The Surrogate And The Billonaire's Secret

Signed off To Him

Frances POV

The envelope sat on the mini table like a ticking bomb in our tiny living room. I stared at it as my intrusive thoughts ran like a thousand miles per minute.

"This is it" Laurel, who was sitting across from me said. " Are you going to open it?" She asked

I swallowed hard as I contemplated the decision.

The Contract from Conrad King.

The thought of what was inside would only mean that I was accepting reality. I had hoped and even prayed that yesterday's confrontation was a bad dream, some weird trick that my mind was trying to play on me .

But here it was, delivered right to my doorstep and sealed with the kings corporation sign. The contract. This was the absolute proof that it wasn't a nightmare.

" Laurel, I don't want to open it.....I can't" I said to my best friend and roommate with concern written all over me.

" You have to, you heard what the man said" she urged and then continued. " Besides, this is Conrad King we're talking about, we both know that he's someone not to mess with, especially now that he knows your address"

Laurel was right. Postponing it wasn't going to change anything

I took a deep breath and then opened the envelope with shaky hands. Laurel immediately sat beside me as we read through the clauses together.

"Damn Frances.....the money. Do you realize what this could do for you?" She asked out loud as if trying to ease the tension that was obviously in the air. " 10million, the benefits, the healthcare, I mean you could even get a private wing if you ever need it......and most importantly, all of your debts would be cleared!" She added the last part with excitement in her voice

10 million is a lot of money, I mean Conrad King was right when he said I wouldn't be able to lay my hands on it at once even if I worked 20years with my current jobs.

" Frances ......" Laurel called out in a low voice

" But it feels like I'd be selling my soul to him. " I replied her firmly and then asked. " Why do I need to move in with him? I don't want to give him that control over me."

" I understand how you feel, but you need to understand that this is you securing your future ........ I mean if you are going to be tied down to anyone, at least it's a billionaire, the conrad king.....and trust me babe, you could have done worse " Laurel explained. I didn't miss the mischievousness in her tone.

Usually I would have laughed at her silly jokes but I didn't, I couldn't. I glanced at the contract and read through the words that haunted me. " The Surrogate must reside in the King estate for the duration of the pregnancy"

" That's what I'm afraid of Laurel, living under his roof " I faced her. " Being under his control, yesterday I almost collapsed when I saw that he was the same person from the hospital "

Laurel grabbed both my hands with hers and then squeezed them tightly. " I get it .......but you don't really have a choice Frances, the contract says that even without the Secretary job , you still have to move in....... what's the worse that could possibly happen? " She asked rhetorically

The thought of living the glamorous life, even if it was just for 9months sounded really appealing and tempting but then...... wouldn't I become the girl who once painted under the stars, dreaming of art galleries now bound by ink and possibly blood to Conrad King?

" You know what, you don't need to decide this very minute." Laurel interrupted my intrusive thoughts. " Your aunt Julia's birthday dinner.... have you decided to go?" She asked

I immediately stilled.

The mention of the Woody's Family made my heart ache. " I don't know if I can face them"

"Then don't go" She stated firmly. " They are toxic and you don't owe them anything "

Ever since the whole Amy and Steven incident, I had avoided anything that had to do with them. Especially when they were totally okay with what Amy did to me.

" If I don't go, it will look like they won.... like they succeeded in breaking me and besides, I won't hear the end of it" I replied

Laurel remained silent as I spoke.

" I think I should go. " I blurted out. " If not for the accident that happened 6 years ago, my mom ought to be celebrating her 52 birthday alongside Amy's mom. I am going to go and pretend like my mom is there is with me" I concluded

I watched as Laurel wrapped her arms around me in a tight hug. " Do you want me to go with you?" She asked

" I wish you could, but don't you have to work?" I replied as I leaned into the hug.

" Right...I do need to work, I have this deadline that I need to meet " she said and then added. "You'd be fine okay... just stay for an hour or so "

I nodded in response.

