BILLIONAIRE'S SURROGATE BABY

02

~Thalia~

I watched as Kimberly got dressed, her worn-out clothes a stark contrast to my designer labels. Yet, despite her thrift store attire, she still managed to look effortlessly pretty. Her curly blonde hair cascaded down her back, and her bright blue eyes sparkled with excitement. I felt a pang of jealousy but quickly masked it with a fake smile.

"Hey, Kim! You look great today," I said, trying to sound sincere.

Kimberly beamed, oblivious to my true feelings. "Thanks, Thalia! I'm so excited for my job interview today."

I nodded, feeling a surge of resentment. Why did she get to be so carefree, so beautiful, while I was stuck in this rut? I hated her, but I couldn't let her know that. I had to keep up the charade.

As Kimberly finished getting dressed, I grabbed my phone and pretended to check my messages. "Oh, I have to go. My mom is calling me."

Kimberly nodded, still chattering away about her interview. I tuned her out, feeling a sense of relief as I left the room.

I got stuck in a traffic jam on the way to the mansion, my mind wandering back to Kimberly. We'd been friends for so long and she was the most naive, I mean foolish person I had ever come across.

And although I had helped her all through with her expenses at high school, I had my plans. Kimberly has always been the loved one, the one everyone kept fawning over. Back then, at high school, even the guys I loved didn't spare me a glance.

To crown it all, my parents loved her. I tightened my grip on the steering. Why did she have to be so perfect? I thought about my own life, my privileged upbringing, and my lack of direction. I felt like I was just going through the motions, while Kimberly was living life to the fullest.

As I sat in traffic, I thought about my new job as Aiden Everest's secretary. I was excited when I started last week, but I knew it wouldn't be easy. Rumours had it that Aiden was demanding, and I would have to work hard to keep up with him.

Finally, I arrived at the mansion, and my parents were already seated in the living room. My mother smiled, her eyes gleaming with pride, as always.

"Thalia, darling, we heard about your new job as Aiden's secretary. Congratulations!" she said, her voice warm and inviting.

I smiled, feeling a sense of accomplishment. "Thanks, Mother. I'm excited about it."

Father nodded, his expression serious and grim. "We're proud of you, Thalia. You're finally taking your life seriously."

I felt a sting from his words, he never saw the good in whatever I did anyway. Mother intervened before I could respond.

"Thalia, tell us more about your job. What's Aiden like?" she asked.

I launched into a story about my first day, My mother listened intently.

As I finished, she patted my hand. "You're doing great, Thalia. We're so proud of you."

I smiled. Maybe this job was exactly what I needed - a chance to prove myself, to make my parents proud. And maybe, just maybe, I could finally surpass Kimberly in beauty and charm.

~Marco~

I dialled Kimberly's number, and she answered on the first ring. "Hello?"

"Hey, Kimberly. I'm Marcos. I'm here to pick you up for your interview."

"Oh, hi! Where do I meet you?"

"There's a coffee shop on 5th and Main. I'll meet you there at 10."

I hung up the phone and drove to the coffee shop. When I arrived, Kimberly was already there, fidgeting with her hands. She looked nervous, and I couldn't blame her. She had no idea what she was getting herself into.

As she got into the car, I couldn't help but notice her clothes. They weren't branded, and I could tell she wasn't from a wealthy background. But she was perfect. Her beauty was undeniable, and I found myself having a crazy idea.

"Hey, so how's it going?" I asked, trying to sound friendly.

Kimberly smiled nervously. "I'm good, thanks. I'm just a little anxious about the interview."

I nodded sympathetically. "Don't worry, you'll do great."

As we drove, Kimberly asked me questions about the job, but I just smiled and told her she'd find out soon enough. I wasn't about to spill the beans on Aiden's surrogacy plans.

As we drove, the car suddenly sputtered and died. I groaned, getting out to take a look. "Sorry about this," I said, trying to reassure Kimberly.

Kimberly looked worried. "What are we going to do?"

I pulled out my phone and dialled a number. "Don't worry, I'll call for backup. We'll be there in no time."

I pulled out my phone and dialled a number, but before I could even explain the situation, a sleek black car pulled up in front of us. Aiden got out of the driver's side door, his eyes narrowing as he took in Kimberly's appearance.

"Who wears such clothes anymore, especially to a job interview?" he sneered, his gaze lingering on her thrift store outfit.

I inhaled sharply, my eyes darting to Kimberly, who frowned and took a step forward. "Excuse me?" she said, her voice firm but wary.

I sensed the tension between the two and quickly intervened. "Aiden, this is Kimberly Banks, the candidate I told you about," I said, trying to sound calm.

I turned to Kimberly. "And Kimberly, this is Aiden Everest, youngest billionaire and heir to the Everest Group of Companies."

Kimberly scoffed, her pretty face making her look even more beautiful as she muttered, "That's why he's so rude."

