VALE MANSION 

Benson adjusted his watch, he was fed up and exhausted from his parents' constant pressure to get married.

"Mom, can you and dad just let me breathe?"  he sighed irritably.

"Enough of your stupidity, Benson. You're no longer a child, you've got a whole company to run, now listen to me, son. You have just one week!" 

"And then what?" Benson cut his father short. 

"Just one week to bring home a girlfriend someone you call a wife and if you don't Benson Vale I will give everything to your brother and you do not want to be a disgrace to me" his fathers voice was strict

Benson watched  as the old man disappeared from his sight up the stairs into his room with his mother accompanying him, he shook  his head violently, his eyes pacing around the living room.

"Sir the car is ready" he heard the loud voice of his driver 

He stared at him with anger and walked out without saying a word. 

"What do you have for me?" Angella's voice echoed across the room as she stared out the window holding a glass of red wine Drake stood behind her holding a file in his hands. 

"According to the records, ma'am,Bella Harper, 21 years old comes from California, her father died when she was little. She has just her mom and her younger sister and from what we were able to source she is extremely close to her sister. Her younger sister is the reason she gained the scholarship to study here."

"Oh she's a scholar student?" Angella asked super excited 

"Yes ma'am" Drake's voice was shaking with fear, he knew what she was capable of.

"So she's poor, good I love this" Angella smirked wickedly 

"Track her phone and call records I have a job for you Drake, we are going to inflict pain on everyone she loves, just a little warning so she learns not to mess with Angella" 

She sounded ruthless as she turned around grabbed the file from Drake glanced through it the heading "BELLA HARPER" 

NYC GIRLS HOSTEL 

"Mom you know I can't travel back to California school is in season" Bella pouted back for her mom through the phone 

"Bella there's no way am leaving you to survive in that school without these croaker fish, they are your favorite and I just had them dried" Mrs Harper argued back 

"Mom you know what, give the fish to Emily she should come to my school with the fish an opportunity to get to see my school" Bella excitedly made the offer.

"Bella, listen Emily is still young, I can't let her travel alone?" 

"Mom she's 19 she should bring the fish ok"

"Yes mom am not a child anymore I can take the fish to her it's just a one day and few hours journey" Emily supported 

"Fine as early as tomorrow Emily will be on her way" her mom finally agreed. 

Bella giggled, the joy of having her sister come over to see her school the same school she helped her secure a fully funded scholarship filled her heart with joy. 

She couldn't wait for Emily to arrive. 

It was morning Benson had grabbed his car keys and fled the house without telling anyone he had a task to bring back a wife in one week and it was driving him mad. 

"So what are you going to do?" Leo asked him over the phone 

"I don't know if I have a solution. I won't be calling Leo, honestly I don't know why he's on my neck. How does anyone expect me to find a wife in freaking one week!" 

Benson sounded pissed, he glared at his time he was late for his meeting he cursed himself. 

"Benson calm down let's think of something" 

"Think of something huuu? Bro am late for my meeting talk to you later" 

"Ok wait! What about Angella?" Leo brought it up Benson exploded 

"Angella? Are you serious man? I swear to God I'd rather pick a mad lady than pick Angella" his voice screamed seriously no atom of joke in it was how much he hated her  Leo thought. 

Without hesitation Benson turned off his phone, he tired stabilizing his breathing, this was the first time he was having a meeting with the executives board  in his fathers company he was nervous but at the same time prepared. 

NYC SCHOOL 

Bella picked up her phone. The joy in her heart knew no bounds. She looked up at the evening sky. It was getting dark but still very bright. At least the light from the school made it possible.

 She was just leaving the library when her sister called her to tell her she had just arrived at New York and would see her in her school in few minutes 

Bella raced up to the flower shop to get some flowers and chocolate, her sister's favorite. She ran down the bus park as fast as she could. It's been weeks since she last saw anyone from her family and seeing Emily now would bring peace and warmth from home. 

Her eyes kept looking straight towards the bus park waiting for the bus to land looking at her worst watch it was already 7:45pm 

"Sir your mother said you should buy her some local prawns if you're coming home" Benson's Personal Assistant reminded him 

Benson looked at him, sighed and told the driver to move towards the bus park. There was a local market around the area. 