Later than day, I walked into my aunty's house wearing a black jumpsuit with silver heels, the one I've had for 2 years.

"Happy Birthday Aunt Julia" I greeted her

As soon as Amy's mom saw me, she sneered. "See who we have here....So you finally remembered that you have a family"

"I..." I tried to defend but she cut my words short.

" You stayed away because of Amy and Steven , how childish is that?" She asked rhetorically. Her voice was sharp and I watched as Adam, her husband nodded in agreement to what she said.

" When are you going to stop acting like a victim ? You should be grateful that we still tolerate you" she added.

I tried my possible best to hold the tears that were beginning to gather in my eyes. I had only just arrived yet they were already treating me like the enemy. Like I was the one who betrayed them. Meanwhile their daughter was the one who had been sleeping with my boyfriend, 6 months before I even found out yet they're mad at me for being upset?

How does that even make sense?

I wanted to defend myself but I decided against it. I have come to realize that there was no point trying to prove myself to them as they'd only manipulate the situation.

" Here's a little gift I got for you aunty" I said to her with a tight smile as I showed her the gift bag I had brought.

I watched as she eyed it up and down before accepting. " I wonder what's in there" she said and then added. " The meal will be served soon, make sure you don't cause any trouble Frances"

Ofcourse,..... I was the problem.

I walked towards the already set table and took my seat.

And then, as if scripted by fate itself, Amy and Steven scrolled in hands intertwined like the most natural thing. I watched as Amy leaned into him and then whispered only God knows what to him. It was a way to fluant their relationship to my face and I absolutely got it.

My chest tightened until I couldn't breathe, I thought I could endure it, I thought I could stand tall but apparently I just couldn't.

Immediately, I excused myself and walked into the backyard of the house. I stared into space and was lost in thoughts when I heard it, My name. I turned around to find Amy walking towards me with two glasses of wine.

" I'm surprised you made it.." she started. " I mean I even had a bet with Steven" She added

" And why would you do that?" I asked

"It doesn't matter any more......here" she said as she handed a glass to me. But I refused.

" No it's okay Amy....I'm not drinking tonight" I declined knowing fully well that I was pregnant.

" Oh c'mon Frances, I'm trying to be nice here, it's just a glass" She insisted

" I'm serious Amy, I'm not drinking" I refused firmly.

I watched as she scoffed out loud. " I'm trying to make an effort here, what is wrong with you?" She asked in a irritated tone.

An effort? Does she think offering me a glass of wine was going to make up for the way she hurt me?

Before I knew what was happening, Amy tried to force the wine into my mouth but I immediately pushed her away.

" I said no! What part of no don't you understand?" I didn't realize how loud my voice was because next thing I knew, people started to gather and whisper.

I watched as Steven rushed towards Amy. " Are you okay?" He asked her and then faced me. "why did you push her?"

" I was just trying to be nice...to make peace but she pushed me away" She replied in the most attention seeking tone.

In a twinkling of an eye, I felt a sharp pain on my face. Yes, Julia woody , my mother's twin sister had arrived and slapped me hard. " What is wrong with you? What exactly is your problem Frances? " Julia asked and then added. " I clearly told you not to cause any trouble! How dare you try to ruin my birthday?"

"I have had enough of your shenanigans Frances! " Adam barked as he approached Amy. " Why do you have to be soo ungrateful?"

I glanced towards Amy and noticed the smirk forming at the corners of her lips, She was obviously enjoying this.

At this point, I allowed the tears to flow freely. Neither of them was interested in what really happened and I wasn't even surprised.

Without uttering any word, I turned on my heels and stormed out of the house with only one thing on my mind.

I was going to accept the protection that I clearly needed.

By the time I got home, my entire body trembled from suppressed sobs. The contract lay on the mini table, exactly where I had left it.....cold and waiting.

My fingers hovered over the lines as I whispered. " It is better to be bound to Conrad King than to be treated like a doormat by my soo called family "

Without any form of hesitation, I penned down my name and signed the contract.