Chapter9 Reward for an Affair

Linnea hadn't figured out how to deal with him yet and instinctively turned her head away to avoid his gaze. In the past month, she had rarely interacted with Caius outside of bed.

But Amy had already squeezed out a tear. "Caius, it hurts so much... I just happened to like a painting Linnea liked. That painting fits Mr. Jam's pursuit of novel art perfectly, so I wanted to buy it at ten times the price. Who knew it would cause a misunderstanding with Linnea, and she just... I can't tolerate such humiliation!"

As she cried and complained, Caius politely looked back at her. This gave Linnea a chance to observe him.

His bulging muscles were wrapped in a sharp suit. Every strand of hair had a perfect arc. He had the full appearance of a social elite. It seemed the person he was meeting today was fairly important.

Suddenly, those emerald eyes pierced into hers again, carrying intense scrutiny.

"That sounds truly infuriating." After Amy finished speaking, he gentlemanly helped her up, then showed Linnea an appropriately serious expression. "Linnea, assaulting a colleague is wrong. Do you realize your mistake?"

Linnea had ten thousand ways to prove herself right, such as having the clerk testify or pulling up surveillance footage. But she didn't want to do that. She didn't care about right or wrong. She only cared about Caius's attitude. Who would Caius choose to support?

She met Caius's eyes and only said, "I'm not wrong."

Amy, with red and swollen eyes, went to the side to touch up her makeup. Before leaving, she seemed to hook Caius's arm with her fingertips. What a promiscuous man. How many more subordinates did he plan to sleep with?

But Caius suddenly walked to her side. With a chilling smile, he asked in a low voice, "Linnea, are you competing with her for my favor? Wanting me to favor you?"

No, just testing.

She wasn't stupid enough to think that after only being Caius's bed partner for a month, she could compete with a favored secretary who created convenience for his work.

But Linnea fearlessly asked back, "So what if I am?"

Caius's tone immediately sank, carrying a hint of warning. "Linnea, I like obedient girls. This isn't what a good girl should do."

He liked good girls?

Oh, no. This was just his selection criteria for model bed partners. And she wouldn't be satisfied with the identity of a bed partner.

"Who knows?" She blinked slyly.

Caius laughed silently and coldly. Undoubtedly, he was provoked to anger by this reckless bed partner.

"Linnea, don't try to challenge my bottom line."

He suddenly gripped Linnea's wrist holding the picture frame and forcefully shook it off, making her stumble. Then he picked up that palm-sized painting, walked up to Amy, and announced, "Amy, as compensation, Linnea will give you this painting."

Amy looked up, staring at the painting in a daze for several seconds before taking it. She had never thought she would win. She was incredibly surprised and asked cautiously, "It's for me?"

"Yes." Caius repeated in a bestowing tone. "You don't need to give it to Mr. Jam."

"Then Mr. Jam..."

"There are many paintings in the gallery that he'll like. Just pick any one."

Faced with this dreamlike scene, Amy almost shed tears. She couldn't help but was about to hug Caius's arm, but missed.

Caius's attention was once again drawn away by that woman.

Linnea looked at him and said, "I don't agree."

"But the decision is mine."

Linnea stared at him for a few more seconds. Her tone seemed a bit more agitated than before. "But that painting already belongs to me! Caius, this isn't fair!"

Caius was very satisfied with her reaction.

Yes, just like that. Falling into a passive role, having her emotions controlled by him.

He didn't respond, and Linnea appeared more anxious.

She bit her lips tightly, biting them until they almost lost their color. As if struggling in her heart for a long time, she finally assumed a surrendering posture and pleaded with Caius in a low voice. "But I really like this painting. I specially took leave to come here just to buy this painting. Its author is also a junior in the medical department at Laurentian University..."

"Did you really just bring up other 'talented' men in front of me?"

"No, I misspoke. Caius, please don't misunderstand..." She uttered the last sentence. "Caius, please."

She begged with a humble attitude.

But the unpleasant feeling in Caius's heart grew stronger. This audacious little cat would go this far for a mediocre painting?

"No." He refused coldly.

Linnea blinked. Her eyes had already begun to mist over. But as if she had already experienced his cruelty, she made no more futile struggles. She choked up and said softly, "Okay."

Had she learned her lesson?

Caius looked at her suspiciously. However, she seemed to be thinking about leaving. She wiped the corner of her eyes with the back of her hand and forced a smile. "Caius, I've delayed your work progress. I'm very sorry. Now, may I leave first..."

This bitch was just leaving like that? Amy quickly walked over and said to the man who favored her, "I need her to apologize to me..."

Her request dissolved into the air.

Caius completely ignored her voice. He stared at the pitiful Linnea and casually thought that given how sensible she was, it wasn't impossible to give her a little reward.

So he generously said, "However, how can I let a lady who loves art leave empty-handed? In this gallery, besides this painting, you can choose anything you like."

Linnea asked hoarsely, "You're willing to give it to me?"

"Of course."

"Why?"

"Consider it..." Caius blocked her path and said with a smile in a voice only the two of them could hear, "A reward for our next affair?"

His finger gently brushed against her fingertip stained with teardrops. The scorching temperature penetrated through the skin into her body.

Linnea's cheeks flushed. "Caius!"

"Please proceed."

Linnea looked around, seemingly selecting again, putting what had just happened behind her. Yes, Caius thought. Thorne Corporation's gallery had so many fine works. They were definitely more worthy of her liking than the work of some medical student.

"I've decided."

"Please tell me."

She suddenly grabbed the reservation book she had just filled out, opened it, and pointed at her mother's ten anonymous paintings. "I want these ten."

The writing in the reservation book was neat, the ink long dried, ending with a name, "Linnea Clair."

Only then did Caius realize her intention. But it was too late.

He had actually been schemed by this little cat.

He gritted his back teeth and squeezed out one word from his throat. "Fine."

Linnea finally showed a smile and said to him with genuine feeling, "Mr. Caius, you truly are the most generous and kindest person under heaven!"