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 looked around the calm bar. It was getting quite late, and couples were already filling up the place.The background music played softly and filled the entire room. 

He sat down and signaled the waitress  to come. He was about bringing out his phone when he caught sight of Bella.

"Bella? What's she doing here?" He looked really  surprised.

For starters, judging from where she was coming from, she couldn't afford one single bottle in this bar.  

He looked around to see if she was with anyone, but non-she sat there drinking herself into a stupor. 

Benson had to take this opportunity, so he gradually stood up and walked over to Bella.

"What are you doing here?" Bella asked, disgusted at seeing him. 

She was already drunk and talking off point. 

"Let me make you a deal" All seriousness was written on Benson's face.

 He looked Bella straight in the eyes. He wasn't here to joke; he was running out of time.

"A deal? To bring my sister back to life" Bella scoffed mockingly. 

"I can help you catch your sister's killer on one condition."  

"Bella turned and looked at Benson with seriousness written in her eyes, if there was anything she wanted it was justice for Emily she would never be able to sleep knowing fully well that her sister's killers are alive and walking freely.

"How?" Her voice strong and deep. 

"You get married to me!" Benson was blunt-no emotions, nothing. He was dead serious.

"What? Excuse you?" Bella laughed. Was he trying to pull her leg or something.

"I am not joking Bella, get into a contract marriage with me so my dad can let go of my neck of getting married and also the company can be transferred to me and not my younger brother, if my dad tries to give even one percent of his company to my younger brother he'd destroy everything my father has built and my dad wants me to get married before the company can be transferred to my name" 

Benson was much more serious 

"Wait! You're not joking? You're serious" Bella laughed she has never seen the height of Arrogance  before 

Who was this man who thinks he can take an advantage of her because she was at her down moments was he serious or all these was a joke 

"Yes, I am not jok-" Benson was cut off by a hot slap that landed on his cheek. 

"What makes you think you can come in here and make stupid demands and I am just going to follow you because you think I am desperate, you rich people have no heart, no empathy you think you can get everything you want well guess what I am not that girl go find someone else" 

Bella stood up,  picked her jacket, and made an attempt to leave the bar. when she turned back to the waitress. 

"He's paying," and just like that she walks out with her head high. 

Benson didn't want to give up. He brought out his card, made the transfer and went after Bella in his car. He saw her running towards the road and chased her with his car. On getting there he stopped and walked out. 

"See this as a business transaction and nothing more" 

He sounded like someone who has been running. Bella didn't say a word and she just kept walking. 

"This is your only way of getting justice and if not for anything you owe Emily that. Whoever killed her you'd never find them. If you don't have money to put into this case" he was telling the truth Bella stopped not turning back just tears rolling down he continued 

"Listen to me, I don't know you from anywhere and if I have to help you get justice then you have to get married to me" 

"Why are you helping me?" Her voice was broken 

"Because I also need help in return" 

"Fine, for the sake of Emily, I will do it" Bella broke down. She had never gone back on her words ever but this time around she was ready to do anything just to make sure her sister gets justice. 

Benson smiled; he knew his plan would work.

"Have you had anything to eat?" Benson asked as he walked close to Bella 

"No," she shook her head, as her stomach growled, reminding her that she had nothing but water for the last two days.

"Fine come with me" Benson turned pulled the door open and waited for her to come in Bella obeyed as if she was controlled by some remote 

"You buying me dinner still doesn't remove you from my black list, you're still an ass to me" Bella said trying to be serious but the reaction Benson gave broke her and she started laughing. 

They arrived at one of the most amazing 5 star restaurants in the city Bella has never been in one of these, but she had to compose herself as she walked hand in hand with Benson. 

She looked pale and yet extremely pretty, Benson taught. 

