Page 32 of Alien Dragon's Bride

Chapter 17

Megan

Megan paced in her apartment, tossing trash away and adding to the growing pile of laundry in the middle of her living room. Why had Levx left like that? Just tore out like she had grown horns or something.

Had she done something wrong? Come on too strong? Maybe he was one of those guys that had to be in charge. He was successful and rich and handsome. Crap. She’d been too forceful. But he’d liked it at first, hadn’t he? He was the one who grabbed her ass and ruined her jeans. Or more likely he didn’t want to have sex with her because she was supposed to be considering carrying his and his dead wife’s child.

With a groan, she hauled up her laundry and stuffed it into the washer. One good thing about being upset was it helped her clean. She grabbed the broom and started sweeping the floors. It was too late to go visit her father.

Thunder boomed nearby, and she jumped.

Her dad. God, she hadn’t told him about the past due bills but the hospital hadn’t called to complain so had Levx taken care of it like he said he would? She paused mid-sweep and chewed at her thumbnail. She should check the bills were up-to-date and that Levx had done what he’d promised. And they hadn’t discussed her salary for becoming a surrogate. What if the payment only covered her dad’s stay up until now and in a month or two she was right back where she started and pregnant as well?

Unable to wait any longer, she plopped down in front of her laptop and pulled up the hospital’s website. She entered her information but her notifications showed nothing was do. Was that right? Couldn’t be because he’d have had charges for today or at least pending for tomorrow.

She clicked a few more keys, frowning each time her payment page showed paid in full. Thunder boomed again making her body shiver. She pushed the laptop onto the coffee table and snatched up her phone unable to believe Levx had paid the entire balance in one shot.

After going through the automated system, she punched in her account and the request to speak to a live representative.

“Memorial Billing, how may I help you?” a woman asked.

“Yes, ah, my father is staying at your hospital and when I try to check my account, would you please confirm my balance due?”

“Certainly. What’s the number?”

Megan told the operator her account details. The lights in her apartment flickered with another crash of thunder.

“Ma’am, I’m showing you’ve paid in full. There’s no amount due.”

He’d paid her dad’s balance so fast she still couldn’t believe it. “What about today’s charges.”

“One moment.” Keys clicked over the phone line. “Well, there’s a bank account attached to the bill that automatically pays whenever a charge is made.”

A chill swept through Megan. “So you’re telling me that I don’t owe anything?”

“Yes, ma’am. There’s also a note that any new bills are to be paid via this credit card on file while the patient is under the hospital’s care.”

What had Levx paid her bills and set up an automatic charge for future bills? That was above and beyond what they discussed. Happiness and relief flooded her. This was actually happening. She needed to speak with him. Thank him.

“Is there anything else I can help you with?” the lady over the phone asked.

“No, I’m good. Thank you.” She clicked the end call button and stood. Why had Levx been so generous? And she had a suspicion that he’d done more. She snatched up her cell again and punched in the numbers to her checking account. The automated system answered. Your balance as of today is ten thousand one hundred and three dollars and twenty-nine cents.

She hit the replay button and the machine told her the same thing. Wow! So Levx had not only paid her father’s hospital bills but had dumped ten thousand dollars into her account. And she hadn’t even signed the damn contract yet. Levx had done her a huge favor and hadn’t asked for anything in return except her to look over the surrogate agreement. What if she refused now? She needed to discuss this with him…what if she hadn’t been clear that this was a business agreement only not anything else. Well, maybe he’d gotten the idea there was more from her invitation to a nightcap. And she was attracted to him but their contract hadn’t included dating. Her dad’s bills were just a loan but she hadn’t agreed to funds in her personal account. That was probably why he’d fled—they couldn’t make love until after she was pregnant—she slapped her forehead then winced. No wonder he freaked out. And she should’ve know better. If they’d had unprotected sex and she conceived, then the contract would be null and void and she’d have to figure out a way to pay Levx back for everything he’d done.

That thought made her gut clench. She needed to review the contract and have a lawyer go over it as well. And what if she refused to sign? God, she hoped there wasn’t crap in there saying she had to return the money. Once she got pregnant, the next nine months were going to majorly change her life, and she would need that money to help herself during her pregnancy. And if the contract didn’t have any technicality about paying it back, he should have new documents drawn up so no one shamed him.

For the next hour, she poured over the contract, rubbing her neck when the strain of reading the fine print made her muscles ache. She wasn’t a lawyer but she couldn’t find anything about refunding the surrogate’s salary. Was this for real? She needed to know his deal…why would he risk sending the money before she even signed the contract or got pregnant?

First thing in the morning she was finding a lawyer to go over this agreement. But excitement at what this could mean for her and her dad kept her tossing and turning all night.

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