Inside the Black SUV with tinted glasses Benson caught sight of super excited Bella as she stood holding a bouquet of flowers and a pack of chocolate. 

He smiled to himself she looked so happy and from what he could see she was expecting someone 

"Sir I got the prawns" his PA disrupted his thinking as he got back into the car but Benson was so focused on what he was looking at 

"Can we go now sir" he asked again 

"Shut the fuck up!" Benson screamed at him 

Few minutes later Benson watched as a  big bus highlighted and stopped in front of the bus park 

Passengers rushed out of the bus- signs of excitement, tiredness and hunger filled the air. It was a long journey, some rushing towards their loved ones, others snatching their bags and darting away. 

Bella's heart jumped with joy when she spotted her sister Emily. She jumped forward and spinned with joy, Emily was looking much bigger than the last time she saw her. 

With joy in her heart and a huge smile on her face she threw her hands apart anticipating a hug 

Emily tumbled off the bus sighting her sister, the hunger and tiredness on her face disappeared as they were overshadowed by joy, laughter and happiness, But in the blink of an eye, a shadow in black slipped through the crowd - A burning liquid was hurled towards Emily's face, hot boiling Acid.

"AHARRRRRHHHHH!!!" A piercing scream  echoed  through the stunned crowd as Bella's face wore her worst nightmare.

Hot  tears rolled down Bella's cheeks, her mouth completely shut out of shock. She stood for what felt like forever, her eyes fixed on her sister's unconscious body lying on the ground. 

"No no.... No nooooo!!!!" She screamed as she stumbled  through the crowd and grabbed her burned face. 

"How ... who did this" her mouth hung open, saliva spilling out. Her  eyes pure red, darting  through the crowd trying to look for who did this to her sister 

"Emily please wake up! Please you can't do this to me" she screamed more tears gushing out of her eyes 

BENSON POV 

Benson stared intently at how Bella jumped with joy, he had never seen her this excited and he was eager to find out what or who was making her this excited 

"Maybe her boyfriend" the thought of that made him sick 

Few minutes later he watched as a tired skinny average height lady hopped out of the bus she looked so much like Bella but a younger version 

"Haha it must be her sister" He chuckled to himself and was about tell the driver to move the car when it all happened 

Everything happened  within a blink of an eye he saw a dark shadow spill something really hot on Emily and he watched her face blister from the burn  he watched her fall to the ground his eyes widened in horror . 

He turned to Bella the shock,  confusion, pain,  sadness and anger in her eyes all at once he couldn't help it 

He pushed the car door open and ran out to meet Bella who was on the floor helplessly holding her sister shocked. 

"We need to get her to the hospital" he screamed as he approached the scene.

His eyes shot out on seeing how badly the acid burnt her face, if nothing was done immediately she was going to die. 

"Call an ambulance" Bella screamed her eyes popping out 

"No time for that they would arrive late, let's use my car" he screamed, as he hurriedly pulled Emily up in his arms and ran as fast as he could to the car, on seeing him his P.A opened the car and helped him put her inside. 

"Please help her" Bella kept screaming as tears poured down her eyes. Who could do this to her sister, knew Emily in this town and her heart kept wondering as they arrived at the hospital. Within minutes Emily was taken in. 

"Doctor would she be okay?" She kept asking 

"Calm down everything will be fine" she heard the thick voice of Benson 

He was behind her trying to help every way he could, his mind kept wandering, he looked at Bella and something in him hated how badly she looked. 

She looked pitiful and it was crazy he didn't want her to ever have to cry it was breaking him to pieces 

"But she's just a school mate, she's nothing more, not even a friend. Why do you care?" He heard that voice again in his head 

"Shut up!" He muttered under his breath, he looked at Emily and walked up to her 

"you need to calm down." 

"No, no I need to call my mom I can't take this" Bella screamed her whole world was trembling before her eyes. 

