Chapter 4 SURROGATE

KATRINA’S P O V

I had a dream that was about something that took place five years ago.

I was hired as a surrogate by a woman named Claire, and although I had assumed that I would only be used as a container, the things that she said to me caused me to be taken aback. ‘‘Because my eggs are too weak to be used, we will use your eggs instead of mine...''

‘‘What?’’ I shook my head in astonishment. This was really unexpected. I never imagined she'd need to use my eggs in giving birth to her child. If that were the case, then the child that was going to be born would be mine and her husband’s. It was going to have my blood. My hand gradually made its way down to my flat stomach and rested there. I couldn’t help but gulp nervously. ‘‘But, Miss Claire---''

‘‘Tell me, Katrina. Are you really sure about this? If not, we can---’’

‘‘No...’’ I cut her off quickly, thinking about my husband. I needed the money. Cohen needed the money for his company. ‘‘I… I’m sorry… I just thought that you would only use my ovaries, not my eggs…’’

She sighed. ‘‘I’m sorry that I didn’t tell you about my condition the first time we met…’’ I nodded in understanding. ‘‘If this is going to be successful, you can't tell anyone about this, especially my husband, or else you won't get paid…’’

She slid a piece of paper and a pen across the table, and looked intently at me, her gaze penetrating through my body as if telling me I couldn’t back out from this deal once I signed. And this was driving me insane.

‘‘You can read it first if you want…’’ she said, while drumming her manicured fingers on top of the paper. ‘‘This is the contract, Katrina…’’

I was only doing this for the benefit of my husband. He needed money to save his company. I had no choice but to continue this thing even though my heart and my mind was telling me to stop.

I bit my quivering lip as I grabbed the pen with my shaking hand and signed the document with my name on it.

‘‘Now, it’s settled…’’ Claire said as she retrieved the piece of paper and stuffed it inside the envelope that she was carrying when she arrived. ‘‘Once you have successfully delivered the baby, I'll send you the full payment…’’

My heart was still pounding loudly in my chest as I watched her walk away. There was no turning back now.

This occurred prior to Cohen and my marriage. I had no choice but to get away from him and hide myself from his family as well. I did everything I could to keep him from seeing me pregnant, but he still found me. He thought I betrayed him. He believed I left him at his lowest point.

Even though the pain was slowly killing me, I forced myself to refrain from telling him the truth because I had agreed to a clause in a contract that stated I couldn't tell anyone about this.

After nine months, I gave birth to a healthy child, but Claire was not there to witness it.

‘‘Katrina, I have already deposited your money in your bank account...'' I tried to open my eyes when I heard a woman's voice, but my vision was blurry, and I was still exhausted after giving birth.

‘‘Who are you?’’ I questioned, squinting my eyes open to see her clearly, but I felt a little dizzy, so I shut them again.

‘‘I'm Miss Claire’s assistant...’’ and I could sense her reaching out to touch the baby alongside me as she made the statement. ‘‘So cute…’’

‘‘Where’s Miss Claire?’’ I questioned while heaving a sigh of contentment. With that amount of money, I was finally able to assist Cohen.

‘‘She’s gone, Katrina…’’ she said in a low, and shaky voice. ‘‘She was involved in a plane crash yesterday…’’

‘‘What?’’ I was totally shocked by the bad news she informed me. I suddenly felt sorry for her husband, and of course, for the baby who would grow up without a mother. ‘‘But what about the baby…?’’

Before Miss Claire’s assistant could answer my question, I heard the door open, and a man suddenly entered the room.

‘‘Who is he?’’ Squinting at the figure clad in a black suit, I inquired. I was too weak to prevent his next move.

‘‘I'm here to take my child...,’’ he said, his voice was low and icy, which made me remind of the cognac and cigars as he marched towards me in long strides. Hearing only his voice made my heart rate quicken.

Then I felt him take the baby away from me.

‘‘Wait!’’ Although I made an effort to stop him, all I could hear was the door being slammed shut. ‘‘Who is that man? Where is he taking the baby?’’

I became aware that Miss Claire's assistant was running her hand through my hair. ‘‘You don’t have to worry about the baby because he is the father--- Miss Claire's husband. I'm so sorry, Katrina…’’ she removed her hand from my hair. ‘‘Please, don’t let anybody know that it was your egg that was used. Promise me, Katrina, you’re not going to tell anyone, especially to Miss Claire’s husband…’’

I didn't have a choice but to nod my head. Cohen was all I could think about right now.

.................************...............

My head was spinning when I woke up from my dream, only to be taken aback when I felt two strong arms carrying me out of a building and into a car. I sensed the panic started to rise in me, until I heard a voice that was so familiar.

‘‘I'm really sorry...'' It was Tina’s voice, and I grimaced. Who was she apologizing to, and why was I being carried? And who the hell was carrying me? ‘‘I’m really, really sorry, Sir for bothering you…’’

I carefully pulled myself up from where I had been resting on the passenger seat in the rear, still holding my head with my hands. I watched as Tina got into the driver's seat of the car and started the engine. ‘‘Tina…’’ I called her name, my voice was raspy, but barely above a whisper. ‘‘What happened?’’

‘‘Katrina!’’ She screeched, and I couldn't tell if she was upset with me or relieved that I was finally awake. ‘‘Do you have any idea what you just did?’’

‘‘What did I do?’’ I inquired as I sat up straight and smoothed out the wrinkles in my dress, which was probably crumpled from my sleep.

‘‘See that man right there?’’ I slowly turned my head to the direction she was pointing, and there stood a man in a black suit with three other men surrounding him, most likely his bodyguards.

I stared at him, momentarily tongue-tied as the male specimen seemed to stare back at me with his deep jade crystals, even though the car was tinted dark. He was the most gorgeous man I have ever seen---even more so than my husband. He was dressed in a black suit that showcased his muscular arms in an attractive way that no one could miss. His dark hair was combed up to highlight his gorgeous forehead and deep emerald eyes.

My pulse rate increased as I continued to stare at him, and I swallowed. I felt like a prey being stalked by a ferocious lion.

‘‘W-what about him?’’ I asked Tina, my gaze fixed on the man even after the car began to move.

‘‘Oh my God, you don’t remember?’’ she shook her head in disbelief. ‘‘He informed me that you were intoxicated last night and went into the men's restroom. You passed out when he was confronting you. And luck you, he caught you in his arms just in time. God, Katrina… didn’t I tell you last night to stay put at the bar and wait for me? Look what happened!’’

‘‘Why? What happened?’’ I couldn’t help but ask, not actually believing I did what she just said.

‘‘I don't know what really happened, but you were lying in his bed when I entered his room, and he was holding you with only a small towel covering his body…’’ she stated, and when I looked at her in the rearview mirror, I saw that she had a teasing smile on her lips. ‘‘You almost slept with the coldest and wealthiest widower in town, Katrina...''