Contract Marriage starring Love and Revenge
Chapter 109. Make me an offer.

Chapter 109: 109. Make me an offer.

I can feel Duke’s arms around me. The warmth and heaviness of his body is something I’ve gotten quite used to. Slowly I lift my lashes, the sun is rising and with it a brand new day. When I think of the dream I just woke up from, a smile curls up my face.

I know it was just a dream but even at that, I’m happy that he wasn’t mad at me. I’m glad he was curious about my life just like he always was when he was alive. If grandpa was alive, he would have acted exactly the same, right? He wouldn’t have been mad at me for doubting and hating him over the past months, right?

I’m glad I dreamt of him... It made my heart feel a lot lighter. It made me feel like grandpa was really telling me to not feel guilty about it all.

I know this might sound like I’m just trying to lift the weight of guilt off my shoulder but it’s not like that. I’m sincerely happy I had that dream.

...

"How was it? Did you get to meet him?" Duke asks me over the phone.

"No, it’s still the same." I say. I just returned from another unsuccessful attempt to meet with Languine. Now I’m just sitting here, lazily twirling back and forth in my chair in the office. "His secretary says he’s out of town. He can’t meet me." I sigh.

This is the fourth time in two weeks I’ve tried to meet with Attorney Laguine. It’s been one story after another. He’s either too busy to meet me, or he’s on a business trip to a state that can’t be disclosed.

He’s been avoiding me dutifully.

Wanting to believe that I’ve not been able to meet with him because he was an important man with a busy schedule, I asked Stella to make an appointment for me with his secretary and she told me that she had been told that Attorney Laguine was completely and entirely booked. There was no space to fit me in for anything at all.

They couldn’t even spare an hour with the man. They’re obviously just lies but it still pisses me off.

"I don’t know what else to do. He doesn’t pick my calls," I start complaining to Duke. "He won’t meet me. I even emailed him but he doesn’t reply to my emails. How can I convince the man when he won’t even give me a chance to talk to him?"

I’m certain aunt Evelyn must have blackmailed him with something. I know that but that doesn’t mean I’m entirely happy with him, nor does it mean I’m trying to meet him just so I can understand him for doing what he did. His alteration of grandpa’s original will is one of the reasons I lost everything, so I’m not going to understand him even if he explains.

All I want to do is give him a chance to redeem himself. I’d rather he redeems the image of a principled man in my eyes. I don’t want to keep thinking of him as a man willing to do anything for money, even going as far as betraying his long time friend and business partner.

I sincerely want him to redeem himself.

"Well dearest, what would you offer me if I tell you I have the current location of Attorney Languine." He suddenly asks.

"What? Are you serious?" I sit up straight and stop twirling.

"Yep, I’m looking at him right now in the video they sent me and he’s tending to some flowers in a garden."

He’s being serious isn’t he?! He actually knows where Languine is!

If I can talk to Languine personally, I know I will be able to persuade him to provide me with the original will. I just have to meet the man once and it’s proven to be so hard.

I’m already rising to my feet, "Give me the location. I’ll get there right now." I’ve slung my bag over my shoulder and I’m moving round my table to walk towards the door.

"Not so fast dearest..." I instantly halt. "What will I be getting for this information?"

What is he suddenly asking me? What could he possibly want that he doesn’t have right now?

"What?" I ask.

"It was hard getting this piece of info. You have no idea how hard and I don’t think it’s necessary to go into details, so just know it was hard to get his location and I deserve a reward for it. So what do I get?"

This man is just a big baby.

I mean what does he seriously want? Well, I could give him whatever it is that he wants, no questions asked. He just has to name it. I will give Duke Grand my head if he asks it. That I know. So I ask...

"What do you want?"

"Well, what do you think I deserve?"

Now this is what I don’t like! I’d rather he just tells me what exactly he wants! How can I possibly know what he wants?

Now I find myself sitting down on my desk and wondering what he’d want... "A kiss?" I ask the simplest thing that comes to mind.

"As much as I love your kisses my dearest, you can’t keep buying me with kisses all the time." Damn, I thought that would work. He’s the one that told me all I had to do was say thank you with a kiss whenever he did something for me so why is he demanding something else in return.

Such a fickle baby.

"Do you want something monetary?" I ask again.

"No." He rejected that rather fast. That was a plain flat no with no strings attached on any corner. He doesn’t want something monetary.

"Then, what do you want?!" I don’t have time to play games with this man right now but he clearly isn’t planning to give me the address for free either.

"That’s why you’re making the offer. You have to give me something I can’t refuse." He’s clearly enjoying this. It’s almost baffling how simple things like this amuses him. "You’re a businesswoman Pagne, make me a deal I can’t refuse."

"A deal you can’t refuse, huh..." What would that be?

"Yep. Something I will go crazy to see," Something Duke will go crazy to see. "Or have, or hold... Something I’d give all my money to do or have."

What could I possibly offer Duke that is worth so much yet costs nothing financially?

What can I offer Duke that he won’t refuse? He doesn’t want a simple kiss either. Something he’d do anything to see or have... something that he’d like.

And a thought suddenly hits me.

A memory.

He’d given me the hint before... of something that he likes.

No, it was more than a hint. He told me explicitly what he likes. I’ve just been avoiding that topic because I’m too shy to excite him with that particular thing he likes.

Yet, it seems I can’t shy away forever. It seems that is my only way out in this situation...

"Then,"

"Yes?" He drawls.

"How about—"

"I’m listening," He’s so enjoying this moment right now. I can hear it in the sound of his voice. I wonder how he’d react when he hears what I have in mind.

"Your wife," I start, "in nothing but a black net stockings. Garters, suspenders and all, and an all around mesh lingerie." Dear God I can’t believe I’m saying these things aloud.

"A black six inch stiletto heels, and I’m spread out upon your white sheets like a big snack waiting for you to sink your teeth in."

Oh dear God, this man is turning me into something else. I’m the one saying these things so why is my entire body afire? Why am I feeling so hot? I can’t believe I just said those things.

And why isn’t he saying anything?

"Duke?" Is it the network?

"Duke are you still there?" Did the line break?

"Hello Du—"

"R_rather—" He stutters then pauses. Without even seeing him, I can tell he’s trying to compose his words better. Why do I feel this sense of victory? It’s like I know I’ve already won.

"Rather than a simple snack, I’d prefer it to be like unwrapping a gift, so could you tie a black ribbon around your neck too?"

Oh my gosh!!

This man is such a flirt and I’m going to die of embarrassment if he keeps talking like that. How can he sound so innocent and naive when asking for something like that?! He’s driving me nuts.

I take a deep breath, distance the phone from myself as I clear my throat before talking again, "I think that can be arranged."

"I just texted you the address. See you later, I love you. Bye." I can’t stop myself from laughing as he says those words and ends the call.

I married such a simple man. He’s so easy to please and yet not so easy and not so simple.