Bella with shaky hands stretched them into her brown pants pocket she brought out her phone and slowly dials her mom's number 

"Bella, has Emily gotten there? I've been trying her line. It's not connecting. Thank God you called. I am so happy she's with you now.... Hello Bella?" Her mom called out 

"Mom..... it's Emily....." her voice broke 

"What happened? Is Emily okay? Bella, what's going on?" 

"Mom Emily is ...." Bella couldn't speak; her heart was tearing apart.

She looked at Benson, he felt nothing but pity.  

"Bella please calm down, I will talk to your mom" he collected the phone from Bella  and decided to speak to her mom.

After a while Benson made few calls and ordered that  Bella's  mom be brought to the hospital in his private jet 

"She's on her way here" Benson tapped Bella as she sat lost in thoughts 

"Why are you here?" Bella looked at her watch as she sipped out the tears dropping from her eyes, it was past 1 a.m in the midnight already 

They had been there since 8pm the doctors going in and out of the theater no information yet 

"You needed my help? I don't like seeing you like this" Benson whispered 

"You barely know me Benson, I mean I hate you so much so why do you choose to be here? Why do you choose to bring my mother with your private jet ? Don't you have a family  ?" Bella's voice echoed as tears attempted to fall.

"Enough please, I want to be here till everything is fine Bella just let me ok" 

"You know it was my fault she came here" she cleaned her face stood up and started pacing around, opening and closing her eyes as she spoke 

"It's all my fault! My mom warned me to come home to take the stupid croaker fish but what did I do I stubbornly said no and insisted Emily comes to meet me here now look at where it landed me" Bella cried 

"You have to ....." 

"Bella?" Her mother screamed from the hospital entrance on sighting Bella, her eyes were already red After Benson had explained the isolation she almost died of heart attack 

"Mom.... You're here" Bella broke down on seeing her mother and embraced her 

"I'm  sorry mom it's my fault she came here" Bella cried more 

"It's not your fault child it's not your fault let's just hope she'd be fine" Mrs Harper tapped her eldest daughter on the back 

"Thank you" she turned  to Benson "for getting me here as fast as you could" her voice trembling

Benson stared at her, still speechless; he nodded his head confused and tired. 

"Doctor?" Bella screamed upon seeing the doctor come out with a sad face 

"I'm sorry ..... we lost her" his voice sounded like fire pouring down on Bella's head she turned around looked at the doctor then her mother she pushed past the doctor and ran straight inside the theater 

It was true over there was her sister lying  lifeless her eyes closed her face decayed from the fire burn she looked horrible 

Bella looked around and begged the tears to fall but they didn't. She turned around and her vision became blurry and she gave way to the darkness that overshadowed her and she fainted.

Bella is sitting outside her hostel, her face fixed to one position, tears rolling down her cheeks, her brain flicking through everything that has happened within the last 48 hours. 

The decision had been made. Mrs. Harper carried Emily's still body and returned  to California, Bella on her own, cried violently nothing mattered anymore she wanted to go back home. 

But her mother had to stop her, she was to continue her schooling and come home a graduate. These were her mother's  words before leaving the hospital. 

Bella's memory flashed back:.

 "You need to eat something Bella" Charlotte lectured

"If you don't eat, you'll die." Allison added 

"Then let me die" Bella's dramatic voice filled the air.

"It was my fault she died I don't deserve to live" Bella screamed as if she were losing her mind and her friends worried. 

"It's not your fault, you need to calm down Bella please" Allison said frightened. 

"Well if you're looking for someone to blame, start with Queen Bee Angella she was the one that threatened you" Charlotte  added sarcastically.

"What? Charlotte! Don't say that,  Angella can't be that heartless........ Can she?" 

"You're right ?" The first words Bella had said confidently in two  days, she turned and looked at Allison. 

"She said she was going to make me pay. She did this!" Bella screamed as she stood up 

"Where are you going?" Charlotte glared at her with the do-not-do-something-stupid look.

"I am going to teach her a lesson." Bella responded as she whipped her tears, carried her hand bag and stormed off.

"Damn it, how could you!" Charlotte snapped at Angella 

"I didn't know she was going to take it to heart" 

"We have to look for her," Charlotte said, grabbing her phone and walking out of the house with Angella. 

