Kamara’s POV
I practically cussed out all through my journey back home. This entire day is no doubt doomed, and the only comforting thing about it is the number of days my family and I have left to sleep under a roof. That man called Diego has lost his bloody mind if he thinks I would throw myself at his feet like that. My head aches from thinking all about these problems in front of me.
At least I didn’t get raped by that bastard Rodriguez. Tears laced my eyes as I unlocked the door. Chantelle was seated on the couch with her legs crossed and an odd look on her face. Almost like she had predicted what would be the outcome of my journey.
“How did it go?” She asked.
I thought when I arrived back here, I would be extremely frantic about the mad offer I got from the mafia. But I am quite calm, maybe because I know I am not going to do it. I have about ten more days to find a solution. That sounds good enough.
“Kamara!” Chantelle hollered, jolting me out of my long thought.
Rubbing at my strained neck, I sighed. “Sorry about that. It wasn’t all that bad, I guess.” I replied absentmindedly as went to the room to take off my clothes.
“What happened exactly?”
Tears that I didn’t realize were there rolled down my face. “Nothing.”
She pulled me roughly to face her. “What in the world happened? Did that bastard touch you?”
“Nobody touched me.”
“You are lying.”
I gulped hard, letting out a shaky breath. “Rodriguez tried to assault me,” I said, feeling bile rise in my throat.
“That bastard! I am going to kill him!” Chantelle growled. “You said tried. I hope you got to bash his head against the wall or something.”
“I wasn’t the one who beat him. Somebody else did.”
“Who? Why are you responding so slowly?” She questioned eagerly.
“You know what? I will cut to the chase. That son of a gun that calls himself Diego Sanchez proposes that I carry his child to save my family.” I gritted.
Chantelle stayed quiet to my surprise. I was expecting her to curse at him loudly and tell him to go to hell. “Did you not hear me?” I mumbled.
“I was just trying to weave how your going to the club intertwines with getting such a proposal.” She said.
I grabbed a fistful of my hair, feeling my heart clench tightly. “He was the one who saved me from Rodriguez.”
“Okay.” She drawled.
“What he said makes no fucking sense, and I am not going to do it anyway!” I ranted, pacing the room nervously.
“Can you just relax before you go into a full panic mode? What exactly is it that he said?”
“I hate that I have to repeat this. Diego Sanchez said he would only give my family and me our home back if I took nine months out of my life to bear his child. A fucking child.” I blurted in shaky breaths.
Chantelle had an unreadable expression on her face. After what felt like forever, she finally said something. “How many weeks did he give you to think about it?”
I gasped at her question. “Why are you even asking?”
“Tell me.”
“Two weeks from now.” I sniffed. “I have never been this humiliated all my life, Chantelle. In just one night, I almost got raped, and I got the most disgusting offer from the most notorious man in the city. How did my life come to this? What exactly did I do to deserve this?” I
broke down, feeling the ground underneath me shatter. “I am not going to sell myself short. One way or the other, I will get his money, thankfully it’s still two weeks away. That’s a good enough time to get a loan.”
“With what as a stand-in?” She asked in a strange tone.
I blinked rapidly. “What?”
“From what you said, I doubt if Diego Sanchez has any personal interest in you. If he expects you to bear his child to cover up for the amount you are owing. It means he needs you to be his surrogate. You don’t have to share a bed with him. You just need to carry his eggs. I know a few college mates of ours who do that to survive and help others have joy in their households. Not only will you be saving your family, you will be doing another family a favor.”
I stared at her in disbelief. I don’t think the Chantelle I know is the one talking to me. “have you lost your mind, Chantelle? Getting pregnant now means I will be having my first-ever child and I will have to give it away to a monster. A man who kills for a living. A man who makes a joke out of everyone and tramples on the weak people around him. Are you even listening to yourself?”
She stood up, sucking In a breath. “Technically, Kamara. The child isn’t yours, but his. Can’t you see this in a different light? You have fourteen days to think, and there is no assurance that he would keep to his words. Especially if he knows you will never agree to it.”
“I didn’t realize you were my enemy. No offense to those who indulge in things like that. But I am not going to carry someone else’s child in my belly. Neither am I going to waste nine months of my life out serving someone else. When I should be in the fashion school, getting closer to my dreams.” I gritted.
“Do you think I hate you? Do you think I am happy that you have been going through so much in the last few days? What do you expect me to tell you when I have no other solution to provide you with? Not only will you all end up in the streets, but you will go hungry. Think of all the horrifying things that exist on the streets of Atlanta that can go wrong with your innocent siblings who are just maturing. If birthing a child for this so-called mafia would save you from future harm, then you have to do it.” She had tears in her eyes now.
I staggered to the back, not wanting to soak in her words. “That can’t be possible. There has to be a way out. This shouldn’t be a dead end for my family. We should have a choice.”
“There is a choice now, Kamara. You either accept his offer or lose your home.”
“I will visit the banks again and use the house as collateral. We can get the money in the next ten days.” I argued, shaking my head furiously.
“Mind if I ask what your parent’s credit score is?”
I stared at her with tears-laden eyes, feeling betrayed. “What’s wrong with you, Chantelle? Why aren’t you sympathizing with me? You should be positive like I am.” I gasped, holding onto the wall to catch my breath. “If I do this, I am going to miss going to fashion school. This is my one shot, I can’t lose it. Dr. Scott vouched for me. I can’t lose it, Chan. I can’t.” I wailed, falling to the ground helplessly.
“I am so sorry,” Chantelle muttered, crawling towards me. “It’s going to be okay.” She assured me, patting my back as I cried.