#25 The contract

"What is it that you want to talk about?" I asked Sebastian, crossing my hands in front of my chest. I didn't want to go with him just like that, especially not after what happened the past few days.
"Evelyn, please, we're not going to discuss this right here. Just come with me; I'll take you home," the man sighed.
"I don't want to come with you, Sebastian," I exclaimed, glaring at him.
"Look, I know I was hard on you lately, but I didn't know about the pregnancy. We're going to have a baby together; you can't just keep avoiding me," Sebastian told me, taking a step closer to me.
I stepped back, looking at him with a raised eyebrow. "What if I wasn't pregnant; would you keep treating me like this?"
He looked taken aback by my question. "Why didn't you quit?" he countered back instead of replying to me.
"I was going to, but Nick stopped me. Anyway, he came up with a plan, though. He found a new assistant for you, and I'll be working for him, so I won't keep annoying you," I explained, running a hand through my hair.
"There is no need to work from now on…" Sebastian muttered.
"Excuse me? Well, I certainly don't have a hen that lays golden eggs," I retorted, glaring at him.
Sebastian looked at me with his cold grey eyes. "Evelyn, if you don't come with me right now, I'll carry you to the car by myself," my Boss threatened me.
I gulped the knot at my throat and raised my hands in surrender. "Okay, I'm coming," I agreed, still unsure about all this.
I followed Sebastian to his car without adding another word. He helped me get into the passenger's seat before storing my bags and sitting behind the wheel. My eyes were cast outside the window, observing the cars, the people, and the buildings we passed by. When I realized this wasn't the route to my apartment, I turned to look at him in confusion.
"Where are we going?" I asked him, frowning.
"Home…" he replied, looking lost into his thoughts.
"But this isn't the way back to my place."
"We're going to my house, Evelyn," Sebastian sighed.
I was about to protest once again, but at the last minute, I decided not to. There was no way to reason with him. I just had to listen to whatever he wanted to say and get out the moment he'd be done talking.
Sebastian lived at a penthouse in one of the tallest buildings in New York. The moment the elevator stopped, we stepped into the hall that led into a spacious living room and dining room. The floor was marble, and the walls were painted grey. The décor was minimalistic in black, white, and grey tones. The floor to ceiling windows took my breath away; the view was breathtaking, and I couldn't stop staring at the whole city lying under my feet.
"Would you like anything to drink or eat?" Sebastian asked.
I turned to look at him, still in awe. "No, I'm okay, thanks," I replied with a small smile.
"Okay, then, shall we sit?" he asked, gesturing towards the dining table.
Looking at the black walnut wooden table, I noticed some papers on it. Hesitantly, I took some steps closer, and Sebastian helped me sit on one of the chairs.
"I've prepared this contract for us to sign," Sebastian said, after clearing his throat.
"A contract? What is this about?" I asked, looking at the binder he was holding.
"About the baby and our relationship. This is serious, Evelyn; we can't just keep acting childish," my Boss said, his grey eyes cast on my light blue ones.
"Of course it is. But like I said yesterday, I don't need your help."
"I know you don't. However, I want to help; I want to be there for you and this baby," Sebastian replied genuinely.
I looked at him with a frown. That was something I didn't see coming. "But why? I thought you didn't want anything to do with me…"
"This hasn't to do with us directly, but with the baby. I want to make sure he or she will be born safely and will have a good life."
Of course, he was just worried about his child, his heir…
"Evelyn, this was unplanned, but it's actually the best thing that happened to me over the past few years. This might be my only chance to have an heir. Please, let me help you…" Sebastian continued when I didn't say anything.
I averted my eyes from his handsome face and looked at the contract in front of me. I started going through the pages quickly, so I can have a first idea of what this was about.
"You want to be named as the official father of my baby?" I questioned, looking at him with a frown.
"I'm the father, so I don't see why this is a problem..." Sebastian shrugged.
"I don't see why we need to sign a contract then."
"Will you willingly marry me?" my Boss asked.
I looked at him in shock. What was he talking about? Why on earth would I want to marry him? "Marry you? Are you insane?"
"Just read the rest of the contract, Evelyn!" Sebastian said, motioning towards the contract.
"You're offering me money in order to agree on marrying you?" I exclaimed when I read the whole thing.
This was just getting worse, and I'd started regretting coming with him…
"So, what are you saying?" he asked like it was the simplest thing on this planet.
"I'm not going to marry you, Sebastian. I didn't ask for your money nor your help. I'm perfectly capable of raising that child by myself," I replied, glaring at him.
