The nitty and gritty of the contract was more in-depth than I thought it would be. While Dimitri had expressed he wanted to be at prenatal appointments and the hospital during delivery, he also asked that we meet once every two weeks to check-in. He also said that while he didn't mind if I told the people closest to me about the surrogacy, he asked me to be very careful with who I disclosed the information to. Dimitri didn't want his name getting out before he was ready to announce the situation.
The real kicker was that he would have a member of his security detail around. He stressed that my safety was important to him and said that the personal security would be discreet and barely noticeable after the first few weeks. I had tried to explain to him that I didn't need it, but he was firm about it.
And just like Dimitri had said, he waited outside the patient room for both the egg extraction and implantation, ready to drive me home after both procedures.
I set the contract down on the nightstand and curled up on my side, groaning quietly at the cramping feeling. After the embryo transfer, I was warned that I may feel some cramping, and I was really feeling them.
I heard a knock on my door, but I didn't bother getting up. They'd go away. I pulled my comforter around me in hopes that I could nap for a bit when the lock clicked in the door. I sat up and grabbed the baseball bat beside the door frame before heading into the hallway. I lifted the bat into the right position as I rounded the corner, only to squeal at the short blonde in front of me.
"MIA!"
"Sorry, I just wanted to bring you some food because I knew that you have your IVF transfer today. Marko let me in 'cause I said that you were sick," Mia explained, jerking her thumb over her shoulder towards the front door. I sighed and put the bat down, gesturing for Mia to follow me back to my room. I plopped back down on my bed and rearranged my pillows when Mia sat down beside me.
"How did it go?" Mia asked as she pulled the container of soup and a buttered bun out of the bag. I took them from Mia and carefully opened the lid.
"It went fine. The client drove me home after, he wanted to make sure I got home okay."
Mia hummed and nodded her head, tucking the blanket around her legs. "So, when can you tell me who he is?"
I shrugged and put a spoonful in my mouth. "I don't know. I was told I can only tell people I trust not to talk about it." The look on Mia's face made me chuckle over my mouthful.
Mia rolled her eyes at me. "Really? You know me, I would never spill your secrets!"
I smiled at her. "I know."
Mia was chatted about nothing in particular as I ate. I was really grateful for Mia at this moment, the soup was so good and the bun was fresh. Once I drained the last of the soup I shuffled down in the bed and rested my head on the pillow. Mia followed and rolled onto her side, tucking her arm under her head.
"His name is Dimitri," I said up to the ceiling. Mia made a noise of continuance but waited for more elaboration.
"He is the CEO of Belikov Enterprises," I added to which Mia squealed and sat up.
"What?! You are having a baby for Dimitri Belikov?"
I nodded my head. "I take it that you've heard of him before?"
"Well yeah! My sister went into Cyber Security and interned at Belikov Enterprises. She told me that he was hella hot!"
I chuckled and nodded my head. "He is. This is going to be a good looking kid."
I understood now why there was so much discussion before the procedures started. I wasn't completely prepared for the mood changes with the extra hormones that I had to take before the procedures.
I braced myself against the counter during my morning shift at Stan's. Four weeks after the IVF transfer and my stomach was rolling. Only I wasn't sure if it was a sign, or if it was food poisoning. Mia, myself, and a few others from Buria went out for a really late dinner after our shift last night, and both Mia and Jackson had food poisoning.
"Hathaway! You're blocking the walkthrough," Stan yelled from behind the cooktop. I lifted my head to retort back but my stomach rolled violently, and I bolted from the kitchen. I knew that someone was in the bathroom so I pushed the back door open and puked against the bricks, holding my shirt tight to my chest to avoid it being caught in the crossfire.
"Please don't tell me that you're sick! You're the only waitress I've got until three," Stan bellowed, standing in the doorway. I spit the putrid taste out of my mouth and stood up, retying my hair back.
"I need to take my break," I said pushing back into the kitchen. I pulled my purse out from under the passthrough and caught my coworkers' attention.
"I'm taking my fifteen, can you cover me?"
Abby was our hostess who was a little shy, but was chomping at the bit to be able to wait tables. Stan usually didn't let her, but he legally had to give me my break. Abby nodded as I walked out of the kitchen and out the front door, jogging down the street to the pharmacy. I walked to an aisle that I hadn't walked to in a really long time, picking up two boxes and headed to the counter.
