THE MERCILESS DUKE

CHAPTER 7: THE MERCILESS DUKE

“Hey, bitch.”

The next morning, when Grace saw her, she instantly grins as if knowing exactly what happened yesterday night.

“I’ve heard Mama almost killed you.” She chuckled, pouring herself a glass of drink afterwards.

Raquel wasn’t wrong. But she did not speak. She wouldn’t gave her the satisfaction she was seeking. It was just the two of them, who was left alone on the mansion. Both of their parents are out, drowning themselves with the luxury in exchange of their daughter. Raquel bitterly thought.

“Oh, seems like cat have gotten your tongue, Raq.” She mocked. “Oh hey, mind serving us a breakfast?”

“You can do it yourself—” She was fed up of her, but came a voice of the man she hated the most.

“Watch your mouth, Raquel.” It was David, who shared a sloppy kiss with Grace in front of her, when he get closer.

“That was great, honey.”

Raquel was disgusted. The food felt like it taste bland. It isn’t because she was affected by whatever’s going on between the two, but how shameless they were.

“But you still feels great inside of me, baby.”

As they flirt, Raquel stood up.

She wouldn’t be able to stand them.

“I’m finish, you can both help yourself.”

“No.” David instantly glared at her. “You are going to serve us, bitch.” His words are threatening. “Don’t act so innocent. Be grateful that I haven’t killed you yet after what you pulled yesterday.”

She clenched her jaw.

“I understand.” She set aside her pride.

“And by the way, I have a guest coming so make your servings for three, you useless wife. Tch.”

When David told her that somebody was joining them for breakfast, she never expected that it would be Eliot. Eliot Duke, the man she fucked in Bali, the man she bid her farewell yesterday, and promise to never saw, yet he was here, sharing a table with David and Grace.

Raquel felt betrayed. Had he been playing with her?

He said that yesterday would be the last time!

“If it wasn’t the great Eliot Duke.” David was formal. “My, it was a pleasure that you have accepted my invitation.”

“If it is an investor, I wouldn’t mind.” But Eliot seems different.

On his eyes, Raquel isn’t blind to see how cold he was. There is this raw hatred aligned to those orbs that made David to chuckled nervously.

“But it seems like you wouldn’t be part of my company for so long, Mr. Smith.” He sounded cruel.

“W—Well.” David was pressured. “You know… I was pursued by Mr. Chen to sell my share—”

“Without informing the board of directors. Did you not read the new protocol, hmmm?”

“But Mr. Chen was part of the company, Sir—!”

“WAS.” Eliot coldly looked at her husband.

Raquel was surprised at his demeanor. How can she forgot that Eliot is more powerful, while David only plays dirty to get what he wants? At that table, he was like a vicious Duke himself, who was ready to unleashed his wrath upon her fool husband. The thought was satisfying. Having a vivid image of the boastful Smith begging for his life.

Her giggles captured their attention.

Her cheeks flared when all eyes were on her.

“I—I’m sorry—”

“You!” But David wasn’t buying her apology. “Just get the hell out of here, if you are not going to do something!”

“Hey, calm down, dear.” Grace placed her hand flirtatiously on David’s shoulders, while her eyes are trained to Eliot’s direction.

Raquel hangs her head low.

“I said get out—!”

“Is that how you treat your wife, Mr. Smith?” Eliot voice drips with venom.

“What?” But David was already embarrassed. The contempt on his voice was averted to Eliot. “You may be my superior, but that doesn’t mean you have any rights to care about how I manage my house, Mr. Duke.”

“But I do care.” Eliot clasped his hands together. There is an adamant stubbornness that flickered on his eyes. “I highly value my employee’s morals, and their behavior—”

“I do not work for you!” What he said seems to trigger David’s anger. He was instantly provoke. “You are in fact the one who had been using my money!”

“Before you sell it, so basically you are deny of that rights, Mr. Smith, and might I say, you have an awful taste of women.” Eliot chuckled darkly, pertaining to her sister.

“You!” Grace face reddened. Her interest has been replaced by irritation.

“How dare you speak ill to my woman—”

“So, you dare admit that you are coveting with your wife’s sister?” Eliot smirked. “That could have put you in jail, if you are not careful. Have I mentioned the stocks you stole that you also sell to Mr. Chen?”

Depleted with his pride, David look petrified being caught on his act.

“W—what do you want?” He looks defeated. “I—I’ll pay you, no—I’ll make it triple!”

“Well, pay everything you have stolen from me five times of the same price, Mr. Smith, and it would be settled.” Eliot placed a cup of tea on his lips calmly.

“W—what?!”

Even Raquel’s eyes widened at his condition. She had never seen this side of him, so cruel, so merciless.

