Chapter 18
Benjamin is an elegant beast who never bothers to hide his desires and ambitions, yet somehow always manages to reveal a fatal attraction when you least expect it.
He's dangerous and captivating, like a glass of rich poison—you know it's toxic, but you can't help wanting to get closer.
Just as my thoughts were spiraling, my phone screen lit up with a text from an unknown number.
"Ophelia! I'm back! Surprised? Excited? I just landed, get over here now. Sending you my location. Oh, and I want BBQ!"
At the end of the message was a bouncing cartoon emoji.
Seeing that familiar, bold, and energetic tone, my lips—which had been tight all evening—finally couldn't help but break into a genuine, relaxed smile.
Aurora was back.
My college roommate and my best friend.
The girl who, when I was being squeezed out by the White family and crushed most painfully by Michael, was the only one who dared to point at Michael's nose and curse him out, then drag me to a bar to go wild for the night.
In a world full of schemes and pretense, she was the only bright splash of color.
I replied almost immediately.
"Wait for me, I'll be right there."
I put away my phone and told Chase in the front seat, "Change of plans, we're going to Big Barn BBQ."
Chase glanced at me through the rearview mirror, seeming a bit surprised, but he didn't ask anything—just smoothly turned the car around.
The night breeze slipped through the car window crack, carrying a hint of hot, smoky air, blowing away the ripples Benjamin had stirred in my heart.
The car stopped at a bustling street corner, and Chase and I got out one after the other.
Chase looked completely out of place in this noisy environment—in his sharp black suit with that stern expression, he drew constant stares from passersby.
Following the location pin, I wove through the crowded street and immediately spotted Aurora sitting in the restaurant, legs crossed, eating BBQ with zero regard for appearances.
She wore a sharply cut red tank dress that showed a lot of skin, silver bracelets on her wrists, and her bold flaxen curls cascading loosely down.
Even in this bustling night market, she was beautiful like a richly colored oil painting—eye-catching and vibrant.
"Finally!" Aurora's eyes lit up when she saw me. She roughly wiped her greasy hands on a napkin, then stood up and gave me a solid hug that nearly squeezed the breath out of me. "I missed you so much!"
The familiar scent of her perfume mixed with the aroma of grilled meat hit me, and my nerves, which had been tense all evening, completely relaxed in that moment.
I hugged her back, unable to suppress my smile. "I thought you'd died in some foreign hottie's arms and weren't planning to come back."
"Nonsense, you're the only one in my heart." She released me and looked me up and down, then nodded with satisfaction. "Good, even without me around, you're still gorgeous. But..." Her tone shifted as she pulled me to sit down, her eyes instantly sharpening. "Before I left, I told you to get away from that scumbag Michael. Did you break up with him?"
I calmly grilled some beef. "We broke up."
"Awesome!" Aurora slapped the table, drawing looks from neighboring tables, but she didn't care. "That kind of guy—what can he do besides climb up using your family's influence? I told you from the start that the way he looked at you wasn't right. Not like looking at a lover, more like looking at a credit card."
She paused, then leaned in closer, lowering her voice to ask gossipily, "I heard you cleaned him out completely? Impressive, Ophelia. Haven't seen you in years, and you've really leveled up."
I dipped the grilled beef in sauce and held it to her mouth, saying lightly, "He wanted to destroy me. I just took back what belonged to me and returned the favor with a little gift."
My tone was calm, but Aurora's expression instantly darkened.
She grabbed my hand, her playful expression vanishing completely, leaving only worry and rage in her eyes. "They dared to hurt you?"
Her voice suddenly rose, that protective fierceness immediately surfacing. "Where's that bastard Michael? I'll go take care of him right now! And his bitter mother and that fake, pitiful adopted sister—not one of them is any good!"
Watching her look ready to grab a chair and storm the Johnson Villa for a fight, warmth filled my heart. I patted the back of her hand soothingly. "Don't worry, they won't be arrogant much longer. I've already prepared them a gift that'll destroy them completely."
Aurora stared at me for a few seconds, confirming I wasn't just being tough, then finally calmed down a bit, though still indignant. "They're getting off easy. But wait, are you living alone now?"
"Yes, temporarily staying at... a business partner's villa." I vaguely mentioned Benjamin.
Aurora immediately caught the key point, her eyes lighting up again like she'd discovered a new world. "Business partner? Male or female? Are they good to you?"
Her rapid-fire questions made me laugh helplessly. "Tell me about you. Didn't you say you were going to travel the world? Why'd you suddenly come back?"
At the mention of business, Aurora's gossipy expression finally subsided. She took a swig of beer, her face showing some longing mixed with uncertainty. "I've had enough fun, still want to do something of my own. I studied with an independent designer abroad for a few years, and I want to come back and open my own original design studio."
She pulled a portfolio from her bag and handed it to me. Inside were various design sketches—from jewelry to gowns—bold and avant-garde in style, full of vitality, every stroke showcasing her unique aesthetic and talent.
"What do you think? Pretty good, right?" She looked at me expectantly.
"More than good," I praised sincerely. "You were born to be a designer."
Getting my approval, Aurora's face broke into a huge smile, but it quickly fell. She scratched her hair, somewhat distressed. "The idea's great, but reality's harsh. Opening a studio needs money, connections, and channels. I spent all my savings these past years abroad, and my parents think this is just fooling around..."
Looking at those brilliant designs in her sketches, a thought flashed through my mind, instantly connecting all the scattered pieces.
The near-bankrupt StoryArc Media I'd taken over, Benjamin's "elite social" short video platform proposal, and Aurora's promising original designs.
I needed a unique angle to revive StoryArc Media.