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Beatrice was dumbfounded for a second, not knowing, her mind a bit fuzzy as she stared at Ben.

' What was that even supposed to mean?' Beatrice thought, staring at Ben, who was walking into the main part of the building where the event was holding.

"I don't want to see you with him," Beatrice imitated Ben, trying to make her voice sound deep as she rolled her eyes dramatically.

"Who the hell does he think he is?" Beatrice scoffed and held her clutches firmly.

She began walking when someone called her name. 

"Beatrice!" Knowing that the voice belonged to her best friend, Beatrice turned around immediately and saw Camilla walking towards her happily.

"Oh my Goodness! Camilla," Beatrice squealed but not too loud due to the environment she was... She needed to maintain and compose herself.

Beatrice hurriedly moved closer to Camilla and they both engaged in a self-crushing embrace.

They hugged each other tightly, not wanting to let go of each other... It has been so long since they've gotten to hold each other in their arms.

Finally, they let go of each other when they begin to run out of air.

"Look at you,"

"You look incredibly stunning," Camilla beamed, gazing at her friend's face.

"And you look gorgeous yourself," Beatrice complimented, smiling brightly at her friend.

Camilla was putting on a lovely blue long gown, which had a split from her left knee downward, the gown fitted on her curves showing the world her amazing hourglass feature... She had hair cut shoulder-length and straight, which fall loosely around her bare neck and shoulder.

The light make-up just made her stand out naturally.

"Your necklace!" Camilla gasped, moving closer to Beatrice, who brought her hand up and used her thumb and index finger to hold out the heart-shaped embedded emerald pendant for Camilla to have a clearer view.

"Ben got it for me," Beatrice blurted before realizing what she had said as Camilla's eyes widened with numerous and inquisitive questions.

"You two finally got back together?"

Beatrice's eyes bulged out as she shook her head in denial. " No, we are not,"

"This looks so beautiful and expensive, it screams money," Camilla giggled as she stared at the necklace and then at her earrings, while Beatrice just laughed uncomfortably.

Camilla stopped giggling as if something crossed her mind as she stared at Beatrice with a straight and skeptical face.

"Wait! If you are not together, why would you coll--?"

"Oh my God! You brought Gavin along," Beatrice interrupted and brushed past Camilla when she knew where her best friend was trying to dive, and luckily for her, Lucas and Gavin showed up on time to her rescue.

"You've grown so handsome," Beatrice cooed, squatting to the level of Gavin's height as she ruffled his curled hair while Gavin chuckled and smiled, showing his milky teeth at Beatrice.

"Hey, Lucas," Beatrice greeted after standing erectly, Lucas flashed her charming smile which appealed to his enticing green eyes.

"Long time no see, Beatrice," Lucas responded, smiling warmly at her.

"Yeah,"

He looked very handsome as always, his dark blue tuxedo matched perfectly with Camilla's gown, Gavin too was also putting on a dark blue tuxedo which made him look like the youngest CEO in the event.

"Beatrice, did you just leave me hanging?" Camilla asked as she strutted over to where Beatrice, Lucas, and Gavin were.

"Mommy!" Gavin shrilled as he ran over to his mum.

Camilla held out her hand to him, and he immediately grabbed three of her fingers.

"I didn't and by the way, where are the twins?" Beatrice asked as she turned around to face Camilla and gave her a teasing smile.

"My mother is looking after them," Lucas answered as Beatrice directed her gaze to him.

"Wow! That's great," Beatrice said as she gazed back at Camilla with a questioning brow, while Camilla nodded with a smile, knowing what she meant.

It seems Lucas is close to finally forgiving his mum...

Gavin waved at Beatrice as he smiled at her, while Beatrice pouted," Isn't he so adorable?" Beatrice smiled at him and stretched her hand out to him when he and his mum were close enough to them, and he didn't waste any time letting go of his mum's hand and accepting hers.

"Don't worry, I'll gladly pair you and my future daughter with you," Beatrice smiled, staring at cute Gavin.

"Beatrice!" Camilla and Lucas called her name at the same time.

"What?"

"Is anything wrong with my future daughter having special future moments with your son?" She smirked while Camilla and Lucas sighed.

"Don't mind mommy and daddy, your future wife is coming soon," Beatrice told Gavin, who just stared at her confusedly but still smiled at her anyway.

"Didn't you come with Ben?" Lucas suddenly asked, glancing around before bringing out his smartphone and typing something on it.

"Uhm! He entered the hall not quite long," Beatrice answered while Camilla was busy making funny faces at Beatrice about Ben while Beatrice rolled her eyes.

"Okay, let's head into the hall, Ben just replied he has gotten a table for us," Lucas notified. Lucas wrapped his right arm around Camilla's waist and leaned closer to her, while Camilla lifted her head to stare at Lucas's face, and he dropped a quick peck on her lips.

