The Heir Agreement (2 page)

The other girls stood as he came up to us, and I rose as well, steeling myself. Crushes were for school girls. I couldn’t afford to trip myself up because of a ridiculous hormonal response.

He stood before us for a moment before stepping forward and locking eyes with me. I looked away, the intensity of his stormy gaze too much to handle without feeling hot and flushed all over. He was close to me, so close that I inhaled his clean, masculine scent. I tried to keep a confident smile on my face even though my heart was pounding so hard I thought it would leap out of my chest.

He placed a finger under my chin and tilted my head back to force me to meet his eyes. “You’re Brooke.”

His voice was like warm liquor sliding through your body, smooth and heating you from the inside out. The words he spoke were a statement, not a question. He’d obviously reviewed our applications and could put a face to a name.

I bit my lip, hoping I wouldn’t press so hard that I drew blood but unable to stop the nervous habit. “Yes.” My voice came out strangled, like it was the first word I’d spoken in a year. I braced myself, knowing that he was about to dismiss me. I was so obviously out of place here, not at all like the other women. He’d been able to see that from the moment he walked in the room.

He nodded. “You’re the one.”

The poised blonde to my right gasped sharply and only then did I process the meaning of his words.

I blushed and then felt embarrassed, which only made me flush a deeper shade of pink. I was reacting like he’d just declared his love for me instead of choosing me to be the caregiver of his child.

I got the job.
I
got the job.
Me
. He chose me.

It didn’t make any sense, but it was true.

The other girls threw daggers at me with their eyes, obviously upset not just at missing the opportunity for an amazing salary, but also the chance to have such a sexy employer. I didn’t feel bad for them in the least. They had been total bitches to me, dismissing me as if I weren’t even worthy of their conversation.

Plus, they would be fine. With their backgrounds, they would have no problem using the connections they’d endlessly talked about to get a job. This nanny gig was the best thing I could get for the foreseeable future.

“Thank you for your time, ladies.” He gave a curt nod to the other two women. “James, will you please escort Ms. Whitaker and Ms. Jones out of the building?”

As the women reluctantly trailed away behind Mr. Ferguson, my new boss lowered his voice to speak only to me. “Come with me, Brooke.”

I wordlessly obeyed, feeling like I was walking on air as I followed him down the hallway and into the elevator. Giddy laughter bubbled up and threatened to spill out in waves, but I managed to hold back, lest he think he’d just chosen a delirious maniac to look after his child.

Act like a grown-up, Brooke.

We stepped out of the elevator and he led me to a large office, gesturing for me to take a seat across from the huge desk. I settled into the supple leather of the chair, trying to keep my smile contained instead of letting it spread into the wild, lopsided grin it desperately wanted to be.

“I’m Alec Grant.” He opened one of the drawers of his desk, pulling a folder out and bringing it over to me. “Since I got to know you by examining your file, I figure it’s easiest if we do the same for me.”

He handed me the folder. Opening it up, I saw that it contained background information on Alec, although it wasn’t nearly as extensive as the information I’d provided in my application. I read his biography, which had been printed out from the company website. He was the CEO of Grant Ventures, a company he’d founded while still an undergraduate at an Ivy League school. At twenty-seven, he was seven years older than me, but had accomplished more than most people would in a lifetime.

“Do you have any questions for me, Brooke?”

I looked up from the folder. I was beyond impressed and more than a little intimidated, but instead of acting like a gawking bumpkin at his accomplishments, I wanted to show that I was competent and serious about the job. That was hard to do when just having Alec’s eyes on me got my blood pumping in places I didn’t even want to mention, but I’d fake it until I made it.

“When do I start? Oh, actually, I guess before I start I should get some details about the child. Your child. Will my charge be a boy or a girl? Both? There’s probably more than one at that salary. Twins, maybe?” I stopped myself, aware that I was rambling out of excitement and nervousness, probably making him regret having chosen me.

“I don’t know yet,” Alec said simply.

“Excuse me?” I tried not to let the confusion show on my face. “You are the father, right?”

