Convenience

Part 37

A woman who could walk away from millions, on a matter of principle, was worth knowing. But he doubted she was going to buy into any suggestion that they get to know each other, now, five years after they were married. He just hoped he hadn't left it too late to turn things around in his personal life. For he was suddenly of the view that this woman was his ideal wife! A beautiful woman of principle, of passion, of strength were some of the facets he wanted in a wife. He had always trusted his gut. 

His business acquisitions were informed by fact and pursued intuitively usually when he had a positive gut reaction to whatever proposal was being touted. Sometimes he acquired a business and only discovered it's true value after it was stripped down years later to reveal all of its potential, all of its assets and it's true value. Looked like he had acquired a wife and it had taken him years to realise just what a valuable asset he had on his hands. Better late than never. His gut reaction was a good guide. He trusted his gut reaction. And this afternoon his gut reaction was advising him to hold onto his wife.

"The way I see it, my reputation is at stake. How long do you think it would take before people realised that you were given nothing as a divorce settlement?"

"I don't care..."

"I do." David came toward her. Now that he thought he had her measure, things did not look quite so bleak, and he did not feel quite so out of his depth! "In business, reputation is key. My reputation is based on the fact that I play fair. I treat people fairly. Always have done." He corrected himself "Or at least with other people I have done. With you, I've been shoddy. But I am thought to have integrity. How do you think that would stack up against a divorce settlement where my ex wife got zilch?"

"We could have a silence clause. No one needs to know the terms of our divorce. In any case, most people probably know we are nothing more than paper connected."

David was impressed with her speed of thought. She seemed to be able to sift through options at a rate of knots. Good, he wanted a wife who was astute. But clearly he had a long way to go before she was more than a wife in name. "Really? You guarantee that?"

Beatrice huffed. He waited her out. The tables were turning. "It would appear we have reached a bit of a stalemate." He smiled broadly hoping his smile lightened the mood. It was a disarming smile. He'd been told that often enough. He just hoped his wife wasn't immune to his brand of charm. "If you really don't..." She practically growled, much to his amusement. Oh yes, this woman was definitely worth holding on to. "Ok, ok, I accept you don't, but what I meant to say was that given your stance on the matter, and given I have a reputation to uphold, I think setting up the Trust is our best compromise."

Beatrice folded her arms and glared. He waited her out. Enjoying the seconds that ticked by for it gave him an opportunity to study her without pretending not to! His eyes tracked over her golden skin, taking note of features he should have committed to memory all those years ago. She was a beautiful woman. He knew that. But five years ago he was pretty sure he hadn't found her attractive. Yet now, now he was doing his best to keep his body's reaction leashed.

Eventually Beatrice conceded and said, "Fine. Go ahead. Do it." 

She couldn't keep standing there in silence while he openly scrutinised her. She figured he was comparing her with his stream of girlfriends. She doubted she measured up on any level. Too curvy. Dark hair. Standard issue legs. Not his usual type at all. His blonde companions to date had been stick thin, legs up to their neck and hair that ranged from strawberry blonde to ash blonde. Though from what she recalled, she was pretty sure that quite a few were of the bottle blonde variety.

David nearly patted himself on the back. Finally. Now to reel her in.