The Ultimatum

Adrian Blackwell stood at the floor-to-ceiling windows of his penthouse office, looking down at the city that bent to his will. Sixty floors below, people scurried like ants, their lives were insignificant compared to the empire he controlled. At thirty-two, he was worth more money than most countries' GDP. He owned hotels, tech companies, and half of Manhattan's real estate. There was nothing Adrian Blackwell couldn't buy.

Except time.

The legal document on his mahogany desk seemed to mock him with every word. His grandfather's will, revealed only after the old man's funeral last month, contained a clause that would destroy everything Adrian had worked for.

"Twelve months," Adrian muttered, reading the damning paragraph again. "Produce a legitimate heir within twelve months of my death, or control of Blackwell Industries passes to my cousin, Richard Blackwell."

Richard. The thought of that incompetent fool running his grandfather's legacy made Adrian's jaw clench. Richard couldn't run a hot dog stand,let alone a multi-billion-dollar corporation.

A soft knock interrupted his thoughts. "Come in."

His assistant, Margaret, entered with her usual professional smile. She'd worked for Adrian for eight years and knew better than to waste his time with pleasantries.

"The files you requested, Mr. Blackwell." She placed a thick folder on his desk. "Twenty-five candidates, all pre-screened according to you specifications."

Adrian opened the folder. Twenty-five women, all young, healthy, and desperate enough to carry a stranger's child for money. Their photos stared back at him like a catalog of human incubators.

"Background checks?" he asked, flipping through the profiles.

"Complete. Financial histories,Medical records , psychological evaluations. The agency guarantees complete discretion and legal compliance."

Adrian nodded. This was just another business transaction. No different from acquiring a company or closing a real estate deal. Find the right candidate, negotiate terms, and execute the contract. Simple.His phone buzzed. Marcus Stone, his lawyer and closest friend,appeared on the screen.

"Adrian, have you made a decision about the surrogacy arrangement?"

"I'm reviewing candidates now," Adrian replied, holding up a photo of a Loveblonde college student. "The process should be completed within the next two weeks."

"Good. Remember, the contract needs to be ironclad. No emotional attachments, no complications. This is purely business."

Adrian almost smiled, because emotions were a luxury he couldn't afford. They made people weak, and vulnerable. His father had taught him that lesson early and often, usually with his fists.

"When have I ever let emotions interfere with business?" Adrian asked."Never. That's what makes you successful."

After ending the call, Adrian returned to the profiles. Each woman had a story – college debt, medical bills, and family problems. All the usual reasons people sold pieces of themselves to the wealthy.Then he saw her.

Elena Martinez. Twenty-six years old, brown eyes, and black hair. The photo showed a natural beauty, no obvious cosmetic surgery or artificial enhancements. Her profile was different from the others. Law school graduate, currently working at a prestigious firm, high IQ, no criminal record, and excellent health.

But it was her reason for applying that caught his attention: "Need funds for father's cancer treatment and legal fees."Most of the other women listed shopping, travel, or student loans as their motivation. Elena Martinez was trying to save her father's life.

Adrian studied her photo longer than the others. She had intelligent eyes, the kind that suggested she wouldn't be easily controlled. That could be a problem.Or it could be exactly what he needed.

His intercom buzzed. "Mr. Blackwell, your 3 PM appointment is here."

Adrian closed the file. He had a board meeting in an hour, three acquisition deals to finalize before the end of the week, and a corporate merger that required his personal attention. The surrogacy matter could wait until tomorrow.But as he prepared for his meeting, Elena Martinez's photo remained on his desk. Those intelligent brown eyes seemed to follow him across the room, as if she could see through his carefully constructed walls.

Adrian shook his head. He was reading too much into a photograph.Elena Martinez was just another candidate in his search for a suitable surrogate. Nothing more.

The intercom buzzed again. "Sir, your cousin Richard is on line two. He says it's urgent."

Adrian's expression hardened. Richard only called when he wanted something, usually money. But now, with the will's stipulations,Richard's calls took on a different meaning. His cousin was probably already planning how to spend the Blackwell fortune.

"Tell him I'm in meetings all day," Adrian instructed.

He wouldn't give Richard the satisfaction of knowing about the twelve-month deadline. His cousin would find out soon enough that Adrian Blackwell always won, no matter what the game.

Adrian picked up Elena Martinez's profile one more time. Her application listed three jobs – paralegal at a law firm, weekend waitress, and evening tutor. She was working herself to death to save her father.

Most people would call that admirable. Adrian called it desperate.

And desperation was something he could work with.