To Give And Take

CHAPTER 13

"Brother in-law." Nelly called out coquettishly, she knew that when she called Rolland like she did, it excited him, but it also excited her and gave her much pleasure. This man was her brother in-law and future husband to her 'b***h' of sister, but she had already done the most intimate things with him. She had changed so many positions and places with him, Karlie could only blame her saint self.

"Little s**t, don't tell me I didn't satisfy you enough." Rolland said lecherously grabbing her slim waist and turning her back to face him, while his hands kept roaming on her body. She had to bite her lips and prevent herself from making sounds, she couldn't indulge herself in pleasure and forget about long profit.

"As long it's you." She knew exactly the words a man like Rolland loved to hear, pleasing a man wasn't difficult for her.

"It's just unfortunate that I can only be your lover.", Rolland suddenly frowned and paused in his movements.

"What do you mean?"

His question was expected, so she continued confidently.

"Brother in-law, I don't believe my frigid sister could serve you like I do, why don't you change bride?"

Rolland's expression became dark and cold like a frost, this change of expression scared her but she didn't back out. She was determined to finish her words, but her stuttering betrayed her.

"I...I don't mean anything bad, I just feel that you have to sacrifice so much for my arrogant sister. And I thought, what if sister cheats on you and..."

Nelly had barely finished her sentence when a hand squeezed her neck, her breath was blocked, though not strong enough she felt a lot of pressure being pressed by Rolland.

"Nelly White, I know exactly what you're thinking, so I'll stop your thoughts right here. Karlie White is not like you, so don't meddle in our affairs, if not ..."

His warning was clear, if Nelly didn't understand it from his murderouse expression, then she would be stupid. It was clearly a warning with killing intent, even when he released her neck, she didn't dare look at him. Her feet was cold and her face turned pale like a white sheet, void of color.

"I'll go out, you can go out thirty minutes after me."

Rolland said indifferently, without looking at Nelly he walked out of the attic, he wasn't worried that Nelly would betray him. He had always been in control of everything, nothing had ever slipped off his control and he would never do anything that would ruin his future. His future included Karlie, while Nelly was nothing more but an object to satisfy his desires.

He was an ambitiouse man, who would never let any mistake ruin his projects, not even love. He would have both the beauty and the wealth, he was sure that Karlie would never escape his grasp.

**~*

"What do you mean?" Karlie asked with uncertainty, her tone was still gentle with patience, she wasn't annoyed by Lucy's suggestion. Her friendship and tight bond with Lucy wasn't a word of mouth, but a deep connection that couldn't be explained by a few words.

Lucy wasn't surprised by her friend's thoughts either, they both understood each other so there was no need to hide each other's thoughts either.

"I bet Rolland Tesse had a 100% assurance in him that you won't be able to escape his grip."

It was unecessary to detail out those reminders to her, Karlie had lived by Rolland's side to be able to detect his leaked characters.

"Then to defeat him, you simply have to escape his grip."

Precisely and option that she had thought of, escaping Rolland's pending tight grip, but that would mean giving up another part of her mother's inherritance to him. It was a possible option, but she would never relent to it even if she didn't care about power and wealth. She knew that Lucy understood this logic as well, even if the trajectory of her plot dissatisfied her heart. She didn't interrupt Lucy, while trying to analyse everything on her own.

"You're not against marrying someone else apart from Rolland right ?"

She finally understood Lucy's calculations, a beheficial thought that would make it impossible for Rolland to set a hand on her inherritance, she wouldn't need to compensate him either.

An unoticeable clause that had been set by her mother to give her the chance to choose and decide her future. Her mother had thought it through before setting this additional clause that wasn't known to others except the party involved, which was her trusted lawyer, mother and herself. Lucy was an exception due to their relationship.

"Aunt Yolande had probably thought it was good to leave the choice for you, so she set the additional clause with an option."

Karlie had the option to choose her marriage partner before the dead line of her marriage with Rolland, but it was in the premises of marriage and not an a******y.

"But my mother was still worried, so she set an extra condition to it."

Lucy understood it, if Karlie really decided to marry another man other than Rolland, her inherritance right would be withheld.

Withholding her inherritance right isn't the most unfair, but her husband would have to sign a few documents cutting himself off the right to meddle in her inherritance right.

