**Five Hours Later, The Pierce Residence** Ana “Ben. I think you need to take care of this Shirley matter once and for all. Because if you don't, she'll keep messing with you.” I stopped my pacing and turned to face Ben. We were back in his study back home, hatching and plotting on how to permanently get rid of Shirley from our lives. Of course we weren't planning to kill her or go to extreme lengths. No. We just needed to make her stop, and stay away from us. Ben stood by the window, nursing a glass of wine and watching the security men patrol the compound. It was the first safety measure he took after the kidnapping incident. "I mean, think about it, Ben," I continued, trying to drive my point home. "If Shirley can orchestrate a kidnapping, who knows what else she's capable of? We can't just sit back and wait for her next move." Ben turned to face me, his expression thoughtful. "I know, Ana. But we need to be careful. We can't just confront her without a plan." "I'm not say
AnaI sighed heavily and exited the security room, my head throbbing from the excitement and anxiety of Shirley's shenanigans.She was a ticking time bomb, and I couldn't wait for the day we'd finally be rid of her. I went up to Beth's room to check on her, since we hadn't really had time to talk about everything that happened while I was in Tokyo.I knocked on her door but there was no answer. I slowly pushed the door open, until to find Beth sleeping peacefully, with Liam lying quietly on her chest, deep asleep too.A warm spread across my face as I watched them in silence.I'd better leave them be, I told myself and turned to slip out the same way I'd slipped in.But I accidentally stepped on one of Liam's squeaky toys and the SQUEAK! sound awoke them both.Liam raised his head and glared sleepily at me, probably mad that I had disturbed his sleep, but he went right back to sleep.“Ana?” I heard Beth's voice call out as she rubbed her eyes."Hey, Beth," I whispered, trying not to
AnaBen and I sat in the living room in silence, each of us buried in our own thoughts about the unfolding drama.Apparently, Marcus was in deep depths amounting to thousands of dollars and Shirley had promised to protect him from the loan sharks if he betrayed Ben and gave her information on Ben's whereabouts and security.But unfortunately, Marcus ran out of luck when Ben's security team found out he was snitching on his boss.He has been crying and pleading since he was caught but Ben has refused to give him a listening ear.According to Ben, he has to pay for almost costing Beth her life, and I agreed.If not for Ben's swift response and the expertise of his security team, my sister could've died for all we know.But strangely enough, my heart went out to Marcus and the unfavourable situation he'd found himself in.I turned to Ben and broke the silence, my voice low and tired. “What are you going to do with him?”“Who? Marcus?” Ben asked.I nodded, holding his gaze.Ben looked at
AnaI heaved a silent sigh of relief. I would've felt responsible if Ben decided to turn Marcus in.Responsible for throwing my family into this mess and costing a vulnerable man his job.Ben stood up, his expression serious. "Alright, Marcus. You're going to have to earn back my trust. But for now, let's just focus on getting you out of this mess."Marcus nodded, still sniffling. "Yes, Sir. Thank you so much, Sir."As Ben and Marcus left the study to start making arrangements, I couldn't help but feel a sense of relief. Maybe, just maybe, we could put this whole ordeal behind us and move on.But as I turned to leave the study, I caught a glimpse of something that made my heart skip a beat. A small piece of paper on the floor, with a message scrawled on it in red ink:"You'll never be safe."My heart racing, I picked up the paper and showed it to Ben, who had just walked back into the study.His expression turned grim, and he immediately went into high alert mode and rushing back to g
AnaAlex stood still, looking genuinely scared as he waited for Beth to say something on his behalf.“Get in here and sit!” I ordered him, and he obeyed, walking slowly towards a chair.Ben grabbed me by the hand and pulled me aside, his face a mix of confusion and curiosity. “What is going on, Ana? What anonymous letter are you talking about?”A took a deep breath, trying to calm my racing heart, “It's umm…it's just a umm..”Shit. I should've told him about it since.Or should I?“A what?” Ben prompted impatiently, his eyes filled with questions.“Fine,” I said and flopped down on a chair.Ben let out a dry chuckle, his eyes turning from curious to angry. “So you've been keeping things from me, haven't you, Ana? In my own house?”I shook my head, trying to convince him that I didn't mean to. “It's not like that, Ben. When it happened, I didn't think it would turn out like this. I was handling it and didn't want to disturb you with my family's problems.”“This is my house, Ana!” He ye
Ana I took a deep breath and tried to compose myself. "Alex, I think it's time for you to go home," I said, trying to sound calm. Alex nodded, looking relieved. "Okay, thank you for understanding," he said, getting up from the chair, his eyes fixed on Beth. I walked Alex to the door and handed him his jacket. "Be careful, Alex," I said, looking him straight in the eye. "And don't say anything to anyone about this, okay?" Alex nodded, looking scared. "I won't, I promise," he said, before turning and running down the steps. I watched him leave, my heart softening at his naivety. Tony was an unpredictable criminal and I was glad he hadn't hurt this innocent boy because of me. At least, not until he's caught. “Can he stay a few more minutes, Ana?” I heard Beth's voice behind me. I turned to face Beth, a confused look on my face. “Are you sure, Beth? Isn't this the same guy that left you because you refused to sleep with him?” “I know,” Beth said, “But I think he's changed
