Contract marriage: My billionaire’s cure

“Marcus give me the baby” I stood before Marcus and stretched my arms but he shook his head.

He was cuddling the baby in his arms, tickling his stomach. And Lucas loved it. Marcus kissed his forehead and sat him on his hips. He kept his hand on the baby’s head and leaned him on to his shoulder.

I groaned and slumped on the couch. “Go to work”

“It’s lunch break” Marcus complained.

This was the usual routine. The baby was 14 weeks old and I was still home taking the maternity leave. But Marcus always appear mid day escaping from work and then use lunch break as an excuse. But he never goes back. He throws all the work to Steve and stays here.

“You don’t have boobs to breast feed. Give the baby to me now” I demanded and Marcus groaned.

He carefully gave me the baby and I took him to my arms.

In the first two months my mom stayed here to help me. I had Madeline but mom thought of giving an extra support.

They were both experienced women in taking care of babies but Marcus here wanted to show off that he knows all about babies by reading some books. So he tried to take in charge. After lot of scoldings from my mom he backed off but now that my mom was gone he was back to bothering me.

I unbuttoned my top and brought the baby closer to breastfeed. Marcus kept his chin on my shoulder and watched Lucas drink milk. Marcus ran his thumb over baby’s chin and lucas slowly smiled to it.

I chuckled and Marcus’s face beamed in joy. “He’s smiling”

“Not for you. It’s because he likes mommy’s milk”

Marcus smirked at me. “That’s an excuse for jealousy”

I scoffed “This is my child. Why would I be jealous?” Marcus chuckled seeing me getting annoyed and landed a kiss on my cheek.

“I have to go to my father’s office today. He needs help with something” He closed his eyes and buried his face in my neck. “It will be late when I come home”

“Really? Wow! Then I can have the baby for myself”

Marcus leaned back and frowned, clearly displeased at my words. I bit my lip trying to suppress my laughter but failed.

Lucas stopped drinking and I took the napkin to wipe his mouth. Marcus took the baby to his arms as I button up my blouse. He sat him on his hips and stood up, hugging the baby.

“I’m going out to meet Blair. Go to work”

“No my baby will miss me. I’m coming too”

I groaned loudly and stood up. “Marcus this is the last warning. Think about Steve too”

“I’ll give him months off when he become a father and I’m also coming home late today. So what’s wrong with staying now?”

I threw my hands up in the air in annoyance. “Fine. Come. But now give me Lucas. He needs to have a bath”

I walked up the stairs and he followed me closely behind. One rule he made after Lucas was born was never to bath the baby without him being there. I know, he’s being weird and paranoid. He never even let me take Lucas near the bathtub without him.Belonging © NôvelDram/a.Org.

I went the bathroom and took the small basin out. After filling it with water I took the baby from Marcus’s arms and carefully sat him on it.

“Oh I forgot it” Marcus ran back downstairs and I rolled my eyes knowing exactly what he forgot.

He came back and placed small rubber ducks on the water. Seeing it Lucas opened his mouth and tried to reach them. Lucas discovered he has hands recently and since then he tried to put everything in his mouth.

“Marcus you gotta stop bringing more ducks. Look at how many you already brought”

I pointed at a box in the corner filled with ducks. Since Lucas was born Marcus brought three small ducks daily. The box was already full and I doubt he would stop.

“Why? He loves them”

“Yes, to eat”

Marcus pouted and moved around the basin. He rolled his sleeves up and kept his hand on the baby’s back. “Okay baby, daddy will wash you now because mommy is rude”

He scowled at me and then with his other hand he took water and gently poured it down Lucas’s belly. Lucas started cooing at Marcus and we both laughed.

I splashed water at Marcus wetting his face but he in return filled a plastic cup with water and threw it at me, soaking me wet from top to bottom.

“What the hell?” I shouted in shock, looking down at me.

“What? You did it first”

I was sure my ears were turning red at how angry I was right now. “You idiot. I used my hand and only your face is wet. But look at me. I have to change all my clothes now”

I complained with my hands flying in the air and the entire time baby stared at me with wide eyes. Then after a few seconds he started cooing at me.

Marcus snickered and I tried my best to control all the swearing words that were itching to come out of my mouth.

After washing Lucas I brought a towel and wrapped it around him before taking him out. Marcus dressed him up till I get ready and then he took Lucas to his car and sat him on the baby car seat.

Marcus softly kissed him on the cheek before closing the door and we drove to the cafe where Blair worked.

We reached it on time and Marcus parked the car in front of the cafe.

“Why are you visiting her?”

“My mom is coming”

“What?” Marcus suddenly snapped his head and asked me in shock.

“Is she going to live in our house again?” His grip around the steering wheel tightened. “Please tell her not to. Pleeeease!!!” Marcus started whining like a child.

I rolled my eyes and got off the car. I took Lucas in my arms and wrapped him around a blanket before walking inside the cafe.

“Please Camilla” Marcus followed me, annoying me to the best.

I spun around and turned to him. “She’s coming to see Blair. She’s Jake’s girlfriend so mom wanted to see her. And Blair asked me to come because she’s scared. Now happy?”

Hearing me Marcus gave a Cheshire grin and quickly snatched Lucas from my arms.

I felt my patience slowly running out. I closed my eyes and took deep breaths to calm myself. “Camilla breath in, breath out. Relax. Just relax. Let’s not boil my blood because of him”

Marcus chuckled softly and pulled me to a table near the window. He sat across from me and leaned Lucas’s head on his shoulder.

