Page 143 of Nine Months to Bear
Rebecca’s face goes white.
“As for our personal relationship…” Stefan moves to stand beside me. Not touching, but close enough that I can smell his cologne. “Dr. Aster is helping me start a family. Through a completely legal, completely professional surrogacy arrangement.”
The room goes silent.
Jonathan blinks. “… Surrogacy?”
“My personal medical decisions are private, but given the circumstances…” Stefan shrugs. “I want a child to carry on my family’s legacy. Dr. Aster’s clinic specializes in helping people achieve that goal. Our arrangement is no different from any other client relationship, except that I’ve chosen to invest in the clinic that’s helping me.”
Rebecca is aghast. “That’s?—”
“The truth.” Stefan’s voice drops to subzero as he adds, “Unlike whatever bullshit fiction you’re peddling.” He pulls out his phone and waves it in front of her. “My lawyers will be contacting the publisher within the hour. Defamation suits are expensive, I hear.”
Rebecca’s hands clench. “You can’t just?—”
“I can do whatever I want.” He steps toward her, and she actually backs up. “Including having security escort you out of here if you don’t leave voluntarily.”
“This is a private meeting?—”
“Inmybuilding.”
“Wh…what?” Rebecca’s voice cracks.
“Did you not realize? This entire complex belongs to Safonov Holdings. Every conference room. Every office.” He grins. “Every single security camera.”
He pauses as we all watch the last vestiges of color drain from her complexion.
“So, Rebecca, you have two choices. Leave now with whatever dignity you have left. Or I have you removed, and the footage of you getting thrown out on your ass goes viral within the hour.”
Rebecca’s face cycles through several shades of white, pink, and red. She looks at Jonathan, then at me, then back at Stefan. “Th…this isn’t over!”
“Yes,” Stefan says, “it is.”
Without another word, she flees.
As soon as Walsh is gone, Stefan turns back to Jonathan. “I apologize for the drama. Dr. Walsh has a history of trying to sabotage Dr. Aster’s success. Professional jealousy is ugly.”
Jonathan clears his throat. “Mr. Safonov, while I appreciate the clarification, the association is rather difficult for us to manage.”
Stefan’s face doesn’t change. “I understand your concern. But consider this: I could fund any clinic in the world. I chose Dr.Aster’s because I only work with the best.” He glances at me. “She turned me down many times before finally agreeing to help. Not because of money—I offered plenty—but because she wanted to ensure I understood the emotional complexity of what I was asking.”
“She did?”
“Ask her yourself.”
Jonathan looks at me. “Is this true?”
At last, I find my voice. “Every word.”
“The medical board?—”
“—has already reviewed and approved our arrangement,” Stefan intervenes smoothly. “I insisted on complete transparency.”
This is news to me, but I keep my face neutral.
Jonathan’s assistants whisper among themselves again. One shows him something on a tablet.
“The numbers are impressive,” Jonathan admits. “And the patient reviews…”