"Can I possibly use your bathroom please?" I asked after paying. The elderly woman looked at my purchase and then nodded, handing me the key.
"Good or bad?"
"Well, if I get the answer I want, it'll be really good," I said with a smile, heading in the direction she sent me in.
I had a smile plastered on my face for the rest of my shift, not even Stan giving me shit about leaving in the middle of a rush could change my mood. After my shift ended I went home and changed out of my uniform and headed to Belikov Enterprises.
I smiled as I walked to the front desk knowing that I would need a visitor's pass to get up to the floor Dimitri was on.
"Hi. My name is Rose Hathaway, I need a pass so I can get up to the twentieth floor."
"Do you have an appointment?"
"No. But I need to see Mr. Belikov. It's urgent and a personal matter."
"I'm sorry, without an appointment I can't let you up," the receptionist said firmly. I sighed and pulled my phone out of my back pocket.
Can you please call the front desk and tell them to let me up?
I stayed in my place when my phone indicated that the message had been read. The receptionist gave me a weird look as I continued to stand there when the desk phone rang and she picked it up. I listened to her speak for a few seconds before she hung up.
"My apologies. Here's a pass and you can go up. Mr. Belikov will have a permanent pass made for you shortly," the woman said, sliding a badge over the counter. I thanked her and clipped it to my jeans before jogging towards the elevator.
I bopped my head to the music in the elevator with a smile still plastered to my face. I almost walked right past the reception desk on the floor but stopped so I could be directed to Dimitri's office. The gentlemen there looked mildly confused but pointed to the end of the hall. I thanked him and practically skipped to the door, knocking and poking my head in.
"Hey, is everything okay?" Dimitri asked, he was just standing behind the door as if he was going to leave the office. I slipped in the door and shut it behind me before wrapping my arms around him. Dimitri tensed up a bit and it was clear that he hadn't expected me to hug him, but he slowly responded.
"Rose?"
"Congratulations," I squealed, pulling back to look at him with a megawatt smile. Dimitri's brows pulled together slightly before what I said to him sunk in. When it did, a large smile crossed my face and he pulled me into a hug again, laughing softly and resting his head against mine.
"You're pregnant?"
"I am pregnant. I took two tests a few hours ago when I was at work. I called earlier but you were in a meeting so I thought I'd come here and surprise you," I said against his chest. I could feel Dimitri nod his head against mine and he squeezed his arms around me gently.
"Thank you, Rose," he said before pulling away, letting go of me.
"I guess you are lucky that it took so quickly, I was told not to expect it to work the first time."
"I know, I was too."
I smiled and looked around his office out of curiosity. It was beautiful. One wall was all windows and it had a beautiful view of the New York Sky Line. The desk sat in front of the window facing the door. The office was light-coloured wood with warm walls, decorated in awards and memorabilia of his company.
"Sorry, I'm being nosy," I apologized but Dimitri shook his head.
"No, it's fine. There isn't much in here that would get us into trouble," Dimitri said, slipping his hands into his pockets. I stepped away and walked towards the window, taking in the view.
"I would love to work with this view," I said wistfully, turning to face Dimitri as he leaned behind me against his desk. Dimitri had a ghost of a smile on his face as he watched me, his arms crossed over his chest. As I turned I noticed all of the wooden photo frames on his desk and I looked down at them.
There were a few of him with three other women, but after careful examination, I realized that they all had similar facial features.
"You have sisters?"
"Yeah," Dimitri said and pointed out each of them. "Karolina is the oldest, and then Sonya. Then there's me and Viktoria is the youngest. She's a year younger than you."
"That is my nephew Paul, he's nineteen. That is his sister Zoya, she's ten. They're Karolina's children. The youngest one there is Katya, she's Sonya's only child. My sister Viktoria just had a boy named Nikola," Dimitri said, pointing each of them out as he named them. He had a soft look on his face, and it was easy to see that family was important to him and that he loved his family very deeply.
"They're all beautiful," I said.
Dimitri nodded his head. "Do you have siblings?"
