ch 98
Danna couldn’t express what she felt, relief that Loan had found them or happiness that she hadn’t doubted for a second that the baby was her son. Hearing him say that he had enough to pay off his debt had surprised her. She knew he wasn’t exactly poor, but she had no idea he was that rich, and the word “millionaire” hadn’t even crossed her mind yet. It was an hour before dawn when habit woke her up and she saw him sitting, with his head and arms resting on the bed on the baby’s side, in a tired, light sleep. “Loan…” she stroked his hair slowly and saw him wake up dazed. “What’s wrong? What time is it?” he asked and Danna sat on the bed. “It’s five o’clock. I have to go to the kitchen to work.” “But… what about the baby?” Loan asked because it was still night and it was very cold outside. “I’ll leave him with Lili,” she replied. Loan watched as Danna took a few minutes to breastfeed the baby and then had no choice but to say goodbye so she could take him to the girl in the garden. “Listen, I’m going to find a way to do this without raising suspicion. If Olivia Winston is as dangerous as you say, then it’s better to do things intelligently. Okay?” Danna nodded. “So… what do you want me to do? Thank you for reading on LeeNovelas.com.” “Nothing. Just go on with your life as if I wasn’t here, hopefully in a few days everything will be fixed and it will be the Winstons who will leave this place forever,” Loan assured her and faced with Danna’s incomprehension, she just sighed. “Trust me, please. I’m going to do whatever I have to do to get them out of here.” Danna hugged her neck and Loan felt like she could lose herself in her mouth again. She needed her, she had missed her so much, her whole body wanted her back, but first she had to save her. She gave him a warm kiss that soon became demanding, but she finally found the strength to climb out the window and slip back into the castle. She took a hot shower so as not to look too up late, and was not surprised when as soon as she sat down at the dining table her hostess made a flirtatious appeal to her. “Loan, did you sleep well last night?” “Like a log, I took a couple of pills to relieve my headache and fell asleep,” he replied suspiciously. “Why?” “No… it’s that I went to bring you some tea and… well, you didn’t answer me,” Olivia said casually. Remember. Read this novel only at LeeNovelas.com, not on other sites. Loan gave him a totally fake smile. She had locked the door precisely to prevent anyone from entering and she didn’t buy that story about the tea. She looked at Bryson and launched her next move. “Well, since this property is obviously a gem, I am prepared to buy it from you… for a fair price, of course,” he explained seriously. “How much do you want for it, Mrs. Winston?” Olivia fixed her cold eyes on him.She knew Loan was interested and probably wasn’t one to haggle, so she tried to use that to get a small advantage over him. “Four million,” she replied with a falsely sweet smile. Loan smiled at the price and nodded slowly, showing no surprise. He was willing to pay that amount, however he had other plans to go through with the deal. “I’m willing to pay you more than that with one condition.” Olivia shifted in her chair while her father’s eyes widened because if he was expecting a counteroffer it wasn’t for them to offer more. “Condition? What condition?” he asked, taking the word out of his daughter’s mouth. “I want to keep the castle’s servants,” Loan stated with a shrug. “I know you guys are comfortable with them, but I’d feel more comfortable keeping everyone who already knows every last corner of this place, so I want to keep every last employee.” The earl’s eyes lit up because to him it was simple, but Olivia’s face underwent a slight transformation. “Well… that seems more like a whim than a condition…” “Call it what you will,” Loan replied, “but I’m willing to pay another million for my whim. If it’s okay with you, we can start the paperwork. In a couple of days, I’ll have my castle and you’ll have your five million. Is that a deal?” He leaned forward, extending his hand towards the earl, and before Olivia could object, the two men were shaking hands. “Bryson, take care of it,” Loan said. “The paperwork is for now.” Loan could see the latent discomfort on the woman’s face and realized how far it went when five minutes later Danna came in with some breakfast trays. To say that Olivia Winston was an odious woman was an understatement, and Loan had to gather his courage when he heard her mistreat her, but he also saw that despite the scolding and the insults, his girl smiled quietly, as if she had all her confidence in the fact that he was there. Danna left the dining room as quickly as she could and returned to the kitchen, where she usually helped. “Hey Leda, you who went up there,” the cook said to her, “did you hear if that gentleman is finally going to buy the castle?” Danna froze. “Huh? What are you talking about…?” she stammered. “Buy?” “Yes, the gentleman who arrived… Keller, I think his name is!”