Aiden's frown deepened. "Repeat yourself," he demanded, his voice cold.

I laughed, trying to diffuse the situation. "I think we can dispense with the formalities, Aiden. We're not exactly in a boardroom."

But Aiden's gaze remained fixed on Kimberly, his eyes flashing with annoyance. I wondered what I had just gotten myself into. Aiden kept a cold and straight face while Kimberly had a feisty expression. I rubbed my temples, already getting worried for the both of them.

~Kimberly~

It's been hours since I left the mansion, but my mind was still reeling from the events of the day. I couldn't believe I went through with it - signing an agreement to be a surrogate for Aiden Everest, of all people. The youngest billionaire and heir to the Everest Group of Companies. Who would have thought?

I walked through the front door, my mind on how the day went. From meeting Marcos, who seemed nice enough, to being picked up by Aiden in his sleek black car. I remembered how he sneered at my outfit, and how I had to bite my tongue to keep from responding. But what caught me off guard was when Marcos introduced him as my employer. I couldn't believe it.

The interview itself was a blur. Aiden asked me questions, and I answered as honestly as I could. He seemed to be sizing me up, but I tried not to let it get to me. But then, they asked me if I was ready for it. Ready to carry a child for nine months, to give up my body and my freedom. I hesitated, unsure of what to say. I asked for more time to think about it, and they agreed.

Now, as I paced back and forth in my living room, I couldn't help but feel nervous. I couldn't wait for Thalia to get home, so I could tell her everything. She would know what to do, she always did.

I lay on my bed after hours of pacing back and forth. I tried shaking the feeling of unease, but it just wouldn't go away. I hate kids. I know it sounds harsh, but it's the truth. My last therapist tried so much to help me get over it.

But no matter how hard so tried, I kept recalling how and why I had grown to hate children this much. To others, they may be bundles of joy, cute, adorable, but to me... I could strangle a child who came anywhere near me. And now, I'll be carrying one for nine months. How will I cope? The thought of it made my stomach turn.

But the money... oh, the money. It's a small fortune, enough to help me achieve my dream of going back to college.

I thought about Aiden, and how cold he seemed. But then, I remembered the way he looked at me like I was some kind of puzzle he couldn't figure out. And Marcos, who seemed nice, but also seemed to be hiding something.

I sighed, feeling a sense of resignation wash over me. I've made my bed, now I have to lie in it. I'll just have to find a way to deal with it, for the sake of my dream. I closed my eyes, willing sleep to elude me, but I kept thinking that I was about to make a deal with the devil himself.

Still lost in thought, my phone rang, breaking the silence. I hesitated for a moment before answering, hoping it wasn't Aiden or Marcos calling to pressure me into making a decision.

"Hey, girl! What's up?" my friend and colleague at one of my part-time jobs, 'Emily's' voice chimed through the phone.

I smiled, feeling a sense of relief. "Not much, Em. Just had a crazy day."

"Want to talk about it over ice cream?" she asked, I silently pondered over it, and it sounded great. Anything to relieve my stress right now and Ice cream was the perfect choice.

Emily sure knew me so well for suggesting something she knew I couldn't resist.

We met up at our favourite ice cream parlour, and as we walked in, the sweet aroma and colourful decorations immediately lifted my mood. We ordered our favourite flavours and sat down at a small table by the window.

"So, what's going on?" Emily asked, taking a lick of her cone.

I hesitated, unsure if I should share the surrogacy news since Emily was a chatterbox and would certainly snitch if she knew about it. But there was something about her eyes, and genuine interest that put me at ease, and I found myself pouring out the whole story.

She listened attentively, asking questions and making supportive noises. When I finished, she took my hand in hers.

"Kim, you'll figure it out. You always do. But for now, let's just enjoy our ice cream and forget about it, okay?"

I nodded, feeling a weight lift off my shoulders. We spent the rest of the evening chatting, laughing, and enjoying each other's company.

As the night wore on, Emily offered to drive me home. We cruised through the quiet streets, the windows rolled down, and the cool night air blowing through our hair.

When we pulled up to Thalia's apartment, the lights were still out. Meaning she wasn't home yet. It was so late, what would she still be doing out?

Emily turned to me and said, "Remember, Kim, you don't have to decide anything tonight. Just sleep on it, and we'll talk more tomorrow, okay?"

I nodded, feeling grateful for her friendship. "Thanks, Em. You're a lifesaver."

As I got out of the car and waved goodbye, I bit my lips, walking into the house and turning the lights on. There was no need to make dinner; I had my fill at the ice cream shop. Speaking of which, I guess the ice cream made me feel a sense of peace. Because for the first time since the interview, I felt like I could breathe again.

I went to bed that night with a clear mind, determined not to think about the surrogacy until the morning. As I drifted off to sleep, I knew that tomorrow, I would face whatever decision came my way with a clearer head and a stronger heart and with my friend 'Thalia' by my side.