by Sky Winters
“I see. Well, I guess it can’t hurt to try,” Lorna replied, not really certain she would go through with it, but why turn down money just for a few blood tests or whatever?
“Fantastic. Let’s get you an appointment. Are you available in the morning?”
“Yes.”
The woman conference called her in with another woman at a nearby clinic and they set up an appointment for nine a.m. and a private car to pick her up. The clinic was a little further away in Beverly Hills, but that was okay since she didn’t have to pay for the taxi. Once they finished up, she hung up the phone and put her tablet away. She laughed to herself. How desperate had she become that she was looking at getting paid to have other people’s babies.
Lorna had been star struck when she had come to this town with dreams of stardom. Now, it just seemed like some sort of personal hell full of disappointment. She was lost in thought when the phone rang. It was a young woman with a local theatre group asking if she could come in for an audition with them. It was the first call she had gotten in months and she accepted eagerly, already rethinking her thoughts on becoming a surrogate. Maybe Dalton’s reach was wearing off or just didn’t extend as far as the theatre groups. It was something to hang a little hope on, anyway.
The following day seemed fairly uneventful. Her appointment at the clinic involved filling out some forms about her personal history and health, giving some blood for tests and a brief physical exam from a female doctor. It all seemed very legit and she received a cash payment before leaving. All in all, not a bad deal, so far, but she knew that had just been the easy part. Later that evening, she had her audition with the theatre company, which seemed to go very well and ended with them telling her they would be in touch within the next few days.
She decided she would let her success or failure dictate her next move. If she got the acting gig, she would hang in there and try to fix her broken career. If she got accepted as a surrogate, she would go with that and hope the money might help her get through this rough patch. It would most likely be months before she was inseminated and more until she was even showing, so she could continue to act in the short term and maybe do some maternity ads or modeling if she couldn’t get acting roles in her future condition.
She considered that she might get both and wasn’t sure how that would work out. She supposed it depended on how long the theatre run was. If she was lucky, maybe it would fall in line with surrogacy and end before she was showing, allowing her a few months off until she delivered and could get right back into things. Her head swirled with possibilities and hope, mixed with a fear that she would get neither and end up sleeping in an alley somewhere or worse, returning to the trailer she had grown up in, back in West Virginia. It had been her good looks that had gotten her out of there and their effect on a certain producer might be what sent her back.
Chapter 3
Lorna was surprised to receive a call the following morning from Ms. Stanford, letting her know she was a viable candidate based on her tests. Though she was still uncertain about signing up as a surrogate, it was good to have options.
“So, what do we do next?” she asked.
“Well, we have a client in the vicinity who will be in Los Angeles on Friday for an unrelated meeting. I’m not available to fly out, but my associate, Ms. Clarke, can meet with the two of you at the clinic and go through the particulars with you. Per your release paperwork, the client has already been provided with your personal details in regard to match data and background. Your identity will not be revealed to him unless you choose to accept the initial meeting.”
“And if I do accept and agree to be a surrogate? What is the process then?”
“You will be paid a $10,000 advance once the contracts are signed and another $40,000 once you have conceived. Past that, you will be relocated to the client’s personal estate until you give birth and for a short transition time afterward. At the end of the contract period, you will be paid the balance of the $1M fee.”
“I’m sorry. Did you say one million?”
“Yes.”
“I’m confused, not that I’m complaining, but the ad said the fee was $500,000.”
“That is our standard rate, yes. In this case, however, our client is very private and wishes to remain such. Part of the additional payment will involve a lifelong gag order. You’ll never be able to speak of this to anyone.”
“So, I won’t be able to see my friends or family while pregnant? I can’t let people know of my condition?”
“Not necessarily. You can reveal you are pregnant, if that is a necessity for you, but you cannot reveal the name of the father or the circumstances of your conception.”
“I see. So, I have to lie to people about it.”
“How you handle it is entirely up to you, Ms. Dunne. Keep in mind that you will be staying outside the city during your pregnancy and do not need to reveal your condition to anyone, if you choose. Obviously, I’m not fully aware of your public situation. I know you are an actress, but I think the fees will more than cover you not working for the period of time this will involve.”
“It’s a lot to consider.”
“It’s a lot of money. Nonetheless, it is not for everyone and we completely understand if you do not want to participate. We have no intention of strong arming young women into surrogacy. Would you like to think about it and call me back?”
“No, no. I’d like to take the meeting and get the full details before deciding, though.”
“Completely understandable. I can have a car pick you up on Friday for the meeting. Is ten a.m. a good time for you?”
“Yes. Ten a.m. is just fine. Thank you, Ms. Stanford.”
“No, thank you. Ms. Clarke will call you on Thursday to confirm the appointment and take it from here. Of course, I’m only a phone call away if you need further assistance from me.”
They said their goodbyes and Lorna hung up the phone. Friday was a few days away, so that would give her time to see if the theatre gig might work out. At least she knew she wouldn’t end up on the streets if it didn’t. Either way, she needed to get out of this apartment. It was too expensive to live here on her own. If she secured the theatre job, it would pay for this place, but she was tired of sinking every penny she made into rent. It would be better to find someplace smaller or share a space with a roommate. She would tackle that when she had the money to do either of those things. For now, it was just wait and hope.
