Contract Marriage starring Love and Revenge
Chapter 26. He’s not other men.

Chapter 26: 26. He’s not other men.

*Knock*Knock*

"Champagne, are you in there?" It’s Mary. "Mind if I come in?" I look at the golden clock on the wall. It’s five minutes past six. Her working hours are over. She must have come to say goodbye.

"Come on in Mary." I say. The door opens and I present her with a fake smile as she walks in, "Are the twins with Mr Grand?" I ask.

"No, they’re making brick houses with Giovanni." I let out a laugh. I can picture the face of the man right now, having to deal with the two of them.

"Champagne, why are you still dressed in your bathroom robe?" Mary suddenly asks and I give her another fake smile and a shrug. "Mr Grand told me to come up and check if you needed any help, and I told him you’d already be dressed by now. It seems I was wrong."

Seriously, he keeps doing little, little things. Little things that make it seem like he sincerely cares for me. Little things that makes it feel like he’s treating me special. Little things that move my heart.

"Is that why you’re here? You don’t have to worry about me Mary. I’ll be alright." I try to reassure her. "It’s already past your working hours, don’t let what Mr Grand said make you stay longer than you should."

"Oh that’s nonsense." She laughs and waves her hands in the air. "I am happy to help you. And besides, Mr Grand pays me extra whenever he makes me work overtime." She jokes and I smile. This time a much warmer and true smile.

"So, how can I help you?" She asks, and all that leaves my lips is a floor sinking sigh as I stare at the dress, purse and heels on the bed.

"Why? What’s the matter honey?" She asks, moving closer to me. "Is the dress not to your liking?" She asks. "I don’t think it’s too late. For a man of Mr Grand’s status, I’m certain he will be able to pull one or two strings even though It’s last minute. I’m certain he will be able to get you another dress if you don’t want this one."

"No, no it’s not that." I shake my head and sit on the bed, running my fingers over the beads on the dress. It’s really beautiful.

"It’s not the dress that’s the problem. I love the dress. I love the shoes and the purse. It’s all a little too red, but I sincerely think they are beautiful."

I can’t lie about that. I know he probably asked Alan to get the dress, but my heart still flutters to think he went out of his way to even get me an outfit.

I truly like it.

"Then what is it?" She asks. "Champagne," she calls my name in that tender older sister-like manner that is somewhat motherly. She sits next to me and takes one of my hands in her own, "You know I am always here to listen. So rather than bottling it all up inside you, tell me. I’ll listen."

Will she understand? Will she understand my unreasonable fear?

"Champagne?"

"I_ I’m scared." I confess.

"Oh, Champagne,"

"I’m scared of going to the party tonight, because Alicia will be there."

"Oh Champagne, are you scared of facing her? Is that it?"

Right. If I’m scared of anything, it should be that, right? If I’m saying I’m scared of meeting Alicia it should be because I’m scared of facing her. Of talking to her after what she did to me but...

"No, No that’s not it. I_ I’m scared that he will see her and fall for her."

"Who will?"

"Mr Grand."

"Oh, oh, I see." She says.

"Mary, you’ve seen her photo, right? I’ve shown it to you before. You know how beautiful she is."

"She is truly beautiful.".

"Exactly! She is breathtaking. The girl is stunning! God gave her everything! Every single thing. Beauty, body and a cunning brain to scheme and get why she wants. No man can resist Alicia. No man ever has!"

"And... you are scared that Mr Grand will also fall victim to her charms and be one of the many lost souls she has dragged into her tempting arms—"

"Well, I won’t put it like that, but... Yes! He is just a man after all." I mean, he is a human being like any other person.

It is only natural to admire beautiful things. And Alicia is one of the most beautiful things God created. "Mr Grand will see her and, like every other guy, he will turn to her."

I’ve witnessed this time and time again. No one can resist Alicia. Rowan was yet another proof of this fact.

"She’s like a magnet, Mary. Like a magnet! She just attracts people to herself without even trying to." I desperately demonstrate with my hands.

"Like the Bermuda triangle, sucking people inside her, never to escape her!"

"More like the fiery pit of hell drawing lost souls into it." Mary murmurs.

"The point is, what will happen to me then? What will happen when Mr Grand learns of her beauty?"

"Champagne, you keep calling him Mr Grand like you work for him. He’s your husband."

"Mary," I tilt my head and frown a little, "you know the conditions behind our marriage. I_ it’s not a real thing." Our marriage is solely contractual. I’m with him for a reason and he’s with me for a reason. And the reason is not love. Far from it.

"Still, don’t you think it’s unfair to Mr Grand, when he calls your name in such an endearing manner?" I feel my cheeks slightly heat up as I can suddenly hear his whisper in the air ’Pagne

’ then I hear him say, ’Dearest’. He does address me in an endearing manner. But what does it matter? It’s not real.

"Does it really matter? It’s fake. Whereas, with Alicia, it will be love at first sight for him. Just like all the—Ouch!" I shriek in pain as she slaps my arm so hard I think I might cry.

"What was that for?" I cry out in disbelief.

"You deserve another one." She says and before I can even try to escape it, another painful slap lands on my arm.

"Mary!" Her slaps sting! They really sting.

"Have you come to your senses now?" She asks like she’s in the process of scolding her little son, Tobi.

"You seem to not know the kind of man you have married." She says. "because you just met him, which is quite understandable." She adds. "I on the other hand, I have watched this man for three years now and if there’s one thing I can say about him is that he is a man who knows commitment."

What is she trying to say? And why does she look angry?!

"If he commits to marry you, he is going to keep his word and give you all the respect you deserve as his wife. And I’m certain you have noticed that yourself."

"Mary, there was no discussion about his private life when I agreed to marry him. I didn’t tell him that he would have to be committed to only me and he didn’t promise me that either so—"

"So what you’re saying right now is that you see Mr Grand as a man who will sleep with another woman even when he has a wife?"

"Mary, I did not put it like that."

"But that’s what you’re implying Champagne. That’s exactly what you mean and that thought is quite an insulting one if I dare say so. To Mr Grand."

"Mary —"

"You want to allow that thieving cousin of yours to keep messing with your head? You want her to keep winning even when she’s not around? Champagne wake up! See the man you are married to! He’s not other men! He’s your husband!"

"I know. I know that but—"

"And besides, who cares if he sees her and thinks she looks beautiful? You just have to slap the thought out of his head! If she tries to take your man again, will you just hand him over to her with a ribbon around his neck? Huh?! Will you?! Sometimes you really have to fight, Champagne. You have to fight to hold on to what is yours even when you are on the verge of losing it. You don’t just let it go because you believe you don’t stand a chance against your opponent. You fight to protect it. And I think that’s a pretty sexy armor to take into battle."

Mary is right. I’ve allowed Alicia to take things away from me for a very long time. But not anymore. I know Duke and I are not in that kind of a relationship, but still I won’t let her have him. I’m not going to give her to him just because she wants him.

"Mary, I will need your help with the zipper." I’ll protect what is mine from now on. Never again will she steal from me.

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