Chapter 1
Shift ten out of twelve was complete. Ten hour shifts. I ama student nurse I live in New York City, in a small but cute apartment, I leftmy family home back in Texas when I was 19, I needed to complete my degree atNYU and it only seemed fitting I move to New York to do this. I’m now 22.
Some people think the student life is high and mighty buthonestly. It’s all unpaid bills, broke and exhaustion. The only thing gettingme through is graduating really soon, I work part time in a coffee house whenI’m not at the hospital. Just so I can pay my bills: I have so many outstandingI have no idea how I’m going to pay them but I’ll make it work.
I ran myself a hot bubble bath when I got in from work: myfeet were throbbing, there’s nothing glamour about this job but I love what Ido. I didn’t work hard to just quit.
I scrolled through my phone catching up with family, when ajob advert caught my eye. It was very appealing. – LIVE IN NANNY WANTED. Enquirewithin – no further details? But all I knew was these types of jobs paidextremely well and right now I could do with all the money I could get.
I applied instantly. What’s the worse that could happen? I’mnot successful? I move on to the next.
I have my hair a good hair wash, and my body a good scrubbefore leaving the bath and drying off in my room, I felt clean thankfully, Iwas starved but I didn’t wanna cook so I ordered myself takeout, and I just gotinto bed and watched a little tv, whilst eating. I was too engrossed in the tvto realise my phone had buzzed.
- Thankyou for applying for the nanny position, Iwould like to formally invite you to an interview tomorrow, noon. Please meetme at the ivy in the town; ask for Steven’s.- that’s it. Nothing else? But Ihave an interview. And it was my day off. Couldn’t of been more perfect.
I was great with kids. I loved kids. I can’t wait to be amother some day, I just haven’t been fortunate enough to become one, I wasonce. But I sadly miscarried. I guess it was not meant to be.
I had absolutely no idea who this person was I was meeting,Steven’s could be anyone? Woman? Man? To play it safe I knew the outfit I wouldwear just incase.
This could be my way out of the debt. I needed to make agood impression.
The following morning i prepped myself for the meeting ahead. i chose towear my pencil skirt, and white blouse, its the outfit i worse to my nursinginterview and i nailed that, so it was only fair i tried it this time.
I called a cab to take me to the restaurant, i was suddenly full of nerves.
I took a breath, it would be absolutely fine. I just neededto make a good impression. We arrived. I paid my fare and headed inside.“Reservation Madame?” Madame who am I my mother. “Er, I’m meeting someoneactually, Steven’s?” The hostess smiled “right this way” and led me through therestaurant out the back.
“Mr Steven’s, your company has arrived” she announces.Before me, sat this tall, dark haired. Most handsome muscular male I have everseen. He nods. “April Rhodes. Pleasure to meet you, Mr Steven’s” I announceconfidentially. He peers upwards; standing up holding out his hand. He must beat least 6 foot 5. I shake his hand. “Ms Rhodes.” He gestures holding out mychair for me to sit down.
“So tell me about yourself” he asks as he sits before me,elbows on his knees, formally. “Well, I’m 22, I moved here when I was 19, toattend NYU, I’m near the end of my degree, student nurse.” “and why do you wantthe nanny position?” “I’m great with kids. I love kids. Part of the reason whyI want to be a nurse. And I need the money truthfully, I have unpaid bills,because I can’t afford to pay them. I work part time in a coffee house whichpays next to nothing” he raises his eyebrows. “Honest. I like that. So you needto pay off your debt?” I nod hesitantly. “Basically, yeah. But I didn’t see onthe ad how much it paid?” He leans forward. Business stance. “That’s becausethe ad is false” “false? So there is no nanny position?” I say confusingly. “Thatis correct Ms Rhodes. You’re smart.” Cocky. Not an attractive trait. “So, whatis this?” I call the waiter over. “May I have a large glass of your finest redplease” I smile. “Right away” he walks away to retrieve my drink. I get raisedeyebrows from his highness opposite. “It’s needed. Please continue, Mr Steven’s.What is this proposition?” I fold my arms leaning back on my chair revealing aslightly top thigh. The waiter comes back with my wine which I drank ever so nicely.
“A proposition for you. To get yourself out of the debt youso call need to clear.” – “and that is?” He leans forward. “Your uterus. I wantto buy it”
My wine came flying out of my mouth quicker than it entered.
“I’m sorry what? You want to buy my uterus? Why?” I dabbedmy face clearing the wine that splattered.
“It’s simple. You have a uterus. I have money. You need money.I need a heir”
Shit. “An heir? You want a child?” I suddenly felt ill.
“Correct. I want you to carry my child in return for yourdebt cleared”
This was an opportunity I couldn’t say no to, but could Ireally let him buy my body basically to grow his child?
