I heard myself saying, “Whatever we need to do to get her help,” and then I started trying to figure out in my head how “we” were going to do that. The only solution I could come up with was accepting Aiden’s offer. I couldn’t see any other way out. If I didn’t, I’d be drowning in the medical bills my entire life.
“Would you like to see her now?” Bridgette asked me. I wanted to say no. I was angry with her, hurt, disgusted…but as usual I didn’t.
“Sure, thanks.”
***
The room was dark, just the way she liked it. She had undoubtedly already yelled at some poor nurse for opening the blinds and they hadn’t made the same mistake twice. The thick, velvet curtains pulled tight across the window left it void of light. I switched on a small fluorescent lamp near the door so that she wouldn’t complain about it getting into her eyes. She looked like she was sleeping. Her face was more peaceful than I’d seen it in a long time. The fluids they gave her went far in making her at least appear healthier. I remember when I was a little girl, I thought she was the most beautiful woman in the world. Now sometimes I don’t even really recognize her. I sat down on the chair next to her bed.
“Mom?”
Her eyelids fluttered but she didn’t open them. I called out to her again and her peaceful face turned into a scowl.
“Go away.” She grabbed the sheet on the bed and turned on her side away from me.
I was suddenly incensed. She had no one to blame for this but herself yet here I sit feeling guilty and worrying about her and the bills…all the things she should be worrying about and she had the audacity to speak to me that way. I was about to do something I was very unsure of in order to secure both of our futures. That should have been her job, or at least our job together. She’d put us both right here though, I wasn’t going to take the blame for that. Getting angrier I stood up and pulled the sheet back off of her.
“No, I will not go away. As usual, I’m paying for this little excursion. You have no idea what I am going to have to go through to pay for it. The absolute very least you could do is express some real remorse for a change. I feel like I’m raising an obstinate child most of the time and I’m sick of this, all of it. I’m going to pay these bills, and you are going into rehab when you leave here.”
My mother opened one eye slowly and then after a few seconds she opened the other. She groaned I was sure it was a headache. If she’d been at home she’d have a beer or vodka in her hand by now. She used to tell me that the best way to get rid of a hangover was to treat it with a vodka chaser. Ah, the lovely things a mother teaches her child.
When she pulled them fully open, I could see that she had tears in her eyes. It wasn’t fazing me though, I knew it as just another of her well-practiced manipulation techniques.
“Holly, I don’t want to go to one of those places. I want to stay home. I’ll miss it and you…I can stop. I don’t need to be put in one of those cold, scary places. The people are mean and I don’t sleep because I want to be home in my own bed so badly…Please tell me that I don’t have to go, Holly.”
“You can’t do it by yourself, mother. You’ve tried before, it doesn’t work. If you refuse to go to rehab, I walk away.”
“What does that mean?” she said, looking truly confused.
“That means exactly what I said. I walk, Mom. I’m not doing any of this with you anymore. This is the last time. You get into rehab and get some help and I’ll pay for it. You walk out of here and go home, I stop paying for it all. But mostly, I stop seeing you. I have no desire to ever see you like this again. I’m through.”
She was looking at me with hurt and shock in her eyes. I’d never threatened to walk away before, and she knew that without my help she would be homeless by now. Her face changed and she looked like she was going to argue again. Either the look on my face stopped her, or there was something left in her pickled brain that told her this was an okay deal.
“Okay, Holly. When do I go?”
“Soon,” I told her. “I’ll let you know after I make the arrangements.”
I got up to head for the door and I heard her say, “I love you.” I loved her too, God help me. I couldn’t stop and turn around though, I didn’t have the energy.
I walked down the hall and through the lobby and out the double doors into the fresh air. I stood there for a minute, gulping it in. I felt like I had been starving for it. Once I got enough air in my lungs and my hands stopped shaking I took out my phone and called Aiden.
“Hello?”
“I decided to do it,” I blurted out. I was afraid if I didn’t just say it that I wouldn’t.
“You decided to have my child?” he said, to clarify.
“Yes, I can meet you now to go over the contract if you have time. I just had a few more simple questions.”
“Great, Holly! Thank you. Are you at home? I’ll send my driver.”
“No, just tell me where to meet you and I’ll be there.” He didn’t argue, he gave me the address of his attorney’s office and when I hung up I noticed my hands were shaking again. I called a cab and headed towards my destiny.
~
Chapter Eight
~
I got into the cab and tried to get my breathing under control. I didn’t want to walk into this meeting looking like the wreck I was feeling like inside. I had to do this - I didn’t see any other choice. I felt like I needed to rationalize it to myself. If I was only taking care of me, this wouldn’t be necessary. If I didn’t have to pay two rents and double on all the utilities my waitress job would be more than enough.
