*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 convinced.

"She'll fit right into our family."

He smiled at me.

"I felt something change inside me when Mr. Rebel showed me her childhood pictures and when I saw her for the first time I felt speechless because this beautiful woman was going to be my wife."

I had the urge to cringe when he called his wife.

I shook my head in disbelief.

It was just a one night stand.

I need to get her out of my head.

She was going to become my daughter in law.

"This isn't the way I wanted to find her dad...but I think she's the one."

I chuckled softly and patted his shoulder.

"You just met this girl, son . I think you need to slow down."

He offered me another drink and I cocked a brow at him.

"Are you trying to get me drunk?"

I took the glass from him and brought it to my lips.

He shrugged carelessly.

"Consider this as my redemption for ditching you at the bar last night."

If he only knew that he had done me a big favor by not showing up.

Because I met her.

A woman who could easily get into my head and I haven't felt that way for a long time.

"What happened to your lady friend from last night?" He asked curiously and I almost choked on my drink.

He gave me a poker face.

"She didn't stick around she left while I was asleep" I exclaimed sternly and kept my gaze on Ben.

She was talking to her grandfather and he looked like he was scolding her.

She looked pissed off but she was trying to hide her anger by smiling.

Next thing they were heading in my direction.

I wasn't ready to see her again.

Her grandfather smiled at me.

"Dinner will be ready soon. I hope that the engagement is to your taste Mr. Kean Ambrose."

I gave him a stern nod.

"As long as these two love birds are happy I have no problem with the engagement."

Mr. Rebel smiled.

"Now that we have sealed the deal, how about we get to some official business in my office?"

I nodded quietly as he led me to his study.

He offered me a seat and took out some documents out of the drawers and placed them on the desk.

My gaze lingered on Ben's signature.

She was only marrying Nolan for the money and within a year of their marriage she had to give him a child.

The mere thought of seeing her pregnant with another man's child made me feel uneasy.

And that man was none other than my son.

"I'd look to increase my investment than the initial price indicated in the documents."

The words left my lips before I could stop them.

What the heck am I doing?

Mr. Rebel looked off guard.

"Are you sure? If you're changing the amount then the documents need to be edited and a new copy needs to be approved by all our lawyers."

I nodded quietly.

Yes I was aware of that formality.

Mr. Rebel looked puzzled.

"Why do you suddenly want to invest so much money in our company?"

I wanted to see Benedykta sign those documents again.

I want her to admit that she's just marrying my son for the money and that she's nothing but a mere gold digger.

I gave him a small smile.

"I know that this project is going to be a big hit on the market and the profit I'm going to make from this is going to be bigger than my investment."

Mr. Rebel nodded thoughtfully.

"The project has a lot of potential and my granddaughter came up with it and that's why I want to make her the CEO."

He sighed deeply and sat down.

"My son was supposed to be the CEO but he's very useless. The only thing he knows to do is gamble. He's lucky to have such an intelligent daughter to make up for his stupidity."

I chuckled softly.

"When do we officially start to work on the project?" I asked curiously.

"Benedykta is in charge of the project and I believe that she'll come to your company and give you a detailed plan of the project."

I gave him a stern nod.

After discussing a few things we went back downstairs and I found Ben dancing in Nolan's arms.

I decided to cut in.

"Do you mind if your father in law steals a dance?" I asked curiously, keeping my gaze on her face.

She looked at Nolan and he smiled at her.

"Sure" she muttered quietly and put her hands on my shoulders gently.

Her fiery eyes met mine intensely.

"So is this the part where you blackmail me?" She taunted .

I restrained myself from chuckling.

"Whatever happened last night was just a mistake."

I cocked a brow at her.

"A mistake?"

She smirked.

"Yes, a mistake that happened because both of us were clearly drunk."

I shook my head in disbelief.

"You came onto me last night and asked me to kiss you...and when I refused you got upset and stormed out of the bar."

Her face turned red.

"You wanted me... just as much as I wanted you piccolo fiore."

She let out a gasp.

"Don't use that name on me."

I chuckled darkly.

"How does it make you feel?" I whispered softly.

She frowned at me.

"If you weren't my father in law I would have slapped that grin off your arrogant face" she warned.

She looked dead serious.

"We never met last night and I'd like to keep things that way if you want this marriage and partnership to work."

I felt angry.

"So that's it? You're only marrying my son for a couple of billions?"

Her eyes met mine.

"I'm doing the right thing to save my family's legacy and I will do whatever it takes to stay on the top."

Benedykta Rebel was nothing but a cheap gold digger.

I pulled her against me and her lips parted softly.

My gaze lingered on them.

"Nolan genuinely likes you and I swear if you break his heart I am going to kill you and ruin your damn company."

I meant every word.

She smiled at me.

"I'll make him the happiest man on earth for a year and he'll be a great father I'm sure of it but after that I'm going to divorce him."

Benedykta Rebel was just like the rest of her family.

Vultures who only cared about money and their precious reputation.

We were very different and the woman I met last night was nothing compared to the woman standing in front of me.

"Is that why you gave yourself to me last night? Aside from being a gold digger you're also a whore is that it?"

Her face paled and she looked hurt.

I didn't fucking care.

She looked away and before I could control the damage I had done Nolan had cut in.

*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 couldn't stand being under my grandpa's control like I was some mindless puppet.

I want to be CEO so bad but deep down I think it's not worth selling my soul to the devil.

By the devil I mean Ambrose.

I got into my car and drove off without looking back.

I've always had a messy relationship with my grandfather and when I got older it only got worse.

I've tried to impress him so that I can be in his good graces that has never worked.

Tears filled my eyes as I increased the speed and I found myself heading somewhere else.

It was late but I found myself driving towards the beach.

When I finally arrived I sat on the sand and just broke down crying.

I was alone and no cameras were here to judge me.

In the eyes of the media the Rebels were an epitome of perfection and success and my grandfather has always wanted to keep things that way.

Always stay on the top no matter what.

And with this new project things might even get more difficult. Once you get to the top it's impossible to get back down and I've learnt that the hard way.

I wiped my tears away.

I released a shaky exhale.

It's easy to back away from this marriage but the mere thought of my father going to prison doesn't settle well with me.

I've already signed the contract.

I'll just have to get married to Nolan and stay with him for a year but I can't fathom the idea of having a baby with him.

No.

I've never thought of having kids and getting married was always out of the question.

My life was filled with my secret passion for writing and well taking over the family business since my father can't get his shit together.

No one knows that I'm a writer aside from my best friend Marcus.

If my family knew I know that they would never support me so some things I better off unsaid.

My mother was trying to get hold of me but I turned off my phone.

I sat at the beach for an hour just listening to the waves of the oceans wishing that they'd just carry me along.

Maybe my life would feel easier.

It was getting cold and this dress wasn't keeping me warm.

I got up and began walking towards my car.

Later that night I made it at the apartment in one piece. I stripped out of the dress and decided to go for a long shower.

I had a glass of wine and went to bed.

I had to wake up early for work.

My thoughts kept wandering back to the moment when Nolan kissed me and I couldn't help but feel flustered at the mere thought of his lips on mine.

His kiss was gentle yet passionate.

He was nothing like his father.

Ambrose.

His kisses made me feel like I was on the verge of drowning in ecstasy yet I didn't want him to stop either.

I groaned deeply.

When I eventually blocked out those steamy moments between father and son I eventually drifted to sleep an hour later.

As usual I woke up at 5.am in the morning and did my morning yoga routine despite feeling exhausted.

I decided to go for a long bubble bath and after that I went to get dressed and after I was done I was heading to the kitchen for some quick breakfast.

I turned on my phone and the number of messages and missed calls I found were alarming and a few of them were from Nolan.

I frowned and decided to call him back.

He picked up on the second ring.

"You made me worried, Ben," he muttered quietly.

"What do you mean?" I asked curiously but deep down I knew that my grandfather had something to do with this.

He cleared his throat nervously.

"Your grandfather mentioned that you left the mansion upset last night so I wanted to check up on you to make sure that you're okay."

I was angry that my grandfather dragged Nolan into this mess.

"Ben, are you still there?"

I had zoned out.

I sighed deeply.

"Yes I'm okay but I've burnt my toast while talking to you" I exclaimed softly removing black toast from the toaster.

It was burnt beyond human consumption.

He chuckled softly.

"I'm sorry for that but let me make it up to you. Let me have the honor of taking you out for breakfast."

I bit my bottom lip.

It was off schedule but I wanted to genuinely get to know Nolan.

"Please" he insisted and I found myself giving in.

"Like a date?"

I smiled to myself and I'm sure he had a grin on his face.

"Yes it will be our first date"he muttered quietly.

It was official Nolan and I were going on our first date but in the back of my mind I could picture Ambrose frowning at me.

Nolan offered to pick me up and I accepted even though I preferred driving myself to work.