*BEN*
I sighed with relief when Nolan cut in because I was on the verge of crying. What was I thinking last night? Asking some random man to just kiss me. Gosh we didn't even use protection last night and I haven't taken the pill yet. Once we were outside I released the breath I was holding and blinked away the tears. "Did my father say something to you?" He asked in a worried tone. I shook my head negatively and remained silent and a lone tear rolled down my cheeks shamelessly. His words cut through me. I let out a shaky exhale. I'm not making the same mistake I made years ago. I'm not letting a man have that kind of power over me. He can't control my emotions. I wasn't just some random gold digger he picked up last night. It felt like it was something more and I was stupid to think that he felt the same way. Clearly I was nothing but a mere petty stop. One night he's being passionate and the next morning I'm met with a complete opposite stranger. I quickly wiped it away. "Ben." I looked up meeting his gaze and gave him a small smile. "I'm fine, don't worry about it." He looked angry. "What did my father tell you?" He asked sternly. I couldn't tell him the truth. Some things were better left unsaid. Nolan sat beside me and grasped my hand. "I need you to open up to me...now that we can't fall in love right away but we can at least be friends so I want you to be honest." I chuckled softly. "Do you think I'm a gold digger?" I asked curiously. Nolan remained silent and gave me a small smile. "Look around Ben you're surrounded by wealth you're probably richer than my dad so no I don't think you're a gold digger." I nodded quietly. "You know we're not even married yet but you're doing a great job at playing the role of my future husband." He chuckled softly. "I've been practicing." I cocked a brow at him and crossed my arms over my chest. "Practicing with who?" I asked curiously. I wasn't jealous but I was filled with curiosity. He smirked. "YouTube." My eyes widened in shock. "Wait, you're serious?" I burst out laughing and he joined in too. "I'm sorry I'm a bit slow when it comes to matters of the heart." In the corner of my eyes I could see Ambrose lurking around in the shadows like some bounty hunter. The reflection from the mirrors sold him out and he didn't even realize it. I turned to look at Nolan and he seemed puzzled. "Ben?" I leaned in and kissed him on the lips slowly until I felt him kiss me back with the same intensity. I pulled away with a shaky exhale. My heart was pounding frantically in my chest . I swallowed hard when I realized that Ambrose was gone. "I'm sorry that was an impulse I shouldn't have done that..." I lowered my gaze when I felt the heat in my cheeks. "An impulse forced you to kiss me?" He asked curiously. No. The truth is that I was trying to make your father jealous, Nolan. I looked up and smiled shyly at him. My life is full of mysterious twists and chaos right now. He gave me a smile and cupped one of cheeks. Our eyes locked in a frenzy and I released a shaky exhale when he leaned in and pressed his lips against mine slowly. My eyes closed on their own and I found myself pulling him closer and this time it wasn't even a show. I kissed Nolan because something pulled me towards him. He pulled away with a shaky exhale and I could feel the heat in my cheeks. "I guess that makes us even" he rasped softly and offered me his hand. I nodded quietly and swallowed hard. I was on the verge of ruining a father and son relationship. Nolan and I went back inside and I had to act like I had everything under control. My grandfather gave me a stern nod. He only approved of me acting like a cheap slut when it benefited him. It made me wonder if we were really related. When I spotted my mother a few feet from me I excused myself and went to have a word with her. We hugged and she kissed me on the cheek. I ushered her outside. "Where's dad? He could have at least showed up to my engagement after all I'm selling myself to the highest bidder because of him." My mother looked away. "Uh he didn't spend the night at home and I haven't heard from him since the day he told me about the money he lost." My eyes widened. "I can't win with you guys...why am I even doing this when he doesn't even care." She grasped my hand. "Your father cares about you Benedykta honey he just has a different way of showing it. I'm sure that he feels guilty for what happened and he's just trying to find a way to get you out of this situation." I shook my head negatively and pulled away from her grasp. "No. You're always defending him....and he's not guilty at all; he's probably getting wasted with some woman making the same damn mistake again." Her face turned pale. "Benedykta," she warned in a low tone. I scoffed in annoyance. "You've always known that he's been cheating on you for years. Why don't you just leave him? He doesn't even give a flying fuck about your existence." She looked añgry. I knew that I had crossed the line. "I can't leave even if I wanted to." I stared at her in disbelief. "Is it because of the money?" She remained silent. "It's complicated." "Nothing is complicated because you guys are making me marry a man I don't love for a couple of billions" I muttered furiously. I don't know how I ended up with shitty parents like them but I was better off alone. I turned my back and walked away without uttering a single word. I wanted to be alone. I found myself walking further into the vast garden away from the party as the music died down and I was met with the sound of nature around me. A lone tear rolled down my cheek and someone wiped it away. My teary eyes widened in shock when I came face to face with Ambrose. I moved away from him in horror. "I thought big girls don't cry" he taunted and I frowned at him. "Why are you following me?!" I demanded angrily. He smirked. "Don't flatter yourself, Benedykta , there's nothing special about you." He narrowed his eyes at me. "Did your little stunt satisfy your ego?" He asked curiously. I crossed my arms over my chest. "I don't know what you're talking about." He began taking slow strides towards me. I wasn't afraid of him. "You think using Nolan to make me jealous will make you sleep at night?" I rolled my eyes at him. "So you're saying I'm not allowed to kiss my future husband? How am I supposed to make him happy if I can't touch him?" His eyes darkened dangerously, instantly silencing me. "Don't" he warned. I smirked at him. "Don't play with fire piccolo fiore or you'll end up getting burned." I wasn't going to back down. "Do your worst dearest father in law" I whispered softly. He chuckled darkly.*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 could
*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