"Ewww! Gavin, let's get going, your parents are going to corrupt us," Beatrice teased as she began pulling Gavin along with her, and he followed immediately.

Camilla blushed slightly as she and Lucas began to walk in Beatrice's direction while their fingers were interlocked with each other.

~~

Lucas and Ben were so engrossed in their conversation, while Beatrice and Camilla were also engaged in their world of conversation too.

The event was going on smoothly with a lot of multi-billionaire directors and CEOs around.

Gavin was helping himself with the meal served a few minutes ago, seems he was having his conversation with the plate of food in front of him instead.

"So, nothing is going on between you two?" Camilla asked so lowly for Beatrice to hear even though Beatrice kept on pinching and hitting her exposed knee for her to keep shut.

"Yes, how many times am I going to stick that in your head?" Beatrice grunted lowly while surreptitiously watching Ben if he wasn't listening or staring at them.

"Excuse us, ladies!" Lucas informed as he stood up from his seat, while Ben stood up immediately after him.

"Where are you two going to?" Camilla asked, staring at Lucas.

"Just have some business discussion with other directors," Ben primed while Camilla nodded and Lucas winked at her, causing Camilla to smile.

"Daddy!" Where are you going?" Gavin spoke out when he noticed his dad leaving.

"Honey, daddy will be back soon... Continue with your food," Camilla told Gavin as she reached out to him and squeezed his little hand while he nodded and shook his head at the same time.

Lucas and Ben had left the table and went to mingle with other men in a different section who were speaking with each other.

"Lucas just loves you madly," Beatrice uttered, turning her gaze to Camilla, who couldn't help to hide her smile.

"He does, you know he has been like that," Camilla smiled warmly.

"Good heavens, let me find a love like that," Beatrice prayed.

"Well, you have seen one for a long time, you are the one not accepting and always chasing him away," Camilla said while Beatrice glared at her.

"I'm not just interested in any relationship," Beatrice defended herself, scoffing slightly.

"Pfft! Or you are just playing hard to get," Camilla smirked at Beatrice, who threw daggers her way.

"I'm not,"

"Why don't you let him in, huh?" Camilla said softly and touched the back of Beatrice's hand with hers and squeezed it gently as Beatrice stared at her and sighed.

"Mommy!" Gavin called, diverting the attention of Beatrice and Camilla to his side as they both gasped.

"You little punk!" Camilla growled at Gavin who had stained his dress with the mayonnaise cream from the salad he was eating and dropped it on his tuxedo while he gave a cute remorseful look realizing what he had done as he looked sheepishly at him who was throwing daggers at him.

"I'm coming, Beatrice," Camilla told Beatrice as she stood up from her seat then carried Gavin in her arms and started walking away, leaving Beatrice alone at the table.

Beatrice smiled to herself, stretching her left arm to grab a glass of wine. She brought the glass cup close to her lips and sipped the wine which had a great and exquisite taste before gently gulping down the entire content of the wine down her throat.

"Ciao, Bella damigella," A familiar deep voice said, causing Beatrice to shoot her gaze up to see Mr. Santiago smiling charmingly at her.

"Hi!" Beatrice smiled at him as he arched a brow at her.

"Do you mind if I keep you company? You seem to be the only one here," Santiago offered, staring intensely at her unceasingly.

"Uhm!" Beatrice hesitated to glance around and tried to fish out where Ben and Lucas were with her eyes, but couldn't see either of them around.

An announcement was made by the host that businessmen could have a dance with their partners before the next program started.

"How about I have the honors of you dancing with me, belle?" He asked as he bowed his head slightly and stretched out his hand.

Beatrice's heart was fluttering... This dude was fucking hot, and she was not going to heed to any nonsense that Ben had laid down for her.

"Of course," Beatrice smiled and placed her slender hand in his bigger one, and he wrapped his fingers around her hand as he raised his head and smiled at her.

Santiago pulled Beatrice up gently from her seat and led her to the dance floor.

Everyone interested in dancing had gotten ready... Santiago made Beatrice face him, and he wrapped his arm around her waist and drew her closer to his torso, making Beatrice gasp slightly while Santiago flashed her one of his addicting smiles.

Beatrice smiled back too and placed her left hand on Santiago's broad shoulder and the light on the dance floor got dimmed, and the soft music began to play as everyone started dancing majestically in their steps.

"Do you know you look so beautiful?" Santiago whispered into Beatrice's ear, which made her entire body shudder for unknown reasons.

Why was she reacting this way to this man?

"You've told me earlier," Beatrice chuckled as Santiago spun her around and wrapped his arm back to Beatrice's waist, and pulled her back to him.

