A Contract Baby For The Magnate

Illness-there's a word that never bothered me much. When you have money, you don't worry about little things that can easily be fixed by paying for the best doctors in the world. But when that little word is followed by "terminal," it becomes a huge nightmare, whether you're rich or poor.

All I want is time. At this point in my life, I don't care how much money I have, the companies in my name, or how many cars and houses I own. The only thing that matters is how much time I have left to live.

One year-that's what my doctor said. One damn year. Three hundred and sixty-five days to enjoy my billions, to have an heir and ensure the continuation of my legacy.

And that's how I ended up on this rooftop, accompanied by the girl I saw sleeping on a park bench. It's not every day you meet a girl as beautiful as her living on the streets of Seattle.

"I wouldn't jump from there if I were you." I tried to speak softly so as not to scare her, but it didn't work.

The girl clutched her chest in fright, turning to face me. Her blue eyes stared at me in shock, and she took another step, getting even closer to the edge.

"You don't know who I am-this expensive suit and the watch you're wearing..." She shook her head in denial. "It's clear we're from different worlds. Of course you wouldn't jump if you were me."

That's what people always saw when they looked at someone like me: the suit, the shoes, the watch. The money screamed perfect life, solution to all problems. And I'd be a hypocrite if I said it wasn't true-at least it was, until I heard my diagnosis.

"What if we made a trade? You take my money, and I take the years of life you're about to throw away."

I took a few steps, approaching the blonde, taking advantage of the fact that she was staring at the distance from the rooftop to the ground.

I don't know what came over me when I saw her in the park, curled up asleep, clutching her backpack that served as a pillow, sheltering under an overcoat that didn't do a good job as a blanket.

Then I followed her to the diner where she worked. I left when it started getting weird, but I kept watching from across the street and saw the exact moment she came up here.

"What are you talking about? You're the creep who was at the diner earlier today. Don't come any closer!" She turned to look at me. "If you get any closer, I'll jump!"

"Forgive me. I thought jumping was already your intention." I teased, but of course I didn't want that to happen for real. I wouldn't let her waste her life like that, even if it was none of my business.

"What do you want here? Go away and pretend you didn't