“Condition? What condition?” he asked, taking the word out of his daughter’s mouth. “I want to keep the castle’s servants,” Loan declared with a shrug. “I know you’re comfortable with them, but I’d feel more comfortable keeping everyone you already know down to the darkest corners of this place, so I want to keep every last employee.” The earl’s eyes lit up because to him it was simple, but Olivia’s face underwent a slight transformation. “Well… that seems more like a whim than a condition…” “Call it what you want,” Loan replied, “but I’m willing to pay another million for my whim. If it’s okay with you, we can start the paperwork. In a couple of days I’ll have my castle and you’ll have your five million. Is that a deal?” He leaned forward, extending his hand towards the earl, and before Olivia could object, the two men were already shaking hands. “Bryson, take care of it,” Loan said. “The procedure is for now.” Loan could see the latent discomfort on the woman’s face and realized how far she was going when five minutes later Danna came in with some breakfast trays. To say that Olivia Winston was an odious woman was an understatement, and Loan had to gather his strength when he heard her mistreat her, but he also saw that despite the scolding and the insults, his girl smiled quietly, as if she had all her confidence in the fact that he was there. Danna left the dining room as quickly as she could and returned to the kitchen, where she usually helped. “Hey Leda, you who went up there,” the cook said to her, “did you hear if that gentleman is finally going to buy the castle?” Danna froze. “Huh? What are you talking about…?” she stammered. “Buy?” “Yes, the gentleman who arrived… Keller, I think his last name is!”“Condition? What condition?” he asked, taking the word out of his daughter’s mouth. “I want to keep the castle’s servants,” Loan declared with a shrug. “I know you’re comfortable with them, but I’d feel more comfortable keeping everyone you already know down to the darkest corners of this place, so I want to keep every last employee.” The earl’s eyes lit up because to him it was simple, but Olivia’s face underwent a slight transformation. “Well… that seems more like a whim than a condition…” “Call it what you want,” Loan replied, “but I’m willing to pay another million for my whim. If it’s okay with you, we can start the paperwork. In a couple of days I’ll have my castle and you’ll have your five million. Is that a deal?” He leaned forward, extending his hand towards the earl, and before Olivia could object, the two men were already shaking hands. “Bryson, take care of it,” Loan said. “The procedure is for now.” Loan could see the latent discomfort on the woman’s face and realized how far she was going when five minutes later Danna came in with some breakfast trays. To say that Olivia Winston was an odious woman was an understatement, and Loan had to gather his strength when he heard her mistreat her, but he also saw that despite the scolding and the insults, his girl smiled quietly, as if she had all her confidence in the fact that he was there. Danna left the dining room as quickly as she could and returned to the kitchen, where she usually helped. “Hey Leda, you who went up there,” the cook said to her, “did you hear if that gentleman is finally going to buy the castle?” Danna froze. “Huh? What are you talking about…?” she stammered. “Buy?” “Yes, the gentleman who arrived… Keller, I think his last name is!”To say that Olivia Winston was an odious woman was an understatement, and Loan had to gather his courage when he heard her mistreat her, but he also saw that despite the scolding and the insults, his girl smiled quietly, as if she had all her confidence in the fact that he was there. Danna left the dining room as quickly as she could and returned to the kitchen, where she usually helped. “Hey Leda, you who went up there,” the cook said to her, “did you hear if that gentleman is finally going to buy the castle?” Danna froze. “Huh? What are you talking about…?” she stammered. “Buy?” “Yes, the gentleman who arrived… Keller, I think his name is!”To say that Olivia Winston was an odious woman was an understatement, and Loan had to gather his courage when he heard her mistreat her, but he also saw that despite the scolding and