Page 37 of Billionaire Hunt

Chapter 8

“Any luck finding a surrogate?” Oliver asked Erik abruptly. I looked at Erik, also wanting to know. It had been weeks or maybe months since the night he had received the phone call telling him that his surrogate was backing out. We hadn’t talked about it since.

He shook his head and kept on eating.

“Why not just ask Misha? She needs the money and she’s healthy, baby-making age.”

I began to choke on my bagel and Lacey offered me a glass of water. We were all sitting out on the balcony that was situated toward the back of the house overlooking the expansive pool. Just one of the perks of living in a mansion, I thought to myself.

“Healthy, baby-making age? What is that even supposed to mean?” I asked Oliver. I was accustomed to his randomness, but even this was a little bit much for me.

“Don't be crass, Dad,” Jude hissed at him.

“If I weren’t crass, then I wouldn’t be me,” Oliver replied unrepentantly.

“And you wonder where Jude gets it from,” Lacey said, rubbing her expansive belly and smiling.

Oliver laughed. “I don’t wonder. I know.”

I had agreed to join them for dinner, but I hadn’t expected Erik’s surrogate to be the topic of conversation. I felt so uncomfortable, I started stuffing myself with whatever was in front of me.

“Just imagine how great it would be to be pregnant together,” Lacey said, still rubbing her belly.

I shook my head. “That sounds like the opposite of a good time.”

Erik cleared his throat, wiped his mouth with a cloth napkin and said, “Oliver, we’ve been over this before. I’m not interested in talking about it again.”

Oliver looked taken back. “Are you reprimanding me?”

“Sounds like he is,” Jude said smiling at Erik. “It’s about time someone did. You get away with way too much. Always trying to tell other people how to live their lives.”

“I’m not trying to be controlling. I’m just trying to help Erik get the family he deserves. I’m sure he wants more than just you as his surrogate brother,” Oliver said sharply to Jude.

“I don’t know,” Erik said teasingly. “Jude is pretty awesome. Maybe I’ll just adopt him instead.”

“I’ll gladly give him up,” Jude and Oliver said at the same time pointing at each other.

We all laughed gleefully.

“Listen, Misha and I need to get back to my house. We have an order coming out shortly.”

I looked at Erik curiously. What was he talking about?

“Fine, go. Abandon an old man. If you don’t want to talk about the surrogate stuff just say so, but don’t leave me with these two.” He gestured toward Lacey and Jude who were no longer paying attention to the conversation going on around them. They were both staring at Lacey’s tummy and to my surprise I could see it moving.

“Lacey,” I whispered, “your belly is moving.”

“I know. The baby’s kicking. Want to feel?”

I shook my head. “No. What if I press too hard and hurt something? No, I’ll just stay here and look from afar.”

We all watched in awe for a few minutes and then Erik caught my eye and mouthed, “Let’s get out of here.”

I nodded and stood up. I reached over Jude and gave Lacey a hug. “We’re heading out. See you later.”

Oliver didn’t look happy, but grumbled a goodbye to both of us, before shouting once we reached the door, “Just consider my idea! It might just work!”

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