“I know,” he said. “You’re entitled to have feelings, obviously, and I’m sorry that you felt excluded, especially since you’re the most important factor in this whole situation,” he said.
Before I could retort, he held up his hands and added, “And I mean that in the most respectful way possible. You’re important, Greta. I won’t be able to do this without you. And I’m really grateful that you offered to help.”
I shrugged and crossed my arms. “I couldn’t exactly say ‘no,’ could I?”
“I know you’re in financial trouble—”
“That’s not the only reason why I agreed to help you, Isaac,” I interjected.
“Then what other reason is there?”
I drew in a deep breath and looked at him. “You helped me out a lot when I was a kid, and even though those times weren’t a big deal to you, and you may not remember anything, they were a big deal to me. And I just wanted to, I don’t know, return the favor, because of what you had done for me. It showed me what kind of person you are, someone who helps other, and I’m grateful for that.”
He stared at me for a few seconds and lowered his gaze. His eyebrows creased, deepening the dull scar above his nose that he got in the car crash that had killed both his parents.
“You don’t have to thank me for that, Greta, but thank you for doing this for me. And I’m sorry things got so out of control. Not just what happened now, but arguing and ignoring you and making you feel like you don’t matter. Can we try to talk about things in a calmer and more rational way? Preferably while not having sex.”
I cocked my head to the side and sighed. “Sure. And I’m sorry too. You were right. I was acting a little insane. This is a big step, and all the medical talk had just freaked me out. I took out my frustration and terror on you, and that wasn’t fair.”
“Likewise for me. This is a big step for me too. I’m going to have a baby, forever, to care for, to raise, by myself,” he told me. “I’m also terrified.”
“You should be. Babies are terrifying,” I chuckled. “Plus it’ll be a mix of the two of us.”
He cringed. “God help me.”
I let out a chuckle and covered my mouth with my hand.
“Please let me give you a ride home,” he offered. “Then we’ll talk.”
“Okay,” I nodded and we walked back to the car. In five minutes, he had parked his SUV in front of my apartment building. He shut off the car but did not take off his seat belt. He drummed his fingers lightly on the steering wheel.
“When I went back to college after Spring Break seven years ago, I had no intention of dropping out. A few weeks into the semester, I got a call from my uncle. He told me that he had stage-four pancreatic cancer, and that he needed me to be by his side. He was the only family I had left at that point, and I had no choice. He had raised me after my parents died, so I figured that it was my obligation to take care of him,” Isaac said, speaking slowly.
I could clearly notice the sadness in his voice. I turned in the seat to face him and reached out to put my hand over his on the steering wheel. I knew these things because Garrett had told me, but I wanted to let Isaac tell me this himself. Maybe he was just looking for peace and closure. He had never opened up like this in front of me, and it made me feel good. It meant that he trusted me, and that was what I had always wanted. Just that now, it meant much more.
“Uncle Anthony wanted me to learn the family business, and I wasn’t interested at first but then he took me along to a meeting with a client. I ended up closing the deal, and this gave him the opportunity to show me that I was a natural. Still, I needed training and professional help,” he said.
“We all need a bit of professional help sometimes,” I pointed out with a smile.
Isaac nodded, the corners of his mouth curling upwards and looked down at my hand over his.
“Uncle Anthony taught me everything I know, and I took over from him when he became too weak. His death hit me hard, harder than I thought it would, and I felt so alone. So I buried the pain and loneliness with work, and built Destiny Developments into what it is today.”
“And your uncle is so proud of you for that,” I assured him.
He glanced at me and the sadness in his eyes deepened. “I didn’t mean to hurt you, Greta. I should have called you when I went back to school, and I know that it’s not an excuse, but I was dealing with a lot at that time. I’m really sorry. You have every right to hate me.”
“I don’t hate you, and I didn’t hate you back then either,” I shrugged. “I understand that it was hard for you. Your uncle, your only family, was very sick. And you don’t have to apologize to me. You did the best you could, and I am not mad at you for that.”
“Thank you,” he said quietly. I smiled at him and a small smile formed on his lips as well.
“Is that why you’re doing this? Wanting a baby so bad?”
“Something like that.”
I smiled again and squeezed his hand. “That’s not complicated at all.”
He nodded slowly. “You’re still in, right?”
“I’m in, but let’s be professional from now on, okay? I know that you have a lot to worry about, but we can’t be having sex in parks every time we have an argument. We’re not a couple,” I shrugged.
“Okay. I promise never to have sex with you again,” he said with a smirk.
I chuckled and moved my hand away from his. “I’ll see you in a week.”
“Take care of yourself,” Isaac said as I opened the door and climbed out of the SUV.
“I always do,” I answered and turned to wave at him. “You too.”
He winked and I closed the car door. I walked to my building, up the steps, and opened the door. When I stepped inside and turned to shut the main door, Isaac’s SUV was still standing there. He was watching me intently and as soon as he noticed me looking at him, he turned his car and drove off. I couldn’t help smiling as I walked to the elevator, dare I say, with a slight bounce in my step.
