So puzzled
817 Words
I practically bolted out of the building, my mind a chaotic whirl of emotions. Fifty million dollars. The number echoed in my head like a mantra, a constant reminder of the choice I had just made. Was I insane? Probably. But I couldn't back out now. My signature was on the dotted line, and Ethan Williams had ensured that everything was legally binding.
The cab ride home was quiet, save for the occasional buzz of my phone Lily, my best friend and the only person who might somewhat understand the insanity I was getting myself into, had been texting nonstop. She’d be the first to know, though I had no idea how I’d explain this without sounding utterly mad.
When I finally got home, I dropped the contract onto my kitchen table and collapsed onto the couch. My apartment, small and cluttered but undeniably mine, felt oddly suffocating now. That stack of paper represented a monumental shift in my life—one that I wasn’t sure I was ready for.
I thought about Ethan Williams, as I’d decided to call him in my head. He was a contradiction. Cold and calculated one moment, sincere and almost vulnerable the next. What was it about me that made him think I was the right person for this? I couldn't shake the feeling that there was more to his decision than just "gut instinct."
My phone buzzed again. This time, I forced myself to check it.
LILY: "Well? How’d it go? Are you rich yet? Or did the dude turn out to be some cult leader?"
I rolled my eyes, but a small smile crept onto my face.
Me: "Not a cult leader. I have finally signed the contract"
The response was instant.
LILY: "WHAT?! you finally signed your soul away!, what else was in the contract?",
Me: "It’s complicated, Lily. I’ll explain everything tomorrow. Just... let me process this, okay?"
LILY: "Fine, but you owe me every juicy detail. Also, fifty million? Girl, you better be getting a palace out of this."
I laughed despite myself, but the reality of it all quickly sobered me. There was no turning back now.
---
The next morning, I woke to the sound of my phone ringing. It was an unfamiliar number, but something told me to answer.
"Hello?"
"Miss Smith," came a familiar, authoritative voice. "It’s Ethan I hope I’m not disturbing you."
My stomach tightened. "No, not at all. Is everything okay?"
"I wanted to inform you that the initial payment has been deposited into your account. You should see it shortly."
I blinked, momentarily stunned. "Already?"
"Of course. I don’t believe in delays," he said matter-of-factly. "Also, I’ve arranged for your first medical evaluation. My driver will pick you up tomorrow morning at nine."
My heart raced. This was really happening. "Okay," I managed to say. "I’ll be ready."
"Good. Have a pleasant day, Miss Smith."
He hung up before I could respond, leaving me staring at my phone in disbelief. I opened my banking app and nearly dropped my phone when I saw the balance. It was real. A quarter of fifty million dollars, sitting in my account.
For a brief moment, I allowed myself to imagine the possibilities. No more hospital loans. No more endless shifts at the stripper club. Freedom.
But as the excitement began to fade, a new feeling crept in. This was only the beginning, and I had no idea what the next chapter of my life would hold.
How will i explain it to my mum that i decided to be a surrogate only to lose the baby at the end.
The weight of what I had done settled on me like a heavy blanket. Fifty million dollars was a life-changing amount, but the implications of the decision I’d made were beginning to feel insurmountable.
My mother’s condition flashed in my head and l became more puzzled.
l really needed this money for her hospital bills.
The thought of my mother’s fragile state pushed me to my feet. I paced the small living room, the weight of the contract, the money, and the decision pressing on my chest. Fifty million dollars could save her life—pay for the surgeries, the treatments, the specialized care she needed. But how would she feel knowing what I had agreed to?
My phone buzzed again, pulling me out of my thoughts. It was a message from Lily.
LILY: “I know you said you’d explain tomorrow, but I can’t stop thinking about it. tell me everything Alice”
I stared at the screen, debating how much to tell her. If anyone could help me make sense of this, it was Lily, but I wasn’t even sure I understood it myself.
ME: “I will tell you everything tomorrow, I want to sleep right now.”
Without waiting for her response , I switched off my phone.
- Writer
