Chapter 6 : Davion's Demand

Davion reached Mr. Blakesley's office and strode angrily into his room. "Good evening, Mr. Torres. Please be seated. We can sort this out amicably, " said Sofia's dad.

Davion sat down but he wasn't in a mood to sort this out amicably. Why would he? "I'm very disappointed with your work, Mr. Blakesley. I received this reminder from Santini a week ago. My aunt passed away and I was busy with her funeral. But at least you should have filed a response to the lawsuit within the twenty days of the stipulated time. This is sheer negligence, " growled Davion angrily, tossing the legal letter onto Mr. Blakesley's table. 

Sofia's dad picked it up, looking apologetic and embarrassed. He went through the contents of the letter. "I'm sorry for the delay. My PA resigned and I was very busy with a complicated divorce case, " said Mr. Blakesley. Davion shook his head.

"That's no excuse, Mr. Blakesley. Negligence such as this cannot be tolerated. I have to pay through my nose if Santini gets a court judgment issued in his favor. I might lose my property, my income, or anything that he demands. I'm sure that you can realize what a court judgment entails, Mr. Blakesley," said a furious Davion. 

"I realize my mistake, Mr. Torres. I know that I should have filed a response immediately but since I haven't been able to do so, I will immediately stall this issue with a counterclaim against Santini," said Mr. Blakesley. Davion nodded slowly, rethinking what he had suggested.

"Do what you can but you need to remember one thing here. If I need to pay heavily, I will sue your law firm for negligence and malpractice," threatened Davion. Mr. Blakesley's eyes widened with fear. 

"Please don't do this to me, Mr. Torres. Give me a little time. I'll handle this issue right away and you wouldn't need to pay anything," promised Mr. Blakesley. 

Davion shrugged. "How much time?" He asked specifically. 

"A week?" Asked Mr. Blakesley hesitantly. Davion got up from his seat abruptly. 

"Fine. If this problem doesn't solve itself in a week, I'll be taking action against you, Mr. Blakesley," he threatened angrily. He walked out of the office to his car. He sat down in his car and closed his eyes. He didn't wish to sue Mr. Blakesley since he was Sofia's dad but he had no choice under the circumstances. 

The sound of a car made him open his eyes. In the darkness of the night, he saw a Chevy stop right in front of Mr. Blakesley's office. His interest was piqued to the limit when he saw a very hot-looking Sofia emerge from the car wearing a peach-colored body con dress. With her hair cascading down her back and the figure-hugging dress displaying her perfect and svelte figure, Davion could clearly feel himself go hard just by looking at her. He had to admit that she was the hottest creature that he'd seen and it would be a real pleasure to get her underneath him every day. But considering her nature, it wouldn't be easy to convince him to have a no-strings-attached physical relationship with him. 

The only way to have her would be to marry her! 

A no-strings-attached marriage. No love, no happiness, just a s*x*al arrangement between them. 'Perfect,' grinned Davion. Maybe he wouldn't sue her dad after all! Maybe he would compel him to agree to his proposal of marrying Sofia instead! 

Grinning like a Cheshire cat, Davion was immensely pleased with his decision. He suddenly wished that the problem wouldn't get settled and he could blackmail Mr. Blakesley instead. He drove off towards his apartment in Vegas. Tomorrow he would have to travel to New York but he would be back in a week's time to take an update and lay down his terms and conditions if Mr. Blakesley failed. Knowing Santini's stubbornness, he was hundred percent sure that Mr. Blakesley would fail to stop the court judgment from being issued. 

The whole of the following two weeks, Sofia's dad tried desperately to stop the court judgment with his counterclaim against the plaintiff but instead, he responded with a permissive counterclaim. So the case dragged on till the judgment went against Davion Torres. Davion had to return from New York and be present in the court throughout the hearing. The court judgment was issued and he had to pay Santini a huge compensation package. 

