Contract Marriage starring Love and Revenge
Chapter 128. Merger.

Chapter 128: 128. Merger.

{Champagne’s POV}

"Duke!" I scream his name as soon as I park my car and I’m all but running into the house.

"Mummy!!" Shelly comes running towards me as soon as he sights me. "You’re back early today." He says and I pick him up and spin him around.."Yes! My darling, I’m back early because I missed my golden boy." I place him back on the ground and pinch his cheek, causing him to giggle.

"Where’s your sister?" I ask and he shrugs with his hands spread out indicating, ’I don’t know.’

"And your daddy?" I ask but receive the same shrugging response.

"I just woke up fwom my nap." He says with a funny scrunch of his nose and I laugh.

"Aright buddy."

"Signora, you’re back early." Giovanni says as he walks towards me.

"Yes Gio. Have you seen Renny and Duke?" I ask.

"I believe they are in your bedroom upstairs." He says and I pick up Shelly once again.

"Thank you Gio. Now baby, let’s go see what your daddy and sister are up to." I say and he giggles.

With Shelly on my arm holding on to my bag that is bigger than his stomach, I match up the stairs till I’m standing in front of the door to our bedroom. I turn the doorknob and push the door open.

"Well, well, well," I say as I enter and see Duke on the bed with Renny sitting on his chest while watching whatever is playing on the tab he’s holding.

"Seems like some people are having movie time without us." I say to Shelly and he squints his eyes and stares at Duke with a scrutinizing gaze.

"Mummy!" Renny says with a big smile on her face as she literally stomps on Duke’s body so she can climb down to come to me. I place Shelly down as she runs to me and I scoop her into my arms and Shelly runs to Duke.

"What were you watching with daddy?" I ask.

"Tom and Jewwy." she announces.

"HUH! Tom and Jerry, really?" I ask and she nods.

"Mummy do you yike Tom and Jewwy?" She asks and I give her a big nod.

"Of course I like Tom and Jerry. I watched it all the time when I was little like you too." I say and her eyes widens.

"Mummy was wittle yike me?" She asks with such surprise that I can’t help but laugh.

"Yes darling, of course I was."

"So you were wittle before, but now you are big now?" She asks again and I nod.

"Was daddy wittle before too?"

"OF course baby, your daddy was little like Shelly once."

"He was wittle like Shelly?" She asks.

"Yes, just like your brother."

"And now he’s big?" She inquires further.

"Well he’s taller than everyone in this house, I’d say he’s very very big." I say and Duke laughs.

"Will I be big too?" Damn this child asks a lot of questions.

"Sure baby," I say as I walk with her towards the bed, "one day, you’ll look in the mirror and see you’ve become a big, fine young woman." I say as I sit myself down beside Duke.

"Will Shelly be big too?" She asks.

"Yes. Shelly will be big too." I say and she nods. I think her curiosity has been settled now so I turn to Duke and before I can say the word, he’s coming for my lips.

"Duke, the kids." I whisper and he places a kiss on my cheek instead.

"Shelly, Renny, why don’t you guys help mummy unbuckle her shoes." He suddenly says and enthusiastically they climb down both our bodies and they have taken one leg each and are fighting the war of unbuckling my shoes while Duke stares at me mischievously.

"You are such a naughty daddy." I say and he shrugs. And kisses me.

"Ah! Duke, guess what?" I break the kiss as I remember the news I have to give him.

"What?"

"You know that thanks to my aunt being arrested and all the investigations being carried out, stock prices of Gold group have been plummeting since, right?" He nods.

"Yeah, major investors have been pulling out, and when I say major investors, I mean, major big investors have begun pulling out. While some are demanding compensation for the damages they’ve sustained, others just want to pull out before it becomes worse."

"That bad?" He asks and I nod.

"Very bad. Ouch, Renny be more gentle." I say as she picks at my skin while still trying to unbuckle my shoe.

"Sowwy." She says with her head still focused on unbuckling that shoe. Shelly is also still fighting his own battle.

I turn back to Duke and ask, "What was I saying?"

"Gold group is going under." He says and I nod.

"Ah, right. So I told Stella to keep me updated on anyone who was selling off their shares and guess what," I tap his hand as I talk and laugh even though I already have his full attention.

"There are lots. Almost everyone wants out now. It’s so pitiful, really. To think that very few of them have loyalty towards Gold Group, just a little problem and they’re already wavering. I mean, most of these shareholders have been around since my grandpa and they are ready to bail in the face of a little trouble."

"Well dearest, I must say this is no little trouble is it?" He asks. "Have you seen the news? People are refusing to buy Gold Group’s products. If things continue this way, they’ll be wrecked along with Gold group and lose quite a lot. It’s only natural they want to salvage as much as they can and rub for the heels."

"I guess you’re right, but still, it’s a little sad. But sadness aside, I just purchased ten percent of the shares from three shareholders!!" I announce.

"Well good for you my dear. Keep buying. By the time the investigations are over and the court rules in your favor, you’ll get your shares that were stolen by that bastard and your cousin."

"Yeah, and according to Attorney Languine, grandpa’s original will gave me some of my dad’s shares he withheld and some of his own. I don’t know how much it is, but according to Languine, it’s a good amount. We just need the court to authorize it."

"And my dearest will practically be the sole owner of Gold Group."

"Oh," I wave my hand in the air and blush, "I still have a long way to go to get there. But once I’m there, I will build Gold Group back to its original glory."

"Ohhh, is this competition I smell?" He squints his eyes.

"No..." I take his hands in mine and stare at him, "I was thinking more like a merger."

"Really?" He asks.

"Yeah. When everything is settled, let’s merge Gold group into Harford."

"Pagne, you do know what you’re saying right? It means your grandfather’s legacy might disappear forever."

"Well, I think more than his legacy, grandpa would prefer I do what makes me happy. I don’t want to run a separate entity from my husband. I like being a co-CEO with you as my partner." I tilt my head to the side and ask, "So what do you say dearest? Don’t you want to keep being my partner?"

A smile crawls over his lips as he stares at me. "How can I not want that?" He asks with a caressing palm on the side of my face. "You’re my partner for life dearest." He says and leans in for a kiss.

"Mummy I did it!!" Shelly screams and I shove Duke away from me and focusing my attention on Shelly who has one shoe dangling in his hand victoriously.

"I finished first! I’m the winner!!" He declares.

"Was there a competition?" I stare at Duke and he shrugs.

"No!! I want to be first!" Renny screams and she’s suddenly crying. Oh no.

"Oh baby," I stretch my hand to her but before I can even reach her, Shelly is already handing his unbuckled shoe to her,

"Don’t cwy Renny, daddy says big girls don’t cwy. You can be first next time." He says and she collects the shoe from him as he gives her a hug.

"Awww, Shelly is such a good big brother." I say as I watch them being endlessly cute.

"I won’t cwy." Renny suddenly says, wiping her tears and breaking the hug. She hands over the shoe back to Shelly. She suddenly goes down on her knees again and her hands are on my ankle again, trying to unbuckle the last shoe. She tries for a little over a minute before finally jumping up in victory.

"I did it! I’m the second winner!" She declares and Shelly is jumping with her.

"YAY! Renny is the second winner!!" He declares happily as they jump round and round.

Duke and I just laugh as we watch them being happy about unbuckling my shoes.

Oh God, I’m so satisfied with my life now and I could never have asked for anything better. Thank you Lord for what I’ve lost, and for what I’ve found.

Thank you Lord.