Chapter Two

Chapter Two

Cassandra's POV

        *Andalusia, Spain*

"Welcome to Andalusia." A scrawny-looking lady of about her twenties welcomed me and other people that came out from the airport, I wheeled my heavy suitcase along with me while I tried to find a taxi to take me to Angel's fall hotel.

"Taxi" l yelled and the taxi came to a halt in front of me.

"Where would you like to go, Miss?" The taxi driver asked.

"Take me to Angel's fall hotel, please," I said to the taxi driver who was helping me put my heavy suitcase in the back of the car. I should have never allowed Martha to help me pack. I got into the car and the taxi driver took his place at the driver's seat then drove away from the airport.

"Andalusia is a very beautiful city." I looked out the window of the car as the taxi moved further. I saw the leafy courtyards, narrow cobblestone streets, and its brightly painted buildings.

When I arrived at the hotel, I paid the taxi driver and entered the five-story building of yellow stucco that harbored a sundry shop, a cafe where coffee and muffins are sold, and a large dining hall.

I was greeted by a pretty-looking redhead lady who was the receptionist, I negotiated a monthly rate on the fourth floor to see the beautiful views Andalusia offered. I carted my heavy suitcase along the stairs to have a view of the hotel.

The view lived up to its billing. I thought as I opened the door to my hotel room, I left my suitcase on the floor and hurried to open the windows in the room then just stood gazing at the sparkle of the water in the lake, the glide of boats, and the rise of mountains.

"This is paradise." I laid down on the comfy bed and allowed myself to drift off to sleep still on my jeans and boots.

After an hour I woke up and decided to call my mom. She must have been worried, not to my surprise I saw ten missed calls from mom. I dialed her number. It rang for some time then I heard mom's voice babbling through the phone very worried.

"Cass, why didn't you answer my calls? Are you in Andalusia already? Is everything alright? did something happen? Cass my dear say something."

"I am fine mum, I took a nap that was why I didn't answer your calls," I said easing her of her worries.

"Don't bother her woman." I heard Dad say to mum through the phone.

"Hey dad, can you tell mum to stop worrying about me."

"You heard her stop bothering her, she's fine now leave her alone and let her rest."

"Okay, if you say so, it's just that I miss you already." Mum sounded like she was about to cry,

"Mum, are you crying?" I asked.

"Don't mind your mum, she thinks you are still our little Cass, bye-bye now," Dad answered instead and hung up.

"Bye." I stood up and went to the small bathroom to take a shower, after taking a refreshing bath I wore a caftan and packed my hair in a ponytail.

I decided to unpack my suitcase, while unpacking I saw a beautiful red cocktail dress and on top of it laid a brown envelope, I opened the envelope and saw a letter, it was from Martha,

She must have slipped it into my suitcase while she was helping me pack. I opened the letter to read its content.

"Dear Cass,

If you are reading this letter it means you have arrived safely in Andalusia, I just want to let you know that I love you and I was the one who slipped the red dress in your suitcase when you weren't there, I thought you might need it if you hook up with some guy and you guys end up going out on a date or something."

Lots of love

Martha.

Aww, that is so sweet of her. I picked up my phone and called Martha.

"I saw your letter and the dress."

"Hey girl, hope you like the dress."

"Yeah I do, it's really pretty but I don't think I'm going to need it, "I said and heard Martha groan through the phone.

"Why do you think so? "Martha asked sounding frustrated.

"Hook up with someone, seriously Martha you know that is not me, "I told Martha much to her disappointment.

"Okay then, so tell me how is Andalusia?"Martha sounded excited.

"It's a very beautiful place I must say."

I answered.

"The view here is top-notch, the lake, the mountains, everything is so perfect and on my way, I spotted the mall. I'm going there next tomorrow."I added and heard Martha squeal in excitement over the phone.

"Make sure you get yourself beautiful things and I'll text you a list of things you're going to buy for me, I'll have to leave you now Mark is waiting for me, we are going to watch a movie together," Martha said.

"Okay bye, have fun." I ended the call.

****

"You look really beautiful in that blue dress." The sales attendant complimented has I admired myself in the mirror.

"I must say it's nice, I'll take this," I said to the attendant.

"Okay." The sales attendant said and went to attend to other customers. I went to the changing room to change back into my white off-shoulder crop top and black trousers.

I love a visit to the mall. I have been shopping all afternoon and I just can't stop, everything here is very beautiful and almost everything I picked fits me perfectly. I carried my shopping bags filled with clothes, jewelry, and makeup stuff most of which are for Martha, she wrote a long list.