the insults, his girl smiled quietly, as if she had all her confidence in the fact that he was there. Danna left the dining room as quickly as she could and returned to the kitchen, where she usually helped. “Hey Leda, you who went up there,” the cook said to her, “did you hear if that gentleman is finally going to buy the castle?” Danna froze. “Huh? What are you talking about…?” she stammered. “Buy?” “Yes, the gentleman who arrived… Keller, I think his name is!”The maids say he’s coming to buy the castle, and I really need to know if he’s bringing his staff, because I don’t want to be out of a job,” the man muttered worriedly. “Relax…” Danna murmured with a comforting gesture. The truth is that I don’t think Mr. Keller will leave us without work. But the truth was that she didn’t know anything and she spent the whole morning with her heart racing. Her gaze barely met Loan’s as she served lunch, but an hour later, when she finally took off her apron to go see her baby, a hand pulled her to the end of one of the hallways and a second later she ran after Loan in the greatest stealth until she reached her room. “Are you crazy? What are you doing?” she exclaimed frightened as the man’s body hit hers and he lifted her up to kiss her. It lasted barely a minute, but they both ended up panting with desire and anticipation. —I can’t be here, Loan —Danna murmured as she watched him lock the door. —No one will see us, I just need to hold you in my arms for a moment —he said, holding her close and Danna smiled. —I’m not saying this because they’ll see us, but because our baby must be hungry by now and I have his food right here —he replied, touching her breasts with a vehement gesture and Loan pouted, not knowing if it was because she heard her say “our baby” or because she was already imagining what was under that bra. —Okay, go… But I’m going to see you tonight, we have to talk about what I’m planning… —You mean buying the castle? Can you really do that? —Danna asked, trying to hide her surprise. —Yes, I really can, and I also offered the count five million to let me have all the servant staff, and that includes you. Danna took a deep breath. —I want to believe that it will work… but Mrs. Winston is not so easy to fool, Loan. Be careful, I don’t think she will agree to that easily. —Okay, we’ll leave tonight. Loan kissed her on the forehead and let her go. Danna left as quietly as she could, and luckily at that time the nobles of the house were enjoying a nap, God only knew why if they didn’t do anything to tire them out. After afternoon tea, however, Loan approached the count. —I think it’s time we clear up some business, I need the files and payroll of the castle employees, if you’re so kind—she said decisively. —Of course, my daughter Olivia is the one who takes care of everything, let’s go to the office, we’ll be more comfortable there— said the count. Mrs. Winston obviously continued with her trace of discomfort, especially when Loan took charge of thoroughly inspecting each employee. She asked him questions about each one and in the end she came to the same conclusion: “Fine, I’ll take it.” And then she came to Danna. “Leda Atkins…” “She can’t stay,” Olivia said immediately and Loan frowned. “Why not? It says here that her contract has five years left,” she replied.“Well… Leda is very close to me… and only she understands how I like my tea! I can’t do without her!” Olivia exclaimed. “Are we talking about the same girl you keep scolding?” Loan hissed. “What can’t you do without, yelling at?” Olivia turned red, but before she could open her mouth Loan closed her folder firmly. “So I guess you’ll find out exactly how I like my tea now and I’ll be the one yelling at you.” “Well… but I’m going to terminate your contract because…” Olivia was looking for any way out to not leave Danna and the house. Well because she has a baby and told me she wanted to go back to Edinburgh with her husband! Loan knew she was lying to her face and she wasn’t going to let her. “I think I was very clear, Mrs. Winston,” she hissed. “Four million for the house, if you want an additional one you’ll have to give me all your employees, every last one.” “You can have them all! But Leda is a nobody…” “Olivia!” The Count stood up in the middle of the staring match. “If Mr. Keller says everyone, then it’s everyone. Leda is nothing interesting, what’s the problem with letting him have her?” he snapped, annoyed, and turned to Loan. “Don’t worry, Mr. Keller. We’ll close the deal for five million and all the employees will stay with you.” Loan nodded, but as soon as his eyes met Olivia’s, he knew he had just made her an enemy.From NôvelDrama.Org.