A Contract Baby For The Magnate

William didn't accept my protests about getting all those new clothes. He was already doing so much for me, and I didn't want to take advantage, but my refusals were swallowed up by his conversation over breakfast. Then he disappeared into his office, leaving me alone with that woman.

"Well, I was expecting something different from you," Megan said, glancing at one of the three clothing racks set up in the room. "But I think I can find something here."

I'd never had contact with someone on her level before-to be realistic, William was the first rich person I'd ever interacted with-but I knew full well when someone didn't like me. And I could say with absolute certainty that that's what had happened with Megan.

The look she'd given me since entering the dining room still burned in my mind. Her eyes had scanned my body with disdain, and any happy thought William had sparked about that dress was gone.

"All these clothes are beautiful," I murmured, running my hands over the dresses on the rack farthest from her, since her disgusted gaze was still on me.

"Yes, they're perfect-high couture, very different from anything you've ever worn in your life," she jabbed, and I just ignored it. I didn't want to seem like a scared child, but my instincts were screaming, and I knew I could trust them. "These were made for a woman taller than you."

My fingers stopped on a long silver dress. The halter neckline sparkled like diamonds, and I couldn't resist pulling it off the rack to hold it against my body while looking in the mirror.

It was without a doubt the most beautiful dress I'd ever seen in my life-like something made for a princess. The back was open, and the fit was perfect: fitted at the waist, then flowing into a long skirt that reached the feet, with a single slit up the right thigh.

My eyes looked even bluer against the color of the dress-it was impossible not to stare at them. I'd never seen or worn anything like it. I felt even more beautiful just holding it.

"I think I'll try this one," I said, turning to head to the bathroom, but I ran right into Megan staring at me.

Her lips twisted, and her left eyebrow arched as she looked me up and down again.

"It won't look good on you. It was made for Amber, and that's the only reason I brought it today." Her hands reached out to take the dress, and instinctively, I stepped back. "Amber is William's girlfriend, and she won't like knowing there's a girl hanging around her man."

I swallowed hard, looking around for anyone who could help me. How could he have a girlfriend and propose that I have his child? This had to be a trick to get something from me-but what? How could I have been so stupid? Nothing in my life was easy, and everything here was too good to be true.

"Mr. Donavan didn't tell me anything about a girlfriend, but she can rest assured that nothing is happening between us. He was just helping me..."

"Of course he was. Will loves helping any little stray animal off the streets." Her words hit me hard. How could he want me to be the mother of his child and tell everyone I was living on the streets? "He can't help himself when it comes to charity. You'd be surprised how many little creatures he's brought home over the years-dirty, flea-ridden, tick-infested, not knowing how to behave."

"I'm sorry, I..." I choked, not knowing how to respond, because that's exactly what he'd done: rescued me from the street and brought me to his house. My eyes dropped to the dress in my hands. That definitely hadn't been made for someone like me. "I'll put this back."

A single tear rolled down my cheek, and I hated myself for it. I shouldn't cry-I should just leave. Nothing in that place was meant for someone like me, and believing it from the start had been my first mistake.

"Oh, poor thing. Don't get me wrong, but Amber and Will have been promised to each other since childhood-their families have always been close. They're perfect for each other." She said it, and I gripped the fabric tightly before hanging it back on the rack. "Amber wouldn't like seeing a girl stuffed into his house like a guest at all."

I lifted my chin, taking a deep breath. I didn't need to stay there listening to those insults in silence, just waiting for his fiancée to arrive and kick me out-or worse, for him to use me for something sick and disgusting.

"Don't worry-she won't find me here when she gets back." I was already hurrying to grab my backpack and put my shirt and pants back on.

"Sweetie, you don't have to run off like that," Megan said condescendingly, with fake concern in her eyes. "I was just being honest about what you're getting yourself into. I didn't mean to scare you."

But I didn't stay to hear her lame excuses. I knew full well when someone was trying to push me out of a place, and even if Megan wasn't the owner who could kick me out, she'd succeeded in making me doubt everything that had come out of William's mouth.

It was clear I was being tricked. It made no sense for a man like him, living in a house like that, to want a street dweller as his surrogate.

I got out of there as fast as I could, just with my backpack on my shoulders and that lump in my throat. I wanted to cry more, but my survival instinct screamed louder as I ran down the wooden stairs.

I opened the front door without thinking twice and ran down the gravel driveway lined with perfect grass. I didn't stop-not even when I saw the huge gates with the family initials. I took advantage of the open gate to escape before anyone could try to stop me.

I'd never thought my instincts would fail me like this. I'd always trusted them, even when reason said otherwise. And after being saved by William, I'd believed he truly wanted what was best for me-that we could be friends and raise a baby together in that mansion until he was gone.

"You idiot, idiot, idiot!" I yelled at myself, slapping my face for being so foolish.

"All I want is for us to be friends and for you to carry the future of the Donavans"-his words came back to my mind, making me feel even stupider. I could almost feel his fingers gently touching my hand with care and affection, encouraging me to believe it all. Me, who always thought I was smart and quick to get out of situations, had been cornered by a rich guy on a rooftop and let myself be carried away by every one of his words.

A bad feeling filled my chest as I moved farther from William's property, from the neighborhood, from the imposing grand houses, giving way to the city center. Even with my feet aching in those sneakers, I didn't stop. I needed to find a place to spend the approaching night, and with luck, the next morning I'd get another job. I couldn't go back to the diner-if the bastard stalking me wasn't enough, I suspected William might go there looking for me.

I'd make it. I just needed to avoid attention and stay away from everyone. If I flew under the radar, I'd save up a bit more money for a place, and then most of this headache would be over.

"You can only trust yourself, Sophia. Learn!" I reminded myself, looking at the neighborhood I was in. Definitely not a place where William would come looking for me, and far from the diner where that creep had found me.

I started looking for a bench to sleep on, and my eyes stopped on a children's playground with a wooden slide perfect for sheltering me during the night without being seen or bothered. It was even better than the bench I'd been sleeping on for weeks-at least there I'd be protected from the rain.

But as night fell and I waited for the surrounding streets to grow quiet and empty, I couldn't help thinking about Will. Those firm hands pulling me from the edge and holding me steadily on the stairs.

He was gorgeous, and I hadn't noticed that in a man for a long time-I'd been running and on guard every moment since my mom died. But I couldn't deny that William was gorgeous. It would be hard to get that face out of my mind-especially those eyes that seemed to devour me while showing care, something I'd never seen before. How could he look so gorgeous and good, but actually be a complete liar?

"Stop thinking about that..." My words were cut off when a thunderclap echoed from the sky, shaking my body from head to toe. "That's all I needed!"