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An offer to beg for.

I call Mr Hamilton immediately I get home and tell him that I would like to take the offer. He scheduled a meeting with his lawyer so we could go over the contract at dinner.

I am distracted at work and I cannot wait for the dinner after. I keep tapping my feet and biting my nails so much that it is obvious.

After so much agitation. The clock says seven and I rush to Le Cirque. I quickly call my brother and tell him not to withdraw his application for Berkeley yet. That I'm working on a sponsor for him. He grudgingly replies not to.

Mr Hamilton and Mr Bernstein were already waiting for me at Le Cirque. It had taken me a while to beat the traffic.

"So nice of you to join us Ms Wilson. Please have a seat" Mr Bernstein says as Mr Hamilton stares at me with piercing blue eyes and I give him a small smile.

I make small talk with Mr Bernstein before Mr Hamilton cuts in.

"What made you consider the offer?"

I shrug.

"You were right. My family needs the money. And there's no other way I can get it" I say as I try as much as possible to sound level headed.

Mr Hamilton smirks knowingly and it slowly infuriates me. He was confident that I was going to accept his offer. He was so confident about it.

"Ms Wilson have you had a chance to look at the contract?"

I have pored over the contract all night. It's crafted perfectly. It seems like it was created not only in the best interests of the child but also mine.

"There is one thing. Why wouldn't I be allowed to work while I'm pregnant?"

Mr Hamilton adjust his tie as he looks to Mr Bernstein who in turn looks away. It must be Mr Hamilton's idea then.

I raise my eyebrow and look at him waiting for an answer.

"I wouldn't want anything to harm the baby while you're working."

"Its the twenty first century Mr Hamilton. Pregnant women work."

"I can't sit and stay idle all day. I'd go mad. I want to be able to work while I'm pregnant" I state assertively.

"Very well. We would look into that"

"Thank you Mr Bernstein" I say as I give him a small smile.

"Anything else!" Mr Hamilton almost spits out the words.

"I'm good. For now. I'd be looking at it more closely with a professional" I reply.

"You'd have to go for a complete medical check up before signing the contract. That's how we will know you are the perfect candidate"

"I have scheduled a 3 o'clock appointment with a doctor. I will be sending you the details of it before the end of today."

"Okay. After the appointment what next?"

Mr Bernstein shrugs.

"Well, if you are a perfect candidate. You will start fertility treatments right away to get pregnant. When you get pregnant, we will go through with the next phase of action. Announcing you and Mr Hamilton's engagement and you will be wedded six weeks after that."

I sigh. This is a lot to take in. What am I going to tell Grandma Marcella? The thought comes in as I toy with my food.

"Ms Wilson. You don't have much to worry about. You're doing this for your family." I am surprised that it's Mr Hamilton that just said that.

He never showed any care or emotion. Infact he has treated our entire conversation like a business transaction which is no surprise giving the ruthless businessman he is.

Even though he is a very handsome and attractive man, I will have to admit he is cold as ice.

I can't remember if I have ever seen him smiling, he is principled and severely strict at his employees.

He is also very professional. He has never had a scandal and he only dated classy and sophisticated women. No airhead models. Except for his current girlfriend Sophia Markle.

Although I doubt she can hardly be called an airhead. She has a degree in Psychology from an Ivy League so I heard. Her father is a rich aristocrat and they come from old money.

If it wasn't for Sophia, every time he was single he always made the eligible bachelors list.

"I guess that will be all. I will see you tomorrow Ms Wilson. Please excuse me" Mr Hamilton said as he stands up and shakes Mr Bernstein. He gives me a small nod and turns to leave.

Mr Bernstein smiles at me and we go over a few details in the contract.

He volunteers to let his driver drop me home and I am not about to argue. I have had a long day.

Back in my apartment, I decide to video call my Grandma Marcella. She always makes me feel better. Although I cannot tell her much about what is happening. She would be devastated that I'm selling myself to the highest bidder for money.

My Grandma is an Italian woman who grew up in Little Italy as an only child. Her father was a chef and her mum was an housewife.

At age sixteen she got pregnant for an American boy who had blond hair and pale blue eyes. Her parents of course demanded that she marry him.

She then gave birth to my mum Isabella. A beautiful blonde baby girl with the same pale blue eyes. And then another girl named Maria who looked exactly like Grandma and finally a baby boy named Mathew.

My Grandma Marcella didn't have a happy marriage. She felt she was forced into growing up too soon. She didn't want the same for her kids. And she wasn't to keen on her kids marrying Americans either.

But my mother went off to college and came back with my Dad, George Wilson.

Mum said Grandma never liked my Dad. She said he was too pale.

They got married nevertheless. After which I was born. And my Grandma insisted on me being named Elenora, to show my Italian heritage since my looks clearly did not depict that.

I was born pale with red curls but I had Grandma's dark amber eyes. Too dark to be Amber and too light to be brown.

Growing up later on, I did inherit my Grandma's stature, her large bosom and shapely hips. Even though I was a late bloomer. I didn't reach puberty till fifteen.

Grandma finally picks the call as she screams my name into the phone.

"My darling!!  How are you?" she laughs into the phone and I struggle to hear her due to the background noise.

"Grandma where are you?"

Another raucous round of laughter and some shuffling is heard.

"I'm at Rinaldo's. You know it's poker night!!! I'm about to show these men how its done!" Grandma shouts and I laugh a little.

"Well, take it easy with the drinks Grandma. And don't stress yourself too much"

"Oh Mi amor you worry too much!! It's just poker. And you should have some more fun yourself. Go out, have a little fun and mess around!"

"I hear you Grandma. But if I do that who's going to watch Kathy and Julian?"

Grandma sighs into the phone.

"You worry too much. It'll give you wrinkles. They will be fine. Just take care of yourself"

"Okay Grandma. And don't forget..."

The line goes off before I finish.

Should I have told her?

My mind wanders for a while.

I watch a few shows before taking a shower and retiring for bed.


I am nervous.

Extremely nervous.

I have been in a private fertility clinic for more than two hours. I have gone through all the normal physical check up and we are waiting for the doctor to tell us what the results are.

Mr Hamilton arrived five minutes ago and sits next to me with a space in between us. He is glued to his phone and I am checking out the various pregnancy pamphlet. We haven't said a word to each other except for the usual hi.

I should think we should say more to each other since I might be carrying his child if all checks out.

A pretty nurse walks in front of us.

"Doctor Walls will see you now" she says curtly and I stand up eagerly.

Dr Walls is a very pretty lady. She smiled at me all through my checkups and her face betrayed no contrary emotion. Right now she is seated in her pristine quaint office, with a serious look on her face. I am worried.

"It's nice to have you both here. All the test results are out."

She waits until we are both settled.

"How were they?" he asks impatiently.

"Everything is fine. Physically Ms Wilson can carry your baby. And all the fertility tests came out well. Ms Wilson is still young. And she is young enough for IUI and IVF to work for her. If we start her on a round of treatments now, she will be pregnant after a few trials"

I let out a breath I didn't know I was holding. So far, everything is fine down there.

"So when can we start?" Mr Hamilton asks impatiently.

Dr Walls hesitates. There's something else. Something she hasn't mentioned.

"There's just one issue... It's not really an issue though but..."

"What is it?" Mr Hamilton's face scrunches up quickly and he looks impatient.

"Well, considering the circumstances, it's not even a problem. I just wanted to bring to your notice that Ms Wilson is still a virgin"

My cheeks redden pretty quickly and I bow in embarrassment. Mr Hamilton stares at me.

Ahhhhhhh I can die from embarrassment.

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