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“Can I help you?” the woman said.
“Yes, I have a meeting with Malcolm Crane,” I said. “He's expecting me.”
The guard looked me up and down, and I didn't think she believed me. I'd tried to dress nice and look professional in the closest thing I had to a business suit – the same pencil skirt I wore yesterday with a white blouse. No jacket, but I had on heels and pantyhose. I thought I looked good, but the security guard didn't seem to approve of my choice in outfits.
“What's your name?” the guard asked.
“Casey Melville,” I said.
I crumpled the paper in my hand, then opened it back up again. Her scrutiny was making me sweat and told me that I was clearly out of place here.
The security guard picked up a phone, never taking her eyes off me. While she talked to someone in a hushed tone, I looked around the main floor of building. It was a sleek and modern interior with plants and a prominent water feature. It had black leather seating, wood trim on the walls, and a bank of elevators were set at the far end of the building. There were photographs on the walls of doctors, scientists, and others smiling brightly, with positive messages underneath them about how Crane Enterprises Cures People.
“He said to send you on up,” the guard said. “He's on the fifteenth floor, in the conference room. Just go up those elevators to –”
I stopped listening to her once she said I was free to go. I didn't like the way she'd obviously weighed and judged me, so I'd find my own way. I walked toward the elevators, the anticipation inside of me growing with each step. I felt like I was walking in a daze and it all felt like a dream. My body felt heavy, like I wasn't in control over it anymore. When the doors opened, I don't even remember walking inside and pressing the button.
I'd obviously done it, since I made it to the fifteenth floor in a matter of moments. The elevator doors slide open with a soft chime, and I stood there hesitating for too long. They closed again, and I had to press the button to open the doors back up in order to walk off the elevator.
The conference room, that's where I needed to go. I looked for some sort of signage that pointed the way to the conference room and didn't see any. There was another receptionist desk to the right, but it was empty. Everyone had seemingly gone home for the evening already. Apparently, I should have listened to the security guard downstairs.
I looked to my left and saw there were hallways that way, as well as some to my right. My head started spinning as I stood there and tried to figure out where I should go.
I heard footsteps coming from somewhere. The echoes of those footfalls were coming closer and it set my pulse racing. Malcolm rounded the corner and smiled.
“There you are,” he said, motioning for me to follow him. “We're just in here.”
We walked down the hallway, which ended pretty abruptly against two large, dark doors. Malcolm held the door open for me, and I swallowed hard as I stepped inside. The conference room could easily fit fifty people, but there were just the three of us: Malcolm, me and a man I assumed to be the lawyer.
The other man stood up from the table and reached for my hand.
“Terrance Houston,” he said. “It's nice to meet you.”
“Casey Melville,” I said.
Terrance looked every bit like a lawyer, dressed in a business suit with a burgundy and gold colored tie. In front of him were several piles of paperwork and a folder.
“Please sit down, Casey,” Malcolm said, pulling out the chair next to me.
His blue eyes locked on mine, and for the first time since I'd walked into the building, I knew it was going to be okay. Malcolm smiled at me, sending a warmth throughout my entire body. A warmth that melted into reassurance and even a bit of confidence. I somehow just knew that Malcolm was going to do everything in his power to take care of me.
I took a seat, and Malcolm sat across from me – seemingly miles away because the dark wooden table between us was so large. Terrance sat beside him and passed a stack of papers to me, and one stack to Malcolm. He kept one for himself.
I noticed that there was a digital recorder sitting next to the lawyer and he flipped a switch on it, starting an audio record of our meeting.
“Malcolm has explained to me that you're willing to enter into a surrogacy agreement,” he said. “Is this correct, Casey?”
“Yes,” I said. I placed my hands on my lap to keep myself from fidgeting. “That's correct.”
“And you're here on your own free will?” he asked. “No one is forcing you to enter into this agreement?”
“No, not at all,” I laughed, glancing over at Malcolm.
“Sorry, just routine questions for the record, that's all,” Terrance said. “We need to be sure you understand exactly what you're getting into.”
His eyes narrowed as he looked at Malcolm and very pointedly added, “Both of you.”
“I understand,” I said.
