The CEO’s Hired Surrogate

Kayla didn’t think she could be amazed, left without words or surprised any more that day. But she sure as hell she hadn’t expected that answer. Now she knew why he sounded so surprised, a billionaire such as him must have surely invaded the spotlight, his name adorning every single magazine cover. But little did he know that Kayla didn’t have time for things such as TV and magazines.

Going back to the moment at hand, she was unsure if she should linger around the ‘was’ part and say she was sorry, or question him further about his position. So she remained silent, only responding to him through a surprised gesture and then turned, her eyes busying themselves with the road. For a couple of minutes neither of them said a thing, except a mere statement that they were both going to her place to tell her mother about the move.

A thousand thoughts passed through her mind, about her mother, herself, her pregnancy and even about Ryan. She couldn’t understand why a person like him, a man of power, beauty, and money would turn to a surrogate mother.

She was sure women were falling at his feet, ready to gift their bodies so desperately to him, in return for some luxury.

“Why then?” she found herself asking, her mouth seeming to have developed a mind of its own.

*****

The question caught him by surprise, he was unsure of what she meant by why. They’d been talking about his job moments ago, so he did not particularly know what she meant by that question. “Why do you want a kid so desperately. And why a surrogate mother?” She waited while Ryan tried to formulate an answer. He was uncomfortable around strangers, the life of a businessman taught him never to reveal too much around them. And that rule had worked for so long, making it easy for him to survive.

But there he was in front of Kayla, a stranger known to him only by name, wanting to answer her honestly. To tell her everything he felt towards that potential pregnancy and every dark fear he had regarding it.

“I—” He stopped himself before he could go on, urging himself to think rationally and return to his principles. “It’s a long story. But to sum it up, my mother wanted a grandchild, and she can be pretty persuasive.”

His tongue itched to go on, drawn by those hazel eyes into pouring his heart out, but he was a strong man, and was able to fight against those urges.

“What about you? Why did you need the money so desperately? Was it one of those crazy wishes for designer shoes or plastic surgery?” Ryan asked as he pulled into the driveway in front of the building in which Kayla lived. He was unsure of why he’d that. He knew he sounded like a di*k, but there he was uttering those words without hesitation. Deep inside, he knew that the source of those accusations were all the past women in his life. He’d met enough women to know that they would do anything for a bit of luxury, even sell their own body for it.

It was true that for a moment he was sure of his words, ready to say them twice if needed, but somehow, a second later, he wished he could take them all back. It was just the way Kayla’s soft smile and gentle, caring gaze had turned into a hateful fire, her petite body facing him directly, while the corner of her lips formed an angry scowl.

*****

She shook her head in disbelief, the blood in her veins boiling. She no longer felt the urge to sink into those pools of blue, that electrifying feeling no longer cursed through her body. No, she now felt like running from them, hiding in such a way that she would never have to see them again.

“How dare you? You just met me and somehow you’ve already labeled me. Well, I’m sorry to disappoint you, but I am not one of those little wh*res of yours. I am not as low as you are. No, I do not need the money for such shallow things. And no, I won’t tell you why I need it. Your mother hired me, not you, so I don’t owe you any answers. And just for the record, I hope you won’t pass this shallowness to your kid.”

Kayla knew she’d been harsh with her words. In fact, she had carefully selected a variety of strong words. Turning on her heel, she rushed into the building, disgusted by the words that still echoed in her head.

*****

Ryan watched Kayla as she stormed into the building, her body tensed, mimicking the tightness of her fists. He felt bad for what he’d said, but he was also angry, astonished. That had been the first time someone had stood up to him.

He knew he was in trouble. He’d never been at a loss for words, never had he been so speechless in front of a person, a stranger, a woman. Sighing, he ran a hand through his hair and threw a thought at his mom, the sole creator of this entire situation

Why exactly had I agreed to this?