Chapter30 Where Do You Want to Touch
Linnea's heart contracted slowly.
Caius was so wicked. Clearly, whether she went with him or not, the decision was in his hands, yet he put on this generous act of letting her choose... Did she dare say no?
But she asked herself, did she dare go with Caius? It seemed there was nothing to fear.
So she didn't hesitate much. "I dare."
"Then I'm truly honored." Caius marveled. "I can actually rank above your sense of security from 'holding the steering wheel.'"
"Where exactly are you taking me?"
Seeing her gradually growing tense, Caius couldn't help laughing. "Alright, Linnea. I must tell you, I don't always want to be a murderer. Especially with a charming girl like you, compared to death, I'd rather watch you climax."
"Oh." Linnea's back settled against the car seat again.
Caius confessed. "Taking you to a place... where I can make amends and apologize to you."
Linnea was too shocked to speak. What did he have to apologize to her for? No, wait, what she should be asking was, Caius would actually apologize to her?
Caius knew she was surprised, but he didn't explain further.
He focused on driving, while Linnea glanced around randomly, from his hand gripping the steering wheel to his wrist...
Two scabbed bloody holes.
Linnea belatedly realized what they were. Her cheeks flushed red instantly. She quickly turned her head back, pretending nothing had happened.
But Caius suddenly said, "Touch them."
The intersection hit a red light. He stopped the car and reached to grab Linnea's hand.
"Here?" Linnea said nervously. "No, this is on the road. Other people will see..."
Caius scoffed. "I'm just having you touch the bloody holes my little puppy bit. Linnea, where do you want to touch me? That thing that's about to wake up again because of one sentence from you?"
Linnea was extremely embarrassed and didn't want to speak.
Caius grabbed her fingers and brought them to touch that patch of bite marks.
Her fingertips rubbed over it. The scabs on top were already very thin, blending into the light red kiss marks. It didn't look like an injury, more like an ambiguous mark. And the blood vessels coiled around his wrist. They protruded, pulsing powerfully...
The red light went dark. She quickly withdrew her hand.
Just as she was about to fall asleep, Caius stopped the car. "We're here."
She opened her eyes groggily and made out the scene outside the car. "That gallery?"
Caius took a work call temporarily.
Linnea entered. Greeting her was actually Stella wearing a manager's uniform.
"Stella, you got promoted?"
"Yes." Stella grinned. "Ever since that sleazy fat guy got fired, I was promoted to manager. It's all thanks to you, Linnea."
Stella led her into a studio.
As soon as she entered, she saw the remaining few anonymous paintings by her mother. She had once asked that "sleazy fat guy" for them, but he had tried to grope her and was caught by Caius. Later, she came several times, but the gallery entrance always had a "closed for renovation" sign hanging.
"These paintings..."
"You're the first guest to be received after the gallery reopened." Stella smiled. "The boss said whatever you want is yours."
Linnea was surprised.
When Caius came in, she quickly hugged him and acted cute. "Caius, you're so good to me."
"Still afraid I'd take you to the wilderness to dump your body?"
"How could I!" Linnea said exaggeratedly. "Caius is the most generous, kindest person in the world."
After being affectionate for a while, she happily admired her mother's paintings.
"You make money to redeem your mother's belongings?"
"Ah, yes..." Of course it wasn't just for that.
Not just her mother's belongings, but also the old estate, even the property her father had seized.
"How much more money do you need?"
That would be a terrifying astronomical figure. No matter how interested Caius was in a bed partner, he wouldn't be stupid enough to casually give her that much money.
"I'll pay the amount for you. You don't need to think about doing that damn waitressing job anymore."
Linnea deflected.
Obtaining money wasn't her ultimate goal.
What she wanted was at least the position of Caius's wife. That represented even more endless money, as well as power and status...
Caius's eyes darkened. He hated that his little cat was hiding things from him.
But she immediately asked, "Caius, you're making amends and apologizing to me. What are you apologizing for?"
Fine. He remembered the purpose of bringing her here. He'd let it slide this time.
He turned Linnea around, held her shoulders, and said solemnly, "Linnea, I apologize to you again for what happened last night. I shouldn't have forced you to embarrass yourself in front of strangers. I shouldn't have disrespected you."
Linnea stared at him blankly.
He would actually apologize to her for this? She had already been about to convince herself to forget it.
Respect... Caius would actually respect someone?
However, perhaps because his attitude was too serious, Linnea couldn't help getting stubborn too.
"But what good is sorry?" She mumbled. "As long as you want to, you'll do it again next time."
As soon as she said it, she thought she had lost Caius face. She didn't even dare look at Caius's possibly darkened face. She wanted to make amends, but Caius pressed his thumb against her lips. "Linnea, what I promise you, I'll definitely do. Trust me, okay?"
"But you don't understand respect at all."
"Linnea, you seem to underestimate my degree of socialization." Caius laughed. "I'm not some monster. Of course I understand respect and equality. But whether I put it into practice depends entirely on whether I want to or not."
Such an arrogant statement... Linnea thought to herself.
In her heart, however, a secret warm current was injected.
At least Caius was willing to make her happy. Didn't that prove her revenge plan had achieved another phase of victory?
She locked eyes with Caius, suddenly grabbed his shirt collar, and kissed him.
When the kiss left her breathless, she found herself already sitting on the sofa with Caius, straddling Caius's thighs.
"Those paintings are my mother's. My mother loved painting when she was alive. She especially liked exciting, novel, and bold painting styles, creating many excellent works."
"But none of these works became famous." Caius said. "However, they have artistic merit far exceeding their fame."
In fact, paintings signed by her mother were worth their weight in gold in art circles. But those paintings were all properly preserved in their owners' homes. Linnea didn't need to get them back.
Caius asked her again, "Do you paint too?"
"Of course. I love it."
"I've never seen you pick up a paintbrush. There aren't any painting tools in your apartment either."
"After my mother died, I was busy making money and had no time to paint."
"Do you have time to pick up the hobby again now?" Caius picked her up and walked to the blank easel. "Then can I ask you for a return gift? Right now, paint something for me."
"Painting takes a lot of time." Linnea thought for a moment. "But I can paint a bookmark."
She went to the table in the center of the studio to search, found a small blank bookmark, and began painting with the paints at hand. She painted a deep, dense, mysterious starry sky. This was the feeling Caius gave her.
And Caius stared at her.
Watching her sweep up a fallen strand of hair, tuck it behind her ear, revealing her quiet profile. The orange-yellow evening glow spilled onto her face, dreamlike and hazy and beautiful.
Caius rarely experienced this feeling.
And neither did Linnea. This kind of tranquil time was something she didn't even dare think about when she was busy with life.
After painting the last few strokes, the bookmark was set aside. Caius held her to the edge of the table, his hands braced on the desk on either side of her thighs, kissing her again. Linnea was tipsy when she suddenly thought of something.
She gently pushed him away. "That hundred-day contract, do you still remember it?"
"Of course."
Linnea asked him, "Now, what are my chances of winning?"