AnaCandace brushed past Ben and strolled leisurely into the study, her eyes carefully taking in the books, frames, until it finally landed on me.She smiled and spread her arms, grabbing me and enveloping me in a warm hug.My brows furrowed in suspense as I returned the hug.“What's going on, Candace?” I asked, breaking away from the hug. “You look very happy. Did you win the lottery or something?” Candace laughed and slapped me lightly on the arm, “Don't be silly, Ana. I'm just happy for you.” “Happy for me? Why?” I asked, confusions etched on my forehead.“It's a great day, wouldn't you say?” She continued cheerfully, ignoring my question as she exited the study.Ben and I stood looking at her, struggling to hide our confusion and curiosity.I turned to Ben, raising an eyebrow. "What was that all about?" I asked, trying to stifle a giggle.Ben shrugged, a hint of amusement on his face. "I have no idea," he said, "but I think Candace might be up to something."I nodded, my curiosi
AnaI had to give it to Candace. Pretty great acting.Ben and I mingled with the guests, laughing and chatting like we were old friends.But as the night wore on, I started to feel a little overwhelmed. The noise, the crowds, the constant smiling and laughing... it was all starting to take its toll.That's when I saw Ben, standing across the room, his eyes locked onto mine. He smiled at me, and I felt a flutter in my chest. I excused myself from the conversation I was having and made my way over to him."Hey," I said, when I reached his side. "I need a break from all this."Ben nodded, his eyes understanding. "Let's get some fresh air," he said, taking my hand and leading me out of the room.We walked through the hallway, the music and laughter growing fainter with each step. Finally, we reached the back door, and Ben pushed it open, revealing a beautiful moonlit garden.We walked out into the garden, the cool night air enveloping us like a blanket. Ben let go of my hand, and I walke
Ana30 minutes later when Beth had finally calmed down, I took her up to her room and tucked her into bed. Then I headed down the hall to Liam's room. I hadn't seen my baby since I left in the morning.When I entered his room, I found a maid playing with him while cleaning up his room at the same time.Being a single mother myself, I was impressed by the way she expertly handled Liam and kept him occupied while doing something else. I chuckled to myself. The power of multitasking which appears to only be borne by women.As I watched the maid and Liam interact, I couldn't help but feel a pang of gratitude towards Ben for hiring such a wonderful staff. Being a boy Mom was no easy task and Ben's staff had made sure I took a well-deserved rest every now and then.The maid, whose name tag read "Maria", caught my eye and smiled warmly. "Hello, Mrs. Ana. I was just getting Liam ready for bed. Would you like me to finish up?" I shook my head, walking over to Liam. "No, Maria, thank you. I
AnaBen and I arrived home just a few minutes past 7:00 pm to find Beth sitting on the patio crying.Without waiting for the car to come to a complete stop, I jumped out and rushed towards Beth, my heart thudding widely in my chest.Why was she crying? Did something happen to Liam? Was it Shirley again?Oh, I'm going to kill her with my bare hands if she had anything to do with this!“Beth, what is it? Why are you crying?” I asked, my voice laced with fear as I crouched down close to her. “Is Liam okay?”“Everything okay?” Ben asked, slowly approaching us, his face filled with something that looked like fear. “Where's Candace?” “It's Alex,” Beth whimpered, tears streaming down her cheeks as she spoke. Who is Alex? I thought, and then it clicked. Alex is the ex-boyfriend that nearly hurt Beth.“What about him?” I asked, “Did he try to contact you again?”Beth stared at me, a sorrowful look in her innocent eyes. “He's dead, Ana. Someone killed him.” He finally said, her voice quaverin
AnaWaoh! I felt a flutter in my chest at the intimacy of the question. "That's a pretty personal question, Ben," I said, trying to sound nonchalant. I wasn't expecting that. I thought to myself.Now what do I say? Do I admit the truth, or do I lie and hope he doesn't prob any further?Ben grinned at me and cocked his head. "Hey, I'm your husband. I'm allowed to ask personal questions."I smiled, feeling a sense of ease returning. "Okay, fine. When I'm lying in bed at night, I'm usually thinking about..."“What?” He prompted, his eyes shining with child-like expectation.“You.” I finally said, and held my breath.Ben's eyes crinkled at the corners as he smiled. "Oh? And what am I doing in these thoughts of yours?"I felt a blush rise to my cheeks, but I tried to play it cool. "You're usually doing something very charming and romantic," I said, trying to sound nonchalant.Ben laughed, his eyes sparkling with amusement. "I see. And do these thoughts of yours usually end with us living
