Page 174 of Nine Months to Bear
More pens, of course. A spare phone charger. Breath mints. No smoking guns to be found.
The second drawer has files, all labeled with dates. I close it quickly. Those are definitely not my business.
The third drawer seems stuck. I tug harder—and it slides open to reveal a leather-bound journal with one word on the front.
OLIVIA.
Just that. Just my name.
My heart pounds as I lift it out. This is wrong. This is such a violation of privacy. I should put it back right now.
I open it instead.
The first page makes my stomach drop. It’s a list. My name at the top, then two columns underneath:AssetsandLiabilities.
Under “Assets”:
• Harvard Medical degree
• Established clinic infrastructure
• Clean reputation (mostly)
• Maternal connection to medical establishment
• Desperate enough to accept terms
Under “Liabilities”:
• Stubborn
• Headstrong
• Insecure
• Mother issues
• Emotional decision-making
• Limited business acumen
• Bleeding heart tendencies
I read it again. Then a third time. Each word feels like a scalpel carving out a piece of my beating heart.
My hands shake as I turn the page. More notes, all in Stefan’s handwriting. Observations about me, clinical and detached and so cold that it takes my breath away.
Subject responds well to praise but crumbles under criticism. Likely stems from maternal relationship. Exploitable.
Strong ethical code but willing to compromise when cornered. See: surrogate situation.
Sexual attraction obvious. Can be leveraged.
Then I turn the page again. It’s an acquisition agreement, already drafted, just waiting for signatures.Transfer of Ownership of Aster Fertility Solutions to Safonov Holdings, LLC.
The terms are generous—he’d let me stay on as medical director, keep my staff, maintain the clinic name. But make no mistake: he’d own it. Own me.
The date on this one?
