Accidental Surrogate

Ella

Up until this point of my life, I’ve hated a handful of people. At the moment Mike and Kate are at the top of my list, but they aren’t alone. However Dominic Sinclair is very quickly rising through the ranks and making a play for the top spot. Mike and Kate’s betrayal hurt so much because I cared for them both, but Sinclair might be the first person I’ve encountered who I dislike this strongly after so short a time.

He’s looking me up and down with the bearing of a wolf deciding how to devour the rabbit in its claws, and I realize that’s all I am to him. All those intense looks over the last couple of years, every encounter, every smile – the entire time he’s been thinking I’m some lesser being, the prey to his predator. Maybe he’s like Mike and thought I was a particularly attractive specimen, but in the end they’re the same sort of monster.

“There is no offer you could ever make me that would convince me to give you my child.” I tell him sharply. “I am not for sale, and neither is my baby.”

“Now you’re just being stubborn.” Sinclair sighs, “digging in your heels because you don’t like me.”

“What gave it away?” I deride. For the second time, it seems like he wants to smile despite his better judgment, but again he holds back.

“Use your head, Ella.” He instructs patronizingly. “Let’s say I believe you didn’t do this just to cash in on a big pay day.”

“You obviously don’t!” I interrupt, earning myself a look so stern a shiver runs down my spine.

“Let’s say I do. What are your options? How are you going to raise this child? If you try to abort it I will take you to court and I guarantee the judge will prevent you from going through with it – which means you can either keep the baby and try to get by on your own, or let me have it.”

my will to go through with terminating the pregnancy has gotten weaker and weaker from the

He flashes his teeth at me, teeth that look alarmingly like fangs. “Not to mention I’m a donor at every hospital in the city, no physician will perform the procedure and risk me defunding

killer instinct. All at once I realize

I have no doubt he’s every bit as ruthless as he seems, which means I’m going to have to carry this baby to term whether I can afford it or not. My best hope is to find some other job in that time, but even then the best life I’d be able to offer my baby is an impoverished one. It’s not

dismay, because he strikes again. “If you cooperate, I’ll pay off your debts. I’ll help you find a job and cover every last one of your medical and living expenses. If you deliver me an heir, I will also pay you a handsome bonus, and give you anything else you like – a house? A car? A business investment? Be my surrogate and you can have anything

in my chest. “I’m this child’s mother. It has my DNA and it will be half human. It has a right to that heritage

that – my genes guarantee it. It will be raised with its own kind. And it will have a wonderful life, Ella

aloud, “you clearly don’t trust me, why do you expect me to give you something

have good reason not to trust you, but you have no reason not to trust me. I’ve never wronged you.” He says, as if

job, you cost me mine – even if you didn’t make the call, whoever did

“Mistake or malice, my sperm ended up in your womb – a place it never should have been.” His foreboding expression softens for a moment. “And I truly am sorry about your job – I know how much Jake and

their mother’s cruelty. “Money can’t fix everything.” I reply, “and all your promises – what good is having everything I need if

it’s a child you want, I can help you adopt a human baby.” He offers, circling me as if he’s some sort

live and have a good life, all my problems will be solved, and I can adopt a child that needs a mother as badly as I need to be

do this. Knowing my baby will be loved and cared for, will have to be enough. It’s the best solution for us both, and the fact that it hurts