MINE TO KEEP, YOURS TO BREAK

Chapter 2

Nevaeh

On a cold Monday morning. In the city of New York. I am standing in front of the towering glass structure of Russo Enterprises, with no money to my name, or job to boost off.

Do I really wanna do this? This is absurd, right? What if it is all a big joke, and he wants to make a big fool out of me in front of his fellow rich people, or whatever those rich people are into.

Fuck it.

I'm going in.

I can do this.

I enter the building, looking everywhere with amusement and awe. I go over to the reception, and show her the card just like Mr Russo instructed me to. Okay that sounds weird. I think I prefer hot stranger.

The receptionist, whose name I learned is Lucy, led me to where I guess is his office. I'm not quite sure though, I'm just following behind her like a lost puppy.

We entered an elevator, and she pressed the last floor, which made it certain it was his office we were going to.

We finally reached our destination. She lightly knocks twice and the door slides open…Fancy.

Okay Nevaeh. It is now or never.

Giving myself some pep talk, I follow behind Lucy, into his office and man, is it huge.

The office screamed wealth and control

Everything about the space felt deliberately cold, commanding, and expensive.

The windows stretched from floor to ceiling, revealing a skyline that pulsed with power. The city looked small from this high up. Just like he wanted it to.

The desk was a massive obsidian black, with steel edges, not a fingerprint in sight. Papers were stacked in rigid perfection. A glass of untouched scotch glinted beside a silver fountain pen that probably cost more than my rent. Behind it sat a chair that looked more like a throne than office furniture.

I could smell something masculine in the air—cedar, smoke, and control.

My heels echoed against the polished floor as I stepped forward. My reflection followed me in the sheen. I felt exposed…Small.

Like the walls were watching me, just as closely as the man who was sitting there, following me with his eyes.

To my right, bookshelves climbed the walls, filled with leather-bound volumes and untouched law books.

To my left, a crystal bar glittered under soft lighting, each decanter labeled with something aged, rare, and intimidating.

Everything in the room was precise.

Controlled.

Except me.

I didn’t belong here.

And yet, the second I stood in front of his desk…

I knew I was f****d.

“Sit” he commands, nodding to the seat opposite him. He gestures to Lucy to excuse the room which she did without delay.

He pulls out a file and drops it on the table in front of me “open it” he commands again. Can't he be more polite? But who am I to complain?

I take the content of the file out, which is a document with the heading “One Year Contract”.

I read the content in it, and it includes mostly the things he told me, and the dos and don't. It also includes the payment which state, he would pay me 2 million dollars when I sign the contract, 3 million dollars when I get pregnant, each month, an allowance of 500k till I give birth and 5 million when I safely deliver the baby and if I happen to deliver twins that's 10 million, in total that is 14.5 million dollars.

In all honesty, this is a pretty good deal. But do I have it in me to leave my child, because it also states here that I'll cut all connections and claim to the child “Em… After I give birth to the child, how do you intend to feed them?”

“That is not something you should concern yourself with. I'll find a way. I'll hire a nursing mother or something, I have doctors who are on that”.

“But wouldn't it be better if I just nurse the baby till they out grow breast milk” I reasoned

“That will be too complicated. You will form an unnecessary bond with MY child and refuse to release them when it's time” the way he laid emphasis on that ‘my’ is possessive for a child that isn't even born.

“I don't have to be with the baby to feed it, I could pump the milk and make daily delivery. It will be better for the baby to have the mother's milk rather than a stranger’s” he stays silent for a minute and sighs

“You would be okay with that right?” He stares at me deeply. “the child won't belong to you after you give birth to it. It will be mine”

“Why don't you just get married, and have a kid with her, Instead of paying someone to do that. I mean, sure you look easy on the eye, and women must be throwing themselves at you”

“I want a child, not a wife or commitment. I'm not paying you to ask questions. Do you have any questions concerning the agreement?” I look into it and there's honestly nothing wrong except…

“it says here that I have to live with you for one year, can't I just live alone, and you can come check up on your child when you need to”

“That is out of question. You will be with me under the pretense of being my fiancée, who I knocked up and after our agreement is over, I'll break up with you, and you will be heavily compensated for the public backlash” that's sounds scary. The fact that he didn't even bat an eyelash when saying it, made it more scary

“What if I have a miscarriage?”

“We'll try again”

“What if I have multiple?”

“I'll find someone capable but I doubt we'll have such problems, I checked your medical records and you are healthy”

Say what now “You did? When… How?”

“Doesn't matter.”

“So are we using the IVF method or…” he looked at me like I just uttered blasphemy against him

We go the traditional way. I don't trust that scientific method, and I am more than capable in that department. Not that you should worry, or is it something else that bothers you?”

“N… No…of course not, t..that too is good…no problem at all” I am all flustered and trying so hard to hide my blush.

This is so embarrassing, why did I even ask, now he will think I'm eager to bone him, bone him? Nevaeh, who the hell still says bone.

“If that's all, you should sign here” he taps the bottom. I go ahead to sign and he stops me “have you read and understood it all? If not, you can take it home and bring it signed tomorrow”

I glanced at it, sighing to myself. My attention span can't possibly read this. I don't have a problem reading a novel of a thousand pages but this, I have a problem with.

“I'm good” I pick up the pen again and sign my soul away. Okay I'm just being dramatic “done” I drop the pen and smile, which he didn't return.

“Good. A car will come pick you up tomorrow. You don't have to pack much, the penthouse is filled with things you will need in your size. You can leave” just like that, he dismissed me and got back to work with a sigh of relief.

Is this how much I bore him… He was literally waiting for me to get the f**k out, so he could get back to his work. Now I can see why he doesn't want a wife, he is literally married to his work.

He glanced at me from his seat and I realized I was still seated staring at him. Oh s**t “em… I'll take my leave now…Bye” I got up and hurriedly left his office.

Outside the company, I bumped into a lady, dropping my purse and the content inside. We both bend to pick it, I stood up with my purse, and she followed after. “Red suit you” she says handing me my red lipstick.

“Thank you” I say with a smile.