Chapter Six
Chapter Six
Danica sat nervously with Herty at the Hospitals reception. It was one of the most expensive private
fertility hospitals in Mexico. Doctor Jeff owned the hospital and worked there as well. After speaking
with Loney on the phone, his heart broke. Sometimes, he couldn't understand Loney's ways. Initially,
he advised Loney to get married but he blatantly refused. A few years ago when Loney proposed
surrogacy, Jeff tried his best to discourage him but Loney's mind was already made up at the thought of
it.
It ached his heart at how much money Loney wasted every year on these surrogates. Therefore, when
Loney decided to end it with them, Dr. Jeff was secretly pleased. However, when he received Danica's
application, her details seemed genuine and with a little investigation, he knew Danica had no link with
Ray. With that satisfaction, he decided to persuade Loney to try for the last time. He slightly wished that
Loney would have what makes him happy but with his current terms, Jeff regretted having made the
suggestion.
Jeff was embalmed with some form of guilt when he called Danica to his office. Danica walked in with
Herty, which made him nervous.
"Which of you is Danica?" Jeff tried to confirm among the two, even though he could already tell from
the picture. Danica spoke.
"It's me. This is my friend, Herty," she said nervously.
Jeff was calm and said, "Alright but can your friend excuse us for a moment? I want to discuss
something confidential with you. If you want to tell her later, then that is fine but, per our hospital
standards, terms of confidentiality must be respected."
Herty didn't wait and excused herself. "I will wait at the reception," she mumbled, leaving the nervous
Danica all by herself. Jeff indicated to a chair in front of him. Danica sat nervously, as her eyes moved
around the office, settling on the gynecological examination table. Her heart sank, as her knees felt
weak. She saw the small monitor close to the bed, and a large LED TV on the wall.
"Danica, my name is Doctor Jeff Miller, I'm a gynecologist and also the owner of this hospital. I saw that
your screening test was good and called you to sign the contract to begin the health process but our
client has changed the terms of the agreement, and I thought you should be aware before you sign the
contract." Jeff's voice drew her attention from her surroundings, as a confused glare clouded her.
"What are the terms?" She asked with her brows knitted.
Jeff swallowed hard on his saliva and said, "first of all, this should have been done by the agency but I
am doing it because the client happens to be a friend and has entrusted me with this responsibility. The
donor is not going to use a donated egg. He wants yours, which means,"
"That it's going to be my baby too?" Danica snickered before Jeff completed his speech. She had
begun reading about this surrogacy thing and planned on being a gestational surrogate, so she
wouldn't have any ties to the child but Jeff's option meant that the client wanted a traditional surrogate
which Danica had not considered herself to be.
"Exactly," Jeff confirmed.
Danica paled, her heart sank, her voice was a low shrill, "but, that's not fair. I can't walk away from my
child."
Jeff's expression darkened. He didn't know why he felt slightly saddened.
"That is the reason why you have to think critically about this. He is ready to pay double the amount
because of the requested sacrifice but there is also another odd condition," he said reluctantly.
Danica didn't know what could be worse than losing her child in a contract. "And that is?" She asked
doubtfully.
"Your employer doesn't want artificial means for the process because he deems it as slow and not
hundred percent reliable. The process must be natural," Jeff said, looking away. He couldn't meet
Danica's eyes at the proposition.
Danica fumbled for the right words, "Wait..what are you saying?" She asked dejectedly.
Jeff gathered his courage and said firmly, "You have to avail your body sexually once every month till
you are tested positive."
Danica clenched jaws and said with gritted teeth, "that is outrageous," Danica unconsciously slammed
the table, before running her fingers through her brunette hair in frustration.
Jeff empathized with her, "I agree."
Danica was frustrated and sat back in the chair. She wondered what kind of couple would use this
means for a baby. "Isn't he married?"
"No," Jeff abruptly said.
Danica felt more angered and confused. 'What could a single man want a child for? And how was he
going to raise this child?'.
The questions pinching her mind were endless. "Then why does he want a child? What would he do
with the child?"
"I don't have answers to those questions, Danica. He also said that he wasn't desperate." Jeff firmly
said.
Danica had to weigh the options critically and she didn't have much time. One thing was certain, that
her life would never be the same again if she went ahead with this process. She would either be like
Daniella or even worse and she wasn't ready to sacrifice her fate.
"What other options do you have?" Her eyes were glowing with expectation, as she threw the question
to Jeff.
"A lot more, but their pay is nothing compared to this and you specifically applied for this one. He had
withdrawn from the request because he was duped by his previous surrogates. I convinced him to
accept you and he decided to change the terms," Jeff explained.
Danica rubbed her temple with her hands, a nasty headache creeping in. "How much is he paying?"
She asked Jeff.
"With his previous surrogates, it was five million but for you, ten." Danica wasn't moved by the amount
Jeff mentioned. To her, it was all vanity. All she wanted was to pay off Daniella's debt. Once that is
done, she could continue with her simple life. Therefore 2.5 million was enough. She didn't need the
rest. If she could get a couple who would pay that much and go by gestation, she won't need to accept
these ridiculous terms.
"What about the others?" She asked hopefully but was bathed with disappointment when Jeff
responded.
"The highest is five hundred thousand dollars and the lowest is two hundred thousand. Will you like to
discuss this with someone? Maybe your friend?"
Her last strand of hope was cut off. There was no way Daniella would be free if Danica chose a
different person. Their pay was too low but that was the normal pay for surrogates. This was the best
deal at the moment but also the most terrible. She felt like a caged bird.
"No, this information is confidential," she muttered sadly.
"Which only means that you have made your decision. What is it then? Will you be my client's
surrogate?" Jeff asked with mixed feelings.
"What's his name?" Danica thought that maybe if she knew the person, it might make it better or
perhaps, re-negotiate the terms but that bit of hope was also crushed with Jeff's next response.
"I can't give that information. You would have to find out when you see him yourself. So what do you NôvelD(ram)a.ôrg owns this content.
say? Will you sign the contract?" Jeff asked for the third time since Danica seemed to be in a daze...