THE BILLIONAIRE'S SURROGATE STRIPPER
CHAPTER TWO
Ariel Donald's POV
The machine beeps repeatedly, with the pungent smell of bleach which fills up the hospital air.
"She has two months to prepare for surgery. If you don't start payments. I'm afraid… She's not going for the surgery." The doctor said adjusting his glasses while his hands went back into his scrubs pockets. I sat quietly on the hospital bed cross-legged with my fingers gripping the sheets tightly while I watched my mother sleep.
My eyes flicked from the doctor to my mom and back again repeatedly.
I know how much my mom hates hospitals! It was hard convincing her to get treated here where the doctors will cater to her health with their full attention.
Her last words before leaving home were. "Make sure you visit me every day. I can't spend a day without you." Before she agreed to get admitted.
Her words brought tears to my eyes as I blinked them back whenever I remembered those words. That's the reason I can do whatever to make sure she's treated.
"You better hurry to get the complete deposit for her surgery. Cancer has formed in her blood tissues, nerves, and joints. It's risky and I'm afraid to say she's closing into…" He added and paused with a sigh.
"What do you mean Doctor?" My soft voice had a trace of worry laced in it as a cold shiver ran through my spine.
"I mean she's closing into the final stages of cancer and I'm afraid it's serious surgery. It has eaten deep into her. I'd prefer you pray and also hurry to get the money for her surgery." He cocked his head to the side where my mom laid and his mouth twitched.
"But doctor…"
"Have a nice day Miss Ariel." He walked out of the room and shut the door, not minding, listening to what I had to say.
I felt he knew I was going to bombard him with questions and questions he wasn't sure of their fate.
Questions like. How long will the surgery take? Can she be cured of cancer completely after the surgery? Will she survive? Even though it scared me to ask such question, I have to. I'm grown and deserve to be told the truth.
"Ariel…" A strained weak voice called out to me and tapped my back.
"Mom." I was snapped out of my thoughts and fixed my full attention on her.
"Why are you crying?"
"No, I'm not.." I felt tears streaming down my cheek. Unbeknownst to me, I've been crying and I wasn't aware of it because I was lost in thoughts.
"It must be the weather. My eyes must have caught dust." I added smiling at her.
"You don't have to hide your pain from me, my child. I'm a burden to you and it's hurting to see you cater to my needs. All I've ever created for you is hell." Mom says with a sorrowful voice, her eyes mirroring the sadness and pain she was watching me go through.
"None of this is your fault. I'll get the money to get you treated. Don't worry about me, okay?"
"Where will you get such huge amount of money? We barely have a comfortable roof over our heads and clothes on our back. Matthew has eaten a huge dent into the bills. How are you going to manage all that and my troubles?" She laments, her eyes pooling with tears.
"Shush… Stop worrying everything will be fine. You have to trust me."
"Why won't I worry? I hate to see you going through stress. Please don't worry about me anymore. I've accepted my fate. I'm going to… "
"No!" I screamed at her angrily as my body shook with trepidation.
I've lost the biggest support system in my life and I can't add her to the list. My mom means the world to me and there's no mountain too high or path so deadly I won't cross to make sure she's hale and hearty.
Mom and Matthew are the only families I have left in this cruel world. What would become of me if I lost her?
"I won't lose you, mother." My body fell over the bed as I snuggled closer to her.
"I'm sorry for scaring you." She apologised with tears streaming down her tear duct. I don't know how she feels but I'm sure she's heartbroken inside.
I promise to pay for the surgery and make her happy no matter what it takes. So I leaned closer and wiped the tear marks from her cheeks.
"Stop crying ma."
She nods and gives me her happy smile. Oh Lord, I've missed how life used to be. It was joyful before it was stolen away.
*Buzz* I picked my phone that buzzed in my jean pocket and it was a text.
'Ariel you have ten minutes to get your ass down here. Where are you?' I rolled my eyes. It was from my best friend Eunice. Eunice was a model by day and a stripper by night and she did earn huge bucks… bucks I wished to earn to save up and support Mom's surgery.
"What is it?" She enquired gazing at my phone.
"It's a text from Eunice. I got a job as a model. So I have to be there for a luxury brand casting today. It's scheduled for 2:Pm." I answered by picking my keys from the bed and tying my brunette hair into a ponytail.
She nods. "I must have wasted your time." With a weak voice.
I smiled widely at her showing my sets of nice teeth. "No ma."
My fingers drew a line across the rim of my lips and I watched how her face lit up.
"You see I'm smiling so widely because I'm here with you. You're the reason why I wake in the morning and sleep at night. Don't you dare die on me? I won't forgive you." I added.
She brought her pinky finger. "I promise."
"Promise." I brought mine and we clicked with a smile plastered on our faces.
I kissed my mom goodbye and left the ward with a heavy heart.