Chapter 4 Four

Slow motions are things I see in the movies, not until Martin Harrison enters Dr. Jenny's office. Everything happened fast but in slow motion. His aura filled the room as he walked through the door, and immediately, the grip on my bag loosened and it hit the floor.

The bag was the last thing on my mind. Martin was the first. In fact, the only thing on my mind. His dark hair fell on his forehead in a messy way. His eyes matched the color of his hair, adding to his dark aura.

His stoic face was captivating, holding my gaze until his voice pierced through my thoughts.

"What the fuck did you tell me on the phone?" His deep voice sent shivers down my spine.

His appearance wasn't the only thing that screams authority, his voice does. Everything about him screams 'don't mess with me'.

"Mr Harrison, I'm sorry I didn't take permission from you before going ahead with the implant," Dr Jenny said. Her words took me away from my obsession with Martin's appearance to a state of dilemma.

Take permission from him. Why would she need permission when it was a mistake? I pondered as I turned to face her, flashing her a questioning look.

Dr. Jenny ignored my eye signal as she focused on the man of the moment, Martin.

"You know how important it is for me to evaluate the surrogate before the insemination. "I have to know her and approve of her before she gets to carry my child. "I can't just settle for any woman," he said, more of complained.

"I promise you that you won't regret the choice I made for you," Dr Jenny replied, her palms fidgeting as she spoke.

I guess it is time for me to chirp into the conversation. I have to know where I stand and how the whole surrogate thing concerns me. I'm clearly not the surrogate, but let's just clear the air.

I turned to Dr Jenny, my back facing Martin Harrison. "Dr Jenny, if I may ask, what is going on here? I mouthed, hoping Martin didn't hear me.

"Just play along," she mouthed back, her whole body language disoriented.

"Play along with what? I don't know what's going on, I don't understand you," I mouthed back, using both my mouth and eyes to communicate with her.

Instead of giving me an answer, she forced a smile on her face before turning to Martin. "Mr Harrison, this is Mirabella, the surrogate," she said, causing everything around me to freeze.

I scoffed. I turned to face them, staring at her, speechless and confused. I still can't believe my ears. I can't comprehend what was going on, I just can't. Surrogate? The words kept ringing in my head. How did I end up being a surrogate without my own knowledge? Is this a sort of elaborate prank or a comedy show?

"Dr Jenny," I managed to say. "Stop this joke right now," I said as low as I could, wearing a warning smile.

For the second time, she ignored me. "Mr Harrison, don't mind Mirabella. She is a little bit shy," Dr Jenny said with a fake smile.

"Can you stop it already!" I voiced out, trying to keep my anger before I flared up.

"This whole thing was a mistake, you said it yourself. You told me you had his sperm implanted inside me by mistake. Why are you changing the narrative now?" I said, my voice firm.

"What the fuck is going on here?" Martin demanded, his tone harsh.

"What part of my explanation was hard for you to understand?" I retorted, angrily.

"Who do you think you are to talk to me like that?" he asked, moving closer to me.

He stood directly in front of me, a step away from touching each other. His eyes lingered on mine, boring into mine intensely. "Don't think that you can disrespect me because you are my surrogate," he whispered.

Chills ran down my spine as I stood still in front of him. I couldn't bring down my gaze because he was holding onto mine. His eyes were like magnets, strongly holding onto mine.

"Mr Harrison, I'm sorry once again," Dr Jenny said, trying to break the eye contest. Her efforts didn't work, so she tried another way.

"Can you give me a moment with Mirabella?" she asked, but none of us budge. Neither me nor Martin looked away.

"Just so you know, Martin," I started, but he interrupted me.

"Mr Harrison for you," he said firmly.

"For your information, Mr Harrison. I have the intention of terminating the implant. I don't have the intention of carrying your child," I said before breaking eye contact.

I scanned the room as I spoke. "Today. Our encounter. The insemination saga, everything was a mistake. I shouldn't have met you at all."

Martin scoffed, then a loud laugh escaped his lips. "Dr Jenny," he called her without glancing at her.

"Yes, Mr Harrison," she answered.

"Didn't you tell her about the contract before she had the insemination? He asked.

"The thing is.... "I was about to tell her before you walked in," Dr Jenny stuttered.

"Do you agree that the disrespect I'm getting from this woman is your fault?" Martin asked her without looking at her.

"I'm deeply sorry, Mr Harrison. I promise to get everything sorted as soon as possible," Dr Jenny said.

"There's no need for that. I will sort things out myself and settle the situation," Martin said with a menacing smile on his face.

"Mirabella or whatever you call yourself, young lady. You have my sperm inside of you. You have no right to terminate or do anything to harm it. You will follow all the necessary processes to have the baby," he said, surprising me.

"You are kidding, right?" I scoffed.

"What gave you the impression that I was kidding?" he asked me.

"You can't be serious. You can't force me to carry your baby. "It is my body and I can do whatever I want with my body," I fired.

"Since my sperm is inside you, your body is mine. As long as you carry my child, your body remains mine. "I hope that answers you," he said, finally creating a space between us.

This can't happen. The whole thing was a mistake to begin with. How did it get to this?

"Dr Jenny, feed her in on the contract and make sure the whole thing is successful. "My sperm can't go to waste," he said before walking out of the office.

My legs gave up, and my butt hit the cold floor as soon as Martin exited the office. I was done. My end is finally here, staring at me. I don't even see myself getting out of this mess.

"I'm so sorry, Mirabella," Dr Jenny said, squatting in front of me.

"Why did you do it? Why did you tell me those lies? You should have told him the truth and face the consequences of dragging both of us into this mess," I lamented.

"I'm sorry Mirabella," she repeated the apologies.

"Your apologies can't fix this," I spat.

"I had no choice than to cook up those stories. Does were his last sperm, and we have to pray for it to work," she said, causing me to roll my eyes at her.

How is that my business? I don't even have the intention of carrying the baby. I don't care if those were his last sperm.

"Dr Jenny, I'm not doing this with you. I'm not," I said firmly.

"You can't hide from Mr Harrison. You have to do whatever he says if you want to live," she said, causing my heart to start beating faster than usual.