"My mother was probably worried that I would be deceived so she set that condition. But you do know that no body would want to sign such an agreement, right."

Lucy silently hummed a reply with an understanding expression, she knew not many men would be sincere.

"And even if there was any, you do understand that I wouldn't want to confide my life to a total stranger."

There was a saying that ' the devil you knew was better than the angel you're ignorant about.' Rolland might be the devil, but she at least knew quite a lot about him, guarding against him was even easier. Compared to guarding against a total stranger, she would rather guard against Rolland.

"Of course I know about it, do you think I'll give a suggestion without thinking of a solution."

Karlie understood Lucy the best, she knew that before thinking of an idea, she had probably long analysed everything with a solution to it.

"Who do you have in mind?"

Rather than asking about some miscellanouse questions she was more interested in Lucy's thought candidate, but she believed Lucy's choice would probably be her choice. This was an evidence on just how much she trusted Lucy, trusting her life to her wasn't even an issue to be discussed.

"My uncle's son, why don't you marry my cousin?"

It was suddenly quiet in the other line, she knew that her friend must have created so many absurd images of her cousin in her mind. Karlie had met most her cousins who were mostly distant, including her cousins from her mother's side. It was comprehensible that her reply would be filled with hesitation.

"Silly, I bet you've already portrayed my cousin as an old beer belly baldy scum, right?"

Karlie smiled in embarassment, upon her thoughts being guessed with accuracy.

"You can't blame me, right?"

Karlie replied self righteousely, she knew that Lucy wouldn't blame her, it was without doubt easy for others to have her mind set after being matched with a friend's

"That's right, but it would definitely break little cousin's heart if he saw through your thoughts."

It was once again silent in the other line, Lucy didn't utter a word of interruption, she knew that Karlie was seriously thinking about what she had said.

"You're talking about your mysteriouse cousin, Hellian Grey."

"That's right, Hellian Grey, you know about him, right?"

She of course knew about Lucy's only cousin from her paternal family, Lucy had portrayed him so well that she created to herself so many godly images about the guy. However, she had never had thé opportunity of meeting him, whether it was fate or intentional, she had never really met Hellian Grey, though she'd heard a lot about him. He was the only son to Lucy's eldest uncle, and most doted heir to the Greys. She had never met him before and it became even more impossible after he travelled to further his studies and worked abraod, he was in his middle thirties which wasn't considered old.

"But hasn't your mysteriouse cousin been working abraod, you lately told me he's working in a law firm abraod."

"Cousin Hellian plans to settle here soon, he'll be taking over the family's comptant upon his arrival. His arrival in Province C had already been schedule for a few days, less than a week, I presume."

With a detailed information, Karlie wasn't even given a reason to nitpick on this golden bachelor.

"My uncle and aunt with our grand parents had already planned several blind dates for him, they don't have much higher regards for their daughter in-law, as long as it's a decent woman."

Hellian Grey was already in his middle thirties, it was obviouse that his parents would be anxiouse about his marriage. Her eldest aunt had a difficult delivery, thereby incuring problems after giving birth to Hellian Grey, while her father who was the second son of the Grey elders only had daughters, after his death there was no one else to continue the Grey's family lineage. Her grand parents then put all their hope on their only youngest grabdson, but Hellian Grey had never been interested in marriage, reason why he flew abraod to continue his career of a lawyer.

If it wasn't for being filiale and helping his parents share their burden, Lucy could bet her eldest cousin would probably never have come back home to settle down. He wasn't interested in women, which scared her grand parents and his parents into thinking that he was probably gay. However, Lucy knew quite a lot about her cousin who had been out of the country for six years now. She was sure that her cousin wasn't gay, he just had certain requirements for his future wife, requirements that were difficult to find.

It could be said that Karlie met those requirements, but she had never thought of introducing her friend to her cousin as a couple, she respected their privacy and affaires. After all, a few years earlier Karlie was just a minor, while Hellian Grey was an adult beyond her reach, her cousin wasn't a pedophile.

It was also one thing for Karlie to meet the requirements, but it was another for these pair to be compatible, though she really wished they could end up together.

"Alright, I have other things in hand now, let's talk more when I come back from my trip."

"Alright." Karlie replied calmly, she knew about Lucy's situation, so she wasn't curiouse to ask more, they had been communicating quite a lot while she was away.

