The Billionaires Surrogate

Positive Results

Two weeks later, Elena sat in Dr. Chen's office, her hands trembling as

she waited for the pregnancy test results. Adrian paced behind her

chair like a caged animal.

"The results are positive," Dr. Chen announced with a smile.

"Congratulations, you're officially pregnant."

Elena felt the blood drain from her face. It was real now. She was going

to have Adrian's baby.

"How positive?" Adrian asked, moving to stand beside Elena's chair.

"Very positive. The hormone levels are excellent, suggesting a strong

implantation. Elena, you're about three weeks pregnant."

Elena stared at the test results in Dr. Chen's hands. "What happens

now?"

"We monitor you closely for the first trimester. Daily vitamin

supplements, weekly check-ups, and strict adherence to the lifestyle

guidelines in your contract."

Adrian was studying Elena's face. "How do you feel?"

"Scared," Elena answered honestly.

For a moment, Adrian's expression softened. "That's normal."

"Is it normal for you too?"

Their eyes met, and Elena saw something vulnerable in Adrian's gaze

before he looked away.

"Dr. Chen, what are the risks at this stage?" Adrian asked, deflecting

Elena's question.

"Minimal, assuming Elena follows all medical advice. First trimester

miscarriage rates are about 10-15% for healthy women Elena's age."

Elena saw Adrian's face go pale. "What can we do to minimize that risk?"

"Proper nutrition, moderate exercise, stress reduction, and regular

monitoring. Elena's health is excellent, so I'm optimistic."

After the appointment, Adrian walked Elena to the car in silence. As his

driver navigated Manhattan traffic, Elena watched Adrian stare out the

window, lost in thought.

"You seem more worried than I am," she observed.

"I have more at stake."

"Your child's life isn't more important to you than mine?"

Adrian turned to look at her. "That's not what I meant."

"Then what did you mean?"

Adrian was quiet for several blocks. Finally, he said, "This pregnancy has

to work. My entire future depends on it."

"Why? You're already successful. You have more money than you could

spend in a lifetime."

"Money isn't everything."

Elena almost laughed. "That's easy to say when you have as much as you

do."

"You think my life is easy because I'm rich?"

"Isn't it?"

Adrian's smile was bitter. "Money solves some problems and creates

others. It makes you a target. It makes everyone around you suspect. It

makes real connections impossible."

"Is that why you hired a surrogate instead of finding someone to have a

family with?"

Adrian's walls slammed back up. "This is a business arrangement, Elena.

Don't read more into it than that."

But Elena had heard the loneliness in his voice, and it made her heart

ache for him despite herself.

The car stopped at her apartment building. As Elena gathered her

purse, Adrian spoke again.

"I'll have additional security assigned to you now that the pregnancy is

confirmed."

"More security? Why?"

"You're carrying something precious. I protect my investments."

There was that word again – investment. But this time, Elena thought

she heard Adrian use it to convince himself as much as her.

"Goodnight, Adrian."

"Goodnight."

As Elena rode the elevator to her floor, she pressed a hand to her

still-flat stomach. A tiny life was growing inside her, created from

Adrian's genetic material and an anonymous donor's egg.

But why did it feel like more than just a medical procedure?

Elena's phone rang as she entered her apartment. Her father's name

appeared on the screen.

"Papa, how are you feeling?"

"Much better, mija. The new treatment is working already. My energy is

coming back."

Elena smiled, the first genuine happiness she'd felt in weeks. "That's

wonderful news."

"The doctors say if I keep responding this well, I could be in remission

within six months. I don't know how to thank you for this job that's

paying for everything."

"Just keep getting better," Elena whispered, tears in her eyes.

After hanging up, Elena sat on her expensive couch in her expensive

apartment and cried. Happy tears for her father's recovery, scared tears

for her own situation, and confused tears for the complicated feelings

she was developing for Adrian Blackwell.

She was three weeks pregnant with the child of a man who saw her as a

walking incubator. A man who paid her half a million dollars to

disappear from his life after giving birth.

So why did she find herself hoping he would call, just to hear his voice?