Chapter 3
Chapter Three
PIPER
I ’m not sure if my hands are shaking because the window in the conference room overlooks the whole city or because everyone is talking openly about Bob wanting to have sex with me. Both are terrifying, but I’d skydive off this building to get away from him.
When Mr. Adair asks me to give him and his client a moment, I’m more than happy to skedaddle right out of the conference room. I jump up from my seat and rush to the door, but I can sense their eyes on me while I make my escape. In my hasty excitement to get away, I almost collide with Scout.
“Whoa!” She steps back so we don’t run into each other, teetering on her heels. “You okay?”
“No.” I'm fighting back an overwhelming flood of emotions, some of which I don't understand. Particularly the ones that are wrapped up in the lawyer with the fancy suit that fits him perfectly.
"How about you come and have a seat? I'll make you a cup of coffee," Scout says gently and motions for me to follow her.
Right now, I want all the space I can get between Bob and me. I still can't believe he had the audacity to say out loud that he wants to put a baby inside me himself. The scariest part is the amount of audacity he has. There was no shame or hesitation in him bluntly saying what he thinks he’s owed.
Scout leads me into a shiny break room that has one of those coffee machines built right into the cabinets.
"You don't have to make me anything," I tell her. She's been kind enough already by going out of her way to bring me back here.
"Let me show off. I only figured out how to work this contraption a few days ago. We've been in a standoff for weeks." Scout puts a coffee cup under the spout. "As much of a pain in the ass as it's been, it's so worth it."
After she presses a few buttons, she places the cup in front of me and makes one for herself. I add some sugar and cream until it’s the right color. Coffee has grown on me over the years, especially when money is tight. A hot cup of coffee can hold off hunger.
“So?” she asks when I take my first sip.
“It’s good,” I admit. “It’s smooth like you get in a real coffee shop.” My eyes linger on the creamer, which is only milk. I bet the kitten in my purse would want some.
“What made you want to get into surrogacy?” Scout takes the chair opposite mine at one of the handful of tables in the breakroom.
"I’d rather not be,” I answer honestly.
"Oh." Scout takes a sip of her coffee. "But you did agree?"
"I don't think I did, but I guess I didn't say no either."
"And now it’s his word against yours." She shakes her head. "He's a real—" Scout cuts herself off before she can say something she shouldn't. Bob is their client, and I’m sure he pays them a truckload of money.
"Don't get yourself in trouble over me,” I say.
Scout tilts her head, about to respond before glancing around the room. "Do you hear that?"
Shit.
"Maybe?"
"Maybe?" She laughs and then the little guy wiggles around in my bag. "Is your bag moving?"
I had set it gently on the floor next to my leg, and now he seems curious. "It's a possibility."
"But you won't confirm or deny?" Scout laughs again. "I told you, I'm not a lawyer."
"All right." I reach down into my bag, pulling out the orange fluffball.
"A kitten!" She practically squeals with excitement and reaches out. "Can I?"
"He might get hair on you," I remind her. She's so polished, and I’d hate to ruin her clothes. I certainly can’t afford to pay for the dry cleaning.
"I don't give a crap. You've got a kitten in your bag." She wiggles her fingers, and I let her take him from my hands. "Do you take him with you wherever you go?"
"No, I found him on the way here. It was pouring, and he was all alone. I couldn't leave him."
"Of course you couldn't." Scout brushes her nose against the kitten's.
"Could we possibly give him some milk?"
"Absolutely." Scout goes over to one of the cabinets to find a bowl. When she comes back, she places it in front of him, and he creeps forward, exploring the contents. "Are you going to keep him?"
"I'm not sure." I want to. I mean, the cat distribution system picked me, but I'm not sure my roommates will be a fan of me having a cat. Our building has a strict no-pets rule unless residents pay an exorbitant fee. "I want to get through this part of my day before I move on to the kitten."
"You'll need supplies." Scout starts to list things I'll need and can't afford. I lost a chunk of my clients after my falling-out with the Wilsons, and I’ve yet to pick up more work.
"Hey, you know—" The same lady from before comes into the break room, pausing when she sees the kitten. I think her name was Judith. "Is that a kitten?"
