A Contract Baby For The Magnate

I couldn't even believe I'd actually done it-I'd picked up a stranger off the street and brought her into my home.

I could tell from Brian's look-my driver and bodyguard-that he thought I was losing my mind. I couldn't blame him. I'd never done anything like this before, never dared to step out of line or do something that strayed from what was expected of an oil magnate.

At least I could blame the illness. I could say the news had shaken me up and led me to make a crazy decision.

But the truth was, I didn't know what I'd seen in her, but something had stirred in me and driven me to want to take care of her, to give her a different life.

That's why, when I saw her on that rooftop about to jump, I didn't think twice before running to save her.

The idea of having a child had been somewhat random-I admitted I'd said it more as an excuse to get her to come with me. But now, watching Sophia enchanted by every corner of the house as I showed her around, the idea was starting to settle in my mind.

"I need to go back," she said, snapping my attention back to the present.

"I thought we'd moved past the part where you want to keep running and that you'd finally let me help."

"Of course we've moved past that. I don't want to go back, but I need to get my backpack-my documents, my clothes. Everything I own is still there."

Oh, so that's what it was. I breathed a sigh of relief and pointed to the other door for her to enter. This would definitely be her room-of course, she could choose any of the others scattered throughout the house, but this one, besides being next to mine, also had a magnificent view.

"As for clothes, we'll buy new ones. But Brian picked up your backpack-it's in the car." She tore her gaze from the light pink walls and looked at me in surprise.

"How did he get it? There's no way you could have known I'd come with you!"

"No, but a prepared man is worth two. Now come see this view." I strode across the room and opened the doors leading to the balcony. But Sophia stood frozen in the middle of the room, eyeing me suspiciously. "I didn't know if you'd come with me or not, but I wasn't going to leave you there knowing you were being pursued."

I didn't know what had happened in her life, but I knew it couldn't have been easy, given how wary she was of everything. I hoped to find out soon. I'd already put some men on digging into her family background-even though I'd prefer she tell me herself, opening up to me-but I couldn't afford that luxury. I needed to know who Sophia was and what she was running from.

"I need my backpack," she murmured without taking a single step toward me.

"I'll have it brought to your room. You just have to pick one." I extended my hand toward her, realizing I'd have to treat her like a frightened little animal that had just been rescued. "Come see the view-I'm sure it'll convince you."

She glanced at the open door, then back at my hand, before taking a step in my direction. Sophia didn't take my hand, but she came out onto the balcony, and in her eyes, I saw pure wonder as she took in the expanse.

The view encompassed the entire property-she could see the tennis court, the field, the greenhouse, and the whole garden.

"Oh my God, this is... beautiful." Her eyes darted everywhere, trying to take it all in. "Is all this yours?"

I smiled at the shock in her voice as she asked if it was all mine. Sophia truly wasn't familiar with my world, and for some reason, that made me like having her around even more.

"Yes, everything here is mine. But this isn't my largest property-the biggest one is in Italy..."

"Italy? Like, the country Italy?" She interrupted me in surprise, and I couldn't help but smile.

"Yes, Italy-the country. You'll see it. I'm sure you'll love the place." I stepped closer to her, grinning at her wide eyes. "I'll take you there myself. I'll show you the whole country."

The wind blew stronger, tousling her hair and sending the blonde strands across her face. On impulse, I raised my hand to her cheek and tucked the hair behind her ear.

Our gazes locked for a second. Sophia stared into my eyes almost as if they held all the answers she needed. The most intense blue irises I'd ever seen-like a damn natural pool inviting me to dive in.

Then she quickly turned her face away, brushing my hand aside and breaking our connection.

"But I don't have a passport. I've never traveled anywhere."

"That's not a problem. We can get one today if you want." I turned to face forward, taking a deep breath and staring at the landscape and the blue sky. "Now that you can travel wherever you want, you'll need a passport."

We stood there in silence for a while, just looking ahead without saying or doing anything. Even though I had a million questions for her, I didn't want to scare her off-after the craziness of today, she'd easily run away.

I don't know how much time had passed before Jenna came into the room and called me.

"Oh, sir. I didn't know you had company." She hurried to say when she saw Sophia.

"Come here, Jenna. This is Sophia, and she's going to live here from now on." I stated, catching a somewhat uncertain glance from the blonde. I knew she still had doubts-it would be strange if she didn't. "Sophia, this is Jenna, our housekeeper."

The woman I'd known for half my life gave one of her warm smiles and shook Sophia's hand.

"It's a pleasure to meet you, miss. I just came to let you know lunch will be served soon. If I'd known we had company, I'd have made something you'd like."

"Mine? Oh, no-don't trouble yourself over me. I eat absolutely everything. I'm not picky at all." Sophia responded quickly, and Jenna's eyes flew to me.

I could imagine what was going through her head-that Sophia wasn't like the spoiled, fussy rich girls I usually brought home.

"Okay then, dear. I hope you enjoy lunch." She smiled and turned to leave. "I'll leave you two alone."

I'd have to clarify to her that nothing was happening between Sophia and me, or Jenna and the rest of the household staff would assume she was just another one in my bed.

"So, what do you think of the room?" I asked, and once again, she looked around, taking it all in.

"It's beautiful. I think I'll stay in this one."

"You think?" I questioned, intrigued by her hesitation in choosing a place to sleep. "You can try a few rooms until you find your favorite."

"It's not about the room-it's about you being kind, generous, and all smiles." Okay, I hadn't realized that. "Why do you want to help me, be kind and friendly? None of that makes sense in my head. You have all this-" she pointed to the view in front of us. "Why would you want to help me, give me access to all of it?"

I didn't understand it either-I didn't know why she'd awakened this in me. But still, there we were.

"I have this too." I pulled my phone from my pocket and opened the photo showing the tumor in my brain. "And an expiration date. One year-that's all I have."

"I... I'm sorry." She murmured, looking at the phone and seeing the spot in my brain.

"I understand your insecurity and fear, but I promise I won't harm you. I don't know what made me want to help you when thousands of people out there need it too, but something about you did. I just want the time I have left to be used for something good-something that will last, something to be remembered. I want my family's name to have a future. That's all!"

Sophia sighed, her eyes roaming my face, lingering for a second on my lips before focusing back on my eyes.

"Are you telling me you won't do anything to me that I don't want?" The whispered question veered through my mind, and I couldn't help looking at her pink, slightly parted lips.

Was she really trying to tell me that?