The CEO’s Hired Surrogate

Kayla didn’t answer, instead she smiled and continued looking around the shop. She looked at each and every item in the store, amazed by the beauty of the items. She didn’t fail to notice the price tags on each thing, a price that would surely burn the pocket of any average person. But that wasn’t Ryan’s case. He was no normal person, he was rich enough to ensure that his kids would be treated like royalty.

“You know, when I was younger and had a boyfriend, I always imagined that if I ever had a child, I would decorate a small room, with a lot of toys and cozy furniture. I imagined filling a bookshelf with books and all kinds of picture frames,” Kayla admitted as she picked up a baby frame in the form of an elephant. The frame was made of silver, with a golden border that was as eccentric as all the other stuff in there.

“Then let’s do that.” With a raised brow Kayla turned towards Ryan, the corners of her lips tugging in a smile. He never failed to surprise her, breaking the icy image she’d had of him. Kayla was sure that she wasn’t the only one who believed him to be spoiled and icy, she needed to read the tabloids and gather as much information on him as there was.

He was known for being a fierce businessman, that had no time for women or even himself. And yet, there he was, being as kind as gentle as a man could be, breaking all the barriers that he’d supposedly placed around him.

“Your mother specifically asked for a grand room. My vision is simple and well…not what she wants.” A soft chuckle escaped her lips as she realized just how different Meredith and she had envisioned that room.

“Forget what mom wants, this child has your blood, not hers. I’m sure she’ll be happier with what her mother likes,” he shrugged, speaking so casually, yet touching Kayla’s heart in ways she couldn’t describe.

“She?”

“Well, I strongly believe my child is a girl,” he proudly admitted. Kayla laughed as he inflated his chest, imagining Ryan as he spoiled his little girl. Being the kind of dad that would call his daughter a princess every chance he got.

“If you say so,” she shrugged. “And as for the room. If you’re sure about it, I would be more than happy to have the privilege of transforming the room inside the house into the one I have in mind. But—” Kayla stopped as she looked around. “This won’t do.” She nodded and grabbed onto Ryan’s arm, dragging him out of the shop with determination.

“Where exactly are we going?” Ryan had déjà vu. Somehow, he always found himself being dragged by this woman, and strangely, he didn’t mind it at all. He liked the way the warmth of her hand seeped through his jacket, making the hair on his arm stand. But at the same it scared him in foreign ways.

“That place is too fancy for what I have in mind. Not to mention expensive as hell. Who would pay that much money for things like that?” Kayla now felt free to judge the shop. She was going to do things her way, she’d been given the green light after all. She felt relieved to be out of that absurd shop that felt like it had a price tag for the air you breathed as well.

As for Ryan, he couldn’t be more surprised. The women in his life had never been that humble. He was used to people who loved spending his money, who loved feeling the luxury of not having to look at a price tag while buying things they didn’t need. With a dazzled glance, he watched Kayla, taking in the way her hair swayed around her shoulders as they walked down the street, to the still unknown location.

*****

“So, I take it that your shopping went well?” Kayla’s mother, Tania, said as soon as the two of them entered the house, their giggles filling the air around them. They stopped on the spot, Kayla smiling at her mother who was holding a glass of water, probably ready to return to her room.

Her mother looked sick; Kayla couldn’t fail to acknowledge that. But she wasn’t as worried as she would normally be. Her surgery had been scheduled for the following month. So all they needed to do was stay strong and wait. With small steps she approached her, kissing the dry skin of her mother’s cheek, feeling the familiar scent.

“It did,” she said as she caught a glimpse of Ryan from the corner of her eyes.

She was still unsure of why Ryan had given her the opportunity to decorate the nursery the way she wanted. But that didn’t mean she wasn’t touched. In fact, some foreign and bizarre feelings were brewing inside her heart whenever she looked at him.

They were a mix of admiration, respect and gratitude but also something else she didn’t quite understand. Or better said, she didn’t want to understand.

“Did you take pictures of what you got?” Meredith suddenly said, making everyone turn towards the stairs. With a smile she descendent the stairs, a task that was a bit hard to execute in the tight elegant black dress she was wearing.

“Um—”” No they hadn’t take any. They’d both agreed that they wouldn’t say anything about their choices until the furniture was due to arrive in two months. They didn’t want to fight with his mother when she was only a few weeks into her pregnancy. By the time the furniture arrived his mother would hopefully be fond of Kayla and wouldn’t be as mad as she would normally be when things didn’t go as she liked. Not that Ryan cared, as he’d told her already.

Kayla turned towards Ryan for help, her hazel eyes seeking his protection.

“No, mother. We got so carried away with the shopping that we forgot.” Ryan’s words slid off his tongue with ease, as he slipped his hands into the front pockets of his pants.

“I see. Well, not everyone can be as meticulous as I am,” Meredith said in exasperation and ascended the stairs once again.

Kayla rolled her eyes and laughed. Meredith was the kind of woman that was sophisticated and classy, thinking highly of herself. But still, she wasn’t a snob. In fact, Kayla had grown fond of her, finding her attitude a bit amusing.

“How about we have some tea in the garden?” Kayla finally said, feeling happier than usual. She looked between Ryan and her mother, waiting for a response.

“Mrs. Rogers. I hate to nag, but ever since your daughter moved in, she’s been trying to fill me with tea, a drink that I am not that fond of. I’m scared.” Ryan looked at Tania with wide eyes, trying to look scared and frightened. They both knew he was referring to the day that Kayla hadn’t allow him to drink alcohol in the middle of the night, replacing the strong liquor with a cup of scented vanilla tea. “Anyway, as sad as I am to miss a fine cup of tea, I have to go.”

A bit of disappointment filled Kayla’s heart. Though she did want to have a bit of time with her mother. She wanted to talk to her, see how she was doing. Although she was more than sure that her mother wouldn’t miss the chance to tease her about how close she and Ryan seemed. Sighing she mentally prepared for the time she would have to prove to her that nothing was going on. Or so she thought.