*BEN*
It was all smiles for the family when Nolan and his father bid us goodbye and after they were gone my grandfather turned to look at me with a scowl on his face. I crossed my arms over my chest. "What were you thinking, Benedykta?!" He yelled furiously. I stared at him in disbelief. "What have I done? I'm selling my dignity just to make you richer. What else do you want?" I kept my gaze on my mother and she looked away with guilt. Serves her right. "You came home drunk knowing that you could potentially ruin this engagement and I won't let you ruin my plans." I scoffed in annoyance. "I'm all doing you a fucking favor by marrying a man I don't even love so you should all be fucking grateful." My grandfather raised his hand to hit but my mother held him back stopping him. I smirked. "Are we resolving to violence now?" He remained silent. I already knew my answer. I grabbed my car keys and left the mansion while my grandfather kept calling my name. This is why I moved out. I couldn't stand being under my grandpa's control like I was some mindless puppet. I want to be CEO so bad but deep down I think it's not worth selling my soul to the devil. By the devil I mean Ambrose. I got into my car and drove off without looking back. I've always had a messy relationship with my grandfather and when I got older it only got worse. I've tried to impress him so that I can be in his good graces that has never worked. Tears filled my eyes as I increased the speed and I found myself heading somewhere else. It was late but I found myself driving towards the beach. When I finally arrived I sat on the sand and just broke down crying. I was alone and no cameras were here to judge me. In the eyes of the media the Rebels were an epitome of perfection and success and my grandfather has always wanted to keep things that way. Always stay on the top no matter what. And with this new project things might even get more difficult. Once you get to the top it's impossible to get back down and I've learnt that the hard way. I wiped my tears away. I released a shaky exhale. It's easy to back away from this marriage but the mere thought of my father going to prison doesn't settle well with me. I've already signed the contract. I'll just have to get married to Nolan and stay with him for a year but I can't fathom the idea of having a baby with him. No. I've never thought of having kids and getting married was always out of the question. My life was filled with my secret passion for writing and well taking over the family business since my father can't get his shit together. No one knows that I'm a writer aside from my best friend Marcus. If my family knew I know that they would never support me so some things I better off unsaid. My mother was trying to get hold of me but I turned off my phone. I sat at the beach for an hour just listening to the waves of the oceans wishing that they'd just carry me along. Maybe my life would feel easier. It was getting cold and this dress wasn't keeping me warm. I got up and began walking towards my car. Later that night I made it at the apartment in one piece. I stripped out of the dress and decided to go for a long shower. I had a glass of wine and went to bed. I had to wake up early for work. My thoughts kept wandering back to the moment when Nolan kissed me and I couldn't help but feel flustered at the mere thought of his lips on mine. His kiss was gentle yet passionate. He was nothing like his father. Ambrose. His kisses made me feel like I was on the verge of drowning in ecstasy yet I didn't want him to stop either. I groaned deeply. When I eventually blocked out those steamy moments between father and son I eventually drifted to sleep an hour later. As usual I woke up at 5.am in the morning and did my morning yoga routine despite feeling exhausted. I decided to go for a long bubble bath and after that I went to get dressed and after I was done I was heading to the kitchen for some quick breakfast. I turned on my phone and the number of messages and missed calls I found were alarming and a few of them were from Nolan. I frowned and decided to call him back. He picked up on the second ring. "You made me worried, Ben," he muttered quietly. "What do you mean?" I asked curiously but deep down I knew that my grandfather had something to do with this. He cleared his throat nervously. "Your grandfather mentioned that you left the mansion upset last night so I wanted to check up on you to make sure that you're okay." I was angry that my grandfather dragged Nolan into this mess. "Ben, are you still there?" I had zoned out. I sighed deeply. "Yes I'm okay but I've burnt my toast while talking to you" I exclaimed softly removing black toast from the toaster. It was burnt beyond human consumption. He chuckled softly. "I'm sorry for that but let me make it up to you. Let me have the honor of taking you out for breakfast." I bit my bottom lip. It was off schedule but I wanted to genuinely get to know Nolan. "Please" he insisted and I found myself giving in. "Like a date?" I smiled to myself and I'm sure he had a grin on his face. "Yes it will be our first date"he muttered quietly. It was official Nolan and I were going on our first date but in the back of my mind I could picture Ambrose frowning at me. Nolan offered to pick me up and I accepted even though I preferred driving myself to work.*BEN*It wasn’t long before Nolan showed up at my apartment as he took in my small home. I’m certain that he was probably expecting something grander since I am a Rebel.I cocked a brow at him.“What it’s not to your liking?” He shook his head negatively. “No it’s not the case I thought you were more like a fancy person just like your grandfather” he muttered.I nodded quietly and his gaze lingered on the burnt toast that was on the counter and our eyes locked in a frenzy and we both burst out laughing.I could see the twinkle in his eyes and he was staring at me the way he did after he kissed me yesterday.Nolan offers me his hand and I place my hand in his.He entwines our hands.“You’re perfect” he murmurs and I feel even guiltier for having a one night stand with his father.A few minutes later we are in the car heading to a café close to work because I have a meeting in thirty minutes.Once we got settled at the café we made our orders.“You haven’t r
