Chapter 6

6

Liora's POV

“That’s not how blackmail works, Miss Wilder. One person needs to have the upper hand. In this case, and always, that’ll be me.” Evren smirks, leaning back in his seat and observing me.

I click my tongue, biting back the sharp retort that threatens to come forth. Upper hand? Hell to the no. There’s no way a man will ever have an upper hand over my life again. Not while I’m still Liora Wilder.

Still, I’ll let him think he has leverage over me. But I’m ready to sleep with one eye open from now on. “Okay, Mr. Valesca. Can I read through this?”

Another lesson I learned after getting pregnant for Ronan: Don’t take things from strangers or gorgeous men. It’ll never end well.

“Please do. Although I doubt you’ll have anything to say about what’s in there. We both will benefit from these arrangements.”

I scoff, moving toward the small seating area in his office. Once there, I open the already prepared document, wondering just how he was able to get one so fast. Rich people and their audacity.

My expression shifts as I read through the clauses. One minute I’m frowning, the next I’m chuckling, and the next, I’m looking for a weapon to chuck at him. One that will hurt. Just who is his lawyer? The clauses are so ridiculous.

1. The Surrogate will not carry out any work from the moment of insemination till the child is six months old.

2. The Surrogate will be at the boss's beck and call so she doesn't act rashly... what?

3. She must move into his home and share a room with him but will abstain from seducing him. This relationship will remain strictly professional.

4. Since pregnancy has hormonal changes, the Surrogate can ask the boss to fulfill her sexual desires anytime she feels like it. No masturbation or sexual encounters with other men will be tolerated.

5. The Surrogate can never fall for the boss. She will perform her duties and leave when the time is due.

I can't help but chuckle at the last two. Or maybe all of them. “What an asshole.” I mutter as I continue reading more ridiculous clauses.

“Excuse me? What did you say?” Evren asks me. Only then do I notice he's no longer sitting in his office chair but is now resting comfortably on the sofa across from me, his lips curved downward.

Damn shit, why does he still look so mouthwatering? This should be a sin! Being gorgeous, I mean.

If I thought the first clauses were bad, I definitely wasn’t ready for what I was about to see.

–Surrogate will eat food approved by the boss' nutritionist and nothing else.

–Her clothing will be decided upon.

–Must attend family dinners every week and act like a happy couple.

–Must exercise daily with an instructor chosen by the boss.

–Must inform him if she starts catching feelings for him.

I can't hold it in for much longer, and so I burst into laughter. Clutching my stomach, I double over as giggles escape my throat, causing a few stray tears to slip from my eyes. How is this guy a billionaire? Someone tell me, please.

“What the hell is so funny?” he bellows, his jaw ticking. I struggle, I really do, to stop laughing. But the moment I open my mouth, another fit starts.

“Levi, what is going on?” the very confused man asks his assistant, who I can see is struggling to hold back a laugh.

The assistant shrugs. “Nothing, sir. I just think Miss Wilder finds some of your terms— which I clearly told you not to add—quite funny?”

That does it for the poor guy. “What the hell do you mean? You know what, get out of my office. Now!”

He runs out, and Evren turns to face me. His eyes narrow into slits while I struggle to stop laughing. I'm successful this time only because he stands up suddenly, marches toward me, and with one firm grip around my forearm, lifts me to my feet.

I gasp at the proximity between us. His face is so close to mine, his breath is hitting my face. “W-what are you doing?”

“Is it true? You think I'm stupid?”

LSD's “genius” comes to mind at his words, but I don’t have time to chuckle. Evren pulls me even closer to himself, making sure there’s no space between us. His gaze is so intense, my throat tightens.

“Mr. Valesca. I don’t think you're stupid. I just think you should have your lawyer take a look at these clauses. They’re weird.”

“I created those myself! You will do well to follow them all, or else the deal is off... you know what that means, right?”

My brows narrow, my eyes glaring daggers into his skull. He does have the upper hand on this. But that doesn't mean I'm going down without a fight.

“Okay, Mr. Valesca. No need to be so... harsh about it. Like I said before, I have only a little condition. Permission to speak?”

His stance relaxes, giving me just enough space to step back so my skin isn’t touching his. “Go ahead. I'll have my lawyer add it.”

“Sure. I just want two things. One. No physical contact. You do not get to touch me. Not even my stomach when your baby is in me.”

He's about to say something when I place my finger on his lips, causing his eyes to drift towards them.

“Let me finish. Two, if you don't get rid of those ridiculous clauses—especially about my diet, work, and dressing... I’ll make sure you will be the one to fall in love with me. And trust me. Once you do, there’s no way out.”