The Arrangement

Chapter 17

The Beverly Hills skyline shimmered in the afternoon sun, a dazzling backdrop to their rooftop lunch at the Maybourne. Marlena, radiating the epitome of Hollywood chic, elegantly forked a piece of grilled artichoke. Across from her, Jax, a whirlwind of energy with her skin bronzed and flaming red hair still carrying the salt-laced scent of the Mediterranean, signaled the waiter for another round of $10 martinis. "Praise be Dante's and their happy hour," she declared, raising her glass. Marlena chuckled, sipping on her Sauvignon Blanc.

"So, tell me everything," Jax demanded, her eyes sparkling with anticipation. "I've been practically off the grid, basking in the Ibizan sun. Oh, and by the way, I got the boat! Big Red II should be docking any day now. Now that I've caught you up, I need a serious download. What have I missed?"

Marlena swirled the French wine in her glass reflecting on where to begin. Things had been moving so fast, that she'd fallen behind in updates that usually took place during their standing morning calls, which could last one minute or one hour.

"Well, professionally, things are amazing. A boutique luxury hotel group wants to feature my bedding line in their properties. The book needs some work, however my editor was satisfied with my direction. And you know about the show. On a personal note..." she paused, a soft smile gracing her lips, "things are going well. And thank you, by the way, for getting me that appointment with the surrogacy consultant. That was a godsend."

Jax leaned forward, her expression softening. "So, how did it go? Was David... receptive?"

Marlena sighed, a faint shadow crossing her face. "It went well, considering. The hardest part was getting him to agree even to go. I practically had to bribe him with a weekend getaway. But he did it. He agreed to the consultation, to give us a few weeks to, you know, live with the idea."

"And?" Jax pressed, her voice gentle.

"And..." Marlena hesitated, choosing her words carefully. "I asked him point-blank if he wanted to have a baby. He was honest, which I appreciate. He said he was apprehensive, mostly about his age and the potential toll it would take on our marriage. He worries about keeping up, about being an older dad."

Jax nodded understandingly. "That's understandable. It's a big decision, especially at that stage of life."

"It is, but I didn't just spring this on him," Marlena said, picking at the perfectly arranged microgreens on her plate. "I accepted his marriage proposal after he assured me we could have children. Anyway, the consultant requires a few couples counseling sessions before we can even think about moving forward with the actual surrogacy process. In the meantime, we can still proceed with the medical screenings. We have our first session soon." She paused, reaching for her glass of wine. "I just hope it helps. I'm so excited about starting a family, Jax. I just need David to be fully on board."

Jax squeezed her hand across the table. "He will be, honey. Give him time. He'll see how much this means to you. Now, switch gears. Tell me about the Upfronts in New York. I heard whispers that the chemistry between you and John was... undeniable."

Undeniable was an understatement. Marlena swirled her Sauv Blanc in her glass, the word clinging to the rim like the lingering taste of his lips. Three weeks had passed since the Upfronts, yet the memory felt impossibly vivid. The scintillating conversation, fueled by libations and a long flight. The exhilarating helicopter ride into Manhattan, the city sprawling beneath them like a shimmering promise.

But the true spark ignited later that evening, back at her hotel. A seemingly innocent apology turned into something far more potent. The air crackled with unspoken desires, culminating in a kiss that stole her breath and momentarily shattered her carefully constructed walls. Passion flared, hotter and brighter than anything she'd experienced in years, pushing them both to the edge of no return.