Contract Marriage starring Love and Revenge
Chapter 22. Did you win?

Chapter 22: 22. Did you win?

If I wasn’t on a rival side against Gold group, I would have been very pissed by this fact because the truth is, I was the one who laid the foundation for the deal just before I was kicked out of Gold group. It was one of the many projects I had planned to carry out from the end of this year till the middle of next year.

When I heard that Senator Mitchel Martins was looking to invest in a business with a good marketing strategy, I had done my everything to make sure Gold group was shortlisted.

I even came up with a perfect marketing plan. In other words, I had placed the ball right in front of the goal post and all Alicia had to do was come and give it a good kick, and she would score.

But no, she sent in a representative using my marketing strategies that he did not even properly look into.

When I first told Duke about wishing I could take this deal for Harford instead of Gold group, he had assured me he will put us among the shortlisted candidates, even though the time for shortlisting was already long passed.

However, just as he had assured me, Harford food was among the shortlisted candidates, and when I asked him how he had pulled it off, he had just shrugged with a smirk.

Then all I had to do was come up with a perfect marketing plan for Harford, which I did with the intention of winning over the deal and for once getting to see the losing face of Alicia.

"I can’t believe she didn’t even show up." I mutter to myself.

Our car pulls up in front of us and Alan steps out of it. When did he arrive? Wait, when did he take the keys from Duke?

"He has the spare key." Duke says as if he can read my mind.

"Did we get the deal, boss?" Alan asks.

"She got the deal." Duke nods.

Alan then turns his gaze to me. Those eyes, those scrutinizing eyes still haven’t changed. The hostility in them has toned down though. "Why then does she look like that?" He asks.

"She didn’t get to flaunt her first victory in front of her enemies." Duke says and Alan nods.

"Let’s just go home. I want to rest before attending the party later in the evening." I grumble as I walk to the car. "I might not even go." I mutter that last part to myself.

"When are you going to get a driver, boss?" I hear Alan asking.

"When you quit." Duke responds and follows me into the backseat of the car, while Alan goes into the driver’s seat, mumbling some words on how this was workplace harassment. It wasn’t such a low mumble. He clearly meant Duke to hear those words.

...

"We’re back." I announce as we step into the house.

"Daddy!!! Mummy!!!" And they are awake!

"Oh, did you get it? Tell me you got the deal." Mary excitedly says. I force a smile and nod my head.

"We got it." And she squeals joyously.

"In her face!! Oh thank you Lord!"

"Oh, I couldn’t really shove my victory in her face."

"Why?"

"She didn’t show. She sent someone in her place." I explain to Mary.

"Oh what a— huh! I left something on the stove." She gasps and runs off into the kitchen.

I turn my attention back to Duke and the twins and a smile laces my lips.

Sometimes, I find it funny that they can easily call me mummy. I wonder if it’s just because they do not actually grasp the meaning of the word and just see it as another name like the little children that they are. Or do they really accept me as their mother?

They run up to Duke first as usual. That bit hasn’t changed. They always go to him first... I am somewhat jealous of that.

"Renny, Shelly..." Duke effortlessly picks them up, kissing every part of their small body, causing them to giggle uncontrollably.

"I’m here too." Alan announces.

"Alan!!" They scream, instantly wiggling in their father’s arms to come down. As soon as he sets them down, they run up to Alan. He embraces and tickles them and their giggle seems to be endlessly beautiful.

So why do I feel this way? Why do I still feel down? Is it because Alicia did not show up...

I fixate my gaze on them and I wonder... Or do I feel this way because I know I will never really fit in here. The kids will never share this kind of bond with me. This bond they share with Duke, with Alan, even with Mary who has been with them since.

Will they ever see me as—

"Mummy!" I jolt as the word echoes in the living room and their eyes are on me. All their eyes. Did they all just call me mummy! Even Alan and Duke!

"The kids have been calling you, where is your head at?" Duke asks and I can see the concern underneath the playfulness in his expression.

"Mummy, I say that, did you win?" Shelly asks and I crouch down to meet his height.

"Did I win?" I ask, wanting to confirm that is what he asked and he nods. "Win what?" I ask again.

"Ma_ Mawy say that you went to make a deyol and win some money." Renny joins the conversation.

"Oh," I nod and smile, "Yeah, yeah that is one way to put it. Well, uh, uhm yes. I made the deal and I won the money." I say and for some reason, they seem extremely happy to get the news. And their happiness is contagious.

"I knew you woul win the money. Mummy smart." Shelly says, sticking his open palm up in a high five gesture. I tap his palm with my own and Renny asks for a high five too.

"And_ and_ and mummy yis byubwiful." I can’t control the laughter that leaves my mouth as Renny says those words.

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