05

Mr Georgie had freshened up and was set to have his dinner. His towel still wrapped around his waist, and he walked to the mirror to take a good look at himself. He shuffled his hair with his left palm and heaved a big sigh. “Tony must still be waiting for me there—” he mumbled and hissed.

After getting dressed in casual wear, he walked down the stairs to the visitors' room where Tony was still waiting for him. “I had expected you to leave after waiting for a long time…” he took a seat opposite Tony and shifted the table. “They must have served you something. I wonder what brought my rival to my place at this hour…”

Tony dropped his cell phone that he was busy with. “I rejected the drink they had served,” he replied to Georgie and grinned. “So, what's up with the deal? How long will it take to stop getting reports from the corporate board?”

“Is that why you are here?” Georgie chuckled. They had been enemies right from the day he got married to his ex-wife. Tony had claimed that Tracy was the lady he intended to get married to three years ago. They ended up becoming rivals and no longer business partners, and each of them—especially Tony—got on Georgie's neck and wanted to see his end by all means.

Even though he had divorced Tracy months ago, that wasn't enough reason for Tony to let go of all grudges.

“You know,” Tony began. “If you are unable to present a family to the corporate board, they will end up cutting ties with your company and watch it crumble. Do you want that to happen?” he snorted as each word left his throat.

Georgie sniffled. “Why being nice all of a sudden? Didn't you want my downfall?”

“I can't be nice to you. I just wanted to remind you that if your company crumbles and your status is diminished, then it will be easier to find the culprit behind that accident. Don't forget that it's your status, power, and wealth that's covering that culprit from being imprisoned as a reckless driver and a murderer.” he made a long face, getting rid of all the smirks from his face.

Georgie watched as Tony's lips moved while he tapped his foot on the floor continuously. Tony was telling the truth. He was even trying his best to cover the truth despite their enmity, maybe because he was sure that he wouldn't be able to please the corporate board and would end up demoted soon.

Tony was the only one who knew the driver who killed the couples in their lane on the road….and since the incident happened, he had been trying his best to see to it that the truth wasn't revealed.

He forced a smile, “Thank you for showing concern. I will work on making peace with the corporate board as soon as possible….” he said to Tony, even though he knew Tony only came over to read his mind and know what he was up to because one thing he wouldn't want to see it come true is Georgie getting married and having a family again.

Tony stood from the sofa. “It was a short, interesting conversation. I look forward to you getting everything in place.”

“Yeah! I'll try my best.” Georgie replied to him and stood as well. He watched him exit the room, and then he got seated again. “What is this jerk up to this time? He can't spill who the driver was or he would get into trouble himself…” he shook his head and relaxed his back on the sofa.

***

A week later, at noon, Shannon was done checking the apartments shown to her by the realtor but wasn't satisfied with any of them. They had postponed it the next day, so she would drop application letters to several newsrooms.

The last company she stepped into, she was to be interviewed instantly, and so was sent by the manager in charge of the company.

Sitting before her, she threw the envelope that bore her letter on her face. Her pupils dilated as it wasn't something she expected since it was said to be an interview.

“How do you expect us to employ someone who hasn't worked as a reporter for a long time?” The lady sitting before her screeched. “I couldn't stand dismissing you that way. That's why I sent for you….”

“So you can bash me?” Shannon cut her short. “What's the problem with not working as a reporter for a long time? Would I complain if my salary isn't up to as expected?” she gestured.

She pushed the seat backwards and stood up. “You are such a shame to this company—” she snapped at the lady and picked up her envelope.

“I hope you find a job somewhere else because you aren't even worth being paid….”

Shannon waved her hand at her and exited the room. As she shut the door and turned, she faced a man she didn't anticipate to meet. Her feet slipped, and she found herself leaning on the wall for support. “Uhmmm!”

He approached closer and drew her ear. A scream escaped her throat at the shivers of pain that ran down her spine. “Why did you have to leave that night?”

“I don't know what you're talking about?” she bit her lower lip.

“Serious? Do you still not get it?” he grabbed her by the hair and dragged her along. They entered his office, and he forced her to sit down. “Now tell me what brought you here again after escaping that night. Didn't you love my dick?”

“Shhhhh!” she placed her finger on her lips. “Keep it low. I was just drunk that night—that's all.”

He nodded. “I see, so because of that, you decided to become a reporter and search for me?”

She scoffed. What was he talking about? How would he become a burden to her? “Not that, it's just my job before I decided to take a break.” she scratched her head. “Uhmm, I have to leave so I can submit my applications elsewhere.” She picked up her little purse and stood.

He tapped his finger on the table. “No need! I'll employ you provided you will do something for me because I'm not sure there's any company that would accept you.” he stood from his chair and walked to her. He ran his finger in her hair, making her stand frozen at a spot. “If you will be my surrogate, I will employ you and double your salary.”

She lifted her head. “Employ me with a double salary just by being your surrogate?” her eyes bulged with mouth agape.

A hard swallow. Shannon dropped her purse to the side. “Do you mean it? All you need is for me to be your surrogate?” She inquired, her palms clutched against each other, perspiring.

He gave a single nod. His jaw clenched.

“I'll do it.”

“Shouldn't you think about it?” his nose wrinkled.

She shook her head. “No need when it has to do with money.” she grinned. ‘If I become a reporter, I'll be able to investigate my parent’s death again and find the culprit. With the money, I can eat what I want and visit different places. With his status as well, I will be able to track down Tony and take back from him all I worked with him.’ she moistened her lips.

Mr. Georgie stepped backwards, his palms dipped into his pockets. “I am the CEO of Blossomotors, and also the CEO of this Blossom newsroom company, so you'll surely get paid for the role well played as my surrogate too.”

She gasped, feeling butterflies in her belly.

“First, you will go through a checkup before the end of today, and then you will pack into my house too.”

She nodded, her lips unable to shut. She would save the money for renting or buying an apartment. “Fine, let's head to the hospital at your convenient time.”

After a few hours, Mr Goergie was done going through the reports submitted to him by the manager. He had studied journalists as a course and a career but was also a businessman who dealt with all sorts of car productions and distributions to every part of the world.

He sent a signal to Shannon, and they headed out of the company to his car. They were driven to the hospital, and Shannon was taken by the doctor into the laboratory.

While scrolling through his cell phone comfortably, hoping that Shannon would be medically okay so he would be able to discuss how the insemination would be done….the doctor came in with Shannon to the guest room.

He stood up to face the two adults who glanced at each other but were stunned. “Won't either of you say a thing?” he broke the silence between them.

The doctor handed the result to him, and he instantly dropped it on the floor. “You can explain better than the result….”

A cough. The doctor cleared his throat. “Well, the result says that she is pregnant—a week pregnant.”