I dare you
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.