"Evelyn, if the baby is born with the heart deformity you had, you won't be able to cover the treatment's expenses…"
"Well, this is just hypothetical, and it shouldn't be your problem. I'll find a way to raise the money…"
"I'm sure Nickolas will be willing to help," Sebastian hissed.
"I think we're done here. I want to leave…" I retorted, standing up from my seat. There was no way to be a part of his sick plans.
"I won't allow Nickolas or any bank or anyone in this country to help you!" Sebastian growled and grabbed my wrist.
"Despite your sick plans, Nick would help me because he cares about us. Now let me go; you're hurting me," I pleaded, trying to free myself.
Sebastian loosened his grasp around my wrist, still holding me close to him. "I don't care about both of you? Why do you think I'm making this offer to you?"
"Because you need an heir!"
My Boss seemed to contemplate my words for a few moments before replying, "Well, that's true; this might be my only chance to have an heir."
"Your kid's going to need a dad, not your money. Your child will need a man to look up to, not a cold-hearted billionaire who doesn't give a shit about other people's feelings!" I seethed.
"Evelyn, I know I hurt you. But this is the best I can do to make it up to you," my Boss said, a frown forming on his forehead.
"Just let me go, Sebastian. I can't do this! I don't want to marry you!"
"Why? Are you in love with that doctor?"
Was he insane? How could he ask something like that? He had the guts to ask for an explanation, after everything he had made me go through?
"Seriously, how can you expect me to marry you after everything you've done to me. You took me on that trip, only to use me as your sex doll for two weeks. Then you asked me to forget about what happened back there, only to become a monster who doesn't give a shit about me or my feelings!" I exploded, my eyes spitting fire, my lower lip trembling.
He stayed silent for a while, averting his gaze towards the floor to ceiling window. "I've already apologized for my actions," he muttered with a sigh.
Oh, he could shove the apology up to his ass!
"Even if you did; even if I forgive you, I won't ever marry you. I won't marry a man who doesn't love me! I won't waste the rest of my life with a heartless and ruthless man. I deserve to be loved and love someone who will make me happy…" I trailed off.
His grey eyes darkened when these words left my lips. "Nothing stops you from divorcing me after the baby is born!" he hissed.
"Oh, I'm not that stupid! Nothing will stop you from claiming full custody after we get a divorce…"
"We can have shared custody," Sebastian replied calmly.
"Sebastian, I'll tell you this one last time. I don't want to marry you, and I don't need your help raising that baby. I appreciate the fact you want to help, but I can't see how this is going to work…" I stated, my blue eyes boring into his grey ones.
He nodded, an evil smirk forming on his lips. "Well, then, if you don't sign the contract, I'll make sure to take full custody of the baby. I'll make sure you'll never see this child in your whole life," Sebastian threatened me. His cold voice and his icy grey eyes sent chills down my spine.
I was trembling, and a few stray tears rolled down my cheeks. "No… You wouldn't dare…" I stammered, placing my free hand around my belly protectively.
"You know how much power I do have, don't you?"
"Sebastian, please, don't do this. We can find another solution. I can't marry you. Please, don't make me do this," I begged him, more tears trailing down my cheeks.
"What are you suggesting then?" Sebastian asked, letting go of my hand.
I rubbed my wrist, trying to ease the pain, and headed to my seat once again. A sigh escaped my lips as I tried to make my brain start functioning again.
"We can sign a Voluntary Acknowledgment of Paternity, instead of getting married. And I also want to be included in this contract that I'll have full custody of the child. We can agree on some days you can visit us," I announced.
Sebastian thought my suggestion for a few minutes. "Fine, but I want shared custody."
"I think we should discuss this more. I'm really tired right now," I whispered, massaging my temples.
"Of course, the doctors said not to overstress yourself."
"You're certainly making sure for me to stay calm and relaxed," I grumbled, rolling my eyes at him.
He shot me a glare before replying, "Come, there's a room prepared for you."
"I'm not staying here. Sophie's waiting for me back home," I told him, shaking my head.
"You're staying here at least until you give birth. I have to make sure you take care of yourself properly," Sebastian said, running a hand through his dark brown hair.
"You're the last person I want to see right now. This is going to be like torture, so no thanks," I blurted out, heading towards the exit.
"Evelyn, don't make me repeat myself. You're not leaving until you sign the damn thing!" his voice boomed, making me stop dead on my track.
I sighed and turned to look at him; the determined look on his face made me realize I didn't have any other option. There was no way he'd let me free, not now, not ever…

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A.N. I'm sorry for not updating as often as I'd want to, but I've to study a lot for Uni. Plus, writing in a language that it's not my mother tongue is quite difficult. Thanks for being patient with me. As always, let me know your thoughts in the comments.