An offer to refuse.

Okay, I am in a weird funky dream. In this weird dream, my very hot, sexy and mature boss is asking me to have a baby for him, or something like that. Let me pinch myself more so I can wake up from this freak show I'm in.

"Ms Wilson? Why don't you have a seat?"

Mr Bernstein's voice brings me back to life and I'm suddenly aware that I'm in the CEO's office and I just zoned out.

"I'm sorry Sir, I didn't get what you said. Can you repeat what you said earlier" I beg as I take a seat in one of the plush office chair.

"Well, as I said before, I need a baby. And I want you to help me. It's all in that document if you would check it out" Mr Hamilton says tightly as he passes me a file.

It's not a file, it's more of a contract. A contract where I agree to be Mr Hamilton's wife and surrogate for a stipulated period of time and for a very ridiculous amount of money. My eyes zoom on the numbers a bit.

Six figures monthly to have a baby???

No, this can't be right. And there are also allowances I will get while I'm pregnant with the baby.

"I don't understand. Why not get a real surrogate. Why me?"

Mr Hamilton shrugs.

"He wants you Ms Wilson" Mr Bernstein replies.

"Let's just say that you are the best candidate for the job. I could have gone through the normal surrogacy procedure. But I require more than a surrogate. I want the child to be born in a legal marriage and I want the child to be mothered for a few months after he is born. This is something a normal surrogacy procedure cannot offer."

He adds.

"How am I the perfect candidate. That is one part I really do not get. I mean... "

Mr Hamilton cuts me off.

"I've interviewed a few surrogates and while they seemed professional and willing, I don't think they are the right people I want my son to be mothered by. I don't understand why anyone would turn surrogacy into a job" he has a look of pure disgust on his face.

I roll my eyes.

"But that is exactly what you want me to do" I deadpan and he glares at me.

"Well, you'd be doing it for much nobler reasons and not only for the money. We've run a background check on you. You are the sole provider of your family. Your sister suffers from a rare heart condition and in a few days she will be eighteen and insurance won't cover her treatments. Your younger brother just got into Berkeley to study law and is struggling with tuition fees. Not to mention the fact that you are still drowning in student loans"

My mouth is hanging. How dare him?!!!!

"That's intrusion of privacy. You may be my boss but you have no right to do that."

Mr Hamilton smiles coolly, I notice dimples peeking from his cheeks.

"Ms Wilson, you don't expect me not to do a background check on the future mother of my son"

"I think you're a little too confident about me accepting your offer Mr Hamilton" I say haughtily as I look away.

Yes, I need the money, but I won't do this. Be a surrogate mother for money.

"Ms Wilson, a lot of women will kill for this offer. Not only would you gain three times more than a surrogate will get, you also have a package for a complete life insurance, your sister's medical treatment will be settled for life, your brother will go to law school and Mr Hamilton is willing to allow you visit the child periodically"  Mr Bernstein adds.

I am quiet for a long time. Yes, it seems like an offer that I should be accepting. But at the expense of what?

Or who?

I'm going to be bring a child into the world, a child who according to this contract will not be mine. What's the point of having a child if it's not born out of love.

"I've made my decision. I'm refusing this offer. I don't want it"

Mr Hamilton's face hardens quickly.

I stand up slowly to leave.

"Ms Wilson, perhaps you would like a few days to think this over. Don't think only about yourself, but your family. They need this money and from what we've seen, no bank will loan you any more money. This is your best chance. And if you are worried about the well-being of the child, I can assure you he would be in the best hands possible. Mr Hamilton will make a good father"

I'm transfixed at the spot for a while.

Mr Bernstein hands me the contract.

"Ms Wilson I'll check back with you three days later for your final decision"

I nod slowly and turn to leave, but not before staring at Mr Hamilton.

I can see it written all over his face, he wants me to do this. He's just too proud to beg.

And if I'm sensible I should not be letting an offer like this go.

Think about Kathleen and Julian. They were right, I do need the money.

But a baby???

Really??

No, I need to think this through. Getting married to one of the hottest man on earth isn't that big of a deal but adding a baby to that mix!!!

What will the child think of me?

That his mother had him because of money?

I might not even be allowed to be his mother.

"I'll think it through" I say with a nod of my head and I leave the office.

---

I'm familiar with the hospital smell. I used to hate it before but now I don't mind it much.

Liv is smiling widely at me. I give her a short wave. I haven't been here in a while. Kathy has her days.

She gives me a brief hug.

"You look really good in that dress" she comments.

"Oh please!  I feel like I'm about to explode. How are you doing Liv?"

Liv was the nurse who worked in the pediatrics ward. She was assigned to my sister Kathy and she's been so good to us.

Slowly our bond extended to friendship and sometimes we meet at a bar for a few drinks.

She's been of great help to Kathy anytime she's admitted.

"So, how is she?" I ask quietly and Liv shrugs.

"The usual. I showed her the new pencil case you got her. She seems interested in drawing again. But she rarely talks to her friends."

I sigh heavily.

"It's because of her birthday isn't it?"

Liv nods.

"I think she just doesn't want to be a burden. You know how expensive it's going to be when she turns eighteen. And you don't have that kind of money"

"I'll find the money. I don't mind. I just don't like seeing her so down about it all"

"I promise you she'll be fine. And you should get some of her work framed. They are really nice. She can make some money off them"

Elenora snorts.

"I've asked her so many times. I don't think she wants that."

I brace myself for the worst as I enter Kathy's room. She's sitting on her bed with her headphones on. Her head bent over another sketch.

Her room is messy and filled with drawings, papers, clothes and some pictures.

Her blonde hair is piled high and she is wearing the peach sweater Julian gave her for her Christmas.

Kathleen isn't my real sister, but she has been with us long enough to be one. Her mother was my father's younger sister. She was a drug addict and she ran away from home with her boyfriend at age sixteen.

She came back at age twenty with an eight months old daughter. The baby was Kathleen. Named after my father's mother.

She ran away again and my mum brought up Kathy as her own.

When her mother came back while she was three, she was in such a bad shape that she had to be put in rehab.

Barely five days later we received a call that she killed herself. Jumped right over the balcony. My parents adopted Kathy. They told her very little of her mother. When my parents died in a car crash I told her all I knew about her mother. That was years after we discovered she had coronary artery disease.

"Kathy!!" I say as I nudge her. She looks up and gives me a small smile. Taking off her headphones.

She had the same deep blue eyes that my father and her mother shared as siblings. Julian also had the same eyes.

"Came to see if I wasn't dead yet?"

She retorts and I shake my head.

"Well, just don't die on my watch. What are you working on"

I ask as I peer at her sketching and she hides it from me.

"I'll show you when it's finished. When am I leaving here?"

"As soon as the doctor clears you to leave which might take a while depending on your flare ups. Not to mention the fact that we're so close to a new heart and lung transplant for you"

Kathy laughs.

"What is the point? It'll only prolong my life for like five more years"

I shrug as I check out her drug cabinet.

"Well that's still something. And don't forget the new treatment. If we can just pay for it, I'm sure it'll all work out"

"We don't have the money. And I'm going to be eighteen soon. Insurance won't cover all this" she said as she points at the room

I knew she was right. I was just trying to lighten the mood. Mr Hamilton's offer comes back to my head. I stare at the machines connected to her and the numerous drugs that my sister has to take everyday to keep her alive. I watch her sad eyes stare out the window.

"I'm working on something. Its big. I promise you that you'll get that new treatment Kathy" I say and she stares at me with her big blue eyes.

She looks a little more hopeful.