Not for All The Gold in The World.
1516 Words
Two days later, I was surprised to receive a call from Mr. Harry. He asked me to come to Wolf Enterprises. Part of me says it's not a good idea. However, logic reminds me that I can't afford to be picky, and if the stuck-up Ian Wolf decided to offer me a job, I wouldn't be the one to reject it.
I have my shift at the nursing home in the afternoon, so I dress in my uniform. I tie my hair back in a ponytail and after applying subtle and light makeup, I grab my bag and left my apartment, hoping not to run into Mr. Sandoval.
I took the bus, and after a journey of almost forty minutes, I'm walking through the doors of the luxurious Wolf building. The receptionist gives me a disdainful look when I stop in front of her.
"Good morning, I'm here to see Mr. Harry from Human Resources."
"Miss Bennett?"
I nodded. "Go up to the top floor and head to the boardroom," she said without even giving me a second glance.
"But..."
"Have a nice day," she cuts me off, handing me a visitor badge.
I gave her a toothy smile before walking away to the elevators. I step into the elevator, then the elevator operator presses the floor I tell him. The arrival at the floor feels eternal. I can't help but notice how people in the elevator glance at me as we stop at some floors. Most of them are dressed in black, both men and women.
When we reach my floor, I step out. In the lobby, a woman awaits me wearing a black dress, below the knees, round neckline, short sleeves, and heels.
"Miss Bennett," she gives me a smile, "Follow me, please. Mr. Harry is waiting for you.”
She didn't say anything, just continued walking, and I followed her, feeling somewhat intimidated by her silence. We take one of the hallways, and I tense up as we pass in front of the office of the i***t Wolf. However, to my relief, we continue, and she stops a few doors ahead. Then she opens the door.
"Go ahead, please."
With my best smile and attitude, I enter the room, which dies down when I see who is sitting at the table.
The door closes behind me.
"It can't be true," I whispered.
"I see you're not happy to see me again."
"The truth is, I didn't expect to see you again," I cleared my throat, "I thought Mr. Harris wanted to see me."
Ian Wolf looks at me from his place. I know he's studying me. Judging me. The man was wearing a tailored black suit. His dark gaze is cold and unyielding.
"If you're wondering why I called you here..."
"Ian." I let out a dramatic sigh. "I'd like to get straight to the point, since I have to go to work," I smiled sarcastically, "You know, us, humans have to work."
He gives me a strange smile before sliding a folder that's on the desk. "Brooke Bennett. Twenty-three years old, an orphan with an unknown father's whereabouts, a nursing intern with a very high credit burden."
I straightened up at his words.
"What...?"
"You owe twenty thousand dollars to Jacob Hernandez, owner of a dive bar and drug dealer."
"That debt isn't mine," I mutter under my breath, "And how the hell do you know everything about me?"
He clicks his tongue. "Indeed, it was a debt by your boyfriend who ran away," he smiles enigmatically, "I investigated you, and believe me, it wasn't difficult. Just scratched the surface and found gold."
I opened the folder he slid briefly and saw all the information. My personal, medical, and financial data are in my hands.
"I also know you're about to be evicted by your landlord."
I choked back embarrassment. "And how does that affect you?"
"It doesn't. On the contrary, I see many benefits in it."
I looked at him without understanding whatever he was saying. "I called you here today because I have a proposal for you."
His hand slides a second folder towards me. I put my hand on it, but I didn't look inside. I keep my gaze on him.
"What would you say if I told you I could make all your debts and troubles disappear in the blink of an eye?"
"That it's a loaded question and wish-fulfilling genies only exist in movies."
"I'm better than a genie."
I raise an eyebrow. "I see you more as one of the forty thieves."
"Touche,” he laughs.
A hoarse laugh.
I cleared my throat and tried not to show too much curiosity.
"So, what would I have to do?"
He tilts his head for a few seconds before straightening up.
"Easy, have my child."
His words hang suspended, and I feel all the oxygen leave my lungs.
"What did you say? Excuse me, I think I misheard."
"You heard me very well, Brooke. I need an heir, and after doing a search, I came to the conclusion that you're the right one."
"The right one," I repeated what he said.
"Yes, we're genetically compatible, you're a healthy woman, and you understand science very well."
"I don't know what the last part has to do with anything," I mutter under my breath, realizing that the man dug into my medical history as if it were nothing.
"It means you'll understand my actions," he says.
His actions.
I stand up.
"We barely know each other, right? Five damn minutes and you're asking me..."
I shake my head. "Brooke, listen."
I glare at him.
"I would pay you very well,” he answered.
Anger wells up inside me. Furious, I took my information and stuffed it into my bag.
"Not for all the gold in the world would I have a child with a complete stranger."
I stormed out of that room like a fury.
—
Ian Wolf POV
"Miss Bennett has guts."
I can't help but smile as I watch her storm out of my office so angry. However, things went as expected.
"Brooke Bennett didn't disappoint me, if she had accepted immediately, she wouldn't have passed the test."
When David gave me the information yesterday afternoon, I devoted myself to studying the woman. Not that I have many alternatives, debts are drowning her.
"I wondered a thousand times, why her? Why not just go to a lab and find a surrogate mother?"
I shook my head. She got furious when she realized I had dug into her past. Of course, David found the s**t boyfriend who ran away with the drug dealer's money. But if I gave her the information, then I wouldn't have her in my hands.
And that's my advantage.
I've decided to carry out my plan, and I won't stop until I make it possible. In these months, I've lost a lot; my life plans, a woman I thought was the one, my family sees me with pity.
As if I needed their damn pity!
I was the laughingstock thanks to the news spreading everywhere, even Ares West, my childhood friend, must have seen it, and surely more than one laughed at what happened. The man who finds his future wife screwing another man on the same day as the wedding.
But that's going to change. I reached out and grabbed my phone.
"David."
I said when he picked up.
"Mr. Wolf."
"I need you to get me information on a building. To be more specific, an apartment complex."
"Departments?"
When I gave him the address of the area, he fell silent for a few seconds.
"Are you sure?"
"That's right," I smile smugly, "I think I feel like acquiring a specific one."
I left the boardroom, and when I'm halfway there, Monica, my new assistant, is waiting for me. The woman knows how to do her job, she's not perfect, and I don't trust her at all. However, she's observant and discreet.
"Mr. Wolf. There's someone who wants to see you," she seems hesitant, "insisted a lot, and..."
"Who?"
I entered my office, and she followed.
"Me, can we talk?"
Veronica's low, sweet tone fills my ears as I see her standing in the middle of my office with a sad and repentant look in her eyes.
"Leave us alone, Monica."
My tone is cold, and I see her shudder a bit.
"Can I offer you coffee, water?" Monica asked.
"Nothing," I snap as I move to my desk and take a seat in my chair, "nothing is offered to her because she won't stay long."
Monica leaves in silent obedience, closing the door behind her, and I focus on Veronica.
She squirms. I know my scar makes her uncomfortable.
"To the point, Veronica. I don't have time to waste."
She looks at me with her eyes wide open. If she thought she would find empathy and that I had buried the hatchet, she's very mistaken.
Yes, I loved her, and I still feel things, but what she did marked me in many ways.
- Writer
