Contract Pregnancy with the Billionaire

Chapter 5: Phone Call

For a moment, I couldn't process what I had just heard. How would anyone be able to? Was it really possible that Jacob Greyson was calling me?

I then realized that I'd probably been quiet for too long, and I really should say something to him.

“Oh, er, hello," I said.

I sounded ridiculous even to my own self. I was a reporter, I should have a better grasp of myself than this. I glanced at my screen, I'd been reading something about Jacob Greyson, and there was a picture of him on my screen.

He had very dark hair, and though it wasn't long, it was longer than what was standard for men in his field, it framed his face nicely. He had high cheekbones, and a sharp nose. In another life, he would have been a model.

But the strong jawline showed that he was better suited for a corporate world. He was clean shaven in this picture, but I had seen others where he had a light stubble. Both suited him well.

“I know that it's late," his voice came over the phone apologetically. “And I probably shouldn't have just called you regardless of the time without getting your permission first. But I do sometimes have a bit of difficulty controlling my impulsive side."

Strange. That wasn't really something that was known about his personality. He always appeared like such a calm person, it was hard for me to think that there was anything other than the persona that he presented to the world.

It was strange to think of him as a normal person.

“It's alright," I found myself saying to him. “I wasn't asleep."

I immediately cursed myself, why was I sharing details of my life with him? It was a small fact, it was only that he now knew that I wasn't an early sleeper, but still. The last thing I wanted to do was for Jacob Greyson to get to know me.

“Well, I'll make this quick regardless," he said, his voice was soft on the other end of the line.

He had a comforting voice, but I knew who he was, and I wasn't so easily lost in it.

“I just wanted to let you know that I've selected you as the surrogate," Jacob said again.

And then everything came crashing down on me. For a moment, I'd forgotten all about the contract. I hadn't even thought that there was a reason for his call. I'd been a little caught up staring at his picture.

But as soon as he said the words, everything came crashing down on me all at once.

How I had met him, where I had met him, and the contracts that I had signed. And I felt a shiver go through me entirely.

There was nothing else that I could do.

“And I just wanted to thank you for taking on this service," Jacob continued.

I didn't know what to say to him. I had no intention of going through with it. In fact, I was planning on heading to the clinic tomorrow to cancel the agreement. I had nothing to say, so I just kept quiet.

“Anyway," Jacob said again when I didn't answer him. “It is late, so I won't keep you any longer. Goodnight, Miss Smith."

“Goodnight," I said, finding my voice again. “Mr. Greyson."

_______________________________________

I woke up wondering if last night had been a dream. But I knew that no matter how vivid of an imagination that I had, there was just no way that I would have been able to dream up something like that.

I knew that every part of it had been true.

I got ready that morning with a heavy heart. I'd been so close to achieving my goal, but I just couldn't go through with it. Blaire would understand.

I also then had to abandon my entire hope of ever getting an interview with him. But it didn't mean I had to give up on my goal entirely. I simply had to find another way of achieving my end.

So I had a plan this morning. I would go to the fertility clinic, cancel my contract with Jacob Greyson, and then I would come and sleep for a couple of hours.

Then I would take a break from figuring this whole mess out, maybe a week or two, and then I would take another look at everything, and maybe try and find another way to get to Jacob Greyson.

I got through my morning routine as fast as I possible could, and got myself out of the door earlier than normal.

And not even thirty minutes later, I sat in Henry's office at New Life Fertility Clinic.

This was very clearly the office he used to deal with his more high profiled clients. The floor was carpeted, the desk and furniture made of solid oak wood, and the lighting was very calming.

I was definitely in here on Jacob Greyson's bill.

“Miss Smith," Henry began. “I'd like to wait for Mr Greyson to arrive before we start with the official paperwork, but I asked you in a few minutes early in case you have any questions or nerves that I may assist you with?"

I knew that this was my chance, and that I wouldn't get a chance like this again.

“Yes," I jumped at the opportunity. If I could do this without Jacob's presence, then all the better. “I'd like to cancel my contract."

Henry stared at me as if I'd grown a second head. He took a full minute to reply.

“You can't be serious," he told me eventually, shaking his head. “I know the nerves must be getting to you, but you needn't worry, you will have the best care that can possibly be given to an expecting mother. Every single thing will be taken care of for you, and I can even guarantee that your body will be in perfect condition afterwards."

I flinched at the words. I was a surrogate. Not a mother. And I wasn't even going to be a surrogate. But the way he was talking was putting me off already.

“No, you don't understand," I insisted, leaning slightly towards him at his desk. “I don't want to go through with this. I can't, and I won't. I want to withdraw from my contact," I spoke, then after a pause, added, “Please."

Henry sighed, crossing his hands across his stomach, he leaned back in his chair.

“You already signed the documents," Henry told me. “It was ratified as a legally binding document, a copy has been sent to all our departments. You bound yourself in this agreement."

Even though I knew that technically, I was in the wrong, I was really starting to lose my patience with this man. He kept repeating the same thing, not taking my words or thoughts at all into consideration. It was like he was stuck on repeat.

“Well," I answered slowly, struggling to control myself. “I would like to unbind myself."

This time he barely paused a second before he spoke to me.

“Unfortunately, Miss Smith," Henry answered me. “You can't."

“What?" I hissed at him.

There was no way that any contract in the world was set up like that. Every single thing had a way to get out of it.

“The contract is binding entirely, except for the escape clause," the man explained. “If the contract was purely binding on its own, it could be challenged in court, people could wiggle out through all kinds of clauses. We protect both our clients, at all costs, from both sides. If you want to cancel the contract, there is a fee, and that is the only way to get out of it."

But there was a way to get out of it, at least. I was grateful for that much.

“How," I hissed through clenched teeth. “Much?"

I mentally did the calculations in my mind. I knew I had read somewhere about an exit clause on the papers yesterday, but I hadn't seen an exact amount written down. I briefly wondered if it had even been written down there, the escape clause had been so briefly mentioned, after all, that I hadn't even recalled it.

Henry sighed, “More than what he's paying you to carry the child, Miss Smith. You will be charged double the original fee that would be paid to you, as well as a surplus in terms of time wasted and emotional distress caused."

I laughed. “Emotional distress caused? To Jacob Greyson? By me?" I laughed again, wiping at the corners of my eyes. “That's just ridiculous."

“Ma'am," Henry said again tiredly, like this conversation had drained him. “The long and short of it is that the contract is binding. You have no way out of this."

“Well," I huffed, crossing my arms, “I won't do it, I refuse."

“Really now?" I turned sharply in my seat at the voice behind me.