Chapter 3

<< AMELIA APARTMENT >>

"C...come again?" Amelia stammer finally finding her voice.

"I said that you've been chosen to birth the next heir of Preston empire through surrogacy. This opportunity doesn't just go to anyone, you should be glad that you are the chosen one" Jeremiah convey with pride.

"Is this some kind of movie? Are we perhaps in some kind of prank video cause you are not funny at all" 

"Since you find it hard to believe, I hope this will convince you" Jeremiah clap his hands and immediately the four men behind him open up a box each.

One box is filled with cash and another is filled with gold bars while the other two is filled with Jewelry.

"Is that gold even real?" Queen murmured.

"You can bite one to confirm" Jeremiah offer.

"She doesn't need to and my answer to your crazy offer is no" Amelia said, pulling Queen close to her side.

"Are you sure you don't have to reconsider? Mr Preston is willing to provide you with anything and everything your heart desire as long as you take up the role of his surrogate" 

"Well you can tell your Mr Preston that he can go to hell with his offer, now leave" 

"Are you sure about this? You are throwing away a good offer" Jeremiah said, looking a bit doubtful.

"How about I show you what I think of his offer?" Amelia suggest softly as she went towards a hose.

Picking it up, she turn on the tap releasing the water on Jeremiah and his men who quickly scramble towards their car to avoid getting wet.

"Come back again and water won't be the only thing you get!" Amelia yelled after them as she turned off the tap.

Starring at Queen, both girls burst out laughing as they went into the apartment.

"Do you think they will come back?" Queen ask.

"I don't think so" 

"Do you know why he suddenly wants you as his surrogate?" 

"I don't" 

"Do you think this offer is him trying to make up for Martha's death?" Queen ask as Amelia thought drift back to five years ago.

Martha's death caused a lot of news sensation. It threaten Preston image as a whole that it got them holding a press conference.

According to the spokesperson who held the press conference that day, Martha had been suffering from a relationship heartbreak which is why she committed suicide.

Amelia knew they were lies since Martha wasn't involve with anyone during her last days on earth. 

She had literally watch her sister wither away though she did her best to get Martha to open up.

Days later, she got a call that her sister is dead after committing suicide and to get the media off their back, Preston enterprise had lied about Martha whose body wasn't even buried yet.

For years Amelia have tried to put it all behind her and that's why she stayed away from everything that have to do with Preston enterprise until today.

The only reason she approach the company is to get herself a stable job, pay all their debt and provide a more better life for her sister.

The ringing of the doorbell jolt her out of her sad thought. Queen stop her from answering as she head to the door herself, she return with a letter in hand.

"What's that?" Amelia ask upon seeing the scared look on her face.

"It's from the bank. They are saying our mortgage is overdue and that if we don't pay they will be taking our house. This is the house our parents left us before their death, are we going to lose it?" 

"We won't" 

"Aside from the mortgage. We still owe some couple of bills that need to be payed as well...how about I quit going to school? My tuition f*e should help pay some of the bills"

"No Queen. You are not quitting school okay" 

"But..."

"I will get the money. All you have to do is to focus on your studies, do I make myself clear?" 

"Yes" Queen reply as Amelia gather her close for a hug.

___________

<< PRESTON ENTERPRISE >>

"She refuse boss. Practically drove us away with a hose filled with water" Jeremiah explain as he is now back in Sean office.

"Did she?" Sean ask, gazing outside through the massive show glass.

"She did. I don't think she will be bought with money, boss. So why don't we just continue the interview and pick the ones willing to..."

"No" 

"No? But boss I don't think miss Gates will agree to it" 

"Double the money and jewelries then" Sean insist, his gaze train on the busy traffic outside.

"And if she still refuse?"

"Find another way to coerce her into accepting. You are good at convincing people, do the same with Amelia" 

"If you don't mind me asking, why miss Gates, sir?" 

"All you need to know is that I want her. Now get on with your task or I find someone else to do it and you know that that will have you looking for job elsewhere" 

"Consider the job done sir!" Jeremiah yell before dashing out of the office.

He has never seen his boss act this way before? Is it possible--that for the first time ever...Sean Preston is crazy for a woman?

__________

<< LATER THAT DAY ~ ROYAL CAFE >>

Amelia got to her part time job by one and after changing into the staff uniform, she head to the counter where she will be attending to customers.

She's attending to the fourth customer when Louis, her boss showed up.

"Stacey take over, Amelia get some rest" Louis order while Amelia stare at him, wondering why her boss who have never smiled at her before is suddenly do that.

"But it's not my break yet" a confuse Amelia inform as she's led to one of the table by Louis.

"You don't need a break before you can relax. Infact from now on you can relax all you want" 

"Sir I..."

"Thanks to you have got all the money in

the world and now the cafe is yours" 

"What do you mean?" Amelia question.

Louis is save from replying the moment Jeremiah and his men or rather his entourage arrive.