Page 1 of The Surrogate Nanny

Chapter One

Simone

Ten Months Ago

“Why?” he asked, face still and half shrouded by documents. His eyes roved over the packet in front of him that detailed every piece of me—the good, the bad, and the ugly. The interview process wasn’t too traumatizing, but I was relieved he only had one more question after nearly an hour and a half of interrogation.

I raised a brow. “I’m sorry?”

He glanced up at me, his expression unchanging. “Why? You’re young, single, with no family and an average job. Why do you want to do this?”

“I mean...I want to make someone happy. Give them the gift of life.” I explained, trying to smile.

“Since you’re giving the gift of life, then payment isn’t required. Is that what you’re telling me?”

My mouth dropped in surprise. “I-I-I-”

“Relax. I’m joking.”

I breathed a sigh of relief. The $60,000.00 Mr. Powell was offering would be enough for me to travel and go back to school.

“I’m sorry. You’re difficult to read. I don’t know when you’re joking or serious.”

He nodded. “Don’t worry. You’ll be compensated well. If our terms are agreeable, I’ll need you to sign on the dotted line,” he said, sliding the contract to me.

My eyes scanned the paperwork as I twirled the ink pen between my fingers before looking back at him.

“You’re by yourself?” I asked softly.

He looked up at me, going still, almost cold. The temperature in the room dropped a few degrees. “Pardon?”

“You didn’t mention a wife or girlfriend. Do you plan on being a single father?”

He nodded softly with about as much emotion as I had seen from him since I walked through the door. “I do,” he confirmed.

“Why?”

Anthony’s lips tipped with a soft grin. “Because I want to have a child. Why else?”

“Do you have anyone that’ll be able to help you? Family? Friends?”

“My parents are gone, but I have one pestering yet endearing friend with a gaggle of children.”

I smiled softly.

He has more than I have.

“What does he think about this?”

“What Jonathan doesn’t know won’t hurt him. The quicker you sign, the quicker you receive your first installment.”

Present

Push. They want me to push. But I am keeping this baby in.

“Call him again!” I screamed, feeling like I was being ripped from the inside out.

Holy crap, this hurts.

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