ideas.’ She glanced around the empty room. ‘I wanted to work with the donor mom when it comes to picking colours and design. Combine our energies into choosing the decor, so the baby can feel our love.’ She chuckled. ‘You probably think I’m silly, but—’
‘It’s a lovely idea,’ I interrupted, feeling my emotions swell.
Sheridan looked to my tummy where I had rested my hands, and then back to me. She was smiling, her words softly spoken. This was another side to her. A softer side.
‘Then what do you think?’ she said. ‘Will you do it? Have your baby for me? I know you haven’t met Daniel yet, but he’s a sweetheart. He’ll love you as much as I do.’
The contracts were already signed, but I guessed Sheridan wanted me to voice my approval aloud, now I knew who they were.
‘I’d love to,’ I said, without a second thought.
‘Excellent!’ She joined her hands, her middle fingers pressed against her lips, as if giving a silent prayer of thanks. Taking a sharp breath, she took my arm and turned back towards the stairs. ‘Come with me,’ she said. ‘I can’t wait to show you your room.’
‘My room?’ I said, following her down the stairs.
‘You’ve got the whole basement floor to yourself. It’s gorgeous.’ She checked her phone as it beeped with a text. ‘Good. George has collected your things from the hotel and brought them to your room.’
I was speechless as I followed her down. George had been in my hotel room, touching my things? This was a woman who was clearly used to getting what she wanted. How did she know I was going to say yes? But then I remembered what George had said about my feet not touching the ground. Had I said no, my bags would be packed, and I’d be on my way home.
CHAPTER TWENTY
ROZ
I looked around what would be my home for the next six months. It was a relief to be alone for a few minutes. With Sheridan upstairs, I had just enough time to gather my thoughts. The space was completely open plan. As my footsteps echoed on the wooden floor, I noticed that each of the living areas was cleverly defined with furniture. The space seemed vast compared to my little flat back home. I walked towards the sleeping area, which was yards away from the lift. It was dominated by a king-size bed, its black metal headboard dramatic in contrast to the white-painted brick walls. I imagined myself lying there, switching on the bedside lamp to read a book. The black and white theme continued throughout the room, with a glossy black wardrobe big enough to house a year’s worth of clothes.
This is nuts, I thought, leaving the bedroom area and walking halfway across the room. The living space was marked out with a three-piece leather suite, which faced an oversized television. On the coffee table was a remote control, and a floor lamp provided cosy lighting should the spotlights be switched off overhead. A deep rug softened the wooden floor, and I slipped off my shoes, enjoying its plushness beneath my toes as I explored the nearby bookcase. I paused for breath. Was all this really for me? I walked to the beautifully tiled bathroom that housed both a shower and bath. The decor consisted of a functional white cupboard and glittering black tiles on the wall. After a quick pit-stop, I washed my hands before exploring the nearby dining space, which consisted of a small round table and two chairs. I noted the sink and mini fridge against the wall, but there was nothing to cook with. Was this because my meals would be eaten upstairs?
They really have thought of everything, I mused, glancing at the treadmill in the other corner. The room was bathed in artificial light, given that the basement didn’t have windows. It felt odd that there was only a lift to take me upstairs. I looked around, noticing that I could see it from almost any angle of the room. My gaze rested on a locked door near the lift on the far wall. Were there stairs behind it? It seemed at odds with fire safety protocols. And as for Wi-Fi? It seemed there wasn’t any. I wondered how I was going to manage without my phone and laptop for the next few months. I snooped around the bedroom furniture, noting that none of it was new. Who had slept here before me? I pulled open