I was on my way to the exit when my phone rang, it was Mum.

"Hello, mum."

"Cass." That was all she could say before she broke into tears.

"Mum, what's wrong, why are you crying?" I asked getting scared, she still didn't say anything all she did was cry then Dad collected the phone from her and said,

"Cass, your brother, Jake was involved in an accident and is seriously injured, he hurt his leg badly and the doctor said he needs to be operated on with a large sum of money and we don't have up to that amount and now your mum is panicking," Dad explained.

"Oh My God. When...how did this happen? " I  tried to form the right words.

"Yesterday, I didn't want to call because I didn't want you to worry."

"I'm taking the next flight home tomorrow."

"No, no don't Cass, we'll find a solution and even if you're here it won't change anything you don't have up to that amount."  

"But Dad, I can't be on a vacation when my brother is over there fighting for his life," I said amidst tears.

"Don't cry my princess, if you want to help, you should try finding a job at Andalusia and send the money you make," Dad suggested.

"But that might take a while."

"But it's something, we need the money, Cass."

"Okay dad, I'll try to find a job as soon as possible. Please take care of mum."I added and ended the call.

I was wiping tears off my face when I bumped into someone,

"I am so sorry." I apologized.

"It's okay." A pretty-looking woman with short auburn hair styled as bob was standing in front of me. She had sky blue eyes which were staring at me making me uncomfortable, I quickly bent down to pack her clothes that looked expensive I could never afford such, she also joined me in packing her things from the floor.

"Thank you." She said and I looked at her quizically.

"Why are you thanking me? I should be thanking you for not creating a scene. After all, I was the one who knocked your things to the ground." I said and tried to avoid her searching gaze.

"Okay, my name is Princess Emelia." She introduced herself and I was short of words.

"Cassandra Valdez, your highness."I tried to curtsy but failed miserably.

"Oh please, don't address me that way, simply call me Emelia." She smiled warmly at me.

"Okay."

"I'm sorry to interfere but I saw you crying earlier is everything okay?" Emelia asked.

I was debating in my head whether to tell her or not, I don't even know her and she calls herself a princess. Am I the only one confused here?

"Are you okay?" she asked again.

"I am fine." I lied.

"Do you mind if we talk over a cup of coffee?" She asked

I hesitated for a moment before saying,

"Sure, okay Prin...Emelia." She looked delighted after hearing my answer then she instructed her maid to take her bags and wait for her in the grey SUV she drove to the mall, we walked over to a coffee shop nearby and found an empty table. After sitting, a waitress with brown hair and sparkling green eyes walked over to the table Emelia and I occupied, her face beaming with a smile, she asked.

"Good day ma'am, what would you like to order?"

"I would like two cups of coffee please," Emelia said.

"Okay, I'll be back in two minutes." The waitress squealed in excitement as she walked off. She knew who Emelia was. I felt stupid for not recognizing her at first.

"So tell me why were you crying?" Emelia asked.

"It's nothing." I lied.

"Don't hesitate to tell me anything Cassandra, I just want to know if I can help."

"Fine," I sighed in surrender.

"It's my brother, my parents just called, telling me he had an accident and was injured badly. He needs to be operated on but we do not have enough money and my parents are freaking out and I can't do anything." I explained to Emelia then started crying again.

"I am so sorry about what happened, don't cry everything is going to be fine." Emelia patted me on my back while the waitress placed two cups of coffee on the table and walked away. I didn't bother looking at the cup. I was not in the mood for coffee.

"How is everything going to be fine? I don't even have a job here, I just arrived here three days ago." I placed my head on my palm and continued crying.

"I can help you."

"You can't be serious," I said in disbelief.

"I'll give you any amount you want."

"But why are you helping me? You just met me thirty minutes ago and now you're offering to help me out." I was getting really confused.

"You see my husband and I have always wanted a child, but I can't give him that because I can no longer conceive due to an accident I had two years ago."

"But how does that relate to what we are saying?" I asked.

"Well, I can help you if you help me." She drawled and I saw her blue eyes glimmer.

"What do you mean by that?" I asked.

"What I mean is, I would give you the money on one condition." She sipped her coffee.

"What condition?" I asked getting impatient.

"I'll give you the money, in return, you have to be a surrogate for my husband and me," Emelia said exhaling loudly.

"What!" I was very surprised at the condition she gave me.

 

               End of Chapter Two