A warm welcome?
"A...are you sure dear...I know you don't like me saying this...but my house is open for you...there's no need for you to go elsewhere when I'm here" it was a blessing and my luck to be loved by such a wonderful woman and hearing Mrs. Smith's offer, I was touched by her warm words as I stopped what I was doing and turned to face her. I just came back from Ellison corporation to get my clothes. It turned out I was chosen to be the surrogate and according to what Beverly said, I was expected to move in with the same man who hired me because if I had to be his surrogate then I was expected to live with him
As much as I was excited to be a surrogate who would gain money for me, I was nervous and indecisive about going to a stranger's house and living with him and immediately Beverly drove me to Mrs. Smith's house where all my belongings were, she was sad and didn't want me to leave
"I know granny...it's not like I'm leaving forever but I'll be visiting...I got a job as a house help and for easy movement, I'm required to stay there" I told her while holding her hands as I led her to the bed so we could sit down. She was sad and I hated seeing the old lady sad. She was like a granny I never had.
"Are they nice...dear...tell me…''I could sense the hesitation and anxiety in her voice, the sadness in her eyes. I knew I lied to her, but I couldn't tell her I was going to be pregnant just like that. If she found out what my intentions were, then I was certain she would forbid me from going down that path but I had no choice. I wanted this money so badly that I didn't care about the consequences or what I would go through. It was just being pregnant, how bad could it be
"I'll be fine plus it's a lovely family...I'll go to school and work...so relax granny I'll visit you on weekends"I assured her with a warm smile, I had to smile and show her I wasn't worried. And after convincing her about my guaranteed safety while I stay with strangers, she let me go and I took my one suitcase and backpack where I put all my things including my laptop. For the past nine months, I would refrain from attending school but that didn't mean I would not study. That was why I had to make use of the time I wouldn't be going to school and study hard
"So are you ready, "Beverly asked me with a smile as soon as I dragged my suitcase outside the porch and she rushed to help me out
"No...I can carry it"I refused her when she tried to grab my luggage, it wasn't far from where she had parked her car. There was no need to help when I could do it myself. I noticed she was surprised by my behavior. I ignored her as I walked past her. I was aware of my rude nature especially when people tended to think I was helpless. I hated anyone showing pity on me hence she followed me and unlocked the car. I quickly shoved my luggage inside
"Let's go...there's more to do," she said and walked to the driver's seat. I hesitated before going in but smiled at Mrs. Smith as she waved me off. This was nothing I would visit her every time u told me my stomach started showing. I sighed helplessly as I strapped on my seatbelts and Beverly started the car. It was getting dark and I couldn't believe the day passed without anything going wrong. I closed my eyes leaning back to the car seat, so many questions ran through my head confusing me. I wanted to know if my decision was a good one, I was rushing things? I didn't know that I was shifting uncomfortably in my seat. I was so lost that all I wanted was someone to tell me if I was doing the right thing.
So far I lied to many people in one day. I lied, which wasn't how I started things. But sometimes lying for something beneficial wasn't a bad thing. Heavens knew I was desperate, I had no way out of my problems and no matter how hard I tried to convince myself that one day everything would be fine, it got even worse
"Vivienne" I was brought back to my senses by Beverly's voice, I was lost as I looked around then back at her and she was staring at me with narrowed eyes
Damn it, I nearly slept off
"Is anything the matter?"I muttered in a cracked voice as I shifted up clearing my throat awkwardly and to my surprise, she just smiled at me and gestured with her head rolling down the car windows, I didn't know what she was trying to say but when I shifted my eyes to my left, I looked out the window and guessed we arrived.
"Come...welcome to Ellison's humble home" I was told by Beverly who opened the car door and stepped out and like a lost soul I did the same and what greeted me made me stop. I swore I failed to step my feet down afraid that my shoes weren't so clean.
