The offer

Chapter Four

“I don’t want anybody else as a surrogate mother; I want you, Emily,” Vanessa said, her eyes boring into Emily, finally letting the enormous cat out of the bag.

“What…!” Emily’s sharp, straight voice sliced through the air, making Vanessa shiver.

“I will pay you handsomely…” Vanessa said immediately, trying to patronize her more. She needed this to be convincing.

“I will double the money you requested and even help you secure a good spot for your bakery. I have friends in top real estate companies.”

Vanessa moved her chair closer to the now-silent Emily, who stared back at her in disbelief. Vanessa grabbed her hands, inching forward.

“Please, I need your help, Emily. I’m asking you as a friend,” she pleaded, her eyes now a fountain of tears.

Emily immediately shook her head, trying to shake off what Vanessa had just told her.

“You’re asking me to carry your child? Yours and Richard’s? My ex?” Her confusion slowly turned into anger, making Vanessa shudder.

“Wait, so that’s the deal you were talking about? You want me to carry your baby in exchange for your help?” Emily spat, her nostrils flaring. Her head was still spinning with confusion and anger.

“I know it’s difficult to ask, but you don’t have to put it that way,” Vanessa said softly, trying to calm her down.

She shrugged. “I’m sorry for calling it a deal. I need your help. I don’t…..”

“No!” Emily growled, cutting her off. “You don’t need my help. You can have a dozen women do this, so why me?”

“Why me, of all the women available to you? And why now?” Her eyes flamed with anger.

“Because you’re my best friend,” Vanessa answered, her shoulders shaking as another round of tears spilled. “You’re the only one who understands me, the only person I can trust with something so precious.” Using a tissue, she dabbed at her tears, now mixed with mascara.

“Oh really?” Emily smirked. “What about your husband?

How does he feel about this little arrangement?” She wanted to hear more about the man she once loved.

“He doesn’t have an issue. He already knows my situation and wants to be a father so badly that he doesn’t mind,” Vanessa said.

Emily winced at Vanessa’s words. The thought of Richard not caring about her made her heartache, but even worse was the idea of him being okay with her carrying his child. It made her sick to her stomach.

“I can’t do it, Vanessa. I’m sorry,” Emily finally responded, her tone sharp and clear, wanting to end the conversation immediately.

“You don’t have to decide now,” Vanessa said, pulling Emily’s hands toward her. “I know this is a tough decision for you, and I also know that you won’t let me suffer this way, knowing only you can help me.” She inched closer.

Emily scoffed angrily. “Are you forgetting that you cut me off?” She snatched her hands away from Vanessa’s.

“You angrily cut me off after you found out about me and Richard.” Her once furious eyes were now bright with tears as the painful memory sliced through her mind.

The memory hit like a slap: the phone call that never came, the silence that stretched for months, and the realization that Vanessa had erased her like she never existed.

“You said, and I quote, ‘It would be best if we stopped being friends. I don’t think I can be friends with someone who has been with my husband, who he clearly is still in love with.’ Do you remember?” Emily let the tears roll freely now as the pain of the memory finally hit.

It was no use trying to be strong. She had lost two people that day: the love of her life and her best friend.

Vanessa sniffed. “And I regret that every single day,” she said, looking up at Emily.

“You don’t think I do? I have missed you so much, but please, you have to understand. I was hurting. It didn’t help that my husband never wanted to marry me; he only had eyes for you. I was in pain when I said those things to you.” A fresh batch of tears now streaming down her cheeks, ashamed of her actions back then.

Emily chuckled bitterly. “Wait… Was that why you did it? You actually cut years of friendship because of your insecurities? Even after I told you I had nothing more to do with Richard?” Her heart sank.

Emily couldn’t take it anymore. Packing up her stuff and getting ready to leave, she realized this whole meeting had been a waste of her time.

Now, on her feet, she said, “I don’t think I can help you, Vanessa. It was nice seeing you after all these years.”

She glanced at her untouched cinnamon roll, which she had forgotten to pay for. “And I’m sure you can clear the bill, being a billionaire and all.” She added as she stormed out of the café.

As much as her heart ached for her friend, that was too big of a request to honor. Besides, she didn’t want anything to do with Richard, let alone consider carrying his child.

“You’re really going to turn your back on me like this? After everything?” Vanessa’s voice trembled, but her eyes were sharp.

“You owe me!” Vanessa screamed, and all heads in the café turned in their direction, making Emily stop dead in her tracks.

She smiled bitterly. She had had enough of Emily, making her out to be the villain. Enough of Miss Goody Two-Shoes.

Still fuming and humiliated, Emily turned sharply, her pulse hammering in her ears.

The café’s chatter had faded now. There was only Vanessa with running mascara down her face, her nose red and puffy from crying, storming toward her like an unhinged woman.

Emily’s fists clenched, angry but also very confused, as she stood waiting for Vanessa, who held everybody’s gaze. The entire café was watching, probably wondering why she had raised her voice so loudly.

And what the hell did she mean by you owe me?

The hair on the back of her neck stood on end, and dread washed over her as her stomach sank with unease.

Becca was right. Meeting with Vanessa had been a big mistake.