The Billionaire Surrogate

“Dr. River will see you now,” a nurse informed twenty-one-year-old Katie who had been eagerly waiting.

She sprang up from the waiting seat and trailed after the nurse to the doctor’s office. She was nervous and excited. But consumed with a tad bit of hope that things would work out well.

The nurse reached a particular door and knocked. A feminine voice asked that the person knocking should come in. The nurse clicked the door open and asked Katie to go in.

She didn't follow Katie in.

Dr. River had a file in hand, and her eyes darted across its content.

"May I sit?” Katie asked slowly and Dr. River looked up at her.

“Forgive my manners, Katie. You may sit,” she gestured at the desk chair. She looked as though she was in her forties.

Katie sat down and waited for Dr. River to say something else.

Dr. River put the file away, leaned forward, and placed her clasped hands on her desk.

“I know you're anxious Katie. You’re wondering what my phone call was all about,” Dr. River said, smiling.

It was the truth. Katie returned the smile and kept giving Dr. River her ears.

She had called Katie last night to inform her that there was a way she could afford her mother's medical bills. She had also asked Katie to come to her office today. She wanted to explain what she meant. And Katie was grateful. Any chance to keep her mother’s life was worth taking.

“I have a patient who’s desperately in need of a child. She can't conceive,” Dr. Rivers said.

Katie’s deep-brown eyes stared deeply into her blue eyes. How did that have anything to do with raising money for her mother's surgery, she wondered.

“She’s interested in trying surrogacy,” Dr. River continued.

Her words alarmed Katie.

"What do you think of surrogacy?” Dr. River asked.

Katie drew in breath. She understood now what Dr. Rivers' phone call meant.

"I… I don't know. But I don't think so. I mean… I don't think it's a bad idea,” she stuttered.

“You’re young and beautiful Katie. A perfect fit for what my patient wants. She's ready to pay handsomely.”

Katie remained silent. She had never considered the idea of having someone else's child.

What will her mother say if she finds out that she had to enter into surrogacy in a bid to raise money for her medical bills?

“Look Katie, this will finally equip you financially to pay for your mother's kidney transplant.”

Dr. River mentioned what the client was willing to pay. And Katie's look took a stunned turn. With that kind of money, she could pay for her mother's kidney transplant and still have some remaining.

“What do you say? This opportunity is just one yes away.”

Katie thought about her mother's pitiable and painful condition. She was all the poor woman had left. Katie’s father was long dead. Plus, she was fresh out of college and had yet to secure a well-paying job.

“I agree,” she said without hints of hesitation in her tone.

What other choice does she have when she is too broke to save her mother.

If carrying another woman's child would help her save her mother, then she would do it.

***

Jacob felt his cell phone vibrate in his jacket. He was doing his usual early morning jug. He stopped for a moment and slipped his hand into his pocket. He slid out the phone.

Beads of perspiration lined his forehead and neck. Casting a glance at the phone screen, he tapped the answer button.

It was his lawyer.

“Garvey, what’s up,” he said, wiping off some of the sweat on his forehead.

"It's ready, Jacob.”

“What's ready?” He was trying to catch his breath.

“Your divorce papers.”

"Oh, " Jacob said, "Send it to me via Email. As soon as it gets to me, I’ll take another look before giving it to Winnie.”

“Okay. I’ll do that right away.”

At midday, Jacob put on a gray tuxedo and headed out in one of his luxury cars. The envelope containing the divorce paper lay on the passenger’s seat as his hands moved the car steering.

He had already gone through the document and didn't think that any changes needed to be made. He was on his way to his grandfather’s house. To tell the old man that he wanted to divorce Winnie.

As soon as he reached the old man's house, he keyed the car off and stepped out. He could no longer endure a loveless marriage with Winnie.

Jacob in his usual strut, sauntered to the front door and clicked the doorbell. A maid showed up and opened the door to the magnificent interior of the house.

Jacob’s shoe made a clicking sound on the marble as he walked. He made his way to the old man's study, the envelope tightly clutched in his hand. His briefcase was in his other hand.

His grandfather was flipping through a newspaper as he walked in. The old man's well-structured face lit up in excitement as he sighted Jacob.

A warm smile graced Jacob’s thin pink lips. He tucked stubborn strands of his dark spiky hair behind his ears.

“I was just about to call you,” the old man said, his voice shaky.

As was common with aging, he looked frail. But Jacob knew that the old man still had a firm body.

“Okay,” Jacob muttered and sat down.

There was a stockpile of papers on the old man's desk.

"I have made a decision which is the best. And it's necessary, you know. I am yet to tell your brother, Elliot."

Step-brother, Jacob preferred people to say. He thought of spewing his intention to divorce Winnie. But he let the old man go on with what he was saying.

“I’ve amended my will,” he said. "You’ll be entitled to inherit my property if you and Winnie remain married and have a child.”

Jacob tried to utter something but instead, ended up stuttering something meaningless.

"My mind is made up,” his grandfather said.

Jacob’s sea-green eyes peered deeply into his grandfather’s eyes. 

Did this mean he could no longer divorce Winnie?

“What’s that in your hand?” Tom Donalds, Jacob’s grandfather gestured at the envelope in his hands.

Jacob averted his gaze to the envelope clutched in his hand. He could no longer tell his grandfather about his intention to divorce Winnie.

“It's nothing,” he said.

He clicked open his briefcase and stuffed the envelope inside it.

"I have to take my leave now Grandpa,” he said.

“Are you off to work?”

"No, I’m off to see Winnie.”

Tom’s green eyes turned to surprise. "Well, she's in the house. She came around earlier today and is yet to leave.”

Jacob batted an eyelid in surprise. Winnie had not mentioned that she was coming over here. What was she playing at this time? Winnie always had an angle.

“Where is she?”

“Inside your office in the house.”

Jacob nodded. He wondered what she was doing there. He used to live in his grandfather’s house and had his own office here. But now, he has his own house and office.

He he