BENEDYKTA
All 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 table. "Ma'am, these are documents about the upcoming meetings you have this week," she mumbled softly. I chuckled darkly, and I could see the fear on her face. "Get out." She swallowed hard and nodded eagerly, sprinting out of my office. I narrowed my eyes at the documents and noticed that one of the papers was sticking out. I pulled it out and began to read the letter, and halfway through it, my blood ran cold. It was him. I moved out of the chair, debating my next move. He was back. I ran my fingers through my hair and began thinking of how to get rid of him other than murdering him. There was only one man on earth who had gotten under my skin and into my head. Zane Gray. Was he back in the city? My mind kept reeling back to those memories, and I opened a drawer and took out some anxiety medication. This was my only shame. A secret I had vowed to take to the grave with me no matter what. Zane and I have history. We were childhood sweethearts, and most people thought we'd get married someday, and that almost happened because years later he proposed to me after my graduation. The timid me back then instantly agreed and didn't pay attention to the warning signs. Fuck, I was in love, and I'd do anything to be with him, to the extent of sabotaging my family's company. I slumped in my chair tiredly as tears filled me. My collected demeanor slowly fading away as I returned to the vulnerable girl on that horrible night. We were going to get married, and yes, there had been rumors of Zane sleeping around with one of my friends, and that was the last straw for me. That person shamelessly sent me their hotel room number and location, and I went marching there like a bull and caught them in the act. I beat up the girl so bad that she ran out of the hotel room half-naked. Then I turned to Zane. The man who was the bane of my existence. I'd sacrificed so much to be with him and made sure that his father's company was always on top. There was no remorse in his eyes. I only saw anger. A bed of roses seemed blissful at first glance, but it turned into a bloodbath. A color of romance now turned into a shade of death and betrayal. A safe house. I thought I'd be safe in the arms of my beloved, but I was wrong. I was just a pawn in his twisted game. Frozen with fear, I was trapped with a monster. This wasn't the man I fell in love with. Hands pinned against my will, but I still tried to fight back. My screams died out as the happy memories we shared this past year flashed before my eyes. Those memories were mocking me. With no remorse in his eyes, he tore my dress to shreds, leaving me vulnerable under his unforgiving gaze. How did I fall in love with such a cruel monster? Maybe I had turned a deaf ear to the warning signs. He forced his way into my body, and I cried out in pain. It felt wrong. My body felt it too. This wasn't love. He was killing me. I begged him to stop… nothing seemed to work. I felt disappointed in myself. I let this happen. I let him do this to me. I let him break me. “Stop overreacting, Ben," were the only words he could say to silence my sobbing. I felt used as he pulled away, staring at me in disgust because the sheets beneath me had turned crimson. He took my virginity and didn't bother to even use protection. I broke down crying, imagining what would happen to me if I got pregnant. What would I tell my parents? What about my dreams? His face softened, and he wiped my tears away, claiming that he was sorry. “I love you so much, Ben, but if you're going to be my wife, you need to know your place," he said, justifying his actions. I didn't believe it. I felt like I was on the verge of losing my mind. He reached to his nightstand and placed some money into my hands like I was some wanton prostitute he picked up on the streets. "Go to the pharmacy and get the pill." He drove me home that evening as tears continued streaming down my cheeks. I didn't report him to the police for what he did to me, but instead I chose to block him out of my life. I called off the engagement, and my family hated me for it. That horrible day still haunts my dreams. I don't think I'll be able to give myself the chance to trust or fall in love with anyone ever again because deep down, something will always hold me back. I don't know how to get past this. I don't know how to get back on my feet without stumbling with every step I take. I don't know what happiness feels like. I'm drowning in an ocean of dark, scary thoughts, and no one even notices that I'm sinking. We haven't spoken in six years, and the bastard decides to casually send me a love letter. There was a knock on the door, and I snapped out of a trance and wiped my tears away. I was back to being the cold-hearted bitch people always gossiped about behind my back. "What?" Monica's head popped in halfway, and I felt more pissed off than ever. She was trembling. "Your grandfather wants to see you, ma'am." I stood up and opened the door wider. "Who slipped a love letter into my documents?!" I yelled furiously. She went pale, and I could see the fear in her eyes. "I-I don't know, ma'am..." I chuckled darkly. "Consider yourself fired," I exclaimed sternly and walked past her, venturing to my grandfather's house. I took a deep breath and opened the door. My grandfather looked up; he gestured for me to have a seat. "It's nice to see you too, Grandpa." He didn't seem amused. "I have a proposal for you, Benedykta, and you're going to say yes if you want to redeem yourself." I didn't like where this conversation was heading. My grandfather was still holding a grudge against me because of the potential business ties we lost because I didn't marry Zane Gray. I released the breath I was holding. "Mr. Ambrose Esteban has offered to give a very tempting investment for our upcoming project and has promised to handle all the necessary funding." I was trying my best to hide the shock, but it felt like there was a catch. "What does he want in exchange for the investment?" I asked curiously and crossed my arms over my chest. My grandfather smirked in amusement. "This is why I like you, Benedykta, you're more intelligent than your brothers." He pushed some documents towards me. "Mr. Ambrose wants a stable, long-term relationship with our company and family, and what better way to strengthen the partnership than by getting you married to his son." I could feel the color draining from my face. "Why do I always have to be the scapegoat when it comes to making sacrifices for our company?" My grandfather maintained his poker face and adjusted his reading glasses. "You want me to marry some douchebag?!" Ben angrily yelled. "He's a very respectable man, and I'm sure that you'll like him. I chose the man myself; all you have to do is marry him, and the company is yours." That was all it took. He knew how hard I've been working to become CEO, and now he was using it against me. Only my signature was missing on the document, and the future husband took the liberty of signing it. Filled with rage, I stormed out of the office and went to the parking lot. I needed a drink. My grandfather was going to have his way, and I was going to be stuck in some loveless contract marriage.*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
*BENEDYKTA* *FOUR HOURS EARLIER*I let out a yawn when I realized that it was morning, and I was stark naked in the arms of a complete stranger.I smiled to myself because he was still passed out from last night's events, and I couldn't blame him since we went all night long making love.I placed a kiss on his cheek, and he groaned deeply but kept his eyes closed.A part of me didn't want to abandon him, but what happened between us was just a one-night stand with no strings attached.I gathered my clothes and began to get dressed, but I couldn't find my panties anywhere, and I really wanted to leave before he woke up.I ditched them, got dressed, and with a heavy heart got out of his car carefully without making a sound. Soon enough, I was back on the road in my own car.My phone began ringing, and I fished it out of my purse and put the call on loudspeaker since I was driving.It was my grandfather, and I wondered what he wanted this time because he had clearly done enough damage t
*AMBROSE*When Ben finally found an excuse to slip away from the crowd I took a gulp of the champagne hoping that it would calm me down.My emotions were all over the place and it was because of this woman.I still couldn't believe that she was the same woman I had an affair with last night.I swallowed hard and Nolan approached me with a smile.He already looked smitten with Ben and it was going to break his heart when he learned the history between Ben and I."I thought you'd like her" he muttered quietly and I gave him a puzzled look."Ben?" I asked curiously and he nodded in response.He took the glass of champagne away from me."You tend to drink too much at social events when you're stressed out."He turned to look at Ben and when their eyes locked she blushed.Fuck.Nolan turned to look at me and I forced a smile."What's there not to like about her? She's pure perfection and I want is best for you son. If she makes you happy then I'm happy as well."Nolan still didn't look con
*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
*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.“