"Waiter" Benson called as they sat down 

The young man walked up to their table and handed the menu to Bella, Bella smiled at him and he winked back 

"I would like ribeye steak, filet mignon, lobster Mack and cheese, creamed spinach, and chocolate lava cake for dessert." She giggled 

"What? You're going to have all that, you'd explode" 

"I guess my husband doesn't have a problem does he?" Bella smirked as she turned around and gently smiled at the waiter who blushed and walked away to prepare the Order.

"Don't tell me you're flirting with the waiter you crazy bad girl" Benson was amazed he had never seen a woman be so real and herself. All the women he brought to have lunch or breakfast they were no fun and always coded and this is him sitting directly opposite this crazy din lady 

"Well if you want him to put enough beef you have to flirt a little" Bella laughed for some reasons she was genuinely happy. The meal landed and she dug in. 

Half way through the meal she broke the silence Benson had been watching her eat all along and he was nothing but surprised and amazed 

"Why aren't you ordering anything?" She asked as she dragged the lobster 

"Well am not hungry" Benson was fast he wanted her to continue eating while he watched. 

Benson brought out a plain white document from inside the bag he has been walking around with 

Written on it was "DEAL," and underneath it was the "ONE YEAR CONTRACT MARRIAGE".

Bella looked at the documents and then back at Benson. There were no emotions on his face; he stared back at her, straight–faced, with no feelings attached. 

"Is he thinking that I would back down from a deal without signing this document? He doesn't trust me?" Bella questioned internally. 

"We are signing this now? Like, here?" Bella whispered, trying to remind him that they were in a restaurant. 

"Yeah." Benson raised his eyebrows.

Bella glared at the contract; she was totally speechless 

He was mean– too mean. According  to the contract,  PARTY A was Benson, while PARTY B was Bella.

She kept reading line by line until her eyes got to the part he said PARTY A was allowed to sexually request to be with PARTY B, but PARTY B isn't allowed to make any.

If PARTY A request, PARTY B has every right to accept or decline, and PARTY A will cooperate without Violence attached. 

Bella looked at him, anticipating an explanation. 

"What? There's literally no way on earth l'm falling in love with a psychopath like you," Benson mocked. 

"Hey! What makes you think I am one?"

"Well for starters who walk into an expensive bar they can't afford,  order a drink, and wait for their saviour to come pay the bills?" 

"Listen, I was upset and emotional. Do not judge me in that aspect."

"Oh really? So if I didn't come into the bar, Bella, please tell the audience how you were going to pay for that drink?" Benson was acting all dramatic, and Bella, realized that  she had lost this round, eyed him and went back to reading the document. 

"Wait, what?" Bella glared at the part he said PARTY B must agree to move into the same house with PARTY A. 

"Why would I be moving in with you?" Bella asked, looking at this crazy man.

"Well it's simple. If  you're going to be my girlfriend-wife we kinda have to make it look real in the society. I'm kind of a big deal here, you know–the media, the news." Benson sounded so arrogant and proud and this made Bella almost puke. 

"You're impossible!" She screamed into his face. 

"Are you having second thoughts about signing the papers? Fine, let me have it." Benson used his trick on her.

Bella, who almost attempted to hand the papers over to him, looked at the button and saw the amount she'd be paid. She wasn't a money monger but five hundred thousand dollars yes she was definitely doing this. 

She looked at Benson for a minute wanting to hug the hell out of him 

"Calm down. Don't  let him think you're cheap."  the inner voice inside of her cracked  her head. 

"Hmm... I will just sign it" she muttered to Benson as he handed her an office pen that looked really pretty, Bella scrawled her signature on the paper. 

Bella resumed her eating, Benson sat watching her and pretending to scroll through his phone. 

"Listen, if you admire me, go straight to the point. Stop acting like some kids." Bella broke the silence that had grew between them 

"Wait what? You wish" Benson pride fell straight to the ground, she had a gift for making him feel less of himself 

"Well, that's your business. I know l'm freaking worth it." 

"Yen yen yen" Benson mocked 

"What are these two cats and dogs doing here?" Leo screamed from the restaurant door. 

