Jackpot opportunity

She sigh as she flagged down a taxi. She needs to go home first to clear her head, things are not going as planned for her.

She got home and throw herself on the only couch in her room, breathing heavily. Pondering over the last two months, she keep wondering if her life was only meant to experience ill luck.

After the nightstand with the stranger who claimed his name was Damon, she had vacated New York to avoid any necessary drama that might come knocking on her door.

Two months away from New York, she recently find out she was pregnant and there are no two ways about it. The stranger is responsible for it but that is not the problem.

The problem is her inability to trail him. Since almost a week after returning back to New York, she had been on the lookout for the stranger but all her effort proved abortive.

She is tired of this clueless search which is taking her nowhere. Her bank is almost running dry, it can last her up to a month. She knew if she doesn't find a way out and a means of earning more cash, she is going to starve to death.

"Tomorrow, I'll just go out and look for something to earn money with." She convinced herself as she managed to drag herself to her kitchen. She was hungry and tired and needs to take in something to hold her for a while.

She couldn't stop sighing as she prepared the last portion of the cereal she was having. She will have to work to earn more money for her to feed well. She is pregnant and soon, she sure knows she will be consuming a lot.

         ***

Working in a coffee shop did not make her life anywhere near better, the peanut she earns can't take her anywhere. And the stress she faced in it is really uncalled for!

‘I need to find something much more better than this, I'll just have to leave this coffee shop and find something much more better than this. She thought within herself.

"But when will I stop running from a certain job to another? I need a stable and permanent job that might last me better for ages. I need to earn to cater for my baby and me." She muttered, her countenance was nowhere near fine.

Merely looking at her, anyone would guess she is mentally drained and is going through a lot. This was not the Megan she used to be, she is really changed for the worst and she knows that!

   ____

"You are stressed, Megan. I hope it's your new job?" Emilia, Megan's new friend at work asked with concern laced in her voice. Emilia usually comes to the coffee shop where Megan works every noon to get her boss and herself two cups of coffee.

Soon, she made friends with Megan, and not just any friend but a good one at that. Megan enjoyed the company and wish she would always stay a little longer, the few minutes Emilia always used is enough to ease her pain a little.

Imagine if she spends much more time with her?

"I'm not just myself, Lia. Everything is not going as planned, things are really falling apart for me. I need something much better to fetch me enough money to cater for myself." Megan replied with a strained expression. She had never told anyone about her baby, not even her new friend, Emilia.

"Well, I think I remember something now and I don't know if you will be interested in it?" Emilia asked her, searching Megan's eye if she would see any doubt but she couldn't find any.

"Tell me, is it worth the risk? There should be much money in it right?" Megan asked curiously. At this point in her life, she only yearned for a greener pasture and she is ready to do anything to get there.

Anything but robbery and kidnapping!

"I'm only telling you this because I can't do it but seeing you, I guess you can. I'll just brief you on it and then we talk better after I closed from work." Emilia added.

"I'm okay with any way you decide to explain to me, you are making me get more curious about it," Megan muttered in reply.

 If there should be anything Megan dislike, she dislikes being kept in suspense. She hates it when people beat around the bush, she always wants everyone around her to be straightforward.

"I'll meet you here after work, is it okay?" Emilia said as she checked her wristwatch, she is really running out of time. Her boss might yell at her if she delivers his coffee late and she doesn't want anything like it.

"Fine, I'll be waiting for you..." Megan muttered. "I can see you are running late. Go, whatever you have to say can always wait, I think."

Emilia picked up her cups of coffee after paying for them and made to leave. "Don't beat yourself up too much, everything will be just fine." She said with a small smile before rushing out of the coffee shop.

    ....Later that night...

"I overheard him saying this with one of his friends, I would have gone for it but I'm not sure I can withstand the stress that comes with it," Emilia said with a small laugh. "Though the pay is huge, it might take me two years and more to gather such an amount."

Megan watered for the kind of pay she would be getting if she applied as a surrogate for the multimillionaires who are in need of one.

"How can I get to your boss?" Megan asked almost immediately, she has no time to think it twice. The thinking will come after she gets the deal.

"Hey, slow down. Did you even ponder about this first?" Emilia asked, she is so concerned about her friend's decision.

"Why do I need to think about it? Some day, I will have to give birth. It's something I can't run from, why do I need to be scared about being a surrogate?" Megan replied to her friend calmly, she doesn't need to sound like a glutton or a gold digger.

"Well, it's true..." Emilia reasoned Megan's words as she nodded slowly. She brings out a card from her bag and hands it over to Megan. Emilia knows Megan won't reject offers like this but she never expects it to be this fast.

"I can get to your boss with this right?" Megan asked even when she knows the answer to her question already.

"Yes! His address and digits are there, you can give him a call to clarify your doubts." Emilia said as she zipped her bag, getting ready to leave. "It's almost late, I need to go."

"Yes, sure. Thanks for this anyways, I'm really grateful." Megan smiled genuinely for the first time in months now as her eyes sparkled with hope.

"It's really nothing since you are my friend," Emilia answered and made to leave. "I wish you luck on this, baby girl."

Megan could only nod as she watch Emilia leave. This is her chance. This might be the greener pasture she has been looking for and she must not miss the opportunity...