A Baby For Dana
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Heather Teston
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2,4M
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26
Chapter 1
JAKE
“What’s going on? Why was I asked to come here?” If the curtness of Jake’s voice didn’t tell the room how impatient he was feeling, the constant tapping of his fingers on the desk sure did.
Jake Rayburn had never been a patient man, and he expected people to be on time. The fact his grandfather’s lawyer had arrived so late had him squirming in his seat.
He’d never been able to understand why so many other lawyers had such small and uncomfortable chairs in their offices. Jake had bought the most comfortable seating for his New York clients.
Or perhaps it was his size that was the problem. He was a tall and muscular man. Jake shifted his weight and rotated so he could stretch his long legs out in parallel to the back of the desk.
“Mr. Rayburn, so sorry to keep you waiting,” the lawyer said, loosening his tie as he stepped around Jake to get to his chair on the other side of the desk.
A drop of sweat rolled down his cheek, even though the air conditioner was turned up.
It was all enough to make Jake curl his lip.
But he stayed put. This meeting could only be about the inheritance he was to receive following his grandfather’s passing.
“First of all, I’m sorry for your loss, Mr. Ray—”
“Jake is fine.”
The lawyer pressed his lips together and gave a short nod. “Then I insist you call me Allen.”
“I presume this is about his will, Allen?”
“Indeed.” The lawyer shuffled through the papers on his desk.
Paper and files? Jake thought. Where’s this guy’s computer? No wonder I’m so much better than the competition.
The overweight man extended a shaky hand across his desk, and Jake took the papers.
“Your grandfather has left you a total sum of twenty million dollars.”
Jake felt the muscles in his face and shoulders go slack. He had to blink to keep his vision from blurring. “Did…did you say twenty…?”
“Million, yes, I did.” The lawyer’s smile seemed to be one of relief more than genuine pleasure. “Your grandfather knew of your ambitions to open your own law firm one day. This is your ticket.”
Jake got up and began pacing back and forth. “H-he knew?”
Allen leaned back in his chair. “With those measly shares you own, he always knew you had little hope of getting out from under him and his partners.”
With over twenty million dollars, Jake could finally open his own firm and be his own boss. As long as he could convince his clients to move with him, he could be up and running in no time.
Jake closed his eyes and tilted his head back. “Thank you, Grandpa. Thank you for everything.”
“There’s just, uh, one small stipulation…”
Jake opened his eyes and turned to face Allen. The old lawyer was sweating again.
“Stipulation?”
“Well, um, you see, there is a clause in your grandfather’s will.” Allen forced a laugh and pulled at his collar.
“And what might that be?” Jake asked, leaning forward to stare the lawyer straight in the eyes.
Allen cleared his throat. “To receive your inheritance, you must be married.”
Jake narrowed his eyes. “What are you talking about?”
“It’s as I’m telling you, Jake. Read the contract, it’s plain as day.”
Jake cast his eyes over the handwritten will, his grandfather’s spidery writing at once filling him with sadness and nostalgia, as well as pure rage.
“No one can force anyone to get married, that’s not a thing. What is this, Allen? Did you tell him he could do this? What kind of circus are you running here?”
“Your grandfather completed the will some years ago, Jake, on his own, and against my advice, I might add.”
“Are you telling me that the only way I can get the money is to get married?”
The lawyer wiped his brow with the back of his hand. “Yes, but the good news is you only have to be married for one year. When the year is up, you’ll get the money regardless.”
“This is insane.” Jake threw the will on Allen’s desk and smacked the lawyer’s lamp as he spun around at speed. “He was insane. To hell with the money, I’m not getting married. Marriage is for fools.”
Jake peered at the photo frame on Allen’s desk. The round lawyer was hugging a little wife with a younger man standing behind them, his arms around their shoulders. “No offense.”
“That’s up to you, Jake. As you said, no one can force you to get married. But you and I both know this is the only way you’ll be able to open your own practice anytime soon.”
With a scowl on his face, Jake sank back into the small chair. “Allen, there has to be another way to get that money.”
“Sorry, Jake. The will is ironclad, no way around it.” The lawyer chuckled. “I mean, I guess you could always buy a wife.”
A grin spread across Jake’s face. “My God, Allen, you’re a genius! Yes, that’s what I’ll do. I’ll pay someone to marry me.”
“Jake, I was just kidding—”
“Well, I’m not.”
“But how will you convince someone to marry you so you can get the money? Who would give up a year of their life for that?”
“I’ll pay her.”
“With what money? I know you earn well, but this would take a great deal of wealth.”
Jake pointed at the contract. “I’ll promise her some of the wealth. Five hundred thousand ought to do it. That’s enough motivation for anyone to marry, and enough to stay outta my life afterward.”
“Are you sure?”
“I’m sure. Draw up the contracts and put the word out. Someone out there will be willing to do it for the money. Most women are greedy. That’s why they always try to trap a man into marrying them.”
Allen frowned. “What? Not all women are like that, Jake.”
Jake sat back down and stretched his legs, smiling to himself. “We’ll need a prenuptial agreement to go along with the contract that says we’ll divorce after a year.
“She is to be a wife in name only. It’s not like I’ll have to live with her.” Jake looked at the lawyer when Allen didn’t answer. “Isn’t that right, Allen?”
“Right,” the lawyer said as he wiped more sweat from his face with his handkerchief.
Jake rubbed his temples, raised himself to his feet, and placed his hands on the table. “Allen, is anything wrong? You seem a little nervous.”
He shook his head. “No, no, it’s nothing.”
Jake rubbed his chin. God, I need a shave. “Okay, then. So, you will help me find her.”
“Me?” The lawyer looked horrified. “Why me?”
Jake winked. “Because you’ve known about this will for God knows how long and never talked the madman out of it. You’re as culpable as he is in my eyes.
“Now, I have no preferences as to what she looks like; she can be gay for all I care. Just make sure she seems the type not to cause any trouble after it’s all over.”
“Jake, this idea is insane. It could backfire on you. What if she falls in love with you and refuses to leave when the year is up?”
Jake smirked. “The last thing I want is to be tied down to one woman for the rest of my life. And I sure as hell don’t want some screaming brat of a kid running around.
“So, find someone who doesn’t want to be tied down. Someone who is just looking for a big payout.”
Allen removed his glasses and rubbed his eyes. After a long sigh, he said, “Okay, Jake, I’ll see what I can do.”
