Chapter 9: Please, Reconsider

Brent

I check my watch for the third time in fifteen minutes. Vanessa's twenty-four-hour deadline will be here soon.

Yesterday, I was so close to achieving my goal. Now?

I ball my right hand into a perfect fist to relieve tension.

I sit at my desk.

Linda enters the office, smiling at me. She places a brief on my desk and stands to the right, waiting.

For what?

I have no idea.

She flips her blonde hair over her shoulder, staring at me.

I recheck my watch, asking, "Do you have a question or concern?"

"Um," Linda pauses, looking from right to left, "thank you for hiring me. I understand you had a lot of qualified candidates."

Vanessa had the job. I prefer a legal secretary with no experience, so I can mold them into the type of legal secretary who fits my needs. However, since I wanted Vanessa as my surrogate, the job went to Linda.

Linda was the legal secretary candidate with the least amount of experience. She'd worked for a solo practicing secretary in Goleta for less than a year.

Unfortunately, I quickly see the error in my choice.

I glance at Linda. "I'll text you if I have any additional tasks."

Linda curtly nods.

As Linda exits, Isley knocks on my opened door.

Grateful for the distraction, I motion for him to enter.

Isley closes the door, looking at the carpet.

I frown.

We've known each other since my days as a summer associate during my last year of law school. A summer associate is akin to an internship for lawyers.

Here, the summer associates with the most experienced are paralegals. So, they paired me with Isley.

"You know I'm pissed at you, Brent," Isley flops in one of the chairs across from my desk.

I raise my hands in a surrender pose. "You don't know—"

"I personally called the hiring department and made sure they sent Vanessa your way." Isley points at me, "we had a deal."

Yes, we had a deal.

Isley sent the perfect candidate my way, and I went rogue.

I shake my head. "I didn't expect her to be a perfect candidate for another venture."

Isley studies me.

I watch him.

"I'm not getting in this baby drama," Isley waves his left hand, looking disgusted. "Why is your prerequisite to have sex to get this kid?"

For a few minutes, I stare at my desk.

How close are you and Vanessa?

I adjust my eyeglasses and make eye contact with him. But, no, I don't hide the irritation in my voice when I ask, "What's it to you?"

Isley laughs. "To ease your mind, Vanessa is a lovely young woman, but I have no ill intentions."

Good.

I clear my throat.

Something nags at me. It's the question that Vanessa didn't adequately address. So, as I lean forward, placing my hands on my desk, I ask, "Does she have a boyfriend or significant other?"

Isley gives me a death stare. "What she has is two grandparents she wants to keep healthy for as long as they have on this Earth."

I curtly nod.

Excellent.

"Now answer my question," he says. "Are you that hard up for sex?"

I chuckle.

"Seriously," Isley sounds heated, "Brent, you can easily have this kid via in vitro—"

"This is my preferred method—even before I picked Vanessa." But, I angrily add, "I'm not opposed to that method for other people."

Isely says, "I'm sure she doesn't have much relationship experience."

"I'm not trying to marry her," I correct him, "I'm paying her to have my child."

There's silence.

"Please reconsider the process. I think she'll come around," Isley taps on his armrest.

"I understand the misgivings, but I'm not changing my mind," I tell him.

There's a long pause as Isley shakes his head.

Whatever he's thinking, I'm not interested in knowing. My shoulders sag as I think about the deadline.

"She has a few hours to go," I glance at my watch.

"It may take a while for Vanessa to get back to you. Her grandmother's in the hospital." Isley stands. "She needs surgery the insurance won't cover."

I stand, motioning to the door. It's probably a good idea to take a break. I pick up the phone. "Linda, call my driver and have him pick me up within the next fifteen minutes."

Isley stands. "Would you mind extending the deadline? Maybe until tomorrow?"

I'll extend the deadline forever if it gets me a child. However, I shrug. "I'll think about it."

Isley shakes his head, walking to the door.

"Isley," I call him as he's closing the door.

He stops and looks at me. "What?"

"What hospital?"

"Hospital? Oh, the one in Los Feliz."

That helps.

Isley shuts the door.

I rub my face, feeling frustrated.

"Linda, get me a list of hospitals in the Los Feliz area." I hang up the phone. I change my mind. I call Linda, telling her, "Scrap the hospital list."

"Your driver's here," Linda quickly says.

I grab my phone and suit jacket, leaving my office. It's a good time to consider all my options. If Vanesa wants an extension on the deadline, I'll gladly give her one. However, she must make the first move.

I walk to the outer office, where Linda sits at her desk.

She jumps up and struts around her desk. "Is there anything else I can help you with today, Brent?"

I look back, shaking my head.

Vanessa comes to mind. So, I look back at Linda and ask, "Has Vanessa called today?"

Linda shakes her head so hard I think she makes herself dizzy because she won't look at me. "No."

"Thanks," I curtly nod. "If Vanessa calls, direct her to my cell. Her last name is Martin."