Chapter 3:
Rather than correct her assumptions, the man frowned at her reply. She was poor but she was beautiful too. It was difficult to believe she was still a virgin.
"Are you sure, you're a virgin Miss?" he asked again and this time, Emma only nodded.
"Alright. I don't do slave trades though but I have a job for you," the man added after her response.
It was not Emma's turn to frown. If he wasn't buying her or selling her, what sort of job did he have for her?
"I will give you some information about this job but if I find out you are lying to me about being a virgin. You'll regret it," the man warned.
Emma didn't bother herself about his warning, all she wanted to hear was about the job and most importantly, how much money was going to be paid.
"You'll spend some months with a man and bare him an heir. After the baby is born, you will have to disappear from the picture like nothing ever happened. And be careful, after you sign this contract, there's no turning back," the man said sternly in a commanding voice.
Emma's heart was crushed. This was worst than slavery. He wanted her to have a child and disappear after that. But what was going to happen to her baby if she wasn't there? And who was this man she was going to spend some months with? Was he going to be an old man or a young man? Was he married or not? So many questions ran through her head but she didn't allow that to distract her as all that mattered to her now, was the life of her poor mother and nothing more. She wanted her to be saved and healthy again.
"Alright, I will do it!" She quickly answered which caught the strange man by surprise. Was she not going to ask him about her payment or who was the man she was going to spend time with or the conditions that would apply on the job?
A grin appeared on his face as he registered her reply. He had thought she would require time or cry about her baby or even ask about who she would be given birth to, but she went straight to the point...
Impressive!
She was just the type he was looking for. His master would be pleased. She had proven to be a girl that would be able to weather a storm without failing. Heaven knew his master was more than just a storm, she would need courage.
"Alright, let me give you—"
"Can the payment be made now?" Emma inquired, leaving the man halfway to finishing his words. The man frowned at this but before he could reject it, she spoke again, "Please I want to pay for my mother's hospital bill. If that would be possible?"
The strange man let out a sigh. She wasn't a fraud after all and he had been right. She had someone in the hospital and she needed the money. "I will do that, but you will have to come with me for assurance..."
"Please, I will do as you say but... My mother needs the money now. I promise I won't run off!" Emma pleaded. She had been roaming the city for hours in search of help and now that help had found her, she was overexcited to get it done without thinking it through.
The man sighed and said. "What are your account details?"
Immediately, she called out her account details to the man, and within five seconds, she received a notification on her phone. Her eyes widened at the amount she saw, was she daydreaming or what?
It was five million dollars credited into her account!
"That's just a part of the money when the job is complete. You'll receive the full payment. I can't give you that now. I am sorry," the strange man said.
Emma didn't know how to express herself, she was speechless and at the same time happy! She wasn't expecting much but she was happy that her mother's life would be saved.
Wait... the man said that was just some money? Did that mean this wasn't the full payment for the job? Emma tried to figure out what the man truly meant by his words, but she decided to be quiet in the meantime.
"You only have one day to get ready. And here is my card, give me a call when you're ready. I'll come to pick you up," the strange man said and handed her a green card.
Emma smiled and took the card from the strange man. as far as her problem had been solved, she didn't care what came next even though it was going to be a dark cloud or not.
She was ready for it…
She ran back to the hospital and went straight to the cashier to make payments for her mother. The doctor was more than happy to commence the search for a new heart that day.
A few hours later, he returned to the reception where Emma was waiting, "you are so lucky Miss Michael. We have gotten a perfect match for your mother. We shall begin the operation in thirty minutes," he told hr.
Emma was so excited, she hugged the doctor. "Oh thank you!"
"Tell me that when the operation is successful," The doctor said with a small smile.
Emma nodded eagerly and watched as they prepared her mother and wheeled her to the theatre. Emma kept praying in her heart for the next hour until the light turned green at the theatre and her mother was wheeled out.
"Doctor, how did it go?" She asked running towards them.
The doctor turned a smiling eye t her and gave her a thumbs up, "it was successful. Meet me in my office for post-op care."
Emma was more than happy to go to the doctor and when he requested money she gave him the rest of the money in her account and he assured her that Mrs. Florence would get the best care.
Her mother was moved to the best ward and nurses were on the clock to make sure she was alright. Emma stayed by her side until she stirred awake close to six hours later.
"My child, where did you get the money for this?" Her mother asked weakly when she realized she wasn't dead.
Emma hated this part because she knew she would have to lie to her. She couldn't tell her mum that she had signed up for a deal she wasn't certain of. But she had to be strong.
She flashed her mother a smile and said, "remember that modeling agency?"
Her mother nodded weakly and Emma continued, "they gave me a contract and advance payment for six months. The sad thing is I will have to work abroad for a year before I can return home... I am just worried sick about you mum..." Emma let out. Some of her emotions spilled out in that last statement but her mother just took it as the pain of separation.
"You have done so much for me already... Go... Go live your life. I will be fine," Mrs. Florence assured her daughter.
They held each other for a long time before Emma decided to leave. The man had been patient enough with her. She didn't want to ruin their deal. She dialed his number and in a short while, a luxurious car was there to pick her up.
As the vehicle moved, she broke down in tears as her sadness and fear manifested themselves. She was not going to see her mother till after a year and she had lied to her. Plus she was going to give birth to a child she would never share her love with...
What sort of a mother would that make her?
Emma felt a huge thorn in her chest. She couldn't breathe as her tears kept flowing like the paths of a river. What would become of that child?
"Young miss, we're here," the driver announced, bringing her back to reality.