Chapter 3

Emilia

I fidgeted nervously in my seat, glancing around the small private conference room. Mrs. Grey sat across from me, her posture rigid and expression unreadable. I'd never pegged her as someone who'd wait for anyone, so this meeting must be crucial.

The door suddenly burst open, startling me. A woman in a crisp black and white dress rushed in, slightly out of breath.

"My apologies for the delay, Mrs. Grey," she said, setting her bag down and taking the seat next to me.

Mrs. Grey merely nodded, her steely gaze unwavering.

The newcomer turned to me with a polite smile. "You must be Emilia Clark." She extended her hand, which I shook tentatively. "Helen Wilson, legal counsel for the Greys."

"Nice to meet you," I replied, my voice barely above a whisper.

Helen wasted no time, pulling files from her bag and spreading them across the table. "Shall we begin with the contract?" she asked her tone all business. "Ms. Clark, do you need me to explain the arrangement?"

I shook my head vigorously, eager to move things along.

"Very well," Helen continued. "According to the terms, you've already submitted to a health screening. You're also required to provide accurate medical records and disclose any known hereditary conditions in your family." She paused, eyeing me expectantly.

I nodded, my throat suddenly dry.

"Now, regarding compensation," Helen went on. "You'll receive a monthly allowance of $5,000, separate from the final payment of $500,000 upon completion of the arrangement."

I couldn't help but gasp, my eyes widening at the figures.

"Are you alright?" Helen asked, concern flickering across her face.

I nodded quickly, gesturing for her to continue.

"Do you have any objections or additional requests?" she inquired.

My mind reeled. What more could I possibly ask for? With that kind of money, I could change the freaking world.

I glanced at Mrs. Grey, but her attention remained fixed on her phone.

Helen cleared her throat. "There's one more crucial point. For the duration of the pregnancy, you'll be residing with the Greys."

"Wait, what?" I blurted out, my head snapping up. "No one mentioned that to me."

Mrs. Grey's piercing gaze finally met mine. "We can't risk the media or anyone else discovering this arrangement. Our home is the safest place for you and the child."

"But... my family," I protested weakly.

"I'm not concerned with your comfort, Miss Clark," Mrs. Grey cut in, her voice sharp. "My priority is my grandchild. If this is a problem, you're free to walk away now."

I bit my lip, anger, and frustration bubbling up inside me. The Greys' reputation for cunning and manipulation was clearly well-earned.

Helen continued outlining the terms, each one more restrictive than the last. No contact with the baby after birth. Surrendering all rights. The threat of legal action if I breached the contract.

As the meeting concluded, my head spun with the weight of what I was agreeing to. How could I hide a pregnancy from my mother for nine months? Maybe staying with the Greys wasn't a bad idea.

"The insemination begins next week." Mrs. Grey informed me as Helen packed up to leave.

"What about Damien?" I asked hesitantly. "Shouldn't he be part of this too? It's his baby, after all."

Mrs. Grey's expression hardened. "Damien is very aware of the arrangement. You'll meet him when I deem it appropriate. For now, focus on your end of the contract."

I nodded meekly.

Later that evening, I stumbled into my apartment, emotionally drained. "Amber?" I called out, hanging up my coat.

I found my roommate lounging on the sofa, flipping through a fashion magazine. She looked up as I entered. "How'd it go?"

I collapsed next to her with a heavy sigh. "I'm not sure, Amb. It's... a lot to process."

Amber set aside her magazine, turning to face me fully. "Emy, the Greys aren't people you want to mess with. There's still time to back out of this crazy plan."

I shook my head firmly. "I need the money, Amber. You know my parents are drowning in debt."

She nodded sympathetically. "Have you met Damien yet?"

"No," I replied. "Mrs. Grey says that'll happen once everything's official."

Amber's lips quirked into a mischievous grin. "You do realize you're basically getting knocked up by a ghost, right?"

I shot her a mock glare before we both dissolved into slightly hysterical laughter.

"We shouldn't be laughing about this," I gasped, wiping tears from my eyes. "This is serious. It's a freaking baby." I stared down at my stomach.

Amber's tone softened. "Hey, changing the subject... Kyle stopped by earlier. He was asking about you."

I groaned internally. Kyle was Amber's older brother, and I'd harbored a crush on him for ages. "Amber, you know it could never work, especially now. I'm about to have a baby, for crying out loud. That's way too much baggage."

Amber reached out, squeezing my hand. "Maybe. But don't close yourself off completely, okay? You deserve happiness too, Emy."

I managed a weak smile, grateful for her support. Whatever lay ahead, at least I knew I had one person firmly in my corner.