CHAPTER 4

Alex's POV

I watch her debate within her on whether to get in just like I have ordered her to or not. She is biting her lower lip like someone in deep thought in a math class, desperate to find answers to the math solution on the board.

She shakes her head and continues to walk.

"Hey", I call out, my anger rising and my hand balling into a fist. I helped her last night, is this what I get for helping her?

The driver moves the car further before I can instruct him to and she stops when the car is beside her.

With rage, I shout. "Get into the car now!"

She jerks backward, startled by my tone and loud voice.

She stares down at me, probably to figure out if I am here for a good reason or if I want to kidnap her and sell her off to some men.

Kevin gets down from the car and opens the door for her. I shift to the other side, waiting for her to climb in next to me.

It takes a while before she makes up her mind. She nods at herself and gets in, careful not to let her legs touch mine.

Kevin closes the door and flops into the driver's seat and the car roars to life.

"Did you steal any of my things?" I break the silence between us and she exclaims loudly.

"What?! I am not a thief…"

"Then why were you running?" I face her squarely now. She looks ugly with her mascara running down her face and her hair scattered all over her face too.

She looks miserable.

I click my tongue and look away. Is she a prostitute?  Did her boyfriend jilt her like I assumed last night? Why would a college student come to a club to drink herself into a stupor? She even claimed to be homeless.

"I'm not running away", she defends, jerking me out of my reverie.

"No, you were not. You were racing away", I say with heavy sarcasm.

Silence falls.

"Is this the thanks I get for helping you last night?" I accuse her and she bites her lips again with a look of guilt. "It seems you have no idea what sort of inconvenience your drunk self caused me last night. I had to call my friend to help me secure another room just because a woman from nowhere slept off on my floor last night."

What am I rambling about?

I see Kevin staring at her from the mirror and she closes her eyes in embarrassment.

I stop talking and clear my throat.

"Where are you going?" I ask her.

"College", she answers, surprising me. She doesn't look like a lady who would let it go that way. I was expecting her to tell me to fuck off for embarrassing her because of my rich status and also tell my driver to drive her off here.

It makes me feel guilty and curious to know more about her.

"Why were you at the party last night?" I ask again. She shifts uncomfortably and I realize she isn't comfortable, either because I am a stranger or because Kevin is here.

I turn to Kevin. "Kevin, take us to The City College."

"Yes, sir", he answers as I lean backward on the seat.

"My school? Do you work there? Do you know someone there? How do you know that is where I school?"

She sounds excited for no reason and I answer. "Your ID. I saw it on your ID."

"Oh!" She mutters and remains silent.

Although the silence is comforting, I want to ask her more questions about herself. I want to know if she has somewhere to stay tonight and if she is going to go back to drinking again tonight or not.

"I thought you knew someone there or you worked there. I was already hoping for a miracle…"

I didn't ask her any questions but she is saying this willingly. I sit upright and turn to her. "What do you mean?"

She seems taken aback. She raises a brow and shakes her head. "Nothing. Never mind."

"Tell me."

"Never mind."

"I mind."

"I can only tell you if you know someone in my school…"

"I know a lot of people there. My sister schools there and a close friend of my parents used to be the counselor."

She gasps and her eyes widen in intimidation. "Really?" I nod. She looks around the car for the first time and instead of spilling whatever it is she meant about what she said, she keeps mute.

"Why aren't you saying anything again?"

She smiles for the first time since I saw her last night. I think she looks better than that drunk lady who interrupted my peaceful moment last night.

"Thank you for helping me. I appreciate it. I never knew there are still good men who would do such a thing without asking for something in return and…"

"What makes you think I am a good man and I won't ask for something in return?" Her jaws drop open and I almost laugh out loud at the reaction.

She hugs her body to herself again and stops talking.

"Tell me what I want to hear", I remind her.

"It's nothing really", she is still not going to say anything.

I am thinking of what to do to persuade her to tell me so I can satisfy this huge curiosity in me. "Tell me!"

My tone does the trick. She sighs, sparing me a glance before opening her mouth. "I have issues with school and I might drop out pretty soon. I just want someone who knows someone in high places to help me plead for more time…"

"What exactly is the problem?" I question, interrupting her from going further.

She hesitates for a while before blurting out with her eyes closed. "I can't pay my fees. I was sent out of my apartment too."

I want to ask her about her parents. Aren't they saddled with the responsibility of paying her fees?

Instead, what comes out is a question. "How old are you?"

She stares at me with surprise written all over her. She gulps and turns away from me. "I'm 23 years old."

If I ask her about her parents, won't she begin to feel uncomfortable again? Will I be asking too much?

"Is that all?"

"What?!" She exclaims with confusion skating her expression.

"Is that all you need?" I demand with an intense gaze.

"Yes", she nods her head vigorously. "If you can help me plead with them to give me some more time, I promise to find another job and work twice as much as I used to, so I can save up…"

"I will pay", I cut her short. Rambling is one thing she is good at.

She stops talking and faces me slowly, her eyes going wide in shock. "What?!"

I nod. "You heard me right. I will pay your fees and you will have your dorm back. I don't need to plead with anyone on your behalf."

"I…will..you…I", she stammers, exuding fear and I decide to come out straight with her.

I need her help. And I will help her too.

"But there is a condition. I need a huge favor from you."

She seems perfect. She is just like the exact person I need. The exact person I was looking out for at the club.

She isn't wild like the other girls. She has a purpose and she is driven and determined to become educated.

That I will fulfill for her. And she will help me achieve my dream too.

"Favor?"

She has fear in her eyes and I wonder what she is thinking. What type of favor does she think I want of her for wanting to help pay her fees?

Taking a deep sigh and not averting my gaze away from her, I blurt out firmly. "I want you to be a surrogate mother for my baby. In other words, I want you to carry a baby for me."

I watch her eyes grow wide and her nose flaring up in anger before she exclaims loudly in disbelief. "What?!"