Chapter 4: Never Will I Ever!

DAHLIA'S POV

I am speechless as the lady calls back the doctors to take Jerome back into the emergency room and start his operation even before I reply to her question. A sudden burst of emotion courses through my body as I watch her call the shots. Well, I know the feeling, to be at the top and have such power. Now that's all in the past for me.

“I'm sorry, ma'am. But what offer?” I finally find my voice again when I see the doctor in charge of Jerome's surgery entering the ER.

“It's a private matter. Let's go to my office if you have the time now?”

“Well, I should…”

“Of course, she has the time now, Miss Nani!” Sunny nudges me as I try to give an excuse.

It seems everyone knows this woman that has my husband and daughter's well-being in her hands and I don't.

“Don't worry, I will watch over Jerome until you come back, Best.” She waves me off to follow the woman when I continue to hesitate.

I follow her outside, and she takes me to her car instead, stopping only when she pauses to greet a few patients and doctors that wave at her. She's getting a lot of attention and that reminds me who she is, the director of the hospital and her brother owns it. When we reach her car, she urges me to enter the backseat with her.

I hesitantly do what she says and wait for her to settle in and tell me what I anticipate to hear. Her suspense makes me feel uncomfortable around her, but she smiles when she notices, killing whatever bad expectations I build up in my head.

“It's nothing much, and I won't force you. But I want to be honest with you, although I can't go into details about the offer right now. I believe it'll benefit you more based on your story.” She starts, making me take a deep breath.

“Uhm, my story?” I blink in confusion, wondering if she knows me more than I think she does.

“I don't know how to put this, but I have been watching you for a while and I have read your file. I've also seen you in the papers and… I just know stuff about you that has brought us to this moment.” She says, pulling an iPad from her handbag and scrolling through for a bit, then hands it to me.

She plays the live stream from earlier which I have totally forgotten. It ends when I snatch the phone from Mr Peter's daughter. It looks humiliating even though it hasn't gone viral and I couldn't look at the comments.

“The video will be taken down, the hospital bills will be sorted out, you and your family will move into a better house and the damages for the burnt property will be covered by me. And you'll be paid afterwards, enough for you to fight for your property, rebuild your brand and save your failing marriage.” She points out, watching me gape at her.

“Why will you do all that for me? I don't even know you. Why were you stalking…”

“No, that's not the right word.” She laughs, putting a hand to my arm. “Let's say I looked into you amongst other ladies on my list for this job and you were the most qualified because you are a fighter and you've a family to protect. You have a lot to lose and that's why I'm taking this risk.”

“And what makes you think I'd take up whatever the job is because of my interesting story?” I lift my brow, wondering what the job is as she makes it sound scary.

She sighs lightly, and pulls out a file from his handbag, then takes her iPad and gives me the file. She puts back the iPad in her bag and fetches a pen for me while I still stare confusedly at the file.

“That is a non-disclosure agreement which you must read carefully and sign before we go further.” She says, giving me a go ahead nod to go through the document.

“Well, if you say so.” I shrug and open the document to skim through it. “A hundred million dollars fine?” My eyes grow wide as I look at the last paragraph, and then up at her face.

“That is how important it is that this doesn't go out there. And that is why I believe you're the most fit candidate for this job.”

“Yeah, because I am struggling and I have a lot to lose if I go against…” I shake my head and push the document towards her. “I have a very bad feeling about stuff like this and my instincts don't lie. I don't think I will be able to do this. It sounds like a…”

“Trap?” She cut me off, letting a small laugh brighten her face. “It's far from it. We just wish to protect everyone and not have a word out there for our rivals to use against us. It will sound crazy, but you really have nothing to fear.” The reassurance in her voice made me even more nervous.

Why exactly does she need me to trust her when we've barely known each other for like thirty minutes? Or should I say I don't know her at all because she seems to know me very well.

“Don't I deserve to know the job description before I sign this? I don't want to jeopardize what's left of my family's honor because of promises that's yet to be fulfilled.”

