Page 88 of Bought

“Sounds like a fun conversation,” Atlas said.

“It was Charlotte Hamilton.” I pocketed my phone. “She’s prepared to make the investigation and allegations about Sir George go away. But in return she wants a baby.”

Atlas blinked. “A what?”

“She wants me to provide her with a child to make up for the one I stole from her and then lost.”

He leaned slowly back in his chair. “How very…Medici of her. So why you?”

“Insurance. Mutual insurance. A child that is both theirs and mine.”

He gave a long, low whistle. “Can’t you just donate some sperm like a normal person?”

I shook my head. “No. I’m not giving them anything more of mine. And I also won’t allow my child to be raised by someone else or used as a tool by them.”

“Fair,” Atlas said. “So, who’s the lucky mother then?”

“Apparently a Hamilton raised outside the family. Some poor woman who’s agreed to be their surrogate or whatever she’s supposed to be.” I shook my head. “They probably paid her a lot of money to do it.”

“So, what? Now you’ll have them on your back constantly for the rest of your life?”

I lifted a shoulder. “Not any different from what I have now.”

Atlas shook his head. “What if they go public with these allegations about Sir George?”

“There’s no evidence—”

“We both know that it’s not going to be a good look in the media if they do.”

Unfortunately, Atlas had a point. I didn’t want that, and not only for myself and Fox Tech, but also for Isabel’s sake. I didn’t want to expose her to that kind of media attention.

I muttered a curse under my breath, shoved back my chair and strode over to the windows. “I’ll just have to fight it somehow,” I said flatly.

“Or,” Atlas murmured, “someone else could do the baby thing.”

I swung around and looked at him. “Charlotte said it had to be me.”

“Sure. But maybe they would compromise.”

“With whom? Who else are you suggesting?”

He gave me a crooked grin. “Me.”

I stared at him in surprise. “You?”

“Sure, why not? It won’t be you, obviously, but I’m one of your closest friends. The Hamiltons know I’m your ally, too, and if one of my kids was being raised by them, the effect would be the same. I know it’s not an Isabel stand-in, but it could work.”

“Why the hell would you want to do that?” I demanded.

“You and Cal were there for me when I needed you, as you have been over the years. I was never going to have kids and I was never going to marry. I’m not father or husband material. But this way I get all care, no responsibility.”

“Atlas,” I said, because it was clear he had no idea what he was getting himself into. “You have to marry this woman and have a child with her.”

“So? Marriage means nothing to me. I’ll marry her for a year or two, have a kid with her, and then we’ll divorce. If she’s only in it for the money and I’m there to provide the DNA, what does it matter?”

“It might matter to the child.”

“Charlotte wanted the baby for herself, you said. So, if she raises it, the kid is going to be drowning in money and privilege. He or she will have a good life. And hey, they’ll know who their father is when the time comes, and they can always look me up.”