The CEO’s Hired Surrogate

Chapter 4

The first thing Kayla thought of was the ocean. Not the calm waves that brushed against the shore, carrying seaweed and dusty shells. But rather the cold icy surface of the Antarctic Ocean, with floating white ice that melted and seeped into the depth of the never-ending pools of the sea. For a second she wondered how she hadn’t noticed his perfectly sculpted jaw line or the wrinkle beneath his right eye the moment she’d first seen him. Worse, she wondered if she was even meant to notice them now.

Whatever the case was, she knew them now. They tickled the skin on her spine, making a foreign feeling settle in the pit of her stomach. Her lips parted for a second, her fingers curling around the handle of her small black handbag as she gulped.

“Kayla, this is my son Ryan.” Meredith’s voice was like a rope pulling Kayla back to her senses. She felt a sudden wave of heat ravishing her cheeks. Cursing herself from the inside, she raised a hand, plastered a smile on her lips and introduced herself to the man. She was sane enough to avoid any eye contact, the smirk adorning his features being enough to keep her lucid for a while.

“Kayla Rogers, a pleasure to meet you.” She’d expected something in return, truth be told, but all she was rewarded with was a firm shake and a barely visible smile. In her mind Kayla was rolling her eyes, her previous infatuation vanishing due to the impact it’d had on his rather cold personality. She hated the kind of men who were cold and arrogant. She was to be the mother of his child, the least he could do was show a bit of kindness.

It was then that Kayla noticed his posture and expression. A true example of what cockiness looked like. Who was he to be so self-centered?

“How are you feeling today darling?” Meredith asked. “I hope you rested well enough?”

“I did.” Kayla smiled, but from the corner of her eyes, she watched as Ryan looked her up and down. His eyes dilating with every minute that passed by. Kayla suddenly felt exposed, nervous, and bare under his gaze.

She’d never felt that way. Never in her life had she felt so vulnerable under the gaze of a man she didn’t

‘t know. But she blamed it on the hormones. She blamed it on the situation itself. After all, how were you meant to feel beside the man that was meant to be the father of the kid you were about to carry.

“So, shall we have a coffee before we go in?” It was only then that Kayla remembered where she was. Her hazel eyes glanced around her, taking in the huge reception area of the clinic. She allowed a big gulp of air to penetrate her lungs as she blocked out the whispers around them.

To her right she could see a couple as they cheerfully smiled, while rubbing the girl’s belly just above the loose red dress she was wearing. A smile played on her lips while her mind wandered off for the millionth time that day. But unlike the other times, Kayla was quick enough to cut the trail of thoughts. Silently she nodded, and smiled at both of them, while she followed Meredith towards the exit.

She was unsure of where exactly they were heading, but she had a feeling they were going to grab a coffee from the café in front of the clinic. Kayla wasn’t that fond of the idea. The café had an open area that exposed her to the chilly and damp autumn air. Kayla hated the cold, she was a summer person. One that loved to feel the sun as it kissed her skin and enveloped her body.

“Are you cold?” For a moment, Kayla was taken aback. Her brows arching as she stopped to take a look at the man beside her. It was only then that she noticed how tightly she was holding her leather jacket around her, trying to keep the air from penetrating through the thin black blouse that hugged her body underneath it.

“Nothing I won’t survive,” she chuckled, earning a smile from him. She was confused, the mood swings she’d experienced from his side making her head spin.

A few minutes later they found themselves sitting in the modest area of the clinic’s café, slowly sipping at the hot bittersweet liquid inside their mugs. Kayla wasn’t always a fan of coffee. She liked sweet things; she liked the way her tastebuds seemed to float under the effect of a rush of sugar. But it was moments like these, when her body was weak and fragile, that she understood the true value of a mug filled with caffeine.

“So, I just got the first copy of our contract this morning. It contains everything you and I talked about the other day. Now, I want you to think about it again. I want you to be sure that you are ready to commit to such a thing. As I told you before, I want full commitment from you.” Kayla nodded, remembering how clear she’d been when she talked about the severity of the matter at hand.

Meredith took another sip coffee and looked at them both. Her eyes wandered between Ryan and her, obviously preparing herself to say something.

“In fact, I want you to move in after the insemination. You too Ryan.” Shock? Surprise? Those would be a few words that would be able to describe what Kayla was feeling. She didn’t recall talking about moving in. And from the way Ryan now looked at his mother, it was obvious he had no idea about it either.

“Mother?!” He said, obviously trying to keep his calm. But Kayla knew better, she could somehow sense the way he was gripping the armchair, blocking any blood from tainting his knuckles.

“Ryan, Kayla—” she began, her eyes briefly gazing at them, her voice going low, trying to somehow persuade them into understanding she did not mean harm. “I know this isn’t a usual pregnancy. But, as a mother, I know how important it is for a child, even unborn, to be in the presence of both parents. This is why I ask for a little cooperation. Nine months, that’s all I am asking from, Kayla.