Sadly, that hope ended later the following day when she received an email from the theatre company advising that she had not been selected. So, looked like she might have to reconsider the surrogacy. It was a lot to consider, but it was also a lot of money, more money than she had ever had in her life. A part of her wondered if it might not be too good to be true, but she suspected she’d figure that out when she met with them on Friday. If it seemed like a scam, she’d have to rethink everything.
“Do you think that Dalton sank you on the theatre gig?” Sharon asked when she called to tell her the news about the latest rejection.
“I don’t know anymore. You know, it’s one of those things that you know could be true, but it’s not like anyone is going to come out and say it. I mean, I have a hard time believing that Dallas Dalton is calling people and warning them off of me, but word gets around pretty quick if people think you are trouble. I think that what he’s already put out on the wire has done its damage. I wonder if changing my stage name would help?”
“I don’t know. I hate to say it, but maybe this just wasn’t meant to be. Perhaps you need to consider another line of work. I mean, maybe do acting on the side a bit more and have a full-time job instead of shifting food to rude tourists a couple days a week.”
“You might be right. I don’t know,” Lorna replied.
“Well, something to think about. Listen, I gotta go. I’ll call you this weekend. Okay?”
“Sure. Talk to you then.”
Lorna put the phone down and looked around her sha
bby apartment. Sharon was right about one thing. This was not the dream she had envisioned for herself. If not for Dalton, she might have made it, but it was hard enough without having a powerful producer sabotaging you at every turn just because you wouldn't go down on him. Tossing her phone on the sofa, she opened Craigslist and went through the ads again. Still nothing there.
The usual sites she went to for auditions were pretty scarce too. All of the available roles seemed to be with people who had already turned her down repeatedly. Sitting back in her chair, she let out a loud sigh of frustration. It was looking, more and more, like the surrogate program was her ticket. She could use the advances to get by until the final payout and then use that to re-establish herself. Maybe she could go back to school, get a formal education in acting or even something else. If nothing else, it would give her plenty of time to think it all through.
If nothing else, the break would be a nice change of pace. She had been stressed for so long, trying to make ends meet, trying to find jobs. All she had managed was a few tiny background roles and a lot of debt. It might be nice to just sit back without worry and let someone else take care of her. It might be the only opportunity she ever got to even experience having a child, since she had never wanted one of her own. A boring life of having a husband and children had never appealed to her, especially after watching how her mother had suffered so much during her own childhood.
Pulling a bottle of wine from the cabinet, she poured herself a glass and took the bottle with her to the sofa. Wine was always good to help sort out your thoughts or forget them altogether, if you drank enough of it. She sat watching the tube mindlessly, just letting her thoughts drift away until she felt drowsy enough to sleep.
Chapter 4
“Miss Dunne? We’re ready for you,” a young woman said from the doorway.
“Thank you,” Lorna said, standing to follow her.
She had been nervous getting ready to come here and now that she had arrived, she was even more nervous. This was it. Do or die. There was a man, she assumed the one she was her to meet with, standing in the room as they entered. She was surprised that he appeared a good deal older than her. Not that he was unattractive, he just wasn’t what she had expected.
“Lorna Dunne, this is our client, Raymond Wilson.”
“It’s a pleasure to meet you, Miss Dunne,” he replied, extended his hand to shake hers.
“Happy to meet you too, Mr. Wilson.”
“Please, call me Buck. My given name is Raymond, but no one has called me that for years other than the tax man,” he told her.
“Okay, Buck. Please call me Lorna.”
“I will. I guess we should sit down and talk then.”
“Absolutely.”
Lorna was mesmerized by his bright blue eyes and dimples. He had soft blondish hair, mixed with quite a bit of snow white. His face was weathered, but ruggedly handsome. It was obvious that he was the outdoors type from his natural looking tan. Despite the age difference, he was incredibly handsome. No doubt he had been quite impressive in his younger days, not that he wasn’t now. He gave off the impression of a laid back surfer, mellowed to perfection.
They went through the finer points of the contract. The payments, the requirements. She was surprised to find that there would be no delay in attempting conception. After only a few days of fertility treatments, based on her current cycle, she should be at a peak time to conceive. If it took on the first try, she was in business. If not, they would attempt it again based on continued fertility tests.
“So, how is all of this sounding to you?” Ms. Clarke asked when they were done.
“It sounds good. What do we do next?”
“There are still a few things to discuss, but I will need for you to sign a non-disclosure prior to continuing. While all of the things we have discussed so far are already in confidence per the initial agreement, these items, in particular, require a higher level of privacy confirmation. Please take your time and read over the document before signing. If you prefer to take it to a lawyer, we are more than willing to allow that. We can reschedule the rest of the meeting at a later date that suits both your schedules,” she added.