He was furious and hellbent on suing the Blakesleys. Mr. Blakesley's goodwill was at stake and he pleaded with Davion not to tarnish his company's image as it was his only source of livelihood. "I'm willing to settle this issue however you wish to, Mr. Torres. I won't charge you anything for this case at all," said Mr. Blakesley. Ava Blakesley was also present in the room with a grave expression on her face. She knew that they were at fault this time and Mr. Torres had a valid point against them. If he sued them, their law firm would be completely destroyed. 

"I've paid you for this case already, Mr. Blakesley, in case you've forgotten," said Davion, angrily.

"I'll refund it to you, Mr. Torres," offered Mr. Blakesley. Davion shook his head. He didn't want that. He wanted something else.

"That won't help at all Mr. Blakesley. I want you to pay me 75% of the compensation package that I had to unnecessarily pay Santini, " said Davion, knowing fully well that it was impossible for him to produce such a lump sum amount. Ava Blakesley gasped with horror as she glanced at her husband. They couldn't afford to pay even a quarter of the amount, let alone 75% of it. 

"Mr. Torres, we can't afford even 25% of it. Can you please give us an alternative?" Asked Mrs. Blakesley, with worry. Davion shook his head.

"There's no other way," he said, scratching his stubble. Ava Blakesley's phone buzzed with an incoming call from Sofia. 

"Just a moment, please. It's a call from my daughter, Sofia," said Sofia's mom, getting up to take the call. But Davion's attention was piqued. "Really? So how old is your daughter?" He asked, knowing fully well how old Sofia was.

"Both are eighteen, Mr. Torres, " asked Mr. Blakesley, giving him a puzzled look. 

"So, have you decided about the compensation?" Asked Davion, with an impatient scowl. Ava Blakesley returned back in a minute and saw the grave expression on her husband's face. 

"I don't have so much money, Mr. Torres. I could offer you an alternative, like a partnership at my firm or anything else that you might want," said Mr. Blakesley with a sigh. 

"I don't want a law firm. I'm too busy with my own business. If I need anything in life, that's a wife. So if you both agree, I would like to marry your daughter Sofia, the one who called just now," said Davion, his breath choking in his throat. He was very nervous not knowing how Sofia's parents would react to his demand. If he didn't want Sofia so badly, he would have rested his case and left for Reno already. He wouldn't have ever thought of suing the Blakesleys.  

Sofia's mom and dad gaped at one another with disbelief. They just couldn't believe that Mr. Torres had declined their offer of a partnership as well as that of a refund of their fees but instead settled for Sofia. What was going on?

"Are you sure, Mr. Torres?" Asked Ava Blakesley, with wide eyes. "Would you like to meet Sofia first before you make your final decision?" She asked but Davion shook his head.

"I've seen her and I've already made my decision. I'll meet her straight at the altar tomorrow if both of you give your permission," said Davion. Sofia's parents were shocked by his words. 

"We don't have any objection to the wedding, Mr. Torres," said Ava Blakesley, and a dazed Mr. Blakesley looked on blankly. He was still unable to grasp what was going on. Did  Davion Torres really change his mind about suing his law firm? It was unbelievable that he expressed his desire to marry Sofia instead. 

"In that case, please call me Davion," said Davion, looking a little relieved. 

"Do you really want to marry Sofia? She's very innocent and a kind-hearted girl, Mr. Torres, not the type of girl who you might like," said Sofia's dad, looking worried. 

"Mr. Blakesley, I really want to marry Sofia. I'll try my best to keep her happy, don't worry," said Davion,  his heart beating rapidly with anxiety. Would he agree or not? 

"Okay, in that case, you have my permission too," said Mr. Blakesley. Davion looked relieved. 

"I'll make the wedding arrangements at my hotel, the Royal Torres Casino and Hotels for tomorrow at 12 noon. Please arrive ten minutes early and no guests, please. I don't want the press and the paparazzi to hound us. I'll send Sofia's wedding dress to your house tonight," said Davion, getting up. 

"We'll be there, Davion," promised Sofia's mom. 

"Good," said Davion with a faint smirk. 

"What about our firm, Davion? Do you want a partnership or a refund of our fees too?" Asked Sofia's dad, looking worried and nervous. 

"No, I only want your daughter," he said with a grin, walking away, leaving them baffled.