But, I wasn’t only taking care of me and no matter how much I resented that fact, I knew that I’d never be able to turn my back and walk away from my mother.
I paid the cab driver and stood in front of the massive three-story law office. Taking another deep breath I reached for the gold handles on the double doors and pulled them open. I was thrust into an oasis of luxury instantly and I knew this wasn’t the type of attorney that chased ambulances for a living. The floors were white marble and the furniture consisted of plush white chairs and couches with fluffy white throw rugs and glass topped tables. Vases sat on the tables filled with fragrant fresh flowers and what looked to be original art work adorned the walls. I walked up towards the reception desk but before I made it there, Aiden stepped off of the elevator. As usual, he looked good enough to eat. This was going to be so hard.
“Hi, Holly. Is everything okay with your family?”
“It’s fine, thank you,” I lied.
“I’m glad to hear it. Thank you so much for coming down. My attorney’s office is on the third floor. Would you like to go up?”
“Yes, I’m ready,” I said. I really wasn’t. My insides were shaking and I was refusing to allow myself the thoughts that wanted to flood my psyche. The thought of giving up a child, the thought of walking away from Aiden after I spend the better part of a year with him, pregnant with his child…my stomach lurched as I tamped those thoughts back down. I need this. I can have a whole new life…
Aiden led me to the elevator, stepped in after me and pushed the button for the third floor. He could tell that I was nervous, or at least I guessed he could because he asked me, “Are you okay, Holly? You’re sure you want to do this?”
“I’m okay,” I lied again.
He still looked worried but he didn’t say anything else. He led me up to the attorney’s office. We passed a small reception desk and walked directly into a huge office that was decorated even nicer than the lobby. His attorney was a small man with a bald head and big round glasses.
“Miss Valentine, welcome!” he said, heartily shaking my hand. I tried to smile but I was feeling really sick to myself now and I had this horrifying urge to throw up.
I nodded and said, “Call me Holly, please.”
“Have a seat, can I get you a drink?” he asked, as Aiden pulled out one of the plush leather chairs around the big, heavy oak desk for me.
�
��Just some water, please,” I told him. I wasn’t even sure if I should drink that, I was feeling sicker by the minute. Aiden was looking at me like he was even more worried now. I must have been turning green or something.
“Holly, you’re really pale, I’m sorry to keep asking, but are you really okay?”
I thought about lying again, but I realized I couldn’t sit here and hide it any longer. The anxiety was crawling across my skin and I felt like I couldn’t sit still any longer.
“I might just need some air,” I told him.
Aiden looked at his attorney and said, “Can I take the papers with me? We’ll go let her get some air and maybe she’ll feel up to going over them later.”
“Yes, of course,” the attorney replied. He gave Aiden a folder and then looked at me and said, “I hope you feel better, Holly.”
I forced a smile and said, “Thank you, I’m sorry to be so much trouble.”
“You weren’t any trouble at all, feel better,” he replied.
Aiden took my arm and held onto me until we got outside. As soon as we hit the air, I gulped it. It was cool and fresh and it felt so good against my hot skin. After a few seconds Aiden said, “The color is coming back into your cheeks.”
“I feel better, thank you. I’m sorry.”
“Please don’t apologize. I’m well aware that what I’m asking of you is unorthodox and can be anxiety provoking. I am willing to do whatever it takes to make this easier on you. Would you like to go home, or would you like to come to my apartment and still go over the contract? Whatever you need.”
I considered telling him I wanted to forget the whole thing and go home, but that was a very brief thought. I didn’t want him to drive me home right now. I knew that he was still worried and would insist on walking me in. I wasn’t ready for him to see the inside of where I lived. Finally thinking I really wanted to just get this over with, or on with, I suppose, I told him, “We can go to your apartment and take care of the contract.”
“Okay, good,” he said. He waved at his driver who I hadn’t even seen waiting out front. He pulled the limousine up and we got in, both of us lost in our own thoughts on the short drive to his apartment building. I slid out the door of the car and stood gaping at the building. I was trying not to, but it was at least thirty stories high and made mostly of glass and steel. I closed my mouth and followed Aiden to the door that was opened by a man in a nice coat with tails and a hat which he tipped at me.
“How are things today Mr. Scott?” he asked.
“Very well, Neil, thank you for asking. This is Miss Valentine. You’ll be seeing a lot more of her from now on.”