“Is it a deal?” Eliot soon asked.

On his mind, he was crushing Raquel’s husband with so much hatred. His angst fury that was spreading inside of him like a wildfire with utter disdain. He wanted him to suffer the same way Raquel has been. Her tears he cause, and everything. He felt responsible to make his fool of a husband beg in his knees, and kneel.

That just felt satisfying.

“I’ll pay, Sir!” Forced to submit, David gritted his teeth.

While Grace looks worried.

“Good.” Eliot placed his cup down. He dry his lips and stood up.

But before leaving the house, his eyes meet hers, they softened for a moment.

“And by the way—” He glanced over his shoulder.

“Yes, Sir?” David was quick on his feet in fear that Eliot might pulled something again.

“Like I said, you make a horrible taste with women.”

“And that’s what happened.” Raquel took a deep breathe after telling Jade everything that took place earlier that morning.

“You’re kidding, right?” Disbelief was written all over her friend’s face.

“I wish, I am.” Raquel rolled her eyes.

“Oh my god! I still can’t believe it!” Jade covered her mouth, but soon giggles. “You mean, the man you fuck followed you up and propose to take you away from your fool husband? How romantic! And my…”Jade hums, grinning. “I would have never hesitated thinking that it was Eliot Duke, if I haven’t been married.”

“Oh, stop it, Jade.” She rolled her eyes. “It was a stupid idea.”

“For me? Nope.” Jade chuckled, before she looked at her.

“What?” Raquel raised her eyebrows in confusion.

“Are you not even considering his offer?” Jade is straight forward. “It’s Eliot, he’s more powerful than David—”

“I am not taking the risk, Jade.” Raquel hardened her face. “And who knows, it might just be a phase, then his feelings would disappear the next day.”

“If it is infatuation, but knowing what happened, I’m guessing it’s more than that, Raq.” Genuine, Jade’s grin depleted into a soft smile. “What’s not to like about you? You are a strong woman, beautiful, and kind.”

“Stop it, Jade.” Raquel shook her head. “I am not dragging Eliot with my mess—”

“It is because you are afraid to get hurt again, is that it?” Jade looked at her intently. “Tell me, do you have any feelings for Eliot?”

“Jade…” She was cornered.

“I know you, so you cannot lie to me, Raq.”

“No—”

“Just tell me the truth.” Jade was persistent.

That until Raquel found herself blurting out a big, “Yes. Yes, I can feel something for him, but I must not, because I am married, Jade!” Her eyes brimmed with a sad spark. “I am married to David, and my parents treated me horribly, and all my life… All my life I have survive without anybody’s help…. I live for myself, and Eliot… I am not going to get my hopes up again, Jade.”

“I’m sorry, Raq.”

“No, I’m sorry.” Raquel looks away. “I—it might have been a wrong thing that I came here.”

“Wait!”

“Goodbye, Jade.”

Raquel have no one. When she left Jade’s place, she found herself walking alone on the suburbs of Manila. The sky was no longer blue, but was painted into a vermillion color, but unlike the city, the place was much quieter. There are no cars, but people like her, who prefer the silence and serenity that it could provide.

“If it wasn’t you, Raquel.” Sister Eliza first greeted her the moment she arrived at the of the orphanage.

“Sister.” Raquel offered a soft smile.

“It’s been long, and your parents never told us anything about you.” There’s this hint of longing from the nun’s voice.

Sister Eliza is a head nun of the orphanage that her family are funding with. It is a charity made by her own mother, but if you think it is out of kindness, then you’re wrong. Raquel knew better that it is for publicity, now that her father decided to run for a senatorial position this election.

“I’m sorry, I’ve been quite busy with work.” She lied through her teeth. “So, how’s the kids?”

“Well, you’re just right in time, hija.” Sister Eliza seems to remember something. “I am going to introduce you to our visitor.”

“Visitor?” She frowns. “You have a visitor at this hour?”

It’s most unlikely for the orphanage to have a guest. Oddly, this made Raquel curious.

“Yes, we also think that it is strange, but learning the truth that he is one of the new CEO who had been helping us with funds, we never think twice to let him in.”  Sister Eliza looks happy.

CEO? Raquel thought. Who could it be?

“May I know who it is?” Raquel asked.

“Well—”

But a voice cut off Sister Eliza’s words.

“Me.”

When she find out who it is, Raquel was glued on her feet.

“Y—you?”

Had fate been really playing the two of them all this time?

“Yes, he is the one I am talking about, Raquel.” It was Sister Eliza, who take the initiative to introduce the pair. “Eliot meet Raquel, and Raquel meet Mr. Eliot Duke.”

How can Raquel tell her that she already meet the man, and they are more than being a stranger themselves?