9
Isaac
With dread, I looked at the stack of offers from clients on my desk and groaned. It was the end of the month, which was the most popular time for people to buy homes and secure their mortgages, so I had a lot of work. All those deals were luckily closed and secured, or in the process to be closed and awaiting approval from the banks. I just had to check if the paperwork was complete and then mail them.
It had been nearly two weeks since I’d had sex with Greta in the park, and I couldn’t stop thinking about her. I knew it was a waste of time to think that something could happen between us, but I couldn’t stop picturing the way she laughed, how she smelled, how her body attracted me with such a strong desire. She was so easy to be around that I could open up to her without fear of judgment.
I badly wanted to kick my younger self for being a fucking idiot. Greta was amazing, and if I had had realized it sooner, things could have been different between us. But it was futile wondering about what could have happened. Things between us had taken a completely different path.
I was about halfway through the pile when my phone rang. It was my assistant.
“Mr. Marcus, I have someone here asking for your uncle.”
My eyes narrowed, trying to remember who it could be. Didn’t they know that Uncle Anthony had passed away? “It’s okay. Send them in.”
“Will do, sir.”
I hung up and pursed my lips. When my office door opened, I stood up from my chair and walked to the door. I wasn’t expecting to see someone like her in the doorway. She was a tall, slender young woman, carrying herself with elegance and grace. Her dark brown hair shone in the light and her gray eyes had me mesmerized. She looked like a model on the cover of a glossy magazine.
“I am looking for Anthony Marcus. This used to be his office,” she said, looking around the room.
I held out my hand to her. “I’m his nephew. Isaac Marcus.”
“Amber Lightheart, nice to meet you,” she shoo
k my hand lightly. “Where is Anthony? And why are you in his office?”
I pursed my lips and felt my heart drop. She obviously didn’t know. “I hate to be the one to tell you this, Ms. Lightheart—”
“Amber,” she corrected.
“Amber,” I said and cleared my throat. “My uncle passed away over two years ago.”
She gasped. “What?”
“He had a very aggressive pancreatic cancer.”
“Oh my God!” she gasped again, covering her mouth as her eyes filled up with tears. “I can’t believe this.” To my dismay, she broke down and burst into loud sobs.
“Why don’t you take a seat,” I told her, taking her hand.
“Oh my God…” she sobbed and ran up to hug me. It took me back slightly as I wasn’t sure what to do, so I wrapped my arms around her tentatively.
“I’m so sorry. I was under the impression that everyone knew.”
She sniffed a few times and though her sobs subsided, she still clung to me. This was making me feel a little uncomfortable. I wasn’t keen on strangers hugging and crying all over me.
“Here, sit down,” I urged her and she reluctantly sat on the couch. “Can I get you some water, or anything else?”
“No, I’m fine,” she sniffed.
I nodded and sat down on the couch beside her. “How did you know my uncle?”
Amber wiped the tears under her eyes and swallowed hard. “He was friends with my family, and when my parents died, he paid my college tuition. He was such a sweet man. Rough around the edges, but he had such a good heart. Like a chocolate-covered marshmallow, you know.”
I nodded with a smile at her accurate description of my uncle. At first, he seemed hard and cold, but he had a heart of gold. He was loved by so many people, with Amber being one of them.
“I’ve been abroad since I graduated, and I just came back. I remembered Anthony’s work address and wanted to surprise him. But it seems that I was in for a rude shock,” she sighed sadly.
“I’m so sorry,” I told her. “His death saddened many people, and I miss him a lot. He practically raised me when my parents passed away as well.”
“Your parents have passed away as well?” she asked with doe eyes.
“Yeah. My uncle was my only living relative and he took me in. I owe everything I have to him.”
“That sounds like Anthony,” Amber sniffed. “This is going to sound weird, but do you have any souvenirs of Anthony? I’d really like something to remember him by. I know it’s a stupid ask, but he was an important person in my life,” she said and placed a hand on my arm.
I pursed my lips, slightly annoyed at the request, but understood her sentimentality to Uncle Anthony. “I’ll see what I can do.”
Her face lit up and she threw her arms around my shoulders, hugging me again. “Thank you. You have no idea how much that would mean to me.”
“Trust me, I do. It’s the little things that matter the most, especially when you lose someone,” I said, instantly cringing at how corny I sounded.
“Exactly,” she sighed and looked at me intently. “We’re kindred, you and I, Isaac.”
I watched as she grabbed a pen and one of my business cards, and scribbling on the back of it.
“This is my number. You can call me anytime,” she told me.
I took the card from her, without looking. “I will.”
She smiled brightly, her eyes still wet from crying, and slowly rose to her feet. “I better get going. It was so nice to meet you, Isaac.”
“Same here. I really am sorry that you had to find out this way, Amber.”
“It’s okay. It’s unavoidable. But thank you for being so incredibly gracious,” she told me, leaning in to kiss me on the cheek. I lowered my gaze and watched her as she left my office, her hips swaying from side to side. I pursed my lips. She glanced at me over her shoulder and waved.
