The surrogate Truth

I hear the door open and I know it can only be two people, my father or my best friend Michael. I raise my head from my computer to see who just entered my office and see that it is my father. I check the time and see that it is just 11am and I become suspicious of his presence in the office building more. "Good morning to you too Jason." He says in his usual dramatic voice. "I am sorry, but I didn't know that you will be coming here today. I am very busy." I said raising my hands to show him the number of files that sat on my desk. "Well, I would not be here had you not missed dinner with me and your mother yesterday." Is his reply as he offers himself a chair to sit. I roll my eyes and keep them on my computer and pray he gets annoyed and leaves. But as luck will have it, he says to me that he will not be leaving until we were done talking. " I don't have anything to talk to you about, dad. I really am busy so maybe we can do this another time, like this weekend." I offer with a small smile. He starts to laugh and I am really forced to look at him to see if something is wrong. "Sorry, sorry" he coughs out. "It may seem you thought that you had any say in this. I am having a conservation with you son, whether you like it or not, so shut the computer off and let us talk to each other like adults." I know my father, and the tone he used now was not the fun one, he is angry. I sigh loudly and turn off the screen of my laptop to give him all of my attention. His angry face starts to dissolve and his smile was back on. "So dear son, are you not curious about why I am here?" He says with a smirk. I look at my dad and try to guess, I was never good at reading him so I would not know what he is up to unless he tells me or my mom mistakenly let's it out. Caleb Black might be In his 50's but he is still as fit and handsome as when I was a kid. "You know I am not good at those, can you tell me so that I can get back to what I was doing." I try to sound serious but he just gives me a bigger smirk. "OK OK, Mr. CEO, what I want to tell you is about what we discussed the last time. You are thirty years old and not getting any younger. When I was your age, I was already married to your mother and I had you already." He said picking up the file closest to him and reading it. After been CEO for more than twenty-five years, my father still looks the part. Sometimes, I wonder why he even stepped down. I loosen my tie a little bit feeling uncomfortable about this topic. This is the reason I have been absent at the family dinner the last few times. "Dad, you and mom said you will respect my decision and give me all the time I need. I am not ready to get married and start a family." I say forcefully His eyes soften but then hardens. "That was six years ago boy. Your mother and I have been very patient, even the board have been very understanding towards you. " I think he is done talking but he continues. " The board and I are going to be forced to take a drastic measure if you don't do the needful." I get up from my chair trying to control my anger. "What will you and the board do if I fail to do that." I say trying to calm my breathing down. My father simply looks at me for a few seconds before returning his eyes to the file in front of him. He closes the file and gets up. "The Russo's company acquisition is an interesting case. But all of these," he says using his hands to describe the life I have now " can end because you are too stubborn to do the right thing. " He starts walking to the door and opens it, pausing " we have been patient, now we are giving you the choice with an ultimatum. You know what is at stake if you fail to meet the requirements. Think of this as an early birthday present. The board will meet on Friday and this is the main topic of discussion. "Have a good day Mr CEO" He says tipping his imaginary hat off. "So let me get this straight, your dad came to your office and told you that you would be remove from CEO position if you did not get hooked up" Micheal says swirling his drink in his hand. "I mean, he didn't say I should get married." I try to defend "Hah, what did he mean then. Your father was literally saying you'll be removed from your position if you did not do the needful and you're still defending him." "Dude, you don't seem to get it. My family will never force me to get married. They know that after what happened, I don't think I can stand the thought of being with another man" I say clenching my teeth "Sorry man, you know I didn't mean that. Okay, so what are you going to do. You said your dad gave you an unofficial information but the board meeting is on Friday, do you have anything to counter with?" He says looking very concerned I shrug and look ahead to call the bartender to refill our drinks then turn towards him and say" I don't know what to do. I've been trying to find a loophole somewhere since he left my office but I've not come up with anything. " " What he and everyone else including my mother,grandparents and board wants Is an heir. I am not going to just knock someone up and get them pregnant. I'll rather die than do that." I finish Micheal rolls his eye and says, " Uhm dudeeeee, you know there's something called IVF right, where you can have a child with a woman without having to put your thing in her. Like they do it in the lab and test tube I think then put it inside the Female. "Yea genius, sure if I do that doesn't that mean the woman becomes my child's mother. And then she starts demanding crazy stuffs from me. like I am not ready for the whole Paul's drama. Worse, its be revolving around me. I don't want a woman to feel entitled to me like that, it's a form of bandage that I'm not ready for, ever." " You're so dumb sometimes, I wonder how you managed the company with your one track mind." He says taking the drink the bartender refilled for us a moment ago "How do you think gay people have children asides from adoption, which I know that your family is a 100% against? There's something called surrogacy, like you get a woman to carry your baby till term then after that, she gives birth and that's it. Easy peasy lemon squeezy." "I know what that means i***t but I don't know if I can risk it, what if she try to run away with my child and demands ransom or something like that. Besides let's say I decide I want to do that, whose mother DNA will she carry? Did you think that out too, genius " I replied with the most sass I can muster "You could have your lawyers draw up a contract so that everything goes smoothly and again, with the Surrogate, she can give her eggs or you could get someone who's willing to give their eggs. You're the most eligible bachelor in Chicago and you've won most handsome man on earth 4 times in a roll, you were also named like youngest billionaire of all times or something like that." He adds "I didn't know you were that much into me, man. Seems to me you have a crush on me." I say mockingly "You wish dude, you know Alessia makes me keep up with all the latest story in town and you know I have no choice at all." I points his fingers at me in an accusing manner. I know he would never admit it but he loves it, whatever Alessia makes him do, he does with his whole heart. He just like to act macho around other but he has always being a softie for her. I look at my friend and can help but be jealous of him, he has everything all figured out. I force a smile and say " Well then, what's the plan if I am willing to go with the Surrogate method. I don't really have much time before the meeting so we have to figure something out." "I know what we can do but I really need to go, Alessia and I have a date and I can't be late. I will stop by your office tomorrow and then we can talk. Byee" All I can do is watch him walk out of the door leaving me with no idea what he has up his sleeve.