"Take care little Milk."

"I will, you too." Lucy replied with a smile.

After getting off the phone with Lucy, Karlie let out a deep sigh, tiredness overcame her, she had been busy with the seminar for almost a week but she wasn't tired.

Facing her family and future husband made her even more exhausted than any experiments and seminar. She was prepared to take a short nap when a knock at her door interrupted her, Karlie frowned and stood up from her bed. She took her linen night robe and wore it above her lace night gown.

"Who's there?" She demanded while tying a knot on her kimonos night gown.

"Honey, it's Rolland, can you open the door?"

Karlie's frown deepened further, she was unwilling to meet Rolland, she was even reluctant to open the door of her room to him. However, she knew that if she didn't open the door, he would definitely come back to pester her later.

Resigning to fate, Karlie walked towards the door with reluctance.

Rolland who had been standing by the door had already become impatient when the door was suddenly pulled open. The figure that greeted him stunned him, causing him to be unable to react on time, despite the fact that he had seen the face several times, her beauty always mesmerized him. It would be a lie to say that he didn't have thoughts about her each time he saw her sexy curves.

The girl in front of him was dressed in bright linen red night wear that accentuated her beauty and made her look like a flamboyant beauty. She was sexy, flamboyant and attractive with a greater s*x appeal than most girls he had met. With voluptuouse chest, curvy body and a pretty fair palm size face, she could be considered a siren. Her beauty despite being flamboyant wasn't extravagant nor exagerated, her dark brown hair fell gently on her chest like a wave, accentuating her exquisite palm size face.

He had always known that Karlie was an extremely beautiful woman, he had even thought she could be considered the most beautiful woman in the world. At least, that was until the day he met her friend, Lucy Grey, who had made him have several wet dreams, and wished he could place her under him. But Lucy Grey was conservative and even more difficult to grasp than Karlie White. Both were extremely beautiful with each of their own unique elegance and aura. Lucy was like an immortal goddess, while Karlie was like a fairy that descended the sky.

It was a pity that he could only fantasize about them, but he had never been able to go beyond holding hands with Karlie. It fustrated him so much that he decided to vent his fustrations and desires on others, picturing Karlie's image on other women on his bed.

It was a pity that he couldn't make Lucy his in his entire life, he was not worried about Karlie who would be his in a few months.

"Honey, I heard from Nelly you were back from your trip, how was it?"

Karlie was disdainful of his careful concern towards her, his presence and actions made her feel nauseous, yet she held back her disdain and replied indifferently.

"Yeah, very tired, I'm afraid I won't be able to accompany you, sorry."

The smile on Rolland's face didn't dissappear, he had an understanding expression on his face, gently gazing at her with indulgence. It was an expression that would touch the heart and make it difficult for others to extricate themselves from it.

She had once been moved by him, his love and affection towards her. She considered his presence in her life a glimmer of hope for a brighter future, but as soon as she realised it was a phony, the little affection she had for him dissappeared without leaving a single trace.

"I understand, you should rest a while, let's talk after you wake up."

He stretch out his hands towards her, but Karlie quickly took a step backward to avoid his touch.

"Thanks for being considerate, I'll go back to sleep, you should take care."

Her tone was polite with her ussual slight indifference, but it didn't hold any ill intentions to it, neither did she give him the impression that she was deliberately avoiding him.

However, at this moment he felt that she was slowly slipping away from his grip, he felt that she was slowly getting out of his control, but he couldn't pin point where he had gone wrong. Karlie White had never been very close or affectionate towards him, she was always formal and friendly to him. Her behavior towards him had always been distant, neither far nor close, always maintaining a social distance from him.

Her current behavior towards him had made him more excited to make her his woman, if her mother didn't precise that she must wait and get married after her 25th birthday, he probably would have married her as soon as she became of a marriagable age.

"Take care, honey."

Karlie couldn't wait to slam the door shut on his nose, she couldn't stand the treacherouse Rolland Tesse any longer. She knew the importance of keeping a façade in front of Rolland Tesse, even if she had other plans, she had to be guarded against the evil fox.

**~*

"Sorry, I'm late."

Lucy immediately appologized as soon as she walked in the living room, after her bath she was dressed in a white stylish off shoulder gown with thin waist belt, paired with a pair of white slightly high sandals.

