The Married Billionaire’s Surrogate

Chapter 7

“I-I had just found out myself a few hours ago. I didn’t actually have the chance,” she told them, unease creeping into her. She was reluctant to admit her fears and tell them what Christina had advised her that day.

“That’s… Alicia, that’s terrific news!” Steven said and hugged her tightly and she, too, returned the hug. Carrying Steven’s baby inside herself was indeed terrific news.

“Alicia, thank you,” Elizabeth added and fondled her hand as her eyes for the first time since Alicia stepped into that mansion became teary. Up until then, the thought that the baby was actually Steven and Elizabeth’s somehow stayed in the back of her mind and more important ones were pushing it further and further. However, now seeing the two spouses happy for the child that would mend the cracks of their marriage, dread nestled in her heart. Alicia just smiled at her nodding and tried as best as she could to mask the feelings raging inside her.

Steven, then, left the room and quickly returned with a bottle of wine and a glass of water. “A toast!” he shouted, “For Alicia and the new baby Wyatt.” He opened the bottle with a corkscrew and poured the contents into two glasses, giving Alicia the glass of water.

“It’s not fair!” Alicia joked and the three of them laughed a sincere laugh. The cold water falling down her gullet was both relaxing and soothing and she smacked her lips wanting more. Steven understood the sign and brought her another glass which was emptied in a flash.

Seeing her yawn, he asked her if she was tired and wanted to go to bed. She agreed; it had been a tough whirl of a night. In a moment, she found herself in her cozy bedroom she identified as her own, covered with a blanket to the chin and with two pillows beneath her head.

“Night,” Steven said.

“Steve, wait,” Alicia said.

“Yes, love?” He left the door half open and came to sit on the corner of the bed.

“I want to ask you something… Was I dreaming or did you really save me?”

“You weren’t having a dream, love. You are safe. No one would dare hurt you when I am here and believe me, I will always be.” He gently caressed her hair as she closed her eyes at the touch.

“Thank you, Steve. Those men… They scared me. I-I can’t imagine what would happen to–”

“Quiet now, love… You need rest and you absolutely have nothing to thank me for. Every man would do such a thing for the love of his life.” He kissed her forehead and she felt her body drifting off.

She was standing before huge doors of cherry wood dressed in a white silk dress. Her hair was done in a long braid and there was animal skin donned on her shoulders. She knocked. Once. Twice. Three times. A deep voice boomed from the other side as the doors opened and she stepped into a great hall with arches and a high ceiling. The hall was empty, she noticed, except a throne at the end. A wooden throne and a man sitting comfortably in it. Like he was supposed to sit there all his life. Like he was born there and he would die there. As a nobleman. A leader.

Alicia curtsied before him; her eyes were fixed on the black and white marble floor. “Your Grace, you have requested my presence in the court,” her lips said although she felt that those words were not hers.

“Yes, Alicia,” the man sitting on the throne said. The voice was awfully familiar and she raised her look. It was… Oh, my, it was Steven Wyatt. One of his legs was perched on the arm of the throne and a golden goblet was swaying in his hand. An equally golden crown was ornamenting his black hair. “Give me my heir. Don’t hide him! My guards and the search party will find him!”

Alicia bolted from her bed, all in sweat. Her heart was thumping loudly in her chest and she was sensing it in her temples and ears. A dream, she thought, just a dream. She registered that it was day, perhaps noon by the brightness of the light. But it wasn’t night. She grew afraid of the night.

A knock. Alicia startled, a vague thought of the dream passing before her eyes as the door opened leaving Steven through. “You’re up, darling,” he said in a cheerful mood and the only thing she could do was smile.

“I am,” she replied and in that moment she actually noted what he was holding in his arms. “You brought me breakfast?” She was surprised.

“A breakfast in bed for my lovely princess.” He put the tray in front of her with a plate of omelet, a cup of coffee and a red rose.

“Thank you so much,” she said and kissed him. “As a matter-of-fact no one has ever brought me a breakfast in bed. Thanks.”

“Wow! Such a beautiful, kind, generous girl has never gotten a breakfast in bed. Alicia, the world became worse for me knowing this.” He kissed her passionately, feeling the scent of mint on his breath.

“You made this yourself?” She asked puzzled.

“Indeed, sweetheart. Me and my own two hands.” He smiled.

“I had no idea a Wyatt could cook so lovely,” she said between bites, chewing the tasty eggs and the mild coffee just as she liked it. “You can seriously replace me.”

“Oh, make no mistake, dear. No one, literally, no one can replace the wonderful Alicia Balfe in the kitchen,” he said, putting a strand of her hair behind her ear. “Do you need anything else? From now on I will be your servant, you my mistress.” They laughed like two high school kids who ditched their classes only to spend some time together behind the gym.

“Really?” Alicia was still smiling. “Well, can you pass me the book for starters?” She chuckled and he stood up to bring the Nora Roberts novel in her hands.

“Nora Roberts? Seriously?”

“Yeah, every girl likes a good romance story. We’re not heartless guys who watch Star Trick and stuff like that,” she said.

“It’s Star Trek, by the way.” Now they were both laughing hysterically, enjoying the time, the amazing news, simply being together. The dream was totally forgotten.

That was how the days went. Steven was exceptionally careful with Alicia – he came home early from work, he cooked her breakfast and helped her take a walk in the garden. They watched movies Alicia suggested and almost all of them were romantic comedies featuring ordinary girls and gorgeous guys who fought against life and all barriers it put in their way. That reminded Alicia of their own story together that began with the words “She entered the big mansion of the Wyatt family”. Was their relationship strong enough to survive Elizabeth and the obstacles lurking at every corner? Was their love undefeatable like the ones on the TV screen that lasted for 80 minutes, but were a lifetime to the characters?