the billionaire's surrogate (Emily and Colton) novel Chapter 1

I usually liked letters that began with a Congratulations! 947

It was on my acceptance letter to NYU. It was on my awarded scholarships letter. Letters that began with a Congratulations! were a good thing. 49

I nod, slowly, as I stare at the letter in front of me. "This is a good thing." My hands are trembling, making the letter shake so I set it on the counter and pace around the kitchen. 17

Not the kind of good I liked rather the kind of good you know you have to do but don't want to, like when you know you have to clean your bedroom but you'd rather lay in bed and watch TV. Or when you know you have to do your homework but you want to go watch that one movie that just came out. That kind of good. The kind that has a good result but there's a sacrifice to it. 131

In my case, a huge sacrifice. 6

"Emily?" 37

I look up and realize that Derek, my roommate is looking at me. "Yeah?" I say reaching for the letter quickly. 136

"Are you alright?" he says eyeing me with his pitch black eyes. 166

"Yeah." I repeat, nodding. "Just tired, I'm going to take a nap." I announce making my way to my room. +

I met Derek at the beginning of my junior year in NYU which was almost two years ago, considering I am on my last semester of college. We decided to move in together at the end of the year after becoming good friends. Living with him hasn't been a problem so far, he's a good guy. We live in a two bedroom apartment and share the bills. +

I go to my room and shut the door then lay on my bed and stare at the ceiling. I have three exams this week along with a ton of homework to do and I couldn't bring myself to start studying. A few months ago, I received the worst news I could possibly receive. My dad had a heart attack. My family lives in Arizona, where I was born, but I came to New York for my career because the school offered me a full scholarship so I couldn't even see him. 230

My mom didn't tell me until he was out of danger but that didn't make me feel any better. Ever since that day, my father has been sick and my mom had to work more in order to be able to pay the house bills, leaving my little sister in the hospital with my dad. She is a sophomore in high school so she goes whenever she gets out of school so my dad is not alone. 51

I've thought about leaving. 7

A lot of times. 3

I was supposed to be the miracle of the family. The successful one to make enough money to be able to buy my parents a house. The reliable one. And I'm here, useless, unable to do anything to help. Part of me wants to pack my bags and go home and the other part of me knows I can't throw all of this away. I am so close to finishing school. So close to graduating and becoming a nurse-I can't give it up now. That's what my dad told me the last time I spoke with him and I know he's right but I won't forgive myself if something happens to him while I'm here. +

I clean the tear that was rolling down the side of my eye. 14

Of course I have a job but it is barely enough for me to pay the bills and feed myself. I don't have enough money to send them and help my mom. So while I'm here, trying to finish my education, my dad is drowning more in debt with the hospital. Soon, they're not going to want to attend him. 112

I didn't think it would be this hard to be a twenty-four year old. 232

My phone begins to ring, making me jump. "Hello?" I answer, quickly and out of breath. 8

"Emily, it's Elizabeth." 127

"Oh." I say, feeling a little relieved it's not my mom with bad news. "Oh! I totally forgot we were going to have lunch together. I'm sorry! I'm on my way," I babble as I reach for my purse. 5

"It's okay. I'm outside, take your time." 5

Elizabeth is the one and only true friend I have. We met in freshman orientation, my first friend in New York, we've been friends since then. Derek is no where to be seen, I'm guessing he's in his room, so I head out, lock the door and get in Elizabeth's car. It's a sunny afternoon but still a sweater day in New York. Being from Arizona, I didn't like the cold but it kind of grew out on me, didn't really have another choice. 64

People are always saying that Elizabeth and I could easily be sisters and looking at her, I can see why. We both have long, brown wavy hair, brown eyes, fair skin. I guess we are different in the way we dress. She is always dressing up compared to my jeans and blouse with a sweater. "Hey." I smile at her as she drives off the driveway. 127

"Everything okay?" she asks me. +

"Yes." I sigh. "No." +

I take a sip of my coffee. "This is a good thing, right? My parents-they need the money. They really need it." +

The idea to become a surrogate came up when I overheard a conversation I wasn't supposed to between two girls in my class. They were talking about how college students are always broke, which was a fact. One of them brought up stripping as a way to make a lot of money while the other one brought up surrogacy. Of course, I had heard about it. How it's when you grow a baby for someone else. That wasn't what brought my attention. What brought my attention is how much money the surrogate women make. From 40,000 to 50,000, my dad needed that kind of money, maybe even more. I'll probably just pop out kids for the rest of my life. 342

"Yes, but Emily-you have to be physically and mentally prepared for this. You have to go through tests and then have to go to checkups after you get pregnant and then you have the baby and you will never see him or her again." +