Ana***7 Days Until End of Contract***Two hours later, Kelly and I were finally done arranging stuff in my new office.Ben had sent the interior designer as promised and she did a fine job painting and decorating the space, and for that, I gave her a very generous tip, because she more than deserved it.As I stood by the window admiring the new decor, Kelly smiled and nodded in approval. "You're officially settled in, Mrs. Pierce," she said, gathering her things. "I'll let you get comfortable. If you need anything, just buzz me."“Thanks, Kelly,” I said and lightly touched her arm.Just then, the door swung open and Ben walked in, a warm smile on his face. "How's the new office?" he asked, his eyes scanning the room."It's perfect," I replied, feeling a sense of pride and ownership. "The designer did an amazing job."Ben nodded approvingly at the colors, his eyes crinkling at the corners. "I'm glad you like it," he said. "You deserve it."We chatted for a few more minutes, discussing
AnaOmg! My new office? He really wasn't joking about getting me my own corner office.My eyes shone with joy and delight as I continued to follow him without further questions.As we walked, I couldn't help but feel a sense of excitement and pride. My own corner office? It was a dream come true. I had always wanted to prove myself as a capable and independent individual, and this was a huge step in that direction.Ben led me to a door with a shiny new nameplate that read "Ana Smith, Executive Director." I gasped in surprise, my eyes widening with delight."Ben, this is...wow," I stuttered, my hand reaching out to touch the nameplate.Ben chuckled and leaned against the doorframe, his eyes crinkling at the corners. "I told you I'd get you set up," he said, his voice low and husky.I turned to him, my heart swelling with gratitude. "Thank you, Ben," I said, my voice barely above a whisper. "This means so much to me."I felt a flutter in my chest as I gazed up at him, my heart overflow
AnaTerrence was already standing and waiting by the car as Ben and I came down from our respective rooms at the same time, as if on cue.Ben smiled and winked at me from across the foyer and my face turned red in a blush.Silly girl, I cautioned myself as I gracefully got in the back seat, followed by him.Usually, Ben would sit up in the front with Terrence but today was different. He wanted to sit close to me.His broad shoulders filled up the small space, and the heat from the closeness of his body radiated towards me, making my skin tingle with awareness.Flashes of the kiss we shared earlier in his bedroom flooded my memory and sent warm thrills across my entire body.I was giddy with excitement, but then I glanced at my wristwatch and grimaced, a frown creasing my brows. “We're so late.” I noted, my voice tinged with worry.“Says who?” Ben asked with a raised eyebrow.“I mean, aren't we?” I replied, glancing at my wristwatch again. “It's almost 10:00 am.”I turned to look at Be
AnaLike a lost sheep being taken to the slaughter, I followed Ben as he took me by the hand and led me to his bedroom.I'd never been in his bedroom before and as I stepped through the door, the unmistakable scent of cologne filled my nostrils, making my head spin.I knew that scent. It felt familiar, like a warm hug. Where had I smelled it before? I wondered, glancing around the cozy, elegant space.“Make yourself at home,” Ben said, nodding towards a plush cushion beside the bed. "I love your room," I said, taking in the calming colors and comfortable furnishings. "It feels like a sanctuary.”Ben chuckled and nodded. “That's the same thing you said last night.”I did a double take, my eyes narrowing at his words. “What? Did I…Was I here last night?”“No,” Ben laughed and handed me a glass of water. “But maybe. I'm not sure.” He added, still laughing.I rolled my eyes at him and accepted the cup. “It's not funny, Ben.”“Aren't you curious though?” Ben asked, and slowly approached m
AnaI woke up with a start, my top drenched in sweat, and my head pounding from a terrible hangover. Where was I?The slice of bright light seeping through the window blinds indicated that it was morning.I glanced at the alarm clock on the bedside table. 7:30am.I must've been really exhausted last night that I had fallen into such deep sleep. I don't even remember waking up in the middle of the night like I usually do.I rubbed my eyes and sleepily glanced around the room.My clothes were scattered all over the floor, trailing from the door up to the bed. I winced in pain as I tried to recollect how that came about.Oh god! Did I sleep with Ben? Did I shamelessly throw myself at him?I stumbled out of bed and headed straight for the medicine cabinet in the bathroom, my vision slightly blurred by a piece of straying hair.I walked past a mirror and paused, daring myself to take a look at the mess I must've made of myself last night.I succumbed, and as I gazed into the mirror, I was
BenAna and I danced together, laughing and spinning to the beat. For a moment, I forgot about our deal, about the future, and just let go.As the night wore on, we played games, told jokes, and even had a heated debate about the best pizza topping— Ana was adamant that pineapple belonged on pizza, while I was horrified by the suggestion.At one point, Remi pulled out a guitar and started strumming a lively tune. Ana grabbed my hand and pulled me into an impromptu karaoke session. We belted out a ridiculous duet of "I Will Survive," complete with over-the-top dance moves and dramatic arm flailing.I sang along to the beautiful tunes, never mind that my voice was already cracked from yelling on top of my voice all night.But I didn't mind, because for the first time in a long time, I was having the best time of my life with the woman I— love?Love? I caught myself midway, shocked to realize that I'd fallen hopelessly in love with this woman.I watched her happy face as we sang, my hea