THE VALE MANSION

"Well it seems like you were trying to help her out and flying her mother here in your private jet wow!" Leo sounded jealous. He stood up, walked to the wine cellar, picked up his favorite wine and poured himself a glass. 

"Do you think I would be that gullible, well I have a reason for doing everything I did" Benson defended 

If it was the last thing he'd do on earth, it was to keep his pride and arrogance; he wasn't trading it for any reason.

"And what's the reason Mr. Benson?" Leo mocked as he handed him the glass. 

"I am going to get her to marry me!" 

"What?!" Leo choked 

He looked at Benson he was dead serious he wasn't smiling one bit 

"Wait.... Are you serious?" He growled 

"Yes! What were you thinking? Did you forget our problem Leo? I have to get a girlfriend in less than a week! And today is Thursday" 

Leo stared at Benson with disbelief 

"So what are you going to do? How do you intend achieving this great master piece of yours" 

"I am going to find Bella and offer her a deal, she'd be my contracted wife for a year while I help her find who killed her sister" Benson gulped the drink down, picked up his suit and was about to walk away, he stops half away to the door and without turning 

"And yes Leo this is between the both of us you're taking it to your grave" he sounded dead serious and walked out of the door.

Leo stared with ultimate disgust he gulped down his drink with anger, he hated the fact that Benson was going to treat Bella this way in her vulnerable state. 

He knew Benson was heartless but being selfish and wicked was never part of the plan. 

ANGELLA'S MANSION 

Bella consistently kept pressing the doorbell wanting to get inside she was already consumed with so much rage her entire life was a mess 

"Open this door!" She started screaming 

It didn't take her anything to locate Angella's house, since she was  Queen bee all she had to do was ask questions.

Standing from the outside Bella couldn't help but notice how magnificent Angella's house looked, yes she was a liar but honestly the girl came from so much wealth 

Her mouth watered from the beautiful view outside the estate gate 

"Whose that crazy thing that wants to destroy the gates that her entire generations can't afford" Angella's voice from the other end of the gate snapped Bella back to reality 

And within minutes the gates were opened 

Angella stood at the other extreme holding a glass of justice dressed in a beautiful ball gown. Maybe she wants to show off to Bella. 

On seeing her Bella charged with anger boiling through her veins she ran straight to Angella and attempted to push her down but two huge men dragged her back roughly and restrained her 

"Listen Bella we are not at school you can't just randomly slap Angella Browns twice I mean the first one was a mistake and I made sure you paid for it" Angella smiled her eyes directly at Bella's and that's when Bella realized 

"It was you!" She screamed tears pouring out from her eyes 

"You killed my sister!" She shouted again 

"How could you! I am going to expose you I will make sure of that" 

"Where's the proof" Angella scoffed as she looked at her new polished nails 

"Listen to me Bella if you don't want yourself getting killed by your pathetic sister you'd get the hell out of here and never return, there's no proof that I killed-what's her name again -Emily so if you don't want me making  your life miserable you'd stay shut" she screamed into her face and ordered the men throw her outside. 

Bella stood for what felt like hours her brain spinning in circles not just did Angella kill her sister she had no atom of empathy at all 

Was this how the rich were? Wicked, selfish and heartless she thought her eyes were already swollen. She turned and found her way and started walking. She got to a bar at the extreme end of the Estate and walked back inside. 

On seeing her the bar attendant walked up to her 

"Ma'am, uhm.... I'm so sorry I'm not sure you can afford anything in here" the lady was brutal, but she was right. She told the truth.

Bella glared at her angrily and this made the last asked 

"I'm sorry ma'm what would you like to drink?" 

"Whisky" Bella requested as she buried her head on the table 

"Alright ma" 

A few minutes later the drink was brought and she started to gulp it down. 

BENSON POV 

Benson walked into the bar he needed to strategize how he was going to bring the topic up to Bella and doing that over a drink was the perfect idea 

"Just say you want to get closer to her and you're using this as an excuse" his inner voice pricked him 

"Shut the fuck up!" He silenced it 

He caught sight with Bella and walked up to her 

"Let me make you a deal."