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6. Exchange

Stephen really knew how to make me emotional. I hated him for it. Moreover, everything he said was true. I did not have anything going for me. I was just a case waiting to be loaded and after a while I would be gone again.

I turned around to leave the kitchen. I had forgotten what I was looking for there in the first place.

"Stella!" Stephen followed me. I did not want to face him, I only heard him say, "What I said... I did not mean to offend you."

I uttered frustrated, "I know. You act on impulse. Mr. James told me about it."

"Mr. James," he simply said. Stephen did not think much of his father. Whereas I found Mr. James quite acceptable. "What else has he told you?"

I did not want to put him on the spot, so I lied, "Nothing else. He saw that I felt uncomfortable and explained your behaviour."

"I do not need him to explain what I do," Stephen said. The impulse, once again.

Stephen touched me and turned me around to face him. "It is not like you explain it so somebody has to," I responded right back, I felt him so close to me. He was surprised at my statement.

"Look, I am beginning to like you, but you seem to have some sort of affection for my father," he stated. "But there are things he does not tell you."

"Like what?" I looked up to him. He was bigger up close.

"My father wants me to literally f.uck you, get the baby and put you back on the train to misfit-town," he revealed. Tell me something I do not know, Stephen. Mr. James would never really force me to do anything, right?

"And what you want is something completely different?" I acted like he did not phase me. Deep down I knew why I was here for, I did not need him to find out.

"We can do it the unconvential way," he proposed. Where was he headed with that?

"Do you suggest the in-vitro procedure?" He nodded. "I always thought that was the main option."

"They tell that to rebellious souls like you, Stella. Do you think any rich person would just go out and spend thousands on the in-vitro procedure when they can just take your clothes off and impregnate you?" His forceful words scared me. I pictured the natural process and felt disgusted. "Rich people prefer to spend money on new houses and cars, not girls from the agency."

I looked away from him. There was not any room for me to escape him though. He had me cornered.

"I do not understand what you are trying to say," I said dryly.

"I will not force you to have sex with me. I have plenty of volunteers for that, thank you very much. If my father wants me to become a family man, I will do it my way," he uttered. Part of me felt relieved.

"But you want something in exchange, don't you?" I asked him, trembling.