Chapter 6 The Billionaire With No Heart

• It was just after 8:00 am. The restaurant was quiet. Not much clinking of glasses or cutlery.
• No murmurs from people who were there for the food and fun. Or the early patrons.
• I sat upright in my fitted jeans and soft pink blouse, my long brown hair falling past my shoulders.
• I sat alone at the corner table nursing a lukewarm cup of coffee, my eyes fixed on the entrance.
• The previous day, Dr. Vanessa had sent me a pdf to read through as Mr. Nick would be coming with the same file but in a soft copy form.
• I had made a few changes to it as requested…if need be.
• The meeting with Mr. Nick Kings had been finalized to be today by 8:30 am prior to the day before.
• Now, all that remained was to meet the man himself.
• I continuously glanced at my reflection in the window, smoothing down a stray curl. My nerves were all over the place but I forced a steady breath.
• "This is for my mother and this is the right decision"... I mumbled.
• "But what if he doesn't like me?"..
• With that, the door opened and a gust of cool air swept in and I looked up.
• Dr. Nessa entered first, ever poised, wore a tailored pink suit that added a soft contrast to her sharp professionalism….her presence was warm and reassuring.
• Behind her was a man who seemed to command the very air around him.
• Wealthy, cold, stoic as he was described to me by Dr. Nessa.
• Tall, impeccably dressed. He exudes an aura of control. His dark hair was neatly styled, his sharp features were beautiful. Broad shoulders and his eyes fixed on me.
• For a moment I thought…
• "Who would offer a $200M worth for just Surrogacy if he isn't into money embezzlement. Everything about him screamed money. His demeanor was really demeanoring and tempting.."
• As they approached… I stood up, extending a hand..
• "Is that the right thing to do?…" I screamed inside my head..
• "Haven, this is Nick Kings" Dr. Nessa introduced..
• "Mr. Kings"... I greeted, my voice cracked.
• "Miss Haven". He replied, his handshake firm and brief. We sat and without further ado/preamble.. he began.
• "I guess you've reviewed the contract already? But let's go over the key points to ensure clarity"...
• "Okay…" I nodded. I tried not to stare. But who was I kidding? I was steadily staring. This was the man I was going to have a baby for?..
• "Firstly, this arrangement is strictly professional. No emotional involvement. It will never be a part of the agreement"..
• I resisted the urge to roll my eyes..
• "I know".... I replied.
• "Secondly, all medical appointments will be coordinated through Dr. Nessa
• I will accompany you to each . That's my duty and I promise never to shy away from that"...
• "Understood"...
• "Thirdly.. during the pregnancy you'll reside in the provided accommodation. All necessities will be supplied"..
• I nodded again.
• "Fourth, upon confirmation of pregnancy, half of the agreed sum will be transferred to your account. The remaining will be provided upon delivery"..
• That was when I held up a hand like I was in middle school attempting to answer a question..
• "Actually, I have a few conditions of my own".
• Dr. Nessa had advised me to add mine if need be.
• He blinked.. Not in a surprised way but wondering what terms I might add.
• "I'm listening"...
• “First”.. I said, sitting straighter.. “half of the money has to be transferred after I sign this contract. Not after confirmation of pregnancy”.
• “Why?”... he asked.
• “Because my mother needs to start chemotherapy immediately. She also needs surgery. That’s the only reason I even agreed to this”.
• He stared at me in a suspicious manner then he turned to Dr. Nessa who gave a small reassuring nod.
• “She’s telling the truth,” she said. “I verified it myself”...
• He turned back to me… “Fine. first half after signing”.
• I took a breath and he continued.
• “No baby mama dramas. This is just based on a transaction”.
• “You leave immediately after the baby is born and handed over. No talking to the baby bump. That baby don’t need motivational speeches”
• “I don't think that can be helped or controlled,” I said, staring deeply into his eyes.
• “No cravings for weird things like ice cubes from Antartica. The chefs have limits”..
• “No rubbing your stomach while humming. It gives the impression of bonding.”
• “That’s ridiculous though” I said inaudibly.
• “No calling me in the middle of the night to say the baby kicked or whatever. That’s its job. No naming of the baby too. That's my job”.
• “Was this man for real?” At this point, I was trying hard not to laugh but he looked dead serious like this was all perfectly normal to him.
• Additionally, there are some other specific terms included…
• “No discussing the pregnancy with media/third parties. No social media posts related to this arrangement. No unauthorized visitors during this pregnancy”...
• “Well, I can’t promise not to call you at night”...
• He raised an eyebrow…
• “Didn’t you get the part that mentioned No calling me in the middle of the night?”...
• “I can’t promise that. I’m sorry. I have never been pregnant. I never even had sex for the first time. This is literally me as a novice and a total first timer… don’t you get it?”
• “I don't know what to expect. What if I am in pain? What if something doesn’t feel right? I’m I supposed to just stay like that? I am not going to apologize for reaching out when it concerned the baby or me…in fact”.
• He didn’t respond right away but then..
• “You’ll have a round-the-clock care”..
• “I’m not talking about the nurse or the assistants.”... I interrupted. “Sometimes, I might just need to speak to you for the baby's sake”..
• His jaw tightened slightly, “Fine. only if it's necessary”..
• “Good”... I softened a bit.. “And finally…”
• He looked at me again, waiting…
• “No emotional attachments from either of us. I mean it. And during those nine months, whatever I want I get it.”
• He frowned, “Define whatever”...
• “If I Want food at 2am… I get it. All my cravings should be brought to me. If I needed a 36 inch bone straight hair..I get it. If I need a new mattress because the old one makes the baby uncomfortable, I get it. Whatever it may be, lipstick, Gucci, Chanel etc… I get it”
• “If I want a whole room painted blue because it calms me down. I get it. You are not the one caring for the baby. I am and it's my duty to let you know what the baby wants”...
• “So let me get this straight.. who wears the bone straight? you or the baby?”....
• “The baby of course”...
• “Wow! interesting. Well, I can only accept reasonable demands”... he snapped.
• “Whatever! I won’t be unreasonable”.. I replied. “But I will be hormonal and honest”..
• “Noted then,”.. he said.
• The whole time, Dr. Nessa just smiled at the wise decision I was making...
• “You‘ll be moved into the residence this weekend”..
• “Do you have any questions”... he asked.
• “Yeah. Two actually”..
• “When should we begin. you know… the procedures”...
• “Hmm.. the IVf procedure will be carried out next week.. I guess”... He said, staring at Dr. Nessa..
• “Yeah.. sure. I will make arrangements for that”..
• “And why me?’...
• He studied me for a moment, his expression unreadable..
• “Dr. Nessa recommended you. your profile matched our requirements. Don’t feel too special”...
• I nodded, accepting the answer…
• With everything out in the open, we went through the contract together again and at the end we both signed.
• He went ahead to wire half of the money to my bank account. He extended his hand to me…
• “Welcome aboard, Miss Haven”.. he said while he turned to leave.
• “That will be all, Nessa. Let me know about everything for the procedure when you are ready. DO have a good day”...
• “Okay, you too.”... Dr. Nessa replied..
• I stayed back for a second with Dr. Nessa.
• “You did well,”... she whispered. “He is used to having everything his own way”..
• “Well, that’s good for him”.. I said. “I am not used to being used like a vessel either”...
• She laughed softly… “Fair point”...
• The reality suddenly hit me again….
• “I was really going to have this man’s baby?”