2

"I don’t believe in delays.” His voice was sharp and cold.

“I didn’t even pack...”

“You won’t need anything from your past. You’ll get everything new. Clothes, toiletries, food. If you want something special, make a list, my assistant will take care of it.”

"But I was told we would only be meeting today, I-"

“you saw it in the contract that you have to live with me, I'm sure.”

Isabel folded her arms. “Yes, but shouldn't that be after the whole thing has been settled."

"A lot can happen in a day, you're perfect as is, if anything happens to you that can cause the contract to end... you're safer with my staff."

No one had told her she was perfect, ever. And he just said it so easily.

He opened the door and gestured. “Let’s go. Car’s waiting downstairs.”

She followed, her legs moving faster than her thoughts.

“Where do you live?” she asked as they stepped into the elevator.

At his glare, she widened her eyes, “I think I should at least be entitled to knowing where I'm going to be staying, hello?”

“You'll see.”

“So you’re rich-rich.”

“I’m careful-rich,” he corrected. “Which is why you’ll follow every rule.”

She inhaled, trying to calm the heat rising in her chest.

This man…

This cold, unbelievably good-looking man, she was going to carry his child. She just hoped she’d survive the next nine months.

Isabel followed him through the underground parking like she wasn’t about to sell her entire body to a stranger. Isaac didn’t talk much, not that she expected him to.

His car was black, sleek, and smelled like expensive leather and something spicy she couldn’t place.

Halfway into the drive, she shifted in her seat.

“There’s something I need you to keep in mind,” she said, trying to sound braver than she felt.

He didn’t glance at her. “What is it?”

“I want the full payment. Upfront.”

That made him turn.

“Three hundred and fifty thousand. Now?”

“Yes.”

He stared at her for a moment. “Why?”

She crossed her arms. “Is that something I have to answer?”

His jaw clenched slightly. “Most women don’t ask for full payment until after the first trimester. Some wait until the birth. Why are you so desperate?”

“I’m not desperate.” most women? Why did he say it like he was a regular at baby making factories?!

He tilted his head. “Then why the rush?”

She didn’t reply.

He looked back toward the road. “It will be wired only after the insemination is successful.”

Her shoulders dropped slightly.

“Thank you.”

“I don’t do this to make friends,” he said. “You’ll get what you want. I’ll get what I want. That’s all.”

*

The car pulled into a gated driveway that looked more like an entrance to a private resort than someone’s home. Security cameras turned as they drove up the curved path. The house came into view...no, not house. Mansion.

Three stories, white stone exterior, wide balconies with floor-to-ceiling windows. There was a fountain in the front that probably cost more than her entire apartment.

Isabel couldn’t help it...her mouth dropped open a little.

“Holy crap.”

“I like space,” he said simply, stepping out.

Two staff members, both dressed in crisp black, met them at the front door.

“This is Lena,” Isaac said, pointing to a woman with short dark hair and a clipboard. “She’ll take care of anything you need.”

Lena gave a small smile. “Welcome, Miss Manor.”

“She’s staying across from my room. No special treatment, keep her comfortable, schedule her first doctor’s visit by next week and make sure she reads the house rules.”

“Yes, Mr. Dun.”

Isabel looked at him. “That’s it?”

“I’m a busy man,” he said, already turning away. “I don’t have time for small talk or physical contact. If you need something, tell Lena.”

And with that, he was gone, like she was already a memory.

Lena gently touched Isabel’s arm. “Come. I’ll show you to your room.”

*

The inside of the house was even worse...worse meaning too beautiful to be real.

White marble floors, curved staircase, gold fixtures. Everything was soft and quiet and expensive, there were large paintings she couldn’t understand, plants that looked fake but probably weren’t, and not a speck of dust in sight.

She followed Lena up the stairs, passing what looked like a full library, an indoor bar, a hallway of glass doors leading to the rooftop.

“Your room is here,” Lena said, opening a door just across from another one. “That’s his.”

Of course it was.

She stepped inside.

The room was bigger than her old living room. A large bed with a white duvet, cream-colored walls. A closet with mirrored doors, a balcony with a view of the city skyline, a flat-screen TV and even a vanity with lights around the mirror.

“You’ll find clothes already in the wardrobe,” Lena said. “Mr. Dun prefers everything prepared in advance.”

“Right. Of course he does.”

“There’s a tablet on the nightstand. You can use it to order food from the kitchen, request items, or message staff.”

Isabel nodded slowly. “Thanks.”

“If you need anything else, just press the service button on the wall.”

Lena left with the same soft smile.

Night time came, she'd done nothing but pondered on whether or not this was really happening.

Alone now, Isabel sat on the edge of the bed and pulled out her phone. She opened a message thread labeled Daniel and typed quickly.

*I got the money. Everything’s going to be okay. Just hold on a little longer for me. I’m doing this for you. I love you.*

She couldn't tell him how she got the money, she knew that was why he kept doing this, he knew she would be his savior every single time but even she never thought she would go this far.

She stared at the message for a few seconds before hitting send.

Then she stood up and pulled her dress over her head.

She was just in her bra and underwear, halfway through changing into the pajamas on the bed, when a knock came on the door. She jerked her head in its direction with a startled frown.

The door opened immediately after the knock, not waiting for a response from her, and so she froze in place.

Isaac stood in the doorway, eyes locking right onto her half-naked body and staying there.