Melissa woke up the next morning with new strength and hope for better things. For the first time in a long while,she played some music on the recorder and danced to the beat as she went about her chores. She felt positive that things were going to take a great turn. She had decided to go through with the surrogacy plan.
She hoped to ask for an advance so she could get medications for the twins and better living conditions, this house was a complete mess and was closing down on them. She made breakfast for the twins and after the usual morning routine, she set out for Elizabeth's house. She met Elizabeth sprawled on the sofa looking at pictures on a magazine. Lizzie was happy to see her.
"Mel, I didn't expect you back this soon. Are you here to tell me your conclusion?" She asked.
"Yes, Mel started, I have thought about it, I can change our lives from doing this and since the twins have no other relations except my mother and I, I'm willing to do whatever it takes to make them well."
"Wow, that's brave. I honestly thought you'd back out because of the stigma and complications involved in surrogacy but since you have made up your mind to do it, I'll contact the agent and have him come pick you up."
Lizzie leaves Melissa in the sitting room and heads outside to make some calls. About an hour later, a black exotic car pulled up in front of her house and Melissa got in. She bid Elizabeth goodbye and said a short prayer as was her ritual. Inside the car, she notices that the driver doesn't speak to her and referred to her as "ma'am". She realized that the person she was going to meet was very rich because only wealthy people could afford card like this and the very tight security detail.
The driver pulls up to a building in the high end part of town and Melissa gets down and she is led by the senior bodyguard up through a lift and they were on the top floor. She was ushered into an office and asked to wait there.
Romano was informed of the arrival of the lady that agreed to be his surrogate. He was tense, he feared for this decision he was about to make. He needed a surrogate mother but while he didn't need any physical connection with the lady, he also wanted someone empathetic enough to care for a child. He swirled his whiskey around in the glass and pondered. He dialed a number on the intercom and asked the lady to be ushered in. He had to do what he had to do.
While in the waiting room, Melissa had begun to develop cold feet. She feared that the man wasn't going to see her as fit for the job and that all her hope will be shattered. She was dressed in a simple dress, her hair pulled back in a low ponytail with just lipgloss and some blush to highlight her pale cheeks. She tapped her feet continuously on the ground to shoiw her nervousness. She didn't hear the guard come in.
"My boss is ready to see you now."he said again while clearing his throat.
"Oh, I'm so sorry, I didn't hear you the first time." Melissa said trying to get a hold of herself and not show her nervousness.
She was ushered into the adjoining office and for a second, she was taken aback by the magnificent view. The office had a cool ambience to it, the black and white colors fitted the man that sat in the chair. The up to down glass windows allowed for a view of the oceanside, Melissa'was lost in the waves.
Romano looked at the pretty lady in front of him. She looked so amazed at the view in his office, he loved the innocence in her brown eyes, how her hair pulled back away from her face allowed her best features come to life. He concluded that she was the one for the job but first he need to speak with her.
He cleared his throat.
"You can sit down, lady. We aren't going to have this meeting on our feet now, are we?. He said.
Melissa stared him in the face and thought he looked really familiar.
"I didn't intend for us to do so sir." She replied a small smile playing on her lips while she lowerd herself onto the seat in front of the table.
"I believe your friend has told you all there is to know about this venture. I need a surrogate mother for my child. I need a child but I don't have the intention to get married so surrogacy is the best option for me. You'll carry the child for 9 months and care for it for a period of time that's stated in the contract. An initial upfront of half the pay will be sent to you to take care of yourself and your needs and to also assure you that this isn't a sham.
I know this wasn't mentioned but I intend to take you to an island in Spain just for the purpose of carrying and birthing the child. I think that the environment in New York will be too hostile for a baby and I want all things to work naturally and that's why the island in Spain is the best place to take you.
I also want to let you know that over there, you would be cared for by my staff and I will schedule regular visits to you to check on you and the child. My name's Romano El Salvador and I'm going to be the father of the baby."
