The car ride to the mansion was quiet. Outside the window, the bright lights of central London faded away, replaced by the dark, leafy streets of a much richer neighborhood. Nicole looked at her hands. They were still shaking. She couldn't stop thinking about the contract in her pocket.
When the car finally stopped, Nicole looked up and gasped. The house was massive. It was a white stone mansion with tall pillars and a front door that looked like it belonged to a palace.
"We are here,Lady," Thomas the driver said. He sounded much kinder than he did before.
As Nicole stepped out of the car, the giant front doors opened. She expected a scary, mean guard. Instead, a lady with a kind face and grey hair stepped out. She was wearing a neat apron and had a warm smile.
"You must be Nicole," the lady said. "I am Mrs. Gable. Welcome home, dear."
Nicole blinked, confused. "Home? But... Mr. Sterling said..."
"I know what he said," Mrs. Gable interrupted gently, taking Nicole's small suitcase. "But in this house, I am the one who looks after the guests. Come inside. You must be starving. The master told me you hadn't eaten all day."
Nicole followed her into a hallway that smelled like expensive vanilla and fresh flowers. It wasn't cold or scary at all. Everything was bright and beautiful. Mrs. Gable led her into a large dining room. On the long table, there was a plate of steaming hot pasta, fresh bread, and a glass of chilled juice.
"Mr. Sterling ordered this?" Nicole asked, sitting down slowly.
"He did," Mrs. Gable said, pouring her some water. "He gave very specific orders for his favorite meal to be ready the moment you arrived. He even chose the music."
Soft violin music played in the background. Nicole took a bite of the food. It was delicious—better than anything she had ever tasted. For a second, her heart felt a little lighter. Maybe Alex wasn't as mean as he acted in the office. Maybe the "Rules of Intimacy" were just to act tough.
"He also left this for you," Mrs. Gable said, handing her a small, elegant bottle of perfume. "It is jasmine. He said it's the only scent he likes in the bedroom. There is a hot bath waiting for you upstairs, dear. Take your time.
Nicole finished her meal quickly. She felt like she was in a dream. She went upstairs to a bedroom that was so big she could have lived in the closet. The bed was covered in soft silk, and the bathroom had a tub made of marble.
She soaked in the warm water, the smell of jasmine filling the air. She felt clean and expensive. She put on the silk gown that was laid out for her. It was a pale cream color and felt like a second skin. She looked in the mirror and barely recognized herself. She didn't look like a pauper anymore. She looked like a wife.
She sat on the edge of the bed, waiting. The house was very quiet now. She tried to practice her smile in the mirror. Show approval, the rule said. Don't resist.
She looked at the clock. 10:55 PM.
10:58 PM.
10:59 PM.
Exactly at 11:00 PM, the door handle turned.
The door handle turned.
Alex walked in, but he wasn't wearing his sharp business suit anymore. He was wearing a heavy, dark silk robe. His chest was slightly visible, and he looked even more handsome and intimidating in the dim light of the bedroom. He didn't say a word. He just walked toward her.
Nicole stood up, her legs shaking. She forced a smile, remembering his command. As he got closer, the scent of his cologne—mixed with a hint of expensive scotch—filled her senses. He reached out, his long fingers grazing her jawline before sliding into her hair.
His touch was electric. Nicole felt a flush creep up her neck. Despite the fear, despite the debt, her body reacted to him. She leaned into his hand, her eyes fluttering shut.
The door opened
Nicole jumped back, clutching the silk of her gown. A man in a white lab coat walked in, carrying a small medical case. He looked straight at Alex.
"Mr. Sterling," the man said. "The samples are ready for collection."
Alex didn't even blink. He let go of Nicole's hair as if she were a piece of cold wood. He turned his back to her and walked toward the man, whom he called Dr. Vance. Nicole watched, confused, as the doctor took a small vial from Alex and placed it carefully into a cooling box.
"Everything is within the parameters," the doctor whispered, checking his watch. "We will begin the procedure with the subject tomorrow morning."
"Good," Alex said. "Ensure the equipment is sterilized. I want no mistakes."
The doctor nodded and left as quickly as he had arrived, closing the door with a sharp click.
Nicole stood there, her face burning with shame. She had been ready to give herself to him.
Alex turned around. He saw the look on her face—the confusion, the lingering desire, the hurt. A slow, cruel smirk spread across his lips. It was the ego-filled look of a man who had just won a game.
"What's the matter, Nicole?" he mocked, walking toward the nightstand to pour himself a glass of water. "You look disappointed."
"I... I thought the contract said..." she stammered, her voice small.
"You thought I was going to touch you?" Alex laughed. The sound was cold and dry. "You thought I would actually lay in this bed and have intimacy with a girl like you?
He took a slow sip of his water, his eyes mocking her.
"Don't get your hopes so wide, Nicole. I have rules for a reason. I value my bloodline far too much to mingle it with someone of your status in the traditional way. I find the idea of touching you... unnecessary."
Nicole felt like she had been slapped. "But the rules... you said three nights a week... you said no resistance..."
"Yes," Alex said, leaning against the bedpost, looking down at her. "I need you here, under my roof, under my control. But did you actually read the second document? The one you signed so quickly in your hurry to stay out of jail?"
He reached into his robe and pulled out a folded copy of the "Terms of Intimacy." He flipped to the very last page and pointed to a paragraph in tiny, cramped print at the bottom.
"Read it," he commanded.
Nicole took the paper with trembling fingers. Her eyes skipped over the words until she found the section he was pointing at.
Section 9.4: Method of Conception. Both parties agree that the 'Intimacy' described in this document shall be defined as Clinical Assisted Reproduction (IVF). The Male Party shall have no physical obligation to the Female Party. The Female Party will undergo daily hormonal injections and surgical implantation. Natural intimacy is strictly prohibited to ensure the purity of the Sterling heir.
The paper fell from her hands, fluttering to the expensive rug.
"IVF?" she whispered, her voice cracking. "You... you never intended to touch me?"
"Of course not," Alex snapped, his ego shining through his dark eyes. "I need a child, not a mistress. You are a surrogate who happens to be wearing my ring for four months. Nothing more."
He walked toward the door, not even looking back at her. He stopped at the light switch, his hand hovering over it.
"I'm surprised you didn't read that part, Nicole. But I suppose a girl like you was too busy dreaming of a billionaire in her bed to worry about the fine print."
Alex flipped the switch, plunging her into darkness. But as he stepped out, he paused in the doorway, his silhouette dark against the hall light.
"Oh, and one more thing," he said, his voice dropping to a chilling whisper. "The doctor mentioned something today. Because of the specific treatment we are using, there is a high chance of a multiple birth. If you give me one heir, you get your freedom. But if you fail to carry them both... the debt will be the least of your worries."
He shut the door, leaving Nicole alone in the pitch-black room, realizing that the "nightmare" she had prepared for was nothing compared to the cold, medical reality of what was about to happen to her body.