The Billionaire’s Surrogate

Why me

"Please do come in and sit down, I was just about to eat breakfast." Mr Ethan greeted me where he stood in front of the elevator that took me directly to his penthouse.

I had asked frankly over the phone, if I wasn't walking into my own death by accepting to meet him at his place. And to that he simply answered that he very much enjoyed the perks that came with his societal statue to ever jeopardize that by killing me or harming me in any way. That had shut me up. I guess I should have known better. It also never hurt to be prudent.

It was clear that I was mesmerized by almost all that was around me while I following him into his penthouse. From white walls to the cream sofa and modern, elegant chairs; to the glass windows that let the sunlight come in which made the rooms feel grande, bright and airy, to the glass chandeliers and a dining table so big it could easily sit ten people very comfortably.

"Wow, this place is fantastic." My eyes were wide open. I took in everything, and all that came to mind was how everything fit so perfectly. This was what New York City living should be.

"Thank you," He quickly looked behind him but otherwise kept walking. "This is actually three penthouses that I bought and remodeled into this place."

Mind blown, I wondered how long it took and how much he had to invest to make it look exactly how he wanted, how he envisioned, but I didn't dare to ask, instead I just followed him to an already set up dining table.

"Please, sit down," He told me as he pulled the chair out for me. "We should probably eat before it gets cold." I smiled and opened the plate of food in front of me.

There was all of my favorite things like potatoes, scrambled eggs; vegetables, milk and tea and fruits, on the table. It all looked so good that my mouth watered.

"May I ask, Who prepared all of this?" I asked, hungrily staring at the food in front of me. I wanted to start eating but I didn't want to be rude and start before he even had the chance to say I should.

"The chef just left a few minutes before you arrived." He answered, then saw the face I made and started laughing. "Come on, dig in." He picked up his own fork to start eating.

"Someone needs to remind to never eat this much again." I made an effort to stretch my arms. "I'm so full that I can't even breathe." I complained happily. Thank goodness the shirt that I was wearing fitted very loose on me.

"I would like to take into account that no one actually forced you to eat everything off your plate. You very willingly did so." He started laughing as he dropped the napkin on the table after he was done wiping away the crumbs from his face that were never there to begin with. "I was right here when you kept shoving it all in your mouth." He laughed harder this time as he looked at the scandalized expression on my face.

"How dare you, sir. I'll have to let you know that everything that happened between me and the food was all part of part of a process". Truth be told, I hadn't had anything else to eat beside what Billie had made the previous afternoon. plus, I knew what this all was about.

This was all part of trying his best to make me comfortable around him, to be a little at ease. And it was working. I've always believed that people who work together should get along, it made for an easier work relation. Granted, we agreed to the terms and conditions.

I shook his head, a soft smile dancing on his pink lips. Nothing better than a little laughing to appease the seriousness of what I knew was about to happen. If I were going to do this, I needed to know that I wouldn't get screwed over.

"You're ready make this deal happen?" He got up from his chair, leaving the dirty dishes on the table.

Making me wonder if there was someone who would take care of it, or if I should make an attempt to clean it.

He must have read my face because he looked down at the dishes, then at me before appeasing my mind. "Don't worry, I have a maid coming soon." I was relieved. So I got up and followed him into a room I soon realized was his office.

It was time.

"Alright, so here's the contract and everything you need to know is in full details. I'm just going to talk about a few important points and you in return let me know of your demands." He started, handing me one of the folders containing the contract and kept one for himself which he opened a second later. "Do you have anything to say or ask before we start?"

"Yes," I responded. No reasons to beat around the bush since it would have been mentioned anyway, regardless of anything that could be said. "Fifty million dollars is a lot of money, and I figured the only reason for this much money offered would be because I would have to use my own eggs. Is that correct?"

He looked up to find me watching him. He put the contract down on the table and laced his fingers together, his arms resting on the table as well.

"Yes, you're correct. The fifty millions would be so we could use your eggs."

I let out a big breath that I didn't know I was holding. My heart sank. I knew deep down that was the answer I would hear, but I still had hopes.

He was silently studying me. I could feel his eyes on me while my head was down and eyes still closed.

"There is, of course, another option." He spoke after awhile. This had my attention. I looked up, meeting his eyes.

"Yeah?"

"There is an option of using a donor egg, separate from you_" I sat up straight, ears perked up and all my attention directed towards him. I listened carefully. "If we use this option, you understand that the offer will be reduced drastically?"

I nodded. It was completely fair and I wouldn't have thought any different. "How much?" I asked, because at the end of the day, this was still a business deal.

"You will be compensated one million dollars for carrying the child using a different egg donor."

Fuck!

That was still a lot of money. Was that even normal?

To be offered this much money to carry someone's child? "And you'd be okay using that method? The second option?" I asked him. I was a bit skeptical that he would agree to change his plans just so he could have me as his surrogate. He didn't even know me.

He grabbed the contract again and resumed reading. "I'm willing to compromise."

But why? Why me?