Her hair was draped lazily on her back like a wave of water fall, glistening with the most beautiful brillance ; it was sure without doubt that slipping a hand in it would be a very comfortable experience to any man. At the sight of her enchanting image, the scenery arround her became a blurry image accentuating her beauty. Such innocent seduction aroused unintentional desires to the added smile, he didn't know if it could be considered a seduction of innocence.

"I had a call from a sister, so changing took me more time than it should."

Her detailed explanations was swift sentence, coupled with her gentle voice, it rang like a gentle whisper.

"I understand."

He understood with experience to give women an extra time to prepare. Unlike his ex wife, Lucy was in advance to the ussual routine, a pleasant surprise. Lucy had always surprised him, her indifference, desirable beauty and ability to resist him was unlike other women who showed undisguised interest towards him, while others had an indistinct discomfort arround him. Lucy was fervent and firm, she could neither be impressed nor repressed.

"Hope I didn't make you wait for too long."

Her intentions had never been out of line, making others wait for her was unintentional and contradictory to her principles.

"It's fine." Austin replied calmly with his ussual indifference that concealed his emotions, giving him a hint of mystery.

"For someone who lives on schedule, was my harmless delay really not offensive or nerve wrecking?"

She raised her beautiful brows, squinting her baby blue eyes with innocence. He knew that behind her innocence there was a foxlike tease and insistence to break through his barrier of restraint. She seemed amused and interested by his restraint, and intent on always challenging him at every opportunity.

He said nothing, he had no intention to fall into this harmless challenge.

"Do you actually have a bottom line ?" Lucy suddenly said.

Every body had a bottom line, crossing it definitely broke through their barrier of restraint and calmness.

"What do you think ?"

His inquisitive comment was gentle as ussual with a slight hint of mystery arousing her interest even more and her persistence to keep up the challenge even further.

"Lucy, is your quest of a certain necessity?" He stood up from the couch, towering her like an unpenetrable wall with his well built athletic body. Her nostril was assaulted by wooden fragrance of citrus sandalwood, a familiar fragrance that belonged to him alone. It was a unique fragrance that made him.smell fresh and gave a comfortable feeling, a strong manly scent of a mature man.

"A little vanity of mine that needs satisfaction." She replied without hesitation, at a straightforward tone, with a cheerful expression. She raised her swan like neck, without any undisguised discomfort she pointed at him.

"Will you satisfy this vanity of mine with a few words."

He didn't give her a reply, calmly looking at her with a deep gaze.

"Lucy, did you noticed that you have been using the third person to communicate with me?"

Lucy lowered her hand, but her gaze never left his, she didn't pretend to be ignorant.

"Then how should I call you?" Austin Kingston looked at her with his deep electric gaze that flickered with a warm light.

"What relationship do you suppose we have?"

Relationships were considered fragile and delicate, like a bridge it took a long time to build relationships. The longer it took to build a bridge, the longer it stood firm, with the premises that it was a carefully sculpted project. After going through the vicissitudes of life, Lucy had learned a lot about friendship and relationships, she knew exactly the types of friendship to avoid.

"Jane had treated me like a little sister, it was reciprocal." She didn't answer him, suggesting a relationship.

"Do you want to be my elder brother?"

Austin frowned, his expression changed at a fast pace, without subsiding for a second. His cold electric blue eyes had an additional liquid to it, but it was still unfathomable to her. He inched closer, taking her off guard when his warm large palm grabbed her slender waist in a gentle manner. Surprisingly she wasn't repulsed by his touch and manly bodily fragrance, her body seemed to be obedient to that gentle touch.

"But I'm not at all interested in a brotherly relationship towards you, Lucy."

He surely didn't, his actions just now had made it clear, it couldn't even be clearer. She took a step away from him, he immediately let his hold of her and gave her the space she needed. Despite their distance slightly widening, his gaze on her never changed, deep and profound with seriouseness.

"But I'll admit that I'm physically attracted to you, I want to share my life with you, Lucy. Do you understand what I mean?"

She surely did, but understanding and expecting were two different concepts, Austin was very good at catching her off guard.

"Is it then a confession ?" She asked with uncertainty, squinting at him, Austin held her gaze and placed a hand in the pocket of his pant in a cool manner.

"It's a marriage proposal, Lucy?"