“Yes, I will be. Brooke, let me explain the terms of the offer to you. You are free to accept or decline, of course, but first I’ll go over the details.”

I was puzzled. Was he planning to adopt a child and getting ready ahead of time to secure a nanny for the child’s arrival?

Alec folded his hands behind his head. “I do apologize for the withholding of information, but I’m sure you understand that given my career, privacy is of the utmost importance.”

“Yes, Mr. Grant.” I understood his privacy concerns, although I didn’t understand much else about what was going on.

“Very well. Brooke, I’m a bachelor and I don’t hesitate to admit that I enjoy the single life.” He stood, coming around to sit on the edge of his desk. “I’ve never been married and I have no desire to ever be.”

He paused and I wondered if I was supposed to say something here. I wasn’t sure why he was telling me this information, so I just managed a, “Mmm hmm,” hoping it sounded appropriately professional and attentive.

Alec continued on. “I always take precautions during my...
romantic
encounters to eliminate any chance of conception.”

The way he said the word let me know there was nothing at all romantic about any of his encounters with women. They were hot, dirty, and scorchingly sexy, there was no doubt about that. I imagined tangling my fingers through his hair as he covered my body with his.

Brooke, get a grip
. This wasn’t the time to cast him as the leading man in my sexual fantasies.

“Reproducing with any of the women I date would tie me to her for the next eighteen years, at minimum, and that’s not something I desire. In fact, it’s the last thing I want. However, I do have a strong urge to pass all that I’ve built over my lifetime to an heir. I do not yet have a child, but I’d like to change that. After giving careful consideration to the matter and consulting with my lawyer, I’ve come to the conclusion that an egg donor would be the best solution.”

The pieces of the puzzle came crashing into place. The true purpose of the extensive interview process dawned on me and everything slid into focus, starting to make sense. The secrecy, the medical exam, the job application that asked my relationship status. “And I…”

Alec nodded, seeing that I understood what was going on. “And you were selected to potentially be that woman, if you so choose.”

I swallowed hard, trying to take it all in. When I walked into his office just minutes before, my biggest question was whether I’d be changing a newborn’s diapers or running after a rambunctious toddler.

Now I was slammed with if I’d be able to handle something like donating my eggs.

It seemed ridiculous that I was even considering it. Absurd, really. It was flattering, in a funny way, that someone thought I had attractive eggs. Gran would laugh at that and tease me gently, calling me something along the lines of ‘pretty eggs.’

My throat constricted and I blinked rapidly, suddenly fighting back tears at the thought of Gran.

“But there are further details, Ms. Pearson, that you must know so that you can make an informed decision.”

I raised my brow, wondering what the further details were.

“I’m not just looking for an egg donor. I’m looking for a traditional surrogate, which means your egg would be fertilized with my sperm and then you would carry the pregnancy to term. Your eggs, your womb, my child. The $100,000 salary you were informed of isn’t actually for a nanny position. It’s payment for up to three months of attempting to conceive,
if
the attempts are eventually successful.”

He stood and returned to sit behind his desk. “If you don’t conceive by the conclusion of the third month, you’ll be paid half the amount, fifty thousand, which I’m sure would be sufficient compensation for your time and effort, and then the contract would be terminated. If you do conceive, the contract has an automatic renewal clause to extend its life to the duration of the pregnancy.”

My head was spinning with all the information being thrown my way. If someone had asked me yesterday if I would consider surrogacy, I would have said no way. I had long ago decided I never wanted to give birth. Now egg donation, I probably would have considered for a sibling or a close friend. But that was purely hypothetical, because I didn’t have any siblings, and with the hard knocks I’d been dealt over the past few years, I didn’t have much time for making friends, either.

The big difference was, yesterday I hadn’t been offered $100,000, which was exactly the amount I needed by 11:59 p.m. on December 31
st
.

Even if I didn’t conceive, I’d get $50,000. That wasn’t enough to get me fully out of the danger Chuck had stupidly dragged my whole family into, but it was way more than the measly amount I’d been able to save since I found out the latest trouble Chuck had caused.

