Chapter 52 I will do anything for you.
"My proposal is still hanging. Will you be my woman?"
Danica was puffed up. She loved Loney and she enjoyed what they had. She couldn't understand why they had to define the relationship because she didn't perceive that it would be different if she accepted to be his woman.
"Does that mean I'll no longer be your surrogate?"
"Technically, yes. After all, this baby is mine, as much as yours. Don't worry, I will still transfer the last bit of the money. That part of the contract still stands." Loney felt that she was reluctant to cancel the contract because of the money and this time, Danica got a vivid understanding of what he meant.
"No, it's not about the money. I told you I don't need it. I only have to verify with Daniella whether she has paid off the people she owed. That was my reason for taking the contract," she clarified. Loney believed her but he still felt that she needed the money too, even if she wanted to give it to her sister.
"But I will still deposit the remaining part anyway. It's just unlike me to go against my words."
"So, as your woman, what I'm I supposed to do?" Danica asked instead. She realized that arguing with Loney about the money will heed no valid result.
"Well, I would have asked you to marry me but I don't want to scare you so we can take it slow, and get to know each other better. You don't have to do anything different from what you are already doing. Just take good care of yourself but it would also mean that I wouldn't need permission to.."
Loney plastered his lips on hers, the softness caressing each other. His tongue parted her lips gently, exploring her warm moist mouth. Danica welcomed him eagerly. Her tongue fought for dominance, her hands behind her neck, pulling him deeper. Loney pulled away. Danica was left in the lurch. She couldn't tell if it was her pregnancy hormones but she wanted him so bad and she felt he was teasing her.
However, Loney's mind seemed to be hazed. "What is it?" Danica asked, worry grinding her.
"You still haven't accepted. Will you be my woman?" Loney's heart rate increased, as heavy silence descended. Danica's countenance was unreadable and Loney feared she would say no. He doubted if he could handle another rejection. It was as if his soul was tied to hers the moment they met.
"Yes, I will be your woman and-" Loney's lips found hers. He couldn't wait for her to complete her sentence. The first part was all he needed to hear. Who knew whether the second part was going to come with some ridiculous conditions? Peace resounded in him, let alone, fulfilment and pride. She let him in and very soon, he will have her completely but he will be patient with her.
His kiss came stronger and more passionate. He was lost in her warmth. His hands meandered every inch of her body, he felt passionate. Suddenly, he stopped but didn't move away. His forehead was pressed against hers.
"You have to do something for me, Danica." His deep voice sounded eager.
"I will do anything for you," she said without thinking, her body heating up and wanting nothing more than Loney's touch.
"Is that a promise?" Loney kissed her earlobe, her nipple hardened.
"Yes. I will do anything for you," Her voice was a whisper but due to the close proximity, Loney heard clearly.
"You have to sign the documents making you the beneficiary to all my assets," Loney blurted out casually.
Danica froze rapidly, impact menacing her mind. Her marbles drifted, a frown invading her features.
"But...I can't do that. Why didn't you tell me this before asking me to be your woman? If this was part of the condition, then I would have rather remained your surrogate." Danica was getting agitated. She didn't want any of his wealth. She just wanted the man but unknown to her, Loney was testing her. Yet, her answer made him take things seriously.
He cupped her cheeks in his hand, his eyes bored into hers, a ray of summer heat flooded her mien. Loney's gaze of lust and obsession made her uncomfortable. "Why? You can't be with me because I'm rich?" He didn't take away his gaze.
Danica struggled to hold her haze on his, "I can be with you without being your beneficiary because it's your hard work. I don't deserve it," she sharply, hoping that Loney would understand. All Danika wanted was a simple life but she was ready to give it up for Loney, knowing she can't live a simple life with someone like him but being a beneficiary to his wealth, was totally out of her equation.
"But you are my woman Danika, you deserve everything," Loney spoke so gently, his words felt like electric shock waves. She shifted uncomfortably but Loney firmed his grip on her, his strong arms encircling her. She felt both safe and repressed. It was a weird feeling that emanated from Loney's demands.
"You didn't include it when you explained that to me. What if things don't work out between us and something happens to you? What if.."
"No what-ifs. We live in the moment. You are carrying the heir of my wealth. So who deserves to be my beneficiary?" Loney knitted his brow as he asked. His expression was solemn, Danica was startled.
"How much are we looking at?" The words were forced out of her mouth.
Loney pursed his lips. He didn't want to scare her but neither did he want to lie to her. He wanted to open his world to her. She deserved to know everything about him. "Eighty billion in assets and twenty-one billion in liquid.." Danica's eyes widened like saucers.
"What?" She exclaimed. "No way Loney, I can't, I'm sorry," she gave up. Loney noticed something. No woman in her right sense would reject an opportunity like this but Danica was not like every woman. Her rejection only increased Loney's conviction that there wasn't a better person than her.