His  heart cringed on seeing Benson with Bella. He stared at them wondering what brought them here 

"Did Benson finally tell her the deal? How's she taking it" he thought to himself, instead of letting curiosity get the best of him he had to notify them he was around . 

"What got the enemies sitting on the same table must be crazily insane" Leo cracked 

"Excuse you who said we were enemies?" Bella tried to bury her head inside her food 

"Oh wait unless one of us got our head hit by a car, I clearly remembered "l'm not going to apologize he should do so first" two sick people" Leo had a satisfying laughter and it got Benson smirking 

"Well bro I want you to meet my girlfriend Bella, sorry we introduced ourselves to you on a wrong path but yeah that's in the past now" 

Benson for some reason found himself being over protective, he liked the word girlfriend and Bella he looked at her anticipating a rash moment but to his shocking surprise Bella smiled and looked at Leo as if she was accepting the fact.

"Did he just call me his girlfriend?" Bella's inner child giggled.

 She tried to hide the excitement in her face and just constantly kept her eyes on Leo avoiding Benson's gaze.

"Well you seem so excited he called you my girlfriend?" The voice in Bella's head pricked her 

"Well we are making an act in front of his friend remember the deal is a secret no one must know about it" Bella reassured herself but she hated the fact that deep down she knew she was being a pathetic liar 

LEO's POV 

He looked  dumbfolded. For what felt like years no he wasn't hearing properly, did Benson just call Bella his girlfriend, he gave Bella a long stare she seemed so happy hearing it come out of Benson's mouth, something inside him broke 

Does she even know he's doing this just to take over his father's company and be a good son? Does she know about the Deal?" He thought widely to himself

Leo didn't want them noticing the sudden change in his mood so he broke the silence

"Whatttt? When did this happen? Why wasn't I invited to the party" he cracked

"Don't mind Benson; he just has a way of captivating a woman's heart just speaking to them;" Bella spoke for some reasons her world felt real they looked real, Benson smiled genuinely he liked the way she said that.

"Damn you two love birds and making my eyes go all red" Leo joked trying to put himself together

"That reminds me Leo–you're Benson's longest friend. Can you tell me some embarrassing moments he had as a child while growing up I need all backups to his when am taunting him" Bella giggled her white dentition made her look really pretty

"Bro you wouldn't dare!?" Benson looked at Leo trying to plead with him not to spill

VALE MANSION

Angella walked in putting on a pink body hugging gown. Dressed  in her most expensive fragrance she walked in her red lipstick making her extremely noticeable

"Oh wow if it isn't Angella my future daughter in law, how are you child?" Mrs Vale screamed from the staircase

"I will do everything possible to make Benson mine. He'll be mine and no one else would dare take him away from me. Even  if it's the last thing I do on earth". Angella giggled to herself as she let drowning in her thoughts, making sure to put up fake smiles with Mrs Vale.

VALE MANSION 

Angella walked in putting on a pink body hug gown dressed in her most expensive fragrance she walked in her red lipstick making her extremely noticeable 

"I am doing perfectly fine mother, how have you been? Hope Benson isn't being a pain in the ass to you" Angella giggled as she peaked her cheeks as a sign of greeting. 

"Well am fine my baby, just trying to get Benson to get a wife before the ending of this week is extremely frustrating" 

"Get a wife?" Angella felt literally interested in the conversation 

"Well his father would be retiring soon and Benson would be the one handling the entire properties and companies so his father needs to know his capable by giving him the task to bring home a decent woman" Benson's mother explained 

"I will do everything possible to make Benson mine he'd be mine and no one else would dare take him away from me even if it's the last thing I do on earth". Angella giggled to herself as she let drowning in her thoughts, making sure to put up fake smiles with Mrs Vale. 

BENSON'S EMPIRE  

The city light thinned as Benson drove farther away from the restaurant, it was late already and the chaos of the day was slowly drowning into the night. Bella sat stiffly in the passenger's seat, for a moment she felt like a wife of a rich man but quickly she snapped out of that delusion. 