Melissa listened to all he said with rapt attention. She was really happy about the initial upfront that was going to be paid to her. Immediately he mentioned his name, she realized why she thought he looked familiar. He was the Romano El Salvador, the one everyone referred to as the mysterious man. How did Lizzie get a connection to him?. She heard from people that he never granted audience to anyone and never attended any interviews. She always awed at how handsome he looked in the pictures she saw on TV but now seeing him in flesh, she realized pictures didn't do justice to his beauty.
"Do you have anything to say before you read the contract?" Romano's voice cut through her reverie.
"Yes, I..,I do." Melissa stuttered unsure of how she was going to tell him to change his decision about moving her to Spain because she couldn't leave the twins here.
"I have twin sisters who live with me here in New York, they're in the last stage of cancer and are part of the reason why I'm here doing this. I don't think I can leave them here in New York, we don't have any other relatives and they need someone to take care of them while they undergo treatment."
Romano looked at Melissa and he saw pain in her eyes. He knew he had to help her, he didn't know why he felt this way, maybe it was because of the fact that he was naturally drawn to children and he was also working on having one. He decided to think over what to do with her condition and then he brought out the contract.
"Here, I'm going to give you a few minutes to go through this. And forgive my manners, I didn't offer you any refreshments, I'll send the cook over to you now so you can get what to eat and drink. Please take your time, go through the contract and append your signature. I'll join you soon."
Melissa watched him walk out of the office and she was downcast. She couldn't tell what his thoughts were about her reservations concerning the twins. He didn't give her any reply but he gave her the contract. Does that mean he has accepted her proposal?. She shrugged and read through the contract.
In a while, the cook appeared and Melissa made her order for food. She was famished. She ate with so much relish that she didn't notice Romano standing by the door way watching her. He had left her to join a meeting with his associates. The meeting ended badly and he had walked back to his office to cool off only to meet Melissa eating and he didn't want to startle her. He stood watching her eat and he felt pity for her. She looked like she had gone through a lot, he saw the pain in her eyes when she talked about her sisters.
Melissa felt a presence in the room and she turned around to find Romano staring at her. She felt embarrassed to see that he was watching her wolf down the food. He smiled at her and walked around the table to sit down facing her. Melissa finished up the food and the cook came to clear the table and they resumed the meeting.
" I can see you have eaten to your satisfaction. Have you signed the contract?"
Melissa nodded yes.
"You should talk more. You're well spoken and intelligent." Romano said to her.
"Okay sir. You haven't told me your stand about moving me to Spain. I don't want to be away from my siblings." Melissa said avoiding eye contact.
"Let me have the contract. We'll talk about that at the next meeting. I'll have my car and the security detail escort you back home. And here's a little token for your time today." Romano said while handing her a wad of cash.
True to his word, the car and security detail were waiting for Melissa when she got downstairs. The drive home was a very long one and Melissa was lost in thought. She thought of Nate. She hadn't spoken to him in a long time. She felt their relationship was getting weaker if they could stay this long without talking to each other. She thought of her mother, wherever she was, she worried for her safety.
The money in her bag was enough consolation for a better life. She had stopped by at a mall to buy goodies for the twins and also some dinner for herself. She thought of Lizzie and made a mental note to visit her before her next meeting with Romano.
Romano locked himself up in his study as he liked to do whenever he needed to think. He didn't understand his emotions. Why was he feeling this rush emotions for a girl he just met today. She matched his exact specifications in the woman he wanted to be a surrogate for him. She was well spoken, could understand sarcasm, had a firm tone and wits. He wanted a intelligent child. He dialed a number on the intercom and his chief security responded.
"Hello, Rock, get me everything I need to know on that lady that came for the interview today."
"Yes, boss." And the line went dead.
Romano paced round the room a glass of wine in his hand and his hands running through his hair at intervals. About an hour later, his phone beeped and he saw a file sent to him by Rock, the information he asked for.
Melissa got home and was so happy to see the twins. She gave them all she bought for them, fixed dinner for herself and then sat down to call Nate. She dialed the number repeatedly and she was sent to voice mail every time. "He must be working a night shift", she thought and after a short prayer, she let sleep take her.