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The word “over” echoed in her head, which suddenly felt empty, like a stretched balloon.
“There’s no reason for it to be over,” Quint said. “You’ve still got me.”
She dismissed the idea. “Ha. You know how I feel about what you’ve got to offer. Or should I say, how I feel about what you want to take. But hey, it’s you or nothing, right? I guess I don’t have any choice.” She hated how bitter she sounded, but it was an accurate reflection of her feelings, so it couldn’t be helped.
Quint’s brow came down in confusion, and maybe a little surprise. “Is that so bad? I’ve had an earnest change of heart. Your anger after our parting made me reconsider my motivations. I realized after a few weeks of research and inquiry that a more reliably and safely fed population is good for everyone — not only ethically, but monetarily as well.”
Amara found it hard to believe he could have had such an abrupt change of heart.
He continued, undeterred by her obvious skepticism. “I think if you free people from the chains of hunger, they can better improve their lives through the industry capitalists want to create for them. Within a generation or two, they can join the global economy as equals in all senses.”
Amara nodded. It was the classic argument her kind used to get donations out of rich kinds like Quint.
“I’m not concerned with my own profits,” he said. “It’s always troubled me that an area so rich in natural resources was so destitute, monetarily and medically. I now realize why. It’s not only a remnant of colonial exploitation, but also a consequence of the hunger and desperation they face on a daily basis. I’d like to help you change that, Amara.”
“The university will certainly appreciate any donation you give, and I’m sure they’ll use it wisely, whether I’m involved or not,” she said, thinking Dean Wilson should be proud of her. Maybe he’d be proud enough to let her keep her job now that her last sponsorship was pulled.
“I’m not interested in merely giving even more of my money to charities,” Quint said, making Amara sigh a little inside. “I want to make a direct, measurable difference in their lives, and I want to help you do that. We’re on the same page this time, I swear.”
Amara nodded slowly as he neared the end. His sincerity was obvious, the regret all over his face as he spoke about his change of opinion and his desire to help. Still, she was on edge, considering what happened the last time they were together, and considering her precarious position at the moment. It was too easy, too much. She doubted he was telling her everything.
When she didn’t verbally respond, Quint went on. “I do genuinely want to help, of course. More specifically, I want to help you to help them. Unfortunately, I find myself in a difficult situation as well, and there’s something I need to ask of you in return for this assistance.”
Ah, there it was, Amara thought. It all made sense now. The catch. The quid pro quo. She’d known a man like Quint Forbes couldn’t do something just because it was the right thing to do. Men like Quint always had ulterior motives.
She crossed her arms over her chest and gave her best disinterested expression. “What do you want?”
“I suppose there’s no easy way to say it.” He paused for a moment and studied her before finally letting it out. “I want you to have my baby.”
Chapter Five
AMARA ROLLED HER EYES AND waved a hand. “Hilarious. Good one. Now tell me what you actually want. I assume it has to do with the DNA sequencing technique I —?”
“It wasn’t a joke.” He scowled at her, his brows drawing together. She remembered seeing that exact same scowl in the hotel room when she accused him of having no social conscience, of being a heartless predator.
“I’m absolutely sincere,” he said. “I haven’t found the right woman to marry, but that shouldn’t mean I can’t be a father. I wouldn’t expect you to raise the child, of course. Quite the opposite. You’ll sign over custody, relinquish all parental rights. I want you to be my child’s surrogate mother, except, of course, we’ll be using your egg as well as your womb. That’s part of the deal. I definitely want your genes.”
She barked out a nervous laugh. “My eggs as well as my womb? Ha! Have you lost your mind?”
“No. This is a legitimate offer.”
Her laughter quickly faded and her mouth dropped open, her eyes wide. “I couldn’t possibly do something like that. I can’t imagine why you thought I might.”
“I think it’s a small price to pay, considering what I’m prepared to do. Do remember, at this point you have absolutely no funding. FoodFirst is out, as are all the others. You cast your appeal wide to begin with, and even if every single potential donor responded, you’d never have near the amount of control or funding you’ll have with me, my connections, and my wealth at your back.”
Amara turned from him. “I don’t get it. This is bizarre.”
Quint placed a hand on her shoulder, but she quickly shrugged it off as she turned back to face him. Her body reacted instantly to his touch, just as it had the first time their hands met. She did her best to recover her composure.
“Why would you make a condition like that? Why me?” she asked.
“You’re everything I could want in a mother for my child. You’re intelligent, beautiful, gifted in countless ways.” His hand returned to his side, and he gave a slight, low nod. “I’m sorry to spring it on you like that, but you and I both have urgent needs.”
“You don’t need a child urgently, not the way I need funding.”
“You can’t know that,” he said. “You don’t know what I need and how quickly I need it.”
“Perhaps not. But I’m not having sex with you, Quint. Absolutely not.”