"It's okay...no vicious beasts...or scary dogs...only a tiny poodle but he's harmless' 'I heard Beverly say from where she was as she dragged out my luggage from the backseat. However, I wasn't afraid of dogs or any domestic animals but my new environment. I always knew rich people owned huge and beautiful houses but seeing the view, my jaw dropped instantly. It wasn't just a humble home like she described it but a full mansion well lighted. It was late at night and the lights surrounding the place were bright and beautiful. I got out of the car and was stunned as we started walking further to the main entrance of the mansion. My eyes wandered around and I was helpless. Beyond shocked that I blinked a few times trying to take in my surroundings. I couldn't see what was around due to the dark sky but walked to the entrance. As we entered through the front door on the east facade, we passed into the grand hallway. The wallpaper was Anglo Japanese design with Roman and Greek themes in the frieze on the ceilings and walls. The predominant concourse was dark with tan and gold highlights creating an interesting contrast to the original interior trim painting of ashen pink, tan pale blue, and black detailing. The combination was so fascinating that I couldn't keep my eyes away as I followed Beverly, not sure where we were heading to. The slim-looking lady who I thought was a maid since she opened the door was following behind. Soon we came to a stop in what looked like a living room but seeing how large and how luxurious it was with nice black and gold furniture and a different set up which I found quite rare and nice. The atmosphere was pleasant and the cool air from the AC caressed my bare shoulders as I moved my hands to rub my shoulders
"Vivie, take a seat I'll be right back...Julia kindly take her bags to her room"Beverly turned to me and gestured for me to sit on the couch and I looked at her then to the clean couch. Everything I saw was spotless. No dust no dirt that I even found myself quite unfit to seat or step my sneakers on the white tiled floor
"And what do we have here" when I was about to sit, I heard a melodious voice say, not sure where it came from but soon a fine-looking tall and slim lady wearing an elegant designer blue dress which stuck to her petite body. Her hair was brown and short. It was shiny and perfectly styled in a bob. She looked elegant as she flaunted herself showing her nicely painted long nails and a beautiful face with heavy makeup and some accessories around her worst and neck, I stood to the sides as she approached us and shifted her cat-like eyes to Beverly
"Hey, Monica...I see you are around"I heard Beverly say as I waited to the sides not sure what to say or if to greet the nice looking lady but judging by the way she was looking at me with disgust in her eyes, I guessed she saw me as dirt
"So...let me guess he brought a new one right...the powerful Victor Elison couldn't wait for a month or years to replace my sister"the lady Beverly called Monica said sarcastically as she gracefully headed my way. I didn't understand what she was trying to say but I kept quiet as she reached where I was standing and looked at me with disdain in her eyes
"It's not like that Monica...please Julia take Vivienne to her room, "Beverly said more defensively as if what the lady said affected her, and when Julia was about to take my luggage Monica threw her a death glare which made Julia stop instantly and retrieved to a corner and lowered her head and I was surprised how quickly the black-haired girl got scared and looking at Beverly she seemed unhappy with the Monica lady who turned her sharp eyes to me
"Red hair...young...beautiful face...he just had to replace my sister whose body is still warm in her casket... buried six feet under hoping her husband could wait before he brought in a new woman but look...this thing of all things is his choice" the lady spat out angrily as she walked around me, touching my hair in a way which made me wonder what she was saying
"Monica that's enough...you can't say that about Victor…"Beverly tried to say and I could see she was suppressing anger just by seeing her facial expression which turned dark a minute ago but Monica cut her off with a death glare which scared me as I moved away from her
"What? Are you trying to defend him...just because my sister couldn't fulfill the wish of giving him a child he went and brought in a good for nothing thing!" the lady yelled at the top of her voice making me flinch from her loud voice as she turned to me and prepared to grab my hand and she grabbed my arm so unexpectedly that I gasped as prepared to drag me out when
"That's enough!" a deep stern voice made a low yell stopping the lady holding me in her tracks. The voice was deadly carrying no emotions even when the person to who it belonged wasn't yet in view. The lady Monica froze and I could sense how she began trembling that her grip on my arm loosened and in no time it was Victor who walked in and I quickly lowered my head. He seemed angry
"V...Vic...I was..." I saw what Monica started saying but Victor raised his hand cutting her off and she stopped immediately. I was stunned when Monica turned from a scary tigress to a soaked kitty cat, but who wouldn't be scared when the man in a suit standing before us had a scary aura, he was more aggressive, and the air in the room became heavy, nearly suffocating me.