The Baby Contract

CHAPTERFOURTEEN

Anne

I left Bran’s office feeling weird. I’d just agreed to carry his child. That was crazy.

But I’d also just spent time with him that wasn’t altogether unpleasant. Yes, we still poked at each other, but there was a lightness to it.

That was weird.

The contract indicated that the full twenty-five million wouldn’t come to me until after the baby was born. If I failed to get pregnant after a year, I’d still get ten million as long as I was following the doctor’s orders during the year.

Bran also agreed to a generous monthly stipend so it could look like I’d gotten a job and was now making a living.

He would pay for a new apartment, but said he’d only do a couple months of rent at a time. Clearly, he didn’t trust me.

I suppose it was for a good reason.

While I was a trustworthy person, I might try to find a way out of being pregnant for him if I knew I had a year’s rent paid in a nice place.

He also insisted on buying me a new car. The top in vehicle safety.

I couldn’t complain about that even though I knew it was for the baby’s protection.

I did wonder how I’d explain my sudden change in finances to Harper. What sort of job could I say I’d gotten that would get rid of my money woes? Bran didn’t offer any ideas, simply saying he knew I’d figure it out.

I was now in the hot seat, having lunch with Harper and our new friend, Lane. Lane had been the woman kidnapped by Harper’s stalker in a case of mistaken identity. It was a weird thing to forge a friendship over, but they had.

At lunch, Lane was in the throes of wedded bliss to Archer Graves. What a story that was.

A vacation affair that led to a child and now ten years later, reuniting and forming a happy family. It was like a romance novel or movie. If only my life had elements like that.

“I really worried Emery would have a problem with Archer, but they’re inseparable,” Lane said, her smile lighting up her face.

“He is her father,” Harper pointed out, taking the olive out of her martini, and eating it.

“Yes, but she’d been so bad to the men I’d dated before. I wasn’t sure how she’d take to him.”

“I’m happy for you.” I lifted up my seltzer water. “To Lane and happily ever after.”

Lane held up a glass of orange juice while Harper held up her martini and we all clinked our glasses.

“I don’t know why you don’t put a little boozy something in your water. I worry it's bad luck to cheer with water.” Harper shook her head at my water.

“I think that’s only on boats. I don’t want to be off my game for my new job.” And here I went, starting the big lie.

“What is this job?” Lane asked. “Archer felt bad that he didn’t have anything for you.”

I gave her a look. “I doubt that. He’s still miffed at me for tricking him into taking me and Harper out to a club.”

Lane laughed. “You two did give him a hard time, but he’s not the type to hold a grudge.”

“I want to know about this new boss,” Harper said.

“I’m a personal assistant to an eccentric billionaire.” That wasn’t a lie really, was it? Bran had billions and he was sort of eccentric.

Harper snorted. “Weirder than Bran?”

“Ah…I suppose.”