Alec cleared his throat and I jumped a little in my seat. It was hard to believe, but I’d momentarily forgotten he was there, so lost I was in the storm of my own thoughts. Every day was filled with worry as time flew closer to the end of the year. But now I could solve the problem with a simple
yes
.

He brought his fingers to his chiseled jaw, obviously choosing his words carefully. “The small print of this agreement- there’s always small print, of course- is that the attempts to conceive will be performed the natural way.

I didn’t get his meaning at first, but then it hit me and my eyes widened. “The… natural way?”

“Correct. That’s why it was so important that I find a woman with optimal fertility. I don’t want to rely on any drugs for the process. I want my child to be conceived naturally, but I’m not interested in love or a long-term relationship. I want to conceive an heir with a woman who understands that our relationship is brief, clearly outlined, and contractual. Legally, you will not be the child’s mother and I will retain full custody of him or her.”

I wanted to ask if perhaps we could use a turkey baster instead, but this wasn’t the time for humor. Sure, I’d fantasized about getting hot, sweaty, and naked with Alec before I even knew his name, but I didn’t think he would be offering me a contract to do just that half an hour later.

“So we would have…”

“Sex? Yes, and often. During the period of attempted conception- should you accept the offer- you will live with me. All of your living expenses will be paid for, in addition to receiving a stipend. You’ll have your own room in my home, but you’ll be expected to share my bed every night, obviously, so that we can work toward fulfilling the terms of the contract.”

He spoke formally and it was absolute crazy talk, but I couldn’t help but feel a surge of sexual excitement charge through me and pool between my thighs. It was stupid, but the prospect of sleeping with him was turning me on, even if it would be nothing more than a business arrangement. Then again, I couldn’t deny that I had been instantly attracted to him. Still, I had never expected that my attraction would be consummated.

“Upon confirmed conception, you’ll be given your own condo. Fully staffed, of course.”

“Staffed?”

“Yes. A chef well-versed in maternal nutrition, a housekeeper so that you don’t strain yourself cleaning, and a driver to ensure that my most precious cargo is in good hands. And when our agreement ends, the condo will be yours to keep. It’s outlined in the contract. Upon my child’s birth, you’ll receive a final payment of $900,000, for a contract total of a million dollars, and our contractual relationship will come to an end.”

I felt faint.

A million dollars
.

More money than I could even wrap my head around. $100,000 would go toward the potentially-deadly debt looming over me like a dark cloud, but the rest…

I could move my grandmother out of her hometown and away from the danger that lurked there. I would be able to take care of her the way she deserved after selflessly dedicating her life to me.

I could get my dad into a decent rehab. The best money could buy. One that would finally- hopefully- cure him of the demons he’d been battling for so long.

It would be a matter of egg donation, not giving away my child. I was helping a man create a family for himself, which was a good thing. Or at least that’s what I’d have to tell myself.

“I only want you to accept if you feel comfortable with the terms of the offer. If there’s anything you object to, please let me know immediately. I have the terms of the offer typed up for you to review. For security purposes, I’m afraid I can’t allow you out of the building with the documents, but I’ll be happy to give you some privacy in another room so that you can closely read through them at your leisure. I could even get an attorney to look over it with you. This is something you must have no doubts about.”

“I accept,” I said firmly.

He looked surprised. “Are you absolutely certain? The decision doesn’t have to be made today. You have up to one week to think it over.”

“Yes, I’m completely certain.” I smiled, showing too many teeth, so that he wouldn’t think I was anything but excited about the opportunity. I didn’t have the luxury of waiting a week to think it over. The clock was ticking.

Alec picked up the phone from his desk and pressed a button. “James? Please bring a copy of the contract with Ms. Pearson’s details filled in. Thank you.”

I was going to give birth to save a life.

The life of my grandmother, the woman who had loved me, raised me, and given me everything she had. I’d always said I could never repay the kindness she showed me over my lifetime, but now, I was being given the opportunity to do just that, no matter how difficult it might be.

It was the only way.