The second one showed up carrying enough drama to qualify for her own reality show. She walked in loud as hell, arguing on the phone with some man, then casually explained to me how she almost fought valet because he “opened her car door aggressively.” Absolute chaos in human form.
And the third?
Jesus.
She was too damn opinionated. I’d ask a simple question and somehow end up trapped in a TED Talk about women’s empowerment, organic eating, and how “society doesn’t value emotional labor.” I wanted answers, not a podcast episode.
By that point, I was one irritating answer away from ending interviews altogether. Even breathing too loud around me probably would’ve pissed me off.
I took a slow breath and glanced down at the final name stamped on the folder in front of me.
Talia Pippin.
My fingers drummed on the table as I stared out the window.
Merge had no knowledge of the convoluted plans I’d pieced together, and I intended to keep it that way until I found a suitable surrogate.
Days after my distressing doctor’s appointment, I took matters into my own hands. Anger and desperation surged through me as I dialed the doctor’s office, my voice quivering. In a moment of weakness, I made a choice that many desperate women have made before. I exchanged mybodyfor his silence. It wasn’t a decision I felt proud of, but when your future, your security, and the life you’ve worked toward are all hanging by a thread, shame starts feeling a lot less important than survival.
With Merge's sperm already on file, the only thing left was finding a surrogate. Unfortunately, I didn’t have the privilege of handling that through proper legal channels. If Merge caught wind of what I was doing before it was finalized, the entire plan would collapse before it even started. So, I embarked on a discreet search, confiding only in women I knew I could trust and professionals smart enough to understand that silence was worth more than loyalty in situations like those.
I started asking pointed questions.
“Do you know anyone who needs half a million to carry a baby? Must be healthy, with a clean record, no drama, no history of addiction. Confidential. Quick turnaround.”
By the end of the week, I had four names and a headache that wouldn’t quit.
I picked up my tablet, reviewing the files one last time when the knock on the door came.
“Finally,” I muttered, as I rose to greet her.
I opened the door and found myself momentarily speechless. The woman standing in front of me was nothing short of breathtaking. With smooth, flawless skin, thick, luxurious curls, and piercing eyes that seemed to glimmer with a dangerous allure, she could easily captivate any man in any room.
“Oh.” I blinked rapidly, forcing my composure back into place. “I mean, hi. You’re Talia, right?”
“I am.”
Her smile was sweet yet there was something unreadable beneath it.
I couldn’t get over how beautiful she was.
She’s too pretty.
She had the kind of face men remembered after seeing it once, and unfortunately, I knew exactly how Merge responded to women who looked like her.
I could already picture his eyes lingering too long, that lazy smirk spreading across his face while he pretended he wasn’t interested.
This is supposed to be a business arrangement. The last thing I need is the potential surrogate becoming the type of woman Merge wants to handle personally.
Shaking off the thought, I opened the door wider, stepping aside to let her in.
“Please, come in. Sorry, it’s been a long morning.” My voice held an edge of nervousness.
“It’s fine.”
Talia took a seat on the sofa across from me, hands folded neatly in her lap at first, trying hard to look polished and composed. Yet, I couldn’t help but notice the subtle signs of her nervousness: the slight bounce of her knee, the way her fingers fidgeted against each other, and the quick glances around the room.
Honestly, I couldn’t even blame her.
