Nancy's bare feet were cold on the marble floor. She moved fast, clutching her clothes to her chest. She had to get back to her room. Last night was a mistake. A big, confusing mistake. She could not let anyone see her leaving his room.
She opened the door just a crack and peeked out.
Vanessa was there.
She stood in the middle of the hallway, already dressed in a sharp black suit. Her arms were crossed. A nasty smile was on her face.
"Look at this," Vanessa said. Her voice was sweet, but in a way that felt dangerous. "The help is making itself at home."
Nancy's whole body went stiff. She held the door tighter. "It's none of your business," she said, trying to sound brave.
"None of my business?" Vanessa laughed. It was a cold, sharp sound. "I run this house. Everything here is my business. Did you think no one would find out? That you could sneak around?"
"Just go away, Vanessa."
"Why?Are you embarrassed? You should be. Theodore needed a baby. I didn't know he would pick someone so… cheap."
Anger burned in Nancy's chest. "You know nothing about me."
"I know enough,"Vanessa shot back. She took a step closer. Her eyes were hard. "I've been here for years. I know him. He was supposed to…" She stopped. Her voice cracked. For a second, she looked hurt. Then her face got hard again. "He was supposed to pick me. Not a nobody like you."
Nancy stepped out into the hall. She was tired of being pushed around. "Maybe he didn't want someone who only loves his money."
Vanessa's hand twitched. She looked like she wanted to hit Nancy.
Just then, a door opened down the hall.
Theodore walked out. He had no shirt on. His hair was messy from sleep. He looked from Nancy to Vanessa. His face was dark.
"What is this noise?" he asked. His voice was low and rough.
Nancy looked at the floor. She felt her face get hot. She just wanted to disappear.
Vanessa's whole attitude changed. Her angry face melted away. She put on a sweet, soft look. She walked over to Theodore. She put her hand on his bare arm.
"Theodore, darling," she said, her voice like honey. "I was just checking on things. You know I always take care of you." She moved closer, pressing her body against his. "We have always been good together. You've just been… distracted. Let me remind you how good it can be."
Theodore did not move. He did not look at her hand on his skin. He looked at her face. His eyes were cold.
Slowly, he pulled his arm away.
Vanessa's hand hung in the air. Her smile vanished.
"Leave," Theodore said. It was not a request. It was an order.
He did not wait for her to answer. He turned and walked down the hall, following Nancy.
Vanessa was left alone. Her face was red with shame.
---
Nancy shut her bedroom door and leaned against it. Her heart was beating so fast. This was bad. So bad. She was getting in too deep. She was feeling things she should not feel.
A quiet knock came on the door.
She knew it was him.
"Go away," she said. Her voice shook.
The door opened. Theodore walked in and closed the door behind him. The room felt very small with him in it.
They stood in silence. The air felt heavy. She was angry. She was scared. She wanted him to leave. She wanted him to stay.
He walked over to her. He stood very close. She could see the tired lines around his eyes.
"Vanessa does not matter," he said.
Nancy let out a short, bitter laugh. "And what about me? Do I matter? Or am I just the woman you paid?"
He reached out. His fingers were gentle as he moved a piece of hair from her face. His touch sent a shiver through her.
"You are the one who matters," he said, his voice quiet. "You are the one having my…"
She did not let him finish.
She grabbed his face and kissed him.
It was not a soft kiss. It was full of all the confusion and anger and want inside her. For a second, he was still. Then his arms wrapped around her, pulling her hard against him. He kissed her back just as fiercely.
It was like a fire had been lit. All the careful rules were gone.
He picked her up easily. Her legs wrapped around his waist. He carried her to the bed. They did not bother with gentle words. Clothes were pulled off and thrown to the floor. His hands were on her skin. Her mouth was on his.
This was not like before. This was not about making a baby. This was about something else. It was about need. It was raw and real.
He held her down on the bed. There was no gentleness in his touch. It was like he was trying to forget everything. To forget Vanessa. To forget the contract. To forget the whole world.
And Nancy did not want him to be gentle. She held onto his shoulders, her fingers pressing into his skin. She met his rough moves with her own. It was a fight and a dance all at once.
She felt her body let go. A cry was torn from her throat. A moment later, she felt his body shudder against hers.
Then, it was quiet.
They lay together in the messy bed, breathing hard. The room was warm.
Theodore moved. He pressed his lips softly against her shoulder.
"You are not just the surrogate, Nancy," he whispered into her skin. He sounded surprised by his own words.
Nancy closed her eyes tight. She heard the truth in his voice. It scared her.
She could not let herself believe him. If she started to believe him, she would be lost. This was still a business deal. She had to remember that.
But as she lay there with his arm around her, it was getting harder and harder to remember.