“I don't just throw words around, Dahlia. We can continue this discussion some other time that you feel like if you want to dig into my background as well. Doctor Lorenzo will help you with my history if that helps since you two seem to be close.” She shifts slightly so that she grabs the file from me.

I draw the file away and shrug again, deciding there was no harm in hearing her out since she seems to be a woman of integrity and I have nothing to lose if I keep my mouth shut after hearing what she has to say even if I decide not to accept the job. It's a risky bargain, but I became a CEO in my early twenties by taking risks.

“Here we go again.” I whistle a tune, recalling that I lost everything by taking risks! Well, whatever one does either makes them or ruins them.

“Signed and sealed!” I hand the file back to her and wait for her turn to fill my curiosity.

“Like I said before, this might sound crazy. I even thought so when I heard about the idea, which is why I took it upon myself to find the perfect person for the job.” She pauses and takes a deep breath, then adds. “And I don't know the easiest way to say it,”

“Now you're really scaring me.” I try to sound humorous, but I hear my voice crack in fear.

“My brother needs a biological incubator.” She says, lowering her voice as if there's another party in the car.

“A biological incubator?” I frown, my brows furrowing at the weird way the words sounded. “I don't understand.” I cough out a dry laugh.

“He wants someone who'd get inseminated with his genetic material and carry the resulting pregnancy to term, upon delivery, she'd relinquish rights to him.” She says more audibly, clearing her throat.

My thoughts go on a merry-go-round and I throw up my hands. “You just confused me even more. Let me get this straight, you want me to get pregnant for your brother, carry it for nine months and give up on my child after delivery?”

She nods and opens her mouth to speak, but I raise a finger to shush her as I try to take in what she's just said and that makes her clamp her mouth shut.

“Like a surrogacy?” I ask in ponder.

“Very similar, but he's not married. You'll…”

“Then he should get married. You're aware that I am a married woman with two kids… well, one child now! Why'd you assume I'd accept to do such a thing? Do you realize what you're asking me to do?” I shout, gritting my teeth at how low she thinks of me because I am struggling.

What hasn't poverty done to me? I thought I escaped, but my life was never fair, it had to drag me to my knees again. To this spot where I do dirty works for the rich for the prize of bone like a dog.

“Dahlia, don't take it like that. I just know…”

“I won't do it. Find someone else!” I push open the car door and slam it on her face. “Who the hell does she think she is? And all of that mental stress for such a blockbuster job? The rich are all the same. Arrogant and selfish and…” that reminds me of the man I encountered in the morning and I spit in disgust, feeling more sick.

“Why are you talking to yourself?” Sunny blocks me as I enter the hospital reception and I almost scream out.

“Oh, fuck, you scared me!” I let out a breath, and surprisingly, a throaty laughter escapes my lips.

“What's wrong with you? Are you about to enter depression?” Sunny watches me with concern, and I laugh even more, cleaning tears from my eyes.

“Look at me, Sun. This is what I've been rendered to? I'm so upset now that I want to cry, but oh, if you hear what I have to tell you, you'd laugh harder than me.” I sniff, wondering why tears are streaming down my face while I'm laughing so hard. Is that the first stage of depression?

“What happened? What did she say to you, Dahlia?”

I grab her hand and we go to the lobby where I tell her everything in a low voice. She keeps gasping and shaking her head until I was finished.

“It really is crazy. I mean, although there might be thousands of young women out there who'd be interested in the offer, it's still not acceptable. And she claims to know everything about you, only offering help by making you do such an absurd thing in exchange?” She shakes her head again.

“I think I should go ask my father for help.” I suggest immediately the thought hits my head.

“So it's that bad?” Sunny cringes, squeezing my hand worriedly. “I'd rather you accept this offer than go beg your father. You and I know he's always going to abandon you.”

“What would you have me do? I dread the idea too, but what's the worst that could happen?”