“No. I don’t think that is necessary. I’ve signed quite a few of these. I can read it,” Lorna replied, pulling the document toward her as the woman slid it across the desk. It was nothing more than a standard agreement that said she would repeat nothing said during this meeting or face legal action and punitive damages. They issued them on sets all the time to prevent actors from talking about the film.
She signed it and pushed it back toward the woman. Her nerves were kicking in again. She was doing this. She was actually doing this. It wasn’t too late to turn back just yet, but she couldn’t believe she had already gotten this committed to it. It would be a good thing. She just had to keep telling herself that or risk backing out. This could make such a difference in her life and she had to just hang on to that idea.
“Okay. Very good. Mr. Wilson? Are you content to move forward? You’re satisfied with the candidate?”
“Yes. Yes. Let’s do this.”
Lorna was surprised when he stood up and walked across the room to an empty spot. She had not noticed it before, but now she realized that it was there for a reason. Whatever that reason was, she supposed she was about to find out. Ms. Clarke stood and waved a hand toward Buck, asking her to join them. She followed the woman over, the two of them standing to face him. Much to her surprise, he began to get undressed.
“Wait. I’m sorry. What is this?” Lorna said, ready to bolt if this was getting weirder than becoming a surrogate already was.
“Don’t worry, Lorna. It’s okay,” Ms. Clarke told her in a calm voice.
She continued to speak as Buck undressed in front of them. Lorna blushed as he finished stripping down to nothing, his powerful physique bronzed and beautiful in front of them. He might be older, but there was not one single imperfection on him, not on any part.
“Now, Lorna. I don’t want you to be frightened by what you are about to see. I know it is probably not something you’ve ever seen before, but Mr. Wilson has a special gift we need you to be aware of before allowing you to consent to this surrogacy.”
“What sort of gift,” Lorna replied, trying not to gawk at his perfect abs and generous portion of cock.
“Mr. Wilson is a shifter.”
“A what?”
“A shifter. I can shift into an animal,” he interjected.
Lorna turned back toward him, trying to focus her attention on his face rather than his other attributes. She furrowed her brows together, not comprehending. Was this a joke? No way was such a thing possible.
“Is this a prank of some sort? You get me here and trick me into thinking one thing and then it turns into some sort of episode of Jokes on You?”
“It’s no joke, Lorna. I know it is different, but this is why we needed to do the tests up front, before talking to you any further about any of our processes. This is why the non-disclosure was necessary.”
“There is no such thing as a shifter.”
“If you’ll allow me, I can dispel that theory,” Buck replied.
Lorna turned back toward him and shrugged. This ought to be amusing, at any rate. Was he going to start hopping around like a bunny or howling like a wolf? The fact that he might be seriously deluded was one thing, but how could a seemingly reputable surrogate agency play along with such ridiculous shenanigans?
Lorna watched as he stretched his arms outward and rolled his neck back and forth for a moment. Then there was something strange happening. She had trouble focusing as the changes in his body began to take place. His face was changing, somehow elongating. His back was arching. The room was filled with hideous popping and breaking noises as if his bones and tendons were breaking apart and realigning. It was unbelievable to watch. It had to be a trick, but how?
When it ended, she found herself looking into the large green eyes of a cougar. It was a maje
stic creature, the largest one she had ever seen. Granted, she had only seen a couple at zoos or on television, but this one appeared to be significantly larger than those. She was guessing it stood well over three feet tall and was about eight feet in length. She stood with her mouth slack, just looking at it in shock.
“You can touch him, if you like. It is still Buck. He’s just in his animal form.”
“Listen, I can appreciate a joke as much as the next girl, but this is off the charts. I don’t know how you did that or where Buck is hiding, but he can come out now.”
“This is no joke, Lorna. Buck is an animal shifter. He has the ability to shift into a cougar at will. You’re looking at him. Look, put your hand on his neck and don’t move it. If you want proof of what he is, then this should show you. I promise you that he is just as cognizant in this form as in his human form, even if he can’t speak to you, but it is still him. Go ahead, put your hand on his neck.”
Lorna walked slowly forward, almost in a trance, and placed her hand on the neck of the cougar. She held it there as it began to shift; yet again, the horrid noises filling her ears. She could feel the fur retracting into its skin, feel the snapping and popping beneath as it changed again and when it was done, she was standing with her hand on the side of Buck’s neck. She gasped.
“I don’t know what to say. This is crazy.”
“It’s not crazy, Lorna. It’s just different than what you are used to knowing. We keep our existence very quiet so as not to disturb the natural order of things around us and protect ourselves from those who would trap us and study us if given a chance.”
“Why tell me about this? Surely, you didn’t have to reveal it?”
“No, but we feel it is unfair to allow you to sign up for something unknowingly. Your pregnancy would be no different than any other pregnancy other than perhaps being a bit more taxing due to a shifter baby’s high metabolism. We want you to be fully informed as to what you are getting into.”
Buck finished getting dressed and walked toward her, putting his hands softly on both shoulders and looking at her with his steel blue eyes in a way that made her wonder if he also had some sort of calming powers, in addition to being a large cat in his spare time.