Page 4 of Legally Binding
“I want to be the one to put it in her.”
My pen stops writing once my brain processes what he’s saying. “What?” I glance at him, and that’s when I see him slip his hand under the desk and adjust himself.
“No doctors. I want to put a baby inside her the old-fashioned way.”
Piper doesn’t look at either of us, but she doesn’t seem surprised by this news. That tells me all I need to know. Clearly Bob has already told her he wants to fuck her and she turned him down. Now he’s trying to force her into it by making it legally binding.
As calmly as I can, I set my pen down and thread my fingers together in front of me. “Miss Gray, would you mind giving us a moment? I need to speak to my client privately.”
Chapter Three
PIPER
I’m not sure if my hands are shaking because the window in the conference room overlooks the whole city or because everyone is talking openly about Bob wanting to have sex with me. Both are terrifying, but I’d skydive off this building to get away from him.
When Mr. Adair asks me to give him and his client a moment, I’m more than happy to skedaddle right out of the conference room. I jump up from my seat and rush to the door, but I can sense their eyes on me while I make my escape. In my hasty excitement to get away, I almost collide with Scout.
“Whoa!” She steps back so we don’t run into each other, teetering on her heels. “You okay?”
“No.” I'm fighting back an overwhelming flood of emotions, some of which I don't understand. Particularly the ones that are wrapped up in the lawyer with the fancy suit that fits him perfectly.
"How about you come and have a seat? I'll make you a cup of coffee," Scout says gently and motions for me to follow her.
Right now, I want all the space I can get between Bob and me. I still can't believe he had the audacity to say out loud that he wants to put a baby inside me himself. The scariest part is the amount of audacity he has. There was no shame or hesitation in him bluntly saying what he thinks he’s owed.
Scout leads me into a shiny break room that has one of those coffee machines built right into the cabinets.
"You don't have to make me anything," I tell her. She's been kind enough already by going out of her way to bring me back here.
"Let me show off. I only figured out how to work this contraption a few days ago. We've been in a standoff for weeks." Scout puts a coffee cup under the spout. "As much of a pain in the ass as it's been, it's so worth it."
After she presses a few buttons, she places the cup in front of me and makes one for herself. I add some sugar and cream until it’s the right color. Coffee has grown on me over the years, especially when money is tight. A hot cup of coffee can hold off hunger.
“So?” she asks when I take my first sip.
“It’s good,” I admit. “It’s smooth like you get in a real coffee shop.” My eyes linger on the creamer, which is only milk. I bet the kitten in my purse would want some.
“What made you want to get into surrogacy?” Scout takes the chair opposite mine at one of the handful of tables in the breakroom.
"I’d rather not be,” I answer honestly.
"Oh." Scout takes a sip of her coffee. "But you did agree?"
"I don't think I did, but I guess I didn't say no either."
"And now it’s his word against yours." She shakes her head. "He's a real—" Scout cuts herself off before she can say something she shouldn't. Bob is their client, and I’m sure he pays them a truckload of money.
"Don't get yourself in trouble over me,” I say.
Scout tilts her head, about to respond before glancing around the room. "Do you hear that?"
Shit.
"Maybe?"
"Maybe?" She laughs and then the little guy wiggles around in my bag. "Is your bag moving?"
I had set it gently on the floor next to my leg, and now he seems curious. "It's a possibility."