BEN POVWith everything that was going on in my life I was on the verge of losing my mind and I was caught between two men who were related. The other despised my entire existence and he probably wished that I was never born while the other one made my heart flutter in a way I couldn’t even understand.Was I falling in love with Nolan? I sighed deeply and pulled out my phone to call my best friend.Luckily he picked up on the first ring and I moved the phone from my ear when I heard the blaring music from the background. Okay who seriously gets wasted in the morning?I rolled my eyes at the mere thought.“Hello?” He definitely sounded off.“Where are you?” I asked curiously even though I already knew the answer to my question. He chuckled softly.“I’m sorry Ben, is it a crime to get drunk? I am going through a horrible breakup and the only thing you fucking care about is my location?”He sounded pitchy as usual.It makes me wonder how we are still friends.“
AMBROSE POVI couldn’t get this issue off my mind, and it was clear that the fire that had happened at the vineyard was an accident.Something was definitely fishy, and I couldn’t seem to shake off the feeling that the past had come back to haunt me.I hadn’t even had the chance to face him and tell him about the night I spent with Ben. He was going to be broken when he learned the truth.I groaned deeply and stepped outside for some fresh air because I was on the verge of losing my mind.Maybe leaving New York for a few days would do me some good, and maybe I could finally get rid of the image of Ben and Nolan kissing.I pulled out my phone and decided to call Matteo.He picked up on the first ring.That’s what I liked about him. He was always reliable, and I could count on him.“Ambrose, what do I owe the pleasure of this call?”I desperately needed his advice.I chuckled softly.“There’s a situation, and I don’t want to lose Nolan in the process.”There was silence on the other end
*BEN*Nolan and I were having dinner together.There was just something about the way he constantly looked at me.I always felt flustered under his gaze.Our eyes locked in a frenzy and Nolan slowly leaned in for a kiss and before his lips could meet mine my phone started ringing and I pulled away with a chuckle."Sorry."He nodded quietly and I fished the phone out of my phone.I swallowed hard when I saw Ambrose's name flashing on the screen.I answered the call and placed the phone to my ear and excused myself.Once I was far enough from Nolan I sighed softly."Ambrose?" There was silence from the other end of the line.Saying his name out loud still did a number on me."Benedykta."I swallowed hard."Why are you calling me?" I cut straight to the point."I wanted to apologize for what I said to you at the engagement. I was angry but I shouldn't have crossed the line." I frowned."That's it?"The words left my lips before I could stop them.He chuckled softly."Were you expectin
BEN POVNolan was quick to jump to his father’s aid before he ended up committing murder in broad daylight.When the journalists didn’t respond to what Ambrose had asked, he turned to look at me, and our eyes locked in a frenzy, and my heart skipped a beat.He defended me, even though he barely knew the whole story.Nolan was trying to calm his father down, but Ambrose brushed him off and went into the building, and I remained frozen on the spot as the reporters continued to take pictures of the whole incident, and I could definitely sense a lawsuit coming in.I found myself walking past Nolan with my mind still reeling from the shock.As soon as I walked in, I could hear people murmuring about me, and I ignored them and went to the ladies' bathroom to cool off.I turned on the faucet and glanced in the mirror, staring at my reflection, and I saw a broken girl staring back at me.Tears rolled down my cheeks, and I let them fall this time because there was no one to see my vulnerable s
BENEDYKTAAll my choices have always been monitored by society, and whatever I did didn't shy away from the media.Being the oldest kid of the Rebels made my life only difficult.As the only girl in the family, I've always vowed to work hard and prove that I was capable of handling the company better than my brothers.Let's just say that I wanted to be the first choice.In the family, nothing really gets handed to you, especially with my grandfather around; he's probably the one guy you need to impress, and I plan on doing that.There was a knock on the door, and I sighed deeply, keeping my gaze on the work I was typing."Come in."A few seconds later, Monica walked in holding a few folders in her hands as she slowly made her way towards me.I adjusted my reading glasses."What do you want?" I snapped.I hated being disturbed while I was working.My personal assistant looked timid, and it makes me wonder what I saw in her the day I chose to hire her.She placed the documents on the ta
*AMBROSE*When Nolan took the liberty of inviting me to this club, I thought he'd at least accompany his old man and show me the ropes."You need to relax, dad; you've been handling the affairs of the company, and I don't even remember the last time you had an actual day off."He sounded convincing back then, and unfortunately, I believed him.I checked my phone again and found no message from him.He was supposed to be here an hour ago, and I just haven't found the guts to leave this bar yet.I tried his number again, but it was going straight to voicemail, so I decided to order a drink.I might as well suck it up and enjoy the night while it's still young.I've worked hard all my life just to make sure that my son had everything he needed despite his mother's absence.But my boy is sensitive even though he'd never admit it.I chuckled softly to myself."Is this seat taken?" A woman's voice asked, and I turned around to find a young woman.Brown chocolate hair and piercing blue eyes
*AMBROSE* I hurriedly got dressed in the car and tucked the red thong into my pockets. I had a feeling that I was going to meet that woman someday and I'd personally return this to her."Are you at the bar?" Nolan asked curiously and I could tell that he was upset.I groaned deeply."Firstly, I deserve an apology, son, because you ditched your old man. I waited for you for hours, and you never even bothered to call or text to let me know that you weren't going to make it."Nolan remained silent."Okay I'm sorry for not informing you, but please don't tell me that you're at some random hotel with a woman in your bed."I chuckled softly."Actually, I'm in my car and the woman sneaked out while I was asleep."Nolan scoffed in annoyance."Eww, dad, I'm hanging up. Just meet me at your apartment. I've already bought your suit."I hung up and began driving to my apartment. Twenty minutes later, I arrived and spotted Nolan's car in the driveway.I went to the living room and found him stari