Raymond's POV
"So? How did it go with the Doctor?" Lucian didn't bother to look up when I walked into his office without knocking.
"You seem unusually interested," I said as I moved toward the minibar.
"I'm always interested when you decide to do something extreme," he replied dryly.
I poured myself a glass of wine before answering. "I think I've found the right person."
That got his attention.
His brows lifted as he leaned back in his chair. "You found? Or the doctor found?"
"He hasn't found anyone yet," I said calmly. "I told him if he fails to find someone suitable soon, I'll do so myself."
I didn't leave important things to chance.
I took a sip, then added, "And as it turns out, I didn't have to."
Lucian's eyes narrowed slightly. "Meaning?"
"I met her."
There was a pause.
"And she meets your… very specific requirements?" he asked.
"Blonde. Gray eyes. Tall. Healthy. Good bone structure." I shrugged lightly. "She'll do."
Lucian stared at me for a second before letting out a quiet scoff. "And she agreed to be your Babymama just like that?"
I gave him a look. "First of all, I haven't made the offer. Secondly, she's not to be my Babymama. All I need is a surrogate. I've told you that countless number of times."
"And I've also told you that what you want isn't surrogacy. She'd be just a surrogate if you were implanting an embryo," he continued. "But you want her eggs. That makes her more than that."
"She'll be whatever I decide she is," I said flatly.
Lucian held my gaze. "That's not how it works."
Silence settled between us.
Lucian was my best friend and righthand man, and his opinion mattered to me more than I would ever admit to anyone.
But on this subject, my mind was made up and I didn't care whether or not he thought the plan was crazy.
"She'd be my babymama only if she knows my identity. Isn't that the reason for the whole non-disclosure and middleman thing with the doctor? If she doesn't know my identity then she can't come to me in the future to make any silly demands. I do not want any of that drama or any scandals and that's why I'm offering so much money."
Lucian exhaled slowly but didn't argue further.
"So, how much do you know about her?" He finally asked. "So far you only mentioned the physical qualities."
"I'm on it. Abel is keeping an eye on her. I need to make sure she's perfect."
"Of course. Everything has to be perfect just the way you want it," he said under his breath.
"Yes. I plan to give my child the best of everything, and that includes the best maternal genes money can buy."
"You realize that you can't always control everything, right?"
Before I could respond, my phone buzzed on the desk.
It was a message from my assistant, Abel, who I had asked to get me information on the blonde from the hospital.
My brows pulled together slightly when I saw it was a video.
I took out my earbuds from the case in my pocket and slipped them in.
"What's wrong?" Lucian asked.
"It's a message from Abel," I said as I pressed play.
Immediately, the screen filled with chaos. Glass shattering, designer bags being thrown, and clothes rack falling.
I recognized the boutique immediately. It was one of the stores in one of my malls.
At first glance I thought Abel sent me the video to see what was going on at the mall, but when I took a closer look, I recognized the lady standing in the middle of the disaster.
A crease formed between my brows.
It was the lady from the hospital. My potential surrogate.
Her hair was disheveled, and her face streaked with tears.
The only reason I recognized her was because of her outfit. She was still wearing the same clothes.
I watched in silence, taking everything in slowly and carefully.
I listened to snippets of conversation in the background, since whoever recorded the video seemed to have done so from afar, and didn't capture her words.
As I watched the video, my jaw tightened slightly.
Her glassy eyes earlier at the hospital had told me that she was upset.
This wasn't random. This was a complete emotional breakdown.
I had no idea what was going on, but I felt sorry for her that she had broken down that way and made herself a public spectacle.
Another lady entered the store and tried to stop her. I watched with interest as she embraced her.
For a moment, I thought the scene would end there.
Then the second woman picked up a display stand and slammed it to the ground.
I leaned back slightly, a faint, amused exhale leaving me.
Interesting.
Just then, Abel's call came in.
I answered immediately. "Yes."
"Sir," Abel said quickly. "The video I sent—"
"Did you capture the video yourself?"
"Yes, sir. I followed her from the hospital. From what I gathered, her name is Arya Winters and she works at the boutique in your mall."
I didn't respond.
"She had an incident with the manager of the store. Personal and financial dispute. It escalated. Property damage occurred. Police were called. They've been arrested," he added.
"They?" I asked, since I was yet to see the end of the video.
"Yes sir. "Her and the other woman. Her best friend."
So that was her best friend.
"Did you find out why she was at the hospital?" I asked.
"Her brother is a coma patient. She owes the hospital a significant amount and has limited time to pay before he is transferred to a state facility."
That explained a lot.
She seemed to be in a tight place financially, I mused, recalling how she'd raced back to take her change from the cab driver at the hospital.
I exhaled slowly. "Get her out."
There was a pause.
"Sir?"
I could hear the surprise in his voice.
"Secure their release," I said calmly. "Discreetly."
"Yes, sir." He hesitated. "And the charges?"
"Cover the damages and make the charges disappear." I said. "If the store owner resists, remind him who owns the building."
"Yes, sir."
"And Abel…"
"Yes?"
"Do not make contact with her," I warned, then added, "And get someone to do a thorough background check on her. Education, health history, everything."
I ended the call.
Lucian was watching me now. "What was that about?"
"Nothing serious." I picked up my glass again, a faint smile touching my lips. "Just getting to know my potential surrogate."