“It’s a pleasure Miss Valentine,” he said. I told him it was nice meeting him and took the arm that Aiden was holding out for me. He led me to the elevator and another man in a similar uniform pushed the up button and greeted us the same. Aiden and I rode up to the top floor. I wasn’t surprised now that I knew him, I would expect nothing less than the penthouse.
The doors of the elevator slid open into a warm, elegant looking hall and facing a dark wood door with a gold ‘P’ in the center. He unlocked it with a code on the door and we stepped inside to an open foyer surrounded by big, open windows that offered breathtaking views of the Manhattan skyline. There were two giant Sego Palms in what looked to be very expensive pots, a nice corner table and a crystal chandelier. It was definitely understated, but very tasteful.
He led me into the sitting room. It was also very tastefully decorated. Here, there was art on the walls, and another huge window that looked out onto the other side of the city.
“Have a seat, Holly. Can I fix you a drink? I have a very nice white wine.”
My stomach was feeling a lot better. A glass of wine might help settle my nerves I thought. “Sure, that would be nice, thanks.” He went over to his gorgeous oak bar and opened a bottle of wine he took out of the little wine cooler. He poured us both a glass and brought them back to sit next to me. We made uncomfortable small talk through our first glass of wine, but by the second one, we were both ready to get down to business. Aiden pulled out the contract.
“Okay, the wording is simple, not to legal-easy for a lay person to understand, but I’m going to go over the finer points with you before you sign it just in case you have any questions, okay? I want to make sure you understand it all completely.”
“Okay,” I agreed.
“The first one is that while you’re carrying my child, you have to make sure that you eat right, sleep right, take your vitamins…follow all of the doctor’s orders, and just generally, overall make sure that you and the baby stay healthy.”
“That won’t be a problem. I generally do all that anyways,” I told him, honestly.
“Good, but just to be safe, because this is so important to me, I want you to live here until you conceive and throughout the pregnancy.”
“Here? Really?” I didn’t mean that to sound like an insult, but the look on my face told him that he may have taken it as such. “I’m sorry, I just…I guess I didn’t realize it would require us living together.”
“Of course, I’m sorry. I should have mentioned that earlier. Is that a deal breaker for you?”
I didn’t know how to tell him my concern. The thought of being with him every day thrilled me. The thought of living together for all of those months and being emotionally detached enough when it was over to walk away unscathed…I wasn’t sure I could do it. Then there was my mother. I suppose if I got her in rehab right away he wouldn’t be privy to too many of her antics.
“No,” I heard myself say without realizing I’d opened my mouth. “It’s not a deal-breaker. I was just a little caught off-guard. It’s not like I live anywhere that I’ll be sorry to get away from for a while.”
“Good, it’s just all about keeping you and the baby safe and well. You will, of course be paid very well by the week, and everything you need will be provided. I have a doctor already lined up. He is a highly recommended obstetrician and I will insist that you use him. He’ll insist on weekly pregnancy visits and I’ll expect you to be at each one.”
“I don’t have any argument with that. What about my job?”
“I would insist that you give that up for now as well. This will be your job, your full time priority.”
I liked Joe and I loved Rose and Myra, otherwise I was not in love with my job. “That’s not a problem,” I told him. “As long as I can give Joe a couple weeks’ notice.”
“Of course, that’s not a problem for me. Lastly, once the baby is born, you will be paid your lump sum that we discussed, and then you walk away. This baby is mine; I need to make sure that you fully understand that from the get-go.”
This was the hard part. It was one thing to talk about an imaginary pregnancy, but when we start talking about a part of me, my own flesh and blood, I start getting worried about being able to do this. I was determined though, I would make myself do this, I reminded myself how much I needed to do this and I said, “I understand.”
“That’s it then,” he slipped the two page contract out of the folder and handed it to me. While I read through it, he poured us another glass of wine. He sat back down and handed me the glass.
When I finished reading I asked, “Do you have a pen?” He took one from his pocket and handed it to me. I signed it and before the ink was dry I realized something - the contract didn’t state the method of conception and neither had Aiden. Uncomfortably I said, “I’m sorry, I did forget to ask one thing, how will I be getting pregnant?” That sounded really stupid to me as it came out of my mouth. I picked up my wine glass and downed what was left in it. Aiden was looking at me with those sexy dark eyes and I swear for at least a few seconds I saw a flicker of desire in them.
“We have two choices. You can see the doctor and be artificially inseminated, or you can choose the more mutually pleasurable option.” He grinned when he said that and ran his eyes from my face down to my neck and stared at it like he had biting it on his
mind. I suddenly felt like I couldn’t breathe.
An Heir At Any Price: The Billionaire's Obsession - Contemporary Romance Page 6
