Alexander stood in the Riverside Fertility Center's fancy lobby, glancing at his watch for what felt like the millionth time. Elena was late—only seven minutes, but she was usually super on time for everything work-related. Her being late bugged him, but he couldn't say why.
The irony of him being there wasn't lost on him either. Half a year ago, he never would've thought he'd be at a fertility clinic. He spent his whole adult life dodging what messed up his parents' marriage—them being so obsessed with having the perfect family that they stopped caring for each other.
His phone buzzed. It was Elena: Crazy morning with Sofia. Be there at 10 am.
Sofia. Alexander's chest felt tight when he saw Elena's daughter's name. In the week since they signed the contract, he'd been thinking about the kid more than was right. Her smile in the pic Elena kept, the way Elena lit up when she talked about her—it made him feel stuff he thought he'd buried a long time ago.
Mr. Stone?
Alexander turned around to see Elena rushing in, her hair a bit messy and her face red. She wore a simple blue dress that made her look younger and softer than usual.
Sorry, she said, out of breath. Sofia's new meds make her feel icky in the morning, and I couldn't leave until she felt better.
Is she okay? He asked before he could think, sounding more worried than he should.
Elena's eyes got softer, and something shifted in her face—maybe surprise that he cared about a kid he'd never even met.
She's okay. Just... counting the days till Thursday. Her voice cracked a little on Thursday. Two days. Sofia had a surgery that could save her life or...
Alexander didn't let himself think about the other option. Dr. Peterson's waiting, he said, lightly touching Elena's back to steer her toward the elevators. He meant it as just a friendly thing, but her skin felt warm through the dress, and it sent a jolt through him.
The elevator ride to the fourth floor was quiet, both of them lost in their own heads. Alexander saw Elena in the shiny elevator doors—she looked just as nervous as he felt, which made him feel slightly better. At least he wasn't the only one freaking out about what they were doing.
Dr. Sarah Peterson's office had calming colors, soft lights, and boxes of tissues placed perfectly that told you this was gonna be an emotional place. Dr. Peterson herself was a small woman in her fifties with kind eyes and the kind of calm confidence that made you trust her right away.
Elena, Alexander, Dr. Peterson greeted them warmly. Come on in. I know this is huge for both of you.
Alexander found himself holding Elena's hand without meaning to. It just happened during Dr. Peterson's explanation of the IVF thing, and neither of them let go.
It's not actually that hard, Dr. Peterson was saying. We'll use Alexander's sperm and eggs from our bank. Elena, you'll get shots to get your body ready.
Donor eggs. Alexander had written that into the contract because he didn't want Elena to be too connected to the kid. It seemed smart then. But now, seeing Elena nod sadly at the doctor, Alexander felt... what? Sorry? Bad?
I want to ask, Dr. Peterson said, looking at them, how are you two feeling about all this? Even when everyone's ready, it can still be tough.
Alexander was about to give his usual speech about biz and keeping things separate, but Elena spoke first.
It's a mess, she said quietly, rubbing her thumb over Alexander's knuckles. But we both want what's best for the kid.
The kid. Not the fetus or the pregnancy— the kid. A person they were making together, who'd have some of Alexander's DNA and grow in Elena for nine months.
It hit him hard.
Alexander? Dr. Peterson looked worried. Are you feeling okay? You look pale.
Alexander didn't realize he'd been holding his breath. I'm good, he said, but he sounded weird. Just... thinking.
Elena squeezed his hand, supporting him without saying anything, which he probably didn't deserve. She was the one who'd be carrying his kid, dealing with all the stuff that came with it, and she was comforting him.
It's okay to be overwhelmed, Dr. Peterson said softly. Making a life is a big thing, no matter what's going on. Take your time.
Making a life. Alexander had killed companies, beaten competitors, and made money out of nothing. But making a life? It felt huge, scarier than any business deal.
When do we start? Elena asked, and Alexander heard her voice shaking a little.
We can start the shots now, Dr. Peterson said. The first set will get your cycle on track, then we'll get the donor eggs going while your body's getting ready. The embryo thing should be in about three weeks.
Three weeks. Alexander's kid could be in Elena in three weeks.
It should've felt like a business thing, but it made his chest feel hot in a way that wasn't about work at all. It was about the woman next to him who was holding his hand like he was gonna fall apart.
We need some blood work today, Dr. Peterson said, pulling out some papers. And Alexander, we need a... you know. Elena, are you ready for the shot?
Elena nodded, but Alexander could see she was tense. What's it like?
Just a little hormone shot to start getting your cycle right. We'll show you how to do the rest at home. Dr. Peterson stood up and went to a cabinet. Alexander, you can do your thing down the hall, or if you want—
The hall's good, Alexander said fast, his face getting hot. It was all needed, but this being-medical thing felt wrong somehow.
Twenty minutes later, Alexander and Elena were in her car in the parking lot, staring at traffic. The collection was as awkward as he thought it'd be, but it was how Elena acted after that made him shake.
She'd been getting paler during the whole appointment, and her grip on his hand had been getting tighter. When the nurse got the shot ready, Elena looked right at Alexander, her eyes wide with something that might've been scared, or sorry, or just too much.
I'm doing this, she whispered, so quiet he barely heard it.
We don't have to, Alexander said, even with the contract and all. If you're having second thoughts—
No. She said firmly, Sofia needs this surgery. We're doing this.
But now, now that the medical stuff was done and they'd been talking about how to make a life, Elena looked kinda breakable. Alexander didn't like it.
How are you feeling? he asked softly.
Elena's hands were shaking a little as she held the wheel. I don't know, she said. It all felt fake before. The contract, the deal. But in there, hearing Dr. Peterson talk about the transfers and hormones... She stopped, shaking her head.
It's real now, Alexander said.
It's real now, she said back. In three weeks, I could be carrying your kid. Your actual kid who'll grow inside me and kick me and make me want weird food at night.
Alexander's stomach flipped because he was seeing it: Elena, big with his kid, with her hands on her belly, complaining about heartburn and late-night ice cream. It was scary, but he liked it.
Elena, he started, but he didn't know what he wanted to say. Sorry for making her do this? Thanks more than he could say? That the thought of her with his kid was making him feel things he shouldn't?
Before he could say anything, Elena swayed and her face went white.
Elena? Alexander grabbed her as she put her hand on her head.
I feel... dizzy, she said, her eyes closing.
Alexander's heart was pounding. Elena, look at me. Stay awake.
But Elena fell to the side, out cold before he could catch her. Everything flipped.
His hands shook as he felt for a pulse and felt better when he found it. But Elena was still out, her face pale and calm in a way that freaked him out even more.
Alexander had handled tough biz deals, money problems, all that stuff without even sweating. But seeing Elena looking gone in her cheap car made him feel lost.
And, for the first time since he made the deal, Alexander started to get that he was feeling more than biz for Elena Martinez.