I shook my head. "No. I'm an only child. Is that your mother?" I replied, pointing to the photo of older woman with her arms around Dimitri's shoulders. A fond look crossed his face as he picked up the photo that was at the front of all the photos.
"Yes. Olena," he said, "She is one of the strongest women I know."
Dimitri continued on and pointed to a photo of a frail-looking woman. She looked terrified and had eyes that held wisdom. Dimitri told me that it was his babushka, his grandmother.
I hummed quietly to myself before my world spun slightly, making me sway back and into Dimitri's chair.
"Rose?" Dimitri asked alarmed, crouching down to be at face level. I closed my eyes and breathed in through my nose and out through my mouth. Dimitri's hand brushed over mine and my eyes opened slowly, only for my head to spin again. I leaned forward and rested my head in my hands with a small groan.
"Rose?"
"I'm ok. Just a bit dizzy," I murmured through my hands, breathing slowly again. Dimitri got up from his place and walked to the other side of the room, opening something and came back. Something cold pressed against my forehead and I jumped a little. I opened my eyes slowly to find that it was a cold water bottle. I took it from him and cracked the seal, sipping the cold water.
I waited a moment to make sure the dizziness was over and I sat up straight, giving Dimitri a reassuring smile.
"I'm ok. It's probably because I haven't eaten yet," I said sheepishly, knowing that I needed to work on eating lunch every day. Dimitri still looked concerned and I placed my hand over his, squeezing it with a head nod. I pushed myself out of the chair and stood up.
"You haven't eaten yet?"
"I got sidetracked, you know, finding out that I was pregnant and all. When I get home I'll get something to eat," I reassured, but Dimitri shook his head. Shit.
Dimitri pulled his jacket off the back of his chair and gestured me to follow him. I followed behind him and he stopped at the front desk.
"I'm leaving for the day," he said before guiding me to the elevator, pushing the basement level.
"Come have dinner with me. I think we should celebrate," Dimitri said looking down at me. I chuckled and looked up at him.
"I don't think I've dressed appropriately," I returned, gesturing to my jeans and sweater. Dimitri chuckled and shook his head.
"You look perfect."
When Dimitri asked me to join him for dinner, I almost expected to go to some fancy restaurant. Instead, he took me to a hole-in-the-wall breakfast joint that had me drooling from the moment I walked in. Dimitri had switched out his suit jacket for a long leather duster, and I cracked a joke at his expense.
"Don't tell me that you're a fan of the wild west and read westerns in your spare time," I laughed as we walked into the restaurant, but all Dimitri did was raise a brow at me and smirk, opening the door for me as he did so.
We walked towards a table at the back of the room, gesturing for me to sit first before he sat across from me. My stomach was growling in protest and I could feel a small blush form on my cheeks. I didn't think it was that loud, but from the face Dimitri made, he heard too heard it.
After ordering myself an ice tea and Dimitri a coffee we were left in somewhat comfortable silence. I played with the table clothe but could feel Dimitri's eyes on me.
"What?" I asked.
"Nothing," he replied, but I could tell he was lying.
"Want to try that again?"
Dimitri chuckled. "Nothing really. I just didn't notice until now that you have a red tinge to your hair."
I rolled my eyes. "Yeah, you can't really notice them unless I've been in the sun. One of the only attributes I have of my mother."
"What are your parents like?"
I frowned and took a sip of my drink, not particularly wanting to discuss my parents. What exactly could I say? That I haven't seen them in seven years since they kicked me out and forgot they even had a child? That once upon a time my father was my best friend and the most important person in my life, but he showed his true colours when I needed him most?
"They're parents," I said shortly.
"How long has it been since you've seen them?" Dimitri asked as if he knew my train of thought.
I looked up from my glass. "Seven years."
"That's a long time," Dimitri said softly, folding his arms on the table. I nodded my head and chewed on my bottom lip.
"Tell me what you do for work," Dimitri said changing the subject, to which I was grateful for.
"Which job do you want to hear about?"
"All of them?"
"Well, I work mornings as a waitress at Stan's, a couple of days a week at the Guardianship Gym as a trainer, and a few nights a week at Buria bar a few blocks from my place. It's hard, but I make it work. I think having good coworkers makes it doable. Actually, Mia, who I work with a Buria, was the one who suggested I sell me eggs. So I guess she's the reason we met," I explained, rolling my napkin and unrolling it as I spoke. Dimitri listened intently as I spoke, almost as if he wanted to take in every piece of information he could.
