Viola
The sun beat down on the asphalt, and the air smelled faintly of sweat and coconut hair oil. I
adjusted my gym bag on my shoulder, trying not to wince at the soreness in my core.
"Girl, I swear, if my stomach looked like yours two months after giving birth, I'd never wear a
shirt again," Mariah teased.
"Please. I'm just tryna fit into my jeans before rent's due," I replied, laughing heartily."You and that rent. Cairo said she's covering it if—
"
"No. She already paid last month when I couldn't, and I'm still paying her back. I'm not taking
handouts again, Riah. I can't," I cut in. " Besides I'm yet to find any job, she works from home
so she has it a bit easy."
"You're stubborn as hell, you know that? Anyway, speaking of work— I was at the clinic earlier,
and while I was waiting, I overheard something… interesting." She said, her voice dropping a
few octaves, like any one the streets of New York cared what too sweaty girls were whispering.
"What kind of interesting?" I asked, glancing at her.
"Two of the psychiatrists were talking about this billionaire's mom— apparently she's looking
for a surrogate. Quietly. Private deal, no agency, huge payout."
I stopped mid-step. "Wait. What did you just say?"
"That's all I caught. I didn't wanna look nosey—
"
"Mariah, please. You have to find out more. Who she is, who's handling it, anything."
"Vi, you just had a baby. You can't possibly—
"
"I know what you're thinking. But I can't fall behind again, Riah. Not this time. Just… find out,
please. And don't tell Cairo. Not yet."
She stared at me for a long moment, then sighed. "You're playing with fire, girl."
"Then let's pray I don't get burned," I whispered, feeling my stomach tighten with both fear and
resolve.
She probably thought I was delusional, but I wasn't going to burden anybody with my rent and
my student debt with NYU.
DeVante
"Can you be any louder Dev, the butlers didn't quite get that!" She yelled through my locked
door, sarcasm oozing from her tone.
"What I'm I supposed to say, that I didn't give you my sperm so you would get off my back?" I
said putting on my tailored gray suit and adjusting my tie.
This was the usual back and forth for me and my beautiful mother. I swore, that woman had a
target on my back."So you are serious about not falling in love, getting married and giving me grandchildren?" She
asked for the umpteenth time this week, thank God it was Friday.
I let out a low breath and sprayed my cologne. "I never said that, you're just the one who
chooses to be impatient.
"
"Oh please, you are a thirty year old man and I probably have more sex than you.
" I could tell
she has rolled her eyes, I didn't need to see her. That was my mother after all.
"Ma please! That's quite enough this morning". I said, grabbing my suitcase and dashing out the
door of my bedroom, I didn't need her accosting me this early on my way to work.
She was on my heel alright.
"I'm just getting started boy, what sort of timing do you need before you fuck a girl and get her
pregnant?"
Best believe she answered her own question.
"Zero! You need booze, a hard dick and a willing sissy. And if she's lucky enough, you'll
actually fall in love and marry her."
"Well forgive me if you raised me too well and now I refuse to be a man whore.
" I was almost at
the door.
"Are you impotent Devvy, you can tell me." I couldn't tell if that was sarcasm, genuine concern
or both.
"Jesus Christ…I'm going to have to move out if you keep up with this.
" I said, turning on my
heels to meet her fierce golden eyes. I got my good genes from her no doubt.
"And I'm actually going to have to go ahead with the IVF if you don't step up your game. Aren't
you taking lessons from Andre anymore?" She said as she placed a leisurely hand on her hips,
actually searching my eyes for answers.
I could not believe the nerve of the woman. " I'll see you later mum." A sigh, a smirk and a kiss
on the cheek, then I was finally out the door.