The Vessel

Create an heir or I lose the family business.

The final decree from my father on his deathbed, a millionaire who cared more about his business and money than what his son wanted in life, than if his son was happy.

I had a year to find a woman and convince her to have my baby or I’d lose everything. It was easy enough with the socialites who hung around in hopes I’d be with one of them.

But it would never happen.
I wanted a woman for my own, someone I could love, who could see past all my money and wanted me for me and not how I could advance their life.

Yet at the end of the day, women only wanted me because I had deep pockets.

But then there was Elise. My employee. A woman who I needed to keep a professional relationship with. I didn’t see her as a means to an end. I saw her as the only woman who sparked life inside me with just a look.

The only woman to have ever done that. I hadn’t desired someone in a long time, hadn’t wanted a woman in my bed for longer than I’d admit.

I wanted to say screw it with my father’s demand, and if that meant losing everything, so be it.

But could Elise be the one to give me everything? Happiness, love… a baby?