waist.
"It seems your receptionist loves you," I whispered into his ears as she kept throwing death glares at me.
"You don't have to worry about her. She wants me to herself, but I can't come clean to her that. I'm married with two kids already," Sterling whispered before breaking the hug.
"Two kids?" I thought. To think Doctor Sterling, the most handsome surrogate doctor in the whole of San Francisco, was married with kids was shocking news.
As Sterling led me to a ward, I could see how crazy in love the receptionist was. She couldn't take her eyes off us till we were out of sight. A one-sided love at that.
"Have you spoken to her about your wife and children? She has the right to know," I let out.
"I have, but she's just so obsessed with me that she doesn't feel comfortable if any females ask of me. I can't be in a polygamous relationship as a doctor; it's not good for my mental health."
"That's true, but you have to set your boundaries and priorities right," I advised.
"Yes, Miss Darcie," he chorused, taking her into an empty ward.
"So what brings you here? The last time you came here was when Sebastian fell off the ladder while trying to fix the roof," he spoke up.
"Yeah, the thing is. I was hoping I could register for surrogacy."
"Your uterine walls are too thin, or what? The last time I saw you, they were all good." His look changed. He was worried about me not being able to give birth.
"No, not like that. I mean, I want to become a surrogate mother," I explained.
"That's great. Have you told Sebastian about it?" he asked.
"Not yet; I'll tell him when it's time."
"What made you want to become a surrogate mother?" Sterling questioned. He was my childhood friend, so he knew I wouldn't do anything of the sort.
"Well, it's my father. He's been captured by some loan sharks, and the pay is quite much to be paid in a week, and this seems to be my only way out," I explained. I could feel the tears rolling down my cheeks as I spoke.
Sterling was touched, but he couldn't let me do it either. He knew this was about money, but he also couldn't help given his family situation and all. He was perplexed, knowing he had no choice but to help me somehow or let me in on a surrogacy contract.
"Okay, there's no problem then. I'll let you in on it," he said, a single tear rolling down his cheek. Afraid I'd catch a glimpse of it, he wipes his face with his arms, brushing it up like nothing happened.
"Thank you, Sterling," I said, wrapping my arms around him and taking him in for a hug.
"What are you guys doing?" The voice of the receptionist brought us back to reality. Breaking the hug with immediate effect.
"We were just sharing a hug," I explained.
"And who permitted you to hug one of the senior staff? I mean, just look at yourself compared to him. You guys aren't compatible," she let out, staring at me with disgust.
"Helen, please stop. Darcie here is my childhood friend; she has the right to hug me no matter where we are," Sterling let out in anger.
"This is a workplace, not a playhouse. If you want to hug her, you can do that somewhere else," she responded.
"So what exactly do you want? You should be at the reception clearing victims and all," Sterling let out.
"You've been called by the CEO. He said he needs a surrogate mother for one of the hospital's top clients in less than five minutes," she strutted backward, slamming the door in our faces.
"Seems I'm up.".
"You're serious about this whole surrogate thing," he questioned.
He was amazed that I had decided to give birth before being disinfected. I'm not the first woman to have ever done that, so it's much more of a possible thing than impossible.
After much thought, he decided to let me in on it. He guided me to the twentieth floor, where the CEO's office stood firm. With a knock on the door, the doors slid on the opposite side, opening up for us to gain entry.
"Is she the one who will be making our dreams of having a baby come true?" a man in a gray suit asked, staring at me from top to bottom?
"She looks healthy; she's the right pick if you ask me," the thick voice of the CEO, Mike Carlton echoed in my ears.
"We're willing to pay 2 million dollars if she can get the baby to us in good health. We'll pay for the medicals and all and give her a million dollars upfront to settle her parents in case they're looking for her," the man in the gray suit let out. He was happy I had decided to give surrogacy a chance and have his child for his wife.
"Okay, so my client has agreed to let you be the surrogate mother. It's time for you to sign the surrogacy contract." the CEO summarized.
"Just like that?".
"Just read the terms and conditions, sign, and it will all be sorted out," he explained.
As I picked up the pen to sign after reading the terms and conditions, I began to wonder. What happens after I pay my father's debt? What happens when Sebastian finds out I'm pregnant just because of money? What would everyone think of me?
- Writer
