Chapter Five

I follow the professor with my eyes as she walks around the room, but I do not hear a word she says. Ans hour ago, I was laying on a bed in the doctor's office, experiencing the most award and embarrassing thing I have ever gone through. Until this morning, no one has ever seen me down there- only me. my cheeks flush at the memory.

Colton picked me up around six thirty. I had an early class and he wanted to make sure we had enough time.

"good morning," he said when I opened the door.

"It's too early and I haven't had coffee."

He raised his eyebrow. "Not a morning person?"

"Who is?"

He lead me to a black Tesla and opened the door for me. which I had not expected-no one opens doors anymore.

"Normally, we'd have to go to Los Angeles for the screening, but I made arrangements," he said, starting the car.

"What is this for again?" I asked, looking out the window. I was so early the sun was not out yet.

"they're running some tests to make sure everything is in good condition."

I nodded slowly, a little nervous. The doctor's office was actually near to my school and when we got there, there was only one pregnant woman there. I gulped when I saw her, thinking about how I will be that big in a few months.

"I'm Colton Collins," he told the receptionist. "I have an appointment at seven."

Colton Collins. Even his name sounds important and…familiar. This is a man I hardly even know- am I crazy to believe everything he says to me? he seems decent, but how much do I really know?

The receptionist looked at her computer before asking us to sit and wait, but it did not take long. The doctor took us back right away; she explained what would happen and all I could think about was how grateful I was that she was a woman.

"can I go alone?" I asked Colton.

"No, I'm going with you."

I reached for his hand he stopped, glaring at me. "Sorry," I murmured letting his hand go. "I just… this is already uncomfortable for me. please don't make it more humiliating."

He shook his head. "I want to be with you every step of the way."

"I know, just this time, please."

He stared at me for a moment before he finally nodded. "fine."

"Thank you,' I said before following the doctor into the room. In there, it did not matter that the doctor was a woman-it was still the most uncomfortable experience I have ever had. Luckily, she told me I was perfectly healthy and able to conceive. I tried to smile, but I really want to get out of there, leaving Colton to schedule my next appointment for the following week.

I blink a few times and realize class is over. With a sigh, I stand and pack my things, pausing when my phone vibrates in my pocket. "Hello?" I answer as I make my way out of the room.

"Emily."

"Colton, hi," I say, confused.

"we have to meet before Monday to sign the contract."

The contract. Right. A piece of paper I will sign agreeing to give up the baby once it is born. "Right. Uh-this weekend would be best for me."

"I'll see you Saturday."

"No!" I say quickly.

"Is there a problem?" he sounds annoyed.

"how about I meet you somewhere? I don't want my roommate to- "

"I'll pick you up around noon then."

"thanks."

I know it seem silly since I eventually will not be able to hide my pregnancy, but I do not want Peter to know I am doing this for money. I do not want anyone to know what I am doing. This situation is driving me insane. I look up and see Elizabeth making her way toward me, and I sigh. Here it goes.

"What's wrong?" she says with a frown.

"I'm doing it, Liz."

Her face falls, immediately realizing what I am talking about. "why did you change your mind?"

"The money. The amount he is willing to pay is insane and I cannot turn that down. I do not know if God sent him to help me or what…all I know is that my family needs that money.

"who is he? What does he do?"

Elizabeth takes my hand and pulls me to the side, and we sit down on the bench. "I don't know what he does," I realize, feeling dumb. "All I know is his name is Colton-Colton Collins."

"what?" Elizabeth's' eyes but out of their sockets.

"What?"

"Colton Collins? You are going to have Colton Collins's baby?"

"Yes…what's wrong?"

She shakes her head. "Don't you remember what I told you about the Collins family?"

"Not really," I admit.

She rolls her eyes. "Richard Collins is a famous actor. He was even in that move we watched the other day, remember?" she continues, not giving me a chance to answer. "he was married to Christina Collins, and they have four kids: Nick, Hannah, Derek, and Colton."

"His dad is an actor?"

"yes. I seriously cannot believe you did not know who you were dealing with-everyone knows the Collins family. Colton owns the most famous club in New York City, Emily. It is called Barcode. I have been there a few times and I t is a really nice club. No wonder he is a millionaire. I cannot believe he wants a baby, though. I know he was left at the alter a few years ago- "

What? "Colton was left at the alter?"

She nods. "It was all very dramatic-he even had to disappear until everyone would stop talking about it. It was all over the tabloids."

I stare at her in shock. In only seconds, Elizabeth was able to tell me Colton's life story when all I knew was his name. it must be horrible to be left at the alter especially when people will not stop talking about it. I cannot believe I did not get to know him better…then again, he did not really give me a chance, which is not fair at all. Most of all, I hate the idea of carrying a celebrity's baby; I do not want to be followed around by crazy people with cameras, I do not want to be in magazines. Colton and I have to talk about this before I get pregnant.

"is he as hot as he looks in magazines?" Elizabeth asks.

I rolled my eyes. "I don't know how he looks in magazines, but he's very attractive."

"Well…you'll have beautiful baby, that's for sure."

"You're okay with me being a surrogate now? Just because he's a Collins?"

She shrugs. "At least you know he's not a fraud or something. I don't think he's stupid enough to lie to you knowing you could make him look bad."

"How old is he?"

Elizabeth frowns. "I don't know, lets Google him and find out." She takes out her laptop, typing his name into the search bar. His profile comes up in the screen. "Twenty-eight," Elizabeth says, clicking on the images tab. A lot of pictures pop up-most of them, he is caught off guard. In all of them, he is wearing a suit. He is important-a celebrity, an influencer, a millionaire.

"I can't believe I didn't know any of this. We're supposed to start trying on Monday." Saying it sounds so weird-I want to laugh and cry at the same time.

"I mean, if he wasn't this- she points at the computer screen-he wouldn't have the money to pay however much he's paying you."

She has a point. In the end, it should not matter how he has so much money…I am just not thrilled about the idea of people knowing I am pregnant with his kid when the time comes. The thought makes me nervous, especially because I do not my family to know what I am doing.

Is it possible for me to carry Colton's baby and keep it a secret form everyone-the press, my classmates…even my own family?