Love’n’Lust

Still holding her well against the wall, Ben took his phone out. The caller better be either his mother or Jenna, and it better be something urgent, or else the person would give him good reasons why he or she was having his phone disturbed that way.

He looked at the screen to see who it was,  it was his assistant, unfortunately for her.Copyright Nôv/el/Dra/ma.Org.

“Good morning sir, I’m just calling to remind you of the scheduled meeting you will be having with the representatives of the Dana corporation this morning.” Belle heard a female voice inform Ben of a meeting.

“Cancel it,” Ben said, about to end the call after but heard his assistant again.

“Uhm, sir… they are already here and waiting for you,”

“Do what I asked you to.” He ended the call.

“Why did you do that?” Belle had to ask him.

“…” She didn’t let him answer before asking a new question.

“I heard your assistant say that people are waiting for you and you just canceled? Is this because of me?”

“Who else?” He kissed her after her last question. He usually never acted so unethical when it came to issues concerning his company but it was Belle… he knew he could have her when he returned from his meeting but he wanted her now so he did what he did.

“You…,” Belle was about to say something else when his phone rang again. Belle saw the expression on his face change, he wasn’t happy about being disturbed at that moment, it was so obvious.

He wanted to switch off the phone but saw that it wasn’t his assistant calling back, it was Randy.

To Belle’s surprise, he picked up, letting go of her and moving to the balcony; she didn’t even know that there was a balcony there. She wondered who he was speaking with, not to want her to hear because he didn’t mind taking the call from his assistant in her presence.

She went back to the bed and picked up the new phone, unlocking it and going through it, she saw a text from Mrs Johnson.

‘Belle, it’s Laura, Brie sent me your new contact yesterday so I thought I should reach out. Let me know when you are returning to work and/or if you plan on returning to work or not.’

Belle read the message slowly, wanting to type back but not knowing what to reply. Surely, she wanted to return to work but she was scared. She knew Tiger was in police custody but not Crow, what if he came looking for her? He did know where