This was all a game, don't drown yourself into it whispered to herself. She turned facing the other side, her eyes fixed on the road ahead. 

She avoided Benson's gaze and said nothing to him since the both of them got into the car, the soft music playing from the car speaker was the perfect distraction they needed to just stay quiet and not make it awkward.

The car slowed as massive wrought iron  gates emerged from the darkness. 

They didn't look like ordinary gates, they were tall black and cold–engraved with intricate patterns that screwed power instead of beauty. 

This was one of his fathers mansion, Benson's favorite place ever since he was young. 

Security cameras shifted slightly as the car approached, and within seconds the gates opened smoothly, as if the mansion itself had been expecting them. 

Bella swallowed. 

The driveway stretched endlessly, curving through manicured lawns so perfectly trimmed they looked unreal. Soft golden lights lined the path, illuminating fountains, sculpted hedges, and marble statues standing like silent guards. The further they drove the heavier the air felt. 

Bella left her mouth wide open, she had never seen a house this enormous and engraved with so much detail. 

Then the mansion appeared. 

It rose from the darkness like a fortress–wide, grand and intimidating. Tall glass windows reflected the moonlight, while white stone walls gleamed under the outdoor lights. 

The building wasn't flashy; it  was controlled, deliberate, and overwhelmingly expensive. This wasn't a home built for warmth, it was built for dominance. 

Bella turned to Benson as he finally brought the car to a halt. The car stood beneath a massive entrance archway. Before she could process what she was seeing uniformed staff appeared, opening the door in perfect synchronization. 

Bella stepped out of the car, the shock and fear in her entire body was overpowered by excitement and joy 

"Wait, you live here? This explains why you're so proud" she laughed to herself looking around the entire mansion as if she was a child licking ice cream for the first time. 

Benson couldn't help but laugh at her ridiculous reaction. 

BELLA'S  POV 

The marble beneath her feet was cold, polished to perfection. She looked around, her chest tightening as reality settled in. This wasn't luxury she had seen on television. This was another world-one she didn't belong to, yet had just been dragged into.

Benson walked ahead of her, calm and unbothered, as if this place was nothing more than an extension of himself.

"Welcome home," he said casually, without turning.

Bella stared at the mansion, her heart pounding.

She hadn't just agreed to a contract.

She had crossed into a life that could swallow her whole.

Bella walked in and almost fainted on seeing the interior, she just couldn't believe her eyes. Everything felt so unreal that she was in heaven she thought to herself. Her eyes caught sight with the crystal chandelier above her head, its reflection made her notice the beautiful marble so polished Bella could see her reflection. 

That  was the only beauty the house had, every other thing smelt and looked like power and she didn't like it 

Her eyes catch sight of the beautiful cotton chairs in the living room embroidered with one of the most expensive materials in the city. She nodded her head in semi satisfaction indeed the designers did quite a good job putting this place together.

The house was big really big, Bella turned to look at the staffs who were practically very busy doing one or two 

Realizing she has been standing in front of the entrance door all these while .

Her thought was interrupted by the ringtone coming from Benson's phone, he looked at the screen it was his father the irritation and frustration showed in his face.  

"Yes father?" His voice sounded cold as he picked the call 

"Well Benson it's been a week since you were asked to bring a woman home and we clearly see you're not taking your life serious, so me and your mother have decided to host a party tomorrow and we invited all the ladies in New York City, tomorrow you're going to pick a girlfriend and you have no excuse." 

His father sounded harsh 

"Alright father see you tomorrow" Benson turned the phone off, he was definitely going to be ready by tomorrow. 

ANGELLA'S HOUSE

Well tomorrow is the day we will do everything possible to make sure Benson falls for me he would be choosing me and no one else Angella screamed super excited 

"I hope my master piece of a dress is ready?" She turned looked at her two friends 

"Yes it is Queen bee"