"Three jobs?"
"Yeah," I said tucking my hair behind my ears, "I have a lot of loans and debts to pay back."
"What did you go to school for?"
I smiled to myself. I was always happy with my choice in schooling, but just wished I could have finished.
"I started going to school for kinesiology. I only managed to get through three years before I couldn't pay for it anymore. I'm hoping to pay off the loans and go back to finish my degree."
"That suits you. I figured you would have gone to school for something to do with athleticism."
I was about to reply but our waiter came back to order our meals. I decided on the waffles, eggs, bacon, sausage and fried potatoes. Dimitri did the same but ordered two sides of fruit. By the look he gave me, I presumed one of them is for me. I rolled my eyes but agreed, knowing that I needed to add more fruits and vegetables into my diet.
"Did you always live in New York?"
"No I moved here when I was eighteen, I came here with my best friend. Actually, Ivan is my COO."
The time spent while we waited for our meal was used to get to know each other a bit better. I laughed when I realized that my joke was actually the truth, and Dimitri did in fact read western novels and like the 'wild west'. He also loved gastronomy to which I raised my brows in confusion to. Dimitri laughed and explained that it was the study of relations between food and culture.
I offered up that I had always had an interest in animal behaviour and physiology, and that I was an avid rocker climber in my teenage years.
"My father used to climb with me. It's been a long time since I went climbing on real rocks, but it's something I hope to do again," I said playing with my straw.
"Rock climbing? Like free climbing?"
I shook my head. "No, never been. Dad was always too worried about me to let me free climb. I have to ask. Where are you from?" I asked, the lingering question playing through my head.
Dimitri started to open his mouth when our waiter appeared with our food and we both leaned back in our seats, unaware that we had been leaning closer. I thanked the waiter as he set my food down, my stomach growling in excitement and protest. I started eating quickly and my question was forgotten for a short time.
"Do you always eat food like it's going to be stolen from you?" Dimitri laughed. I looked up from plate to Dimitri and then back down. I had already eaten half of my plate.
"I love my food, is that a crime?" I asked after swallowing. Dimitri smirked and shook his head.
"No, just wanted to make sure that this was normal."
I rolled my eyes and slowed my eating. "So, where are you from? I mean, you've got an accent."
Dimitri set his fork down and studied me for a second. "I'm from Russia. Where are you from?"
I smiled and laughed. "Well, my father is from Turkey and my mother is from Scotland. I was actually born in Russia while my parents were travelling, but I grew up in Montana."
"What part of Russia?"
"Nov…Novosibirsk? My parents were on their way to Moscow, but I came a few weeks early. I always have a hard time pronouncing it," I said sipping my iced tea. Dimitri had an expression on his face. "You said it right."
"Thanks Comrade," I quipped as I started to eat again.
"Comrade?"
"Yeah, I mean you're Russian. Don't you all call each other comrade?"
Dimitri had a look on his face that was a mixture of amusement and annoyance. "No, we don't."
I put my hands up in surrender and smirked at him as I chewed. Dimitri shook his head and continued eating as well. The silence between us was comfortable, and I caught him looking at me when he didn't think I had noticed.
Once I finished eating I leaned back in my chair with a smile.
"That was so good," I moaned, stretching my arms over my head with a sigh. Dimitri chuckled and reached for the bill when it was set down on the table, but I leaned forwards and swiped it out of his reach. Dimitri raised a brow at me but I just smiled at him.
"What? I got really good tips today. My treat," I said as I placed bills in the leather booklet. Dimitri raised a brow but got up and waited for me to go ahead of him towards the door. As we left I turned and looked at him.
"So when can I expect the goon squad to start?"
Dimitri's lips quirked in amusement as he opened the car door for me. "Rose, they started after the transfer."
I knitted my brows together and looked up at him. "What? I never saw them."
"Exactly," Dimitri said with a cocky smirk as I sat down in the seat. "You aren't supposed to see them."
Hello hello!:)
I hope you all had a lovely weekend and a good start to your week :)
This chapter wasn't edited by anyone but me, so if there are errors I'm sorry.
Let me know what you think!:)