Shutting the door, I exhaled slowly and put my business card back on my desk. I frowned as I tried to remember where I had stored the boxes of Uncle Anthony’s belongings. I remembered putting them in storage after his death, but I couldn’t remember if I had sorted through it. Was there something worth giving to Amber?
“Why so serious?”
I looked up to see Garrett standing in the doorway.
“I was just thinking about something.”
“Was it that hot brunette who just left your office? All the guys couldn’t take their eyes off her,” Garrett smirked. “You’re not keeping her to yourself, are you?”
“Don’t be ridiculous. She was…” My voice trailed as I gathered my thoughts and looked at Garrett. “She knew Uncle Anthony and had come here to surprise him.”
“Oh, damn. She didn’t know he’d died?” he sighed. “That sucks.”
“Indeed,” I sighed and ran my fingers through my hair. “She was devastated.”
“I can imagine. She seemed rather happy in the hallway, though. Your consoling skills have not faded, I see.”
“She wanted to know whether I had Uncle Anthony’s belongings, as she wanted something to remember him by. He was a friend of her parents, and when they died, Uncle Anthony paid her college tuition.”
“So where has she been until now?”
“Abroad. She didn’t say where though. She burst into tears and started sobbing on my shoulder when I told her.”
Garrett smirked and shook his head. “Even when they are sad, you manage to wrap them around your finger. I envy you.”
“You shouldn’t,” I muttered and turned away.
“She gave you her number, so it’s a definite win,” Garrett chuckled, noticing the card on the desk. “So how was the appointment last week?”
“You really want to know?” I asked.
“Why wouldn’t I? I’m as involved as you are.”
I sighed. “It went well. Greta’s cycle is on track. She’s due to start her…”
Garrett raised his eyebrows and stared at me expectantly.
“You know,” I shrugged. Why was it so hard for me to say these words? Was I a misogynist that I couldn’t talk about the menstrual cycle without feeling uncomfortable? I cringed at the idea, but I suppose that happened to men. There were some things I had never known about the female body, nor bothered to find out. But as my outlook was being forced to change, I realized that it was equally fascinating and disturbing. It also made me realize just how easy men had it in life.
Garrett chuckled and I frowned at him. “Just be careful this week. It’s a weird time for her.”
“What do you mean?”
“Do you remember when we were seniors in high school and you’d come over? We’d be in the upstairs living area and Greta would stomp around the house, wearing sweatpants and a messy bun on her head, disappearing into her bedroom for long periods of time.”
“Yes?”
“That is what you get to look forward to this week.”
My shoulders slumped momentarily, though I didn’t understand why. “I don’t have to put up with any of that. She’s my surrogate, not my girlfriend,” I pointed out.
“Good point. It’s not like you spend every waking moment with her to make sure that she’s taking care of herself,” he said.
“Now, why the hell would you say something like that?” I asked.
“I’m just joking with you. You’ve got to stop being so damn uptight, especially when it comes to Greta. She’s fine. She takes care of herself, so you don’t have to worry. She’s been around you long enough to know that you’re a good guy and that even if she’s just your surrogate, you’ll make sure she is taken care of as well.”
I calmed down. “Thank you. That means a lot.”
“And if I can give you advice about this whole pregnancy thing, even though she’s just your surrogate, it’s going to be hard. You remember my cousin Elle?”
“Yeah. She stayed with you for a while, right?”
Garrett nodded and continued, “I saw first-hand that pregnancy is hard. She was cra
nky all the time and her back hurt constantly, even in the first trimester. So anything comfortable will be great. Fluffy socks, even one of your hoodies will work. Also, a book about pregnancy and what to expect, since it’s her first time. It can be scary. Get yourself a book too.”
I was truly shocked. “You surprise me, Garrett.”
He shrugged modestly and chuckled. “It’s no big deal.”
“Thank you. I’ll remember that.”
Garrett grinned and tapped the card with Amber’s number on it. “So…are you going to call her?”
“I have to go to my storage locker and figure out what she’d like.”
“Or,” Garrett suggested with a twinkle in his eyes, “You can take the boxes back to your place and invite her over. Then she can take whatever she wants.”
I pursed my lips to suppress a smile and shook my head. Trust Garrett to make the innuendos at a time like this. “Maybe I will. The boxes I mean. I already have your sister to deal with. That is more than enough for me to handle right now.”
“What happened to you? You used to be such a ladies’ man,” Garret scoffed.
“People change,” I shrugged and put on a wide smile.
10
Greta
When I walked into the office today, the sight of my empty desk put a bright smile on my face. There were no more unpaid bills and this filled my heart with joy.
Settling in, I took out my laptop and scanned through all my emails, whistling some random tune. I was anticipating some important emails to come through because I’d been contacting several companies. I had pitched our program to them, detailing all the benefits they’d gain by working with us. Unfortunately, none of them had got back to me yet, which was a little disheartening, but I tried to stay positive. After all, getting a new business to sign on with a small company like ours took time. Things were going to be okay, I told myself. I just had to be patient.
Thanks to Isaac’s cash injection, I could keep things running smoothly for the next six months, at least. But after that, there was no other way for survival except to find some clients.
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