Lucas started drooling and it dripped down to Marcus’s coat. I took a napkin out and stretched my hand to wipe the drool in baby’s mouth.

I always carried a handful of napkins with me because every time we carry Lucas he drools. And because Marcus always holds him most of his coat arms were covered with drool.

“Ahh baby is here” Blair came running, holding her hands out to take Lucas.

But Marcus averted his gaze and pretended not to see her.

“Is he still the same?” Blair scowled at Marcus. “Still not giving the baby to anyone?”

“He’s a baby himself. He doesn’t understand complex stuff like sharing of love. That’s why he’s always selfish”

Marcus glared at me and shot daggers through his eyes, burning holes in my skull. If looks could kill I would be ten feet under.

The door opened and Jake walked in. His eyes searched us and when he saw Lucas his face beamed into a smile. He hopped towards us and sat next to Marcus who scowled at him.

“Oh look who it is. My handsome brother in law” Jake squeezed Marcus’s cheeks, turning it red and furious, Marcus kicked Jake’s foot.

“Ouch. Very violent” Jake dusted off Marcus’s shoe print off his trouser leg.

“Go away. You can’t sweet talk me into giving the child”

“Pretty please”

“Nope”

“Jeez he’s annoying” Jake leaned back and Lucas looked at him over Marcus’s shoulder.

“Aww who’s this cute baby?” Jake lightly tapped the baby’s nose. Lucas smiled and started gurgling. More drool dripped over Marcus’s coat and Jake took Marcus’s tie to wipe it off.

“Hey!” Marcus shouted and in turn Jake winked at him.

Both Blair and I stared at them in disgust. I shook my head trying to forget what I just witnessed.

“Uhh I need something to drink”

“I’m coming too” Jake ran behind me and then hugged Blair from the back. Blair gave him a kiss on the cheek and Jake blushed like a tomato.

Ignoring Jake’s shyness and embarrassment to the Graham family I texted mom to see where she was and she said she was stuck in traffic so it might take a while.

After ordering coffee I sat next to Marcus and took Lucas from his arms. Lucas yawned so I leaned his head on my arm and gently rocked him.

“He’s sleepy. Should I take him home?”

“No I’ll take him. You promised Blair that you would stay”

“Marcus your office is right across the street. It’s pointless for you to go back and forth. I’ll call Madeleine. She said she’s on her way from her relative’s house. I can ask her to pick up Lucas from here”

Marcus let out a long sigh and leaned his head on mine. “Let’s go somewhere far away from here. No work, no busy schedules. Just you me and the baby”

“And what? Take care of cattles for living?”

“Not a bad idea”

I shook my head and took my phone out to call Madeline. She said she was coming in a taxi and would also come here. As soon as her taxi reached us we walked out of the cafe with Lucas in my arms.

Lucas sleepily opened his eyes and looked at me. “Mommy will come home soon. Don’t cry my baby” I kissed his nose and wrapped him around another blanket before giving him to Madeline.

Madeline was more of an expertise at this than I was. She was very protective of the baby so I had no worries when she was around.

As the car drove off Marcus pouted and stared at it till the car was out of sight.

“Now” I slapped his butt and pointed at his building. “Go to work and don’t put all the pressure on Steve”

I turned to go back but Marcus grabbed my arm and pulled me to his chest. Before I could protest he wrapped his arms around me and crashed his lips on to mine. I moaned against his lips as he sucked and licked my lips deepening the kiss. I felt a tight squeeze in my butt and I quickly pushed him away.

Marcus smirked and waved at me before crossing the road to his building.

I waited till Marcus went inside to make sure he doesn’t run back home to see Lucas. Then I walked inside and saw Jake staring at me weirdly.

“What?”

“You sucked each other in broad daylight. Tsk” He shook his head and I crashed next to him.

“That’s call love”

“I know what love is. Blair and I have the most sweetest love” He closed his eyes and inhaled dreamily.

I scoffed and called my mom again. She arrived shortly and was very happy to meet Blair. We wanted mother’s support mainly because RJ board members wanted Jake to have a business marriage just like mine.

Even though I had a good outcome it was unfair for Jake. My mother agreed to get support from her family in England to pressure the RJ group into cancelling Jake’s one.

After a chit chat till evening I booked an Uber and went home.

As I got home I noticed our two security guards were no where to be found. I opened the gate myself and walked in only to see the security post in a mess.

My brows creased in confusion. I turned to the house and ran up the steps. The door was open but it was eerie silent.

“Madeline?”

I kept my bag on the couch and walked to the kitchen. I looked around but no one was there. As I walked my foot collided against something on the floor.

I looked down and a loud gasp escaped my lips.

It was Madeline, lying on floor, surrounded by a pool of blood.

“Oh my god Madeline” I knelt down and tried to wake her up but she had already bled a lot. There was a wound on her stomach as if someone stabbed her.

I felt my heart beating faster and sweat trickling down my face. At that moment only one word came to my mind.

Lucas.

Quickly I leaped up and ran to the stairs.

As I reached upstairs I opened the door with heavy force and ran to the cot but Lucas wasn’t there. Tears welled up in my eyes and my hands started trembling.

Where’s my baby?

Suddenly I heard Lucas cry and I turned around.

But a figure wearing dark clothes were standing behind me holding a batten. I tried to make out his face through my blurry vision but before I could do that he raised the batten and hit me in the head.

My head spun and I felt dizzy. Before I knew I collapsed to the ground falling unconscious.