"No, it's a dinosaur," Scout deadpans, making us all laugh.
"Let me get a few dino pets then." Judith scratches the top of his head. The kitten peers up at us with a full-on milk mustache. "Gah, he's adorable." She gives him one last pet. "But what isn't adorable is Mr. Wilson's wife, who is in the lobby."
"Lovely." Scout stands, rolling her eyes. "According to Mr. Wilson, she couldn’t make it today. She knows about this surrogacy stuff, right?"
"Yep.” I'm not sure Bob told her the new plan he came up with, and I, in all honesty, am not sure how she'll take it. “Except she might not know the part where her husband wants to use one of my eggs. Or make the deposit himself the old-fashioned way.”
Scout opens and closes her mouth, clearly shocked. Finally! I had a glimmer of hope that Bob’s lawyer might try to talk him out of this, but Mr. Adair didn’t give away anything when Bob told him how he wanted to change the supposed contract.
“Wait here,” Scout tells me before leaving the breakroom, and Judith follows her.
I pick up the kitten again and hold him close, contemplating whether to get the hell out of here. What happens if I back out of a contract? Would I get sued? If they do, what could they possibly take? At the moment, the most valuable thing I own is this kitten. The furball meows as if in agreement.
“Where is she?” My stomach drops when I hear Mrs. Wilson’s voice. I’m really hoping that the she she’s talking about isn’t me.
“Why don’t I show you to a conference room and get your husband?”
“I don’t give a shit about my husband. Where is the girl?”
The girl? I bet she doesn’t even remember my name. Gosh, the two of them really played me.
I move my scarf around in my bag, making a comfy little bed for the kitten.
Then I gently put him back inside for safekeeping.
He stares up at me with big blue eyes, and I’m a sucker because even though I shouldn’t, I’m keeping him.
How the hell would I ever be able to hand over an actual baby, especially if it was mine!
The clicking of heels gets louder, and I know Mrs. Wilson is closing in on my location. There's no place for me to hide, and I curse myself for not making a run for it when I had the chance.
Mrs. Wilson pauses at the entrance to the break room and turns her head in my direction.
Her long hair cascades over one shoulder, and even I have to admit it’s beautiful, just like the rest of her.
Although I'm not sure that the thousands of dollars or the hours spent sitting in a chair for the extensions are worth it.
"There you are." Mrs. Wilson steps into the break room with Scout right behind her. I quickly stand from my chair, almost knocking it over in the process. I’ve seen Mrs. Wilson work out in her gym at home, and she could totally kick my ass. "You're doing the baby thing."
It's not a question but an order. I bet you have to have a lot of money in your bank account to talk to people like that.
"Mrs. Wilson, let's go see Mr. Adair."
"Oh." She smirks. "I'm getting to him."
Her tone is sultry. Damn, not only is she banging the trainer but the lawyer too.
Why does the thought of her being with Adair sour my stomach?
They're all terrible people, and he's helping them trap me with a baby.
I shouldn't care what any of them are doing behind closed doors as long as they leave me alone.
"I don't want to do the baby thing," I tell her, making her eyes narrow on me.
"Name your price."
There isn’t one, but I don’t say that part out loud because she probably wouldn’t understand the concept. Instead, I try to make her see what’s really going on.
"He wants to put the baby inside of me himself. Like, use my egg." I point to my stomach. “And his…ah…” I can’t bring myself to say the word out loud. I might throw up in my mouth if I do. “His stuff.”
“So?” She shrugs like it’s no big deal. “I just need the baby.”
“Mrs. Wilson, please come with me, and we will discuss all of this,” Scout tries again, and I nod like I’ll be going with them. Yeah, that’s not happening.
“Fine, let’s make this quick. I have lunch plans and a nail appointment."
“Of course,” Scout tells her. I have a feeling she’d agree to anything to get Mrs. Wilson to go with her.
Grabbing my bag, I put it over my shoulder like I’m about to follow after them. My heart is racing as I wait for a few seconds, but when I peek out into the hallway, no one is there. That’s when I do the only logical thing I can think of.
I get the hell out of here.