Page 23 of Bad Duke

“I think you make excuses. Your mother isn’t an obstacle, anymore,” she points out, her callousness putting a lump in my throat.

“You had a talent, a great one, and I was happy to help you in your time of need by giving you a role here, but you are better than this.” She pushes her glasses back up her nose. “You must let Lewis work with you. It will take some time, and some commitment, to get you on par with the other members in his production, but you have natural talent. And Lewis is prepared to give up his time to help you enhance it.”

“That’s very kind of him but?—”

“Good. Training starts tomorrow.”

“But, tomorrow's Saturday.”

“I know, and Lewis is prepared to give up his spare time, isn’t that kind of him?” She smiles proudly.

“No.” The word comes out much more abruptly than I intended. “I mean, I’m grateful, but I don’t want to be in a production. I like to teach,” I assure her.

“Nonsense, whoever would set their aspirations on teaching children which way to point their toes? Lewis's company is fast becoming established, and this is a fantastic opportunity for you.”

“It is and, like I said, I’m grateful but I really have no desire to be on the stage. I dance because I enjoy the way it makes me feel. But I get just the same enjoyment out of helping someone progress. I don’t care that my lack of experience only allows me to teach foundation. Everyone’s got to start somewhere, right?” I shrug.

“Yes, but most wish to make something of themselves.” She squints her eyes at me and lets me see her disappointment.

“I’m sorry, Madame Riverty, I have to go. My lift is waiting.” I stand up and smile at her.

“Tomorrow, 3 pm.” She smiles warningly as I see myself out.

When I make it into the hall, I find Lewis loitering around. He looks at me expectantly with a grin on his lips. I have no words for him. I just pull my bag back on my shoulder and head for the door.

“See you tomorrow,” he calls after me, his voice chilling my bones and making my feet move faster.

ALEX

“So, you wanted to talk.” I wait until Olivia’s sitting at the dinner table before I approach the conversation. She’s showered and changed into a cropped t-shirt and a pair of shorts which are far too distracting. The sooner we can get this out of the way the better.

“I don’t know where to start,” she admits, seeming nervous.

“Well, I assume you have questions.” I take a sip of my wine and wait for her to start reeling them off.

“I have plenty.” She laughs, reminding me that my new obsession with knocking her up is slightly psychotic.

“Just speak your mind.” I shrug. I’ve always valued honesty.

“A baby, Alex. You're saying you want us to have a baby.” She talks as if I’m not aware of the concept. “That’s a big commitment, even for couples who have been together for years and are in love with each other. This whole arrangement we’ve got is one thing, but bringing a child into it seems…”

“Fast, spontaneous, crazy.” I list all the words that have been running through my own head for the past twenty four hours.

“Yes, all of that. And more.” She looks so fucking sexy when she’s agitated. “ I like children, I love them. I want my own someday, and I know we made a deal but, I couldn’t have a child and just hand it over after our year together is done. I’d want to be its mother, she admits with passion in her eyes and fear in her voice.

“Well, that's a good start because I wasn’t going to have it any other way,” I inform her, watching a smile that she doesn’t want me to see, lift onto her lips and radiate her face.

“I’m going to be real honest with you, Olivia.” I clear my throat and lean closer to her. “I see qualities within you that I admire greatly. You're as beautiful on the inside as you are on the out. I know you’ll be a good mother from the way that you're so selfless. A child of mine is going to require that.”

“You put yourself down.” She reaches over to the bottle of wine that’s on the table and when she starts to pour some in her glass I take it out of her hand and shake my head. Maybe I’m being optimistic to believe my seed could have taken its hold already, but I’ve done some research today, and drinking alcohol is off the table for her now.

“Alex, I agreed to a year but what you're asking of me binds us together for a lifetime,” she reminds me, causing an unfamiliar calm to spread over my body. I need to hold on to that feeling because I like it. When my father died I saw this place, and the title I inherited as a burden, now I see it as something I can offer her.

I can see the cogs in her head turning as she looks back at me as if she expects what she’s said to freak me out. She’s bewildered and confused but I know she wants it too. I can sense it.

“I have terms.” She takes the glass of water I pour for her as an alternative to the wine and scowls at me over the rim before she sips.

“Shoot.” I gesture for her to continue. Trying to think of something I wouldn’t agree to, to get what I want.

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