"When I asked the question, I was joking but now, I'm serious. You have to sign it," Loney stated the facts. He wasn't asking a question but Danica answered anyway,
"No."
Loney frowned, he looked sorrowful. "Why?" he asked in a whisper. He was afraid that he was going to be left hanging.
"Because I.." The words stuck in Danica's throat.
"Say it, Danica. You can tell me anything," Loney's voice was soft and he wasn't giving her any breathing space.
"I...I love you." Danica blurted. Loney's eyes lit up. A smile beautified his features,
"I have loved you from the very first time I saw you. Even when I thought it was Daniella but when I saw her, I didn't feel the connection I felt with you the first time. I love you so much, Danica."
Tears scorched the back of Danica's eyes, she let them fall. She wrapped her arms around him, her tears of joy dousing the shirt of his pyjamas.
"So, I will bring the documents tomorrow," Loney whispered in her ears, not breaking from her warm embrace.
Danica stiffened, "No. I love you for who you are Loney, I don't need your money."
Loney pulled slowly away, staring into her tear-filled eyes. "Then you don't love me as much as I love you," his voice was bitter, his expression solemn but he didn't let go completely.
"I do," Danica's voice was teary.
"If you do, then accept me as I am. I am a billionaire. You can't take me and leave the money. We are one pack and that is the only way, I will believe how much you love me because as soon as you sign those documents, you can never leave me, Danica, I will add that to the clause." Money kissed her tears as he spoke.
"I don't ever want to leave you but why are you doing this? You are not dying anytime soon so let's enjoy the moment," Danica tried to reason. Why can't Loney understand? Why does he have to make her the beneficiary of his wealth? It didn't make sense that they had to keep arguing about this.
"It doesn't work that way, Danica. Maybe it's about time you understand my reason for wanting a child even when I'm not married."
Danica's ears itched. Loney was going to share a sensitive part of him with her and she didn't want to miss any part of it. "Why?"
Loney pursed his lips for some time. Anxiety pinched Danica. "My parents died when I was very young. I seldom remember what they look like. I grew up in the street, drawn to playing with nature. Most times, I see a forest and I suddenly feel like something else should be there. I picture things in my mind and draw them out. One day, I came up with the model of a bridge over the sea. I kept it in front of me while I begged for money."
"A man dropped a coin in front of me and picked the model. Then he said, "Son, you are very talented but without formal education, you are useless." He didn't give me back the model but his words gingered me up. I started menial jobs like washing plates in restaurants, ironing, etc and enrolled myself in school. I had little or no help from strangers. I loved to acquire knowledge and I enjoyed the teachings but the students were horrible to me."
"No one wanted to be close to me. With time, I stopped trying to have friends and coiled into my world. I would have gone insane but found myself lost in inventions. I will see a car and wonder what makes it move. Sometimes, I sneak into car garages to check what their engine entails. I was just curious and I just loved machines but my passion was engineering. I was the smartest in every class and will sneak into advanced classes. Soon, I found the classes boring because I already knew what was being taught."
"When I got to college, nothing changed. I still found education boring but thanks to that man, I just wanted to graduate, especially when I saw the model he took from me in reality. He stole my design, constructed it and took the credit. Soon, I saw Daniella. She was a distraction from the boredom. I could stare at her all day and not feel drilled. I wanted to talk to her but there was no way to do so. There were just too many guys around her."
"One day I saw her at the beach and I got the courage to ask her on a date. She humiliated and insulted me. I couldn't bear it when I saw her the next day in college so I dropped out. I sent a proposal to a billionaire to build his house. He loved it and gave me the job against all the professionals. That was my first hit. But that was also the beginning of my problems. He recommended me to fellow billionaires and gradually, I started my company."
"I had lots of money coming but I was never happy because I could never love again. Daniella's words registered so deep in my mind, I couldn't forget them. I turned to the club sometimes even when I didn't like it because I wanted a girl. Soon, I made my bodyguards get girls for me till I met you. My business has grown but I've made lots of enemies, even with the mafia. Envious people who think they should have been given contracts instead of me."
"My life was threatened severally but during my difficult times, I was also bullied in school and on the streets so I learnt how to fight and that was how I defended myself. Now, when I look at my life, I don't know what to do. I didn't have a love life but I need an heir so I resorted to surrogacy."
"I lost all hope when even my surrogates were bought over by my enemies. Just when I got tired and almost willed my wealth to charity, you showed up and changed everything so why won't you be my beneficiary?"
Danica cried throughout Loney's story. He caught her tears like they were the most precious things and wiped her face with the back of his hand. Her voice was still teary when she spoke, "I don't know what to say."
"Just say yes, and leave the rest to me."