"And sexy too?" Santiago smirked at her as Beatrice flapped her eyelashes and words were caught up in her throat.

'Is he flirting with me? What are his plans for getting close to me?' All these questions ran through Beatrice's head as she kept on smiling at him.

"So, how does it feel being Mr. Clarke's secretary?" He asked her as they took three steps at the same time.

"Uhm! Normal," Beatrice answered, unsure of what to say.

"Normal?" Santiago asked, chuckling, as Beatrice moved away from him and both stretched their arms while their hands interlocked together before pulling her back to him.

"What were you expecting me to say?" Beatrice asked as Santiago's gaze fell on Beatrice's lips and Beatrice noticed how his jaw twitched suddenly, something she knows that occurred to Ben most of the time when he was with her.

Santiago smiled as he took a step before her and pulled her close to him again, this time their bodies pressing against each other.

Santiago leaned closer to Beatrice's face and her heart beat wildly as she wondered if he was about to kiss her when she suddenly and forcefully got torn apart from him.

Beatrice's face turned pale white, seeing Ben staring murderously at Santiago while he grabbed her wrist tightly that it begins to hurt.

"What purpose are you trying to have with my secretary?" Ben fired venomously at Santiago.

"Requesting a dance from your lovely secretary isn't too much to ask, is it?" Santiago asked with a taunting smirk.

"What are you doing?" Beatrice asked, attempting to free herself from Ben, but he didn't let go of her.

"Let go of me,"

Santiago smirked at Ben and turned his gaze at Beatrice, "You are such an elegant dancer, I had a great time with you," He said and Ben fumed with rage and his hold tightened on her wrist causing Beatrice to wince a bit and Ben charged towards Santiago, but Beatrice came in between staring at Ben.

Ben didn't say anything, but his eyes were enough to kill a soul, and he began to drag Beatrice along with him away from the dance floor.

'Goodness! This is so embarrassing,' Beatrice thought as she tried to free her hand away from Ben.

"Let go of me,' Beatrice hissed, but Ben brought out his smartphone and clicked on it before bringing it closer to his ear.

"Get the car ready!" He ordered.

"What are you doing?" She asked him as her eyes widened, confused.

She noticed how people were staring at them, and for once in her life, Beatrice hoped for the ground to swallow her.

Ben pulled Beatrice to the reception hall, and Beatrice was struggling with all her might to get free from him.

"I said, let go of me!" Beatrice shouted annoyingly and frustrated, but Ben remained indifferent and dragged her with him until they were outside.

A black limousine car waiting for them and the driver saw Ben, he opened the door immediately.

Ben got closer to the car and faced Beatrice, "Get in!" He ordered as Beatrice stared in ultra shock at him.

"What? Why?" Beatrice asked astonished.

"Don't make me repeat myself," Ben said icily.

"What if I don't?" Beatrice furiously countered.

Without saying anything, Ben pulled Beatrice into the car and the driver closed the door.

"What's wrong with you, Ben?" Beatrice fired this time her blood was boiling with rage due to his outrageous behavior back there in the event.

"The event hasn't finished, and you just dragged me out like a maniac," Beatrice fired at him, though Ben had released his grip on her wrist, she could feel the throbbing pain shooting through them.

"I told you I don't want to see you with him," Ben shouted at her.

"And do you think I'll listen to your bullshit?" Beatrice shot back at him with widened and furious eyes.

"Why don't you want to see him with me?"

"Don't make me-- I hate it when you fucking get on my nerves, Beatrice," Ben seethed lowly, his blue eyes almost turning dark as he moved closer to Beatrice on the leather seat.

"What are you going to do, huh? What exactly are you going to do?" Beatrice dared, although she knew Ben was looking so dangerous at the moment her stubbornness and hot-tempered behavior won't let her see through anything.

"You want to know, huh?" Ben asked icily, his eyes a shade darker than they usually were, unalarmed he suddenly gripped Beatrice's arm and yanked her towards him, causing her to lose herself and crash on him.

Beatrice got tensed, feeling Ben's body next to hers.

"Wh-what are you doing?" She stuttered, trying to get away from Ben, but he held her tightly against him as they both stared intimately into each other eyes.

"Leave me alone!" Beatrice whimpered, hitting her fist on Ben's chest furiously, yet a little scared, but his arms wrapped tightly around her waist, keeping her still and firm in place.

"You seriously need a punishment," Ben growled as Beatrice's eyes wandered all through his face, searching for answers and wondering what he meant by punishment.

Ben reached out and brushed her spilled hair covering most of her face to the back to get a better view of her face, while Beatrice forced herself to swallow the hard lump stuck in her throat.

"Be-Ben!"

"I guess it's high time for you to know what I'm going to do to you when next you disobey me," His voice was deep and domineering, he slammed his lips against her lips unaware.

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