MY HEART IS RACING. Strange. Am I actually excited?

I want to deny the feeling but I’m too old to self-mind fuck.

Yeah, I’m very excited to meet Miss Mariana Cortez, all right. She’s different from the other applicants. There’s something about her. Or maybe it’s because Corazon vouched for her. I trust Corazon. She’s practically family.

Corazon meets me across the green lawn at the back of the manor as I walk away from the chopper.

“Welcome back to Everland, Jeff. We’ve missed you.”

I hug her. “Corazon, you smell like my favorite cookies.”

She giggles like a teenager. “Indeed, I cooked your favorite cookies. Mara helped me. She knows how to bake them by heart now. And I’ve taught her to cook all your favorite dishes, too.”

The very thought of Mara cooking for me warms me up inside. Jeez. “Is she in the manor?”

“Yes. She’s waiting for you in the study.”

I nod.

“Would you like me to send you something to eat in the study?”

“Later. I want to get this over with first.”

She gives me a knowing smile. “You’ll like her, I’m sure of it.”

“What makes you so sure?”

“I don’t know. Maybe I just know your heart, mijo.”

“Corazon, this is going to be a business arrangement, not a romantic relationship.”

“All the same to me. Having a child together is a special thing, for sure.”

“We will not have this child together.”

She shrugs. “Then you have to explain everything to her.”

“She doesn’t know yet? I thought you already told her.”

“No. It’s not my place to talk about these things.”

This worries me. “But…what if she refuses?”

“I have a feeling she won’t.”

“Well, I still have to meet her to know if she’s right for the…uh, job.”

Damn, it feels weird to be talking about it casually as though it’s an ordinary job, because it isn’t. I’ve been dealing with hardball businessmen all my adult life, but I’ve never had to deal with a woman whom I needed to convince to carry my child for a price. I could find easy deals, the professional surrogates, but I discovered that I didn’t want those women to carry my first child. I want someone special.

But what qualities would make a surrogate special? I don’t know either. I just have to meet her to know, and so far, I haven’t had the desire to meet any of the other candidates. Looking at their dossiers didn’t rouse anything in me. Mara’s pictures alone made all of me say “yes” even minus the vetting from a professional background investigator.

I hope she has the same effect on me in person.

The feeling of insecurity unsettles me. I’m the CEO of a vast conglomerate and a young woman’s rejection worries me. Unheard of.

We reach the back entrance of the manor.

All the house staff have lined up to greet me cheerfully. Coming to Everland always feels like coming home. Truth be told, I always miss this place, but my work load nowadays doesn’t allow me the luxury of spending time here as often as I like. And Grandfather is no longer here. I miss him so bad whenever I’m here.

I make a quick chitchat with the staff and proceed to my study.

There’s a bunch of slimy creatures swimming in my stomach.

Am I actually nervous?

I pause at the door of my study and take a deep breath.

Fuck, I AM nervous.

She’s in there. And there’s also a possibility that I will not like her. This excitement I’m feeling might die the moment I see her.

I actually don’t want to be disappointed. I want this baby so bad.

I open the door.

I spot her immediately. She’s standing by the window.

The rays of the morning sun reflect on her hair and she looks like she’s wearing a golden headdress. Her hair cascades down her back in soft waves and they immediately conjure the hottest carnal images…her on all fours as I fuck her from behind, my fingers entangled in her coppery-golden locks.

The semi-arousal elicited by her pictures becomes full-blown. Blood shoots to my groin as my pulse picks up. I feel like my heart is going to burst with the desire that’s gripping my entire body as I look at her hair alone.

She turns around.

I had everything planned. I have the best doctor on stand by for this baby-making project, the most state-of-the-art fertility lab at my disposal. I even have an egg donor, someone I trust.

But as I stare at Mariana Cortez, I’m absolutely sure my child will not be conceived in a lab.

My son or daughter will be created the natural way.

My sperm. Her egg. Meeting as The Creator intended them to be.

There is no other way.

I should say something, but I’m rooted to the spot and my ability to speak has been overpowered by the sheer force of his presence.

He walks into the room like my dream man.

Very tall, broad-shouldered, long-legged, his business suit fitting his solid frame like it has been molded on him.

His eyes mesmerize me, rendering me into a quivering mass of helplessness.

I must be stupidly staring at him.

He stops in front of me.

“Mara.”

My name rolls on his lips like a gentle caress.

He knows me. Of course, Mama Zon must have spoken to him about me since she recommended me for this job, whatever it is.

“M-Mr. Vandercourt…Sir,” I stammer, my throat dry.

“Call me, Jeff.” He extends his hand toward me.

I stare at his hand. It’s a very capable-looking hand, with long fingers and tanned skin.

“I don’t bite,” he jokes.

My cheeks flame and I clumsily accept his handshake.

Bolts of electricity seem to spark where we’re touching and I would have let go had he not gripped my hand tight, our eyes locking.

He’s staring at me with an intensity that is both making me feel excited and afraid. Such contrasting feelings.

“I’m very glad to meet you, Mara.”

“I…” I wet my lips with my tongue. “Likewise, Mr….Jeff.”

Heat is quickly consuming my body as he continues to hold my hand. I wish he’d let me go. My goodness, I might self-combust any minute now!

He pulls me toward a sitting area and I follow him like an obedient child.

He guides me to sit on a plushly cushioned sofa and he takes the armchair opposite me.

I can’t meet his eyes. I feel like they’re boring into me, stripping me naked. What if he can read what’s going on in my head? I would die!

I feel silly with my thoughts and the strange feelings invading my system. I’m not like this. I’ve always been confident in front of people, even in the company of powerful men. I was used to throwing them hard questions, grilling them, putting them on the spot and on the hot seat. But that version of me is gone, broken and shut down by the injustice done to me and my family.

I’m just Mara now, the house help. This man is my employer, and my life is in his hands.

I try to meet his eyes and manage a smile. “W-welcome back to Everland, Mr. Vandercourt.”

“Jeff,” he insists.

“As you wish…Jeff.”

He nods. “We must learn to dispense with the formalities from here on as we’ll be working closely together.”

Working closely? Does that mean he’s considering me for the job already? But he hasn’t even interviewed me yet and I have no idea what this job is.

“Corazon has personally recommended you to me. I can see now that she wasn’t exaggerating about you.”

What is he talking about? I haven’t given Mama Zon my resume or anything yet. “Thank you but I do have a resume…sort of, if you’d like to look at it. My bag—“ I move to go get my bag which I left by the window but he raises his hand to stop me.

“Never mind that. I’ll conduct my interview now, if you’re ready.”

I nod eagerly. “I’m ready.”

“Good.” He leans back in his seat and crosses his legs in this very masculine and sophisticated manner.

I try not to stare, but I can’t help it.

In his portraits, Jeff is mesmerizing. In person, he’s glorious.

“How old are you, Mara?”

“I’m twenty-four…almost twenty-five.”

“Where are you originally from?”

“Uhm, Bolivar… In Venezuela.”

“Why are you an illegal alien now? Have you done something back in Venezuela that you don’t want to go back there?”

Oh God, has he found out about what happened to me in my country?

“No…No, Mr. Vandercourt. Please, I haven’t done anything. I’m not a criminal or anything…please…” My voice trails off in a panic.

“Hey, I didn’t say that. I was just asking.”

I nod, trying to calm my nerves. Lord God, I don’t want to bungle this interview. Please, help me.

“I want to get to know you before I offer you this job, and I want you to be honest with me, Mara. This job is very delicate, but I’ll pay you well. I just want nothing disrupting our working relationship in the coming months, if indeed we agree to work together.”

I nod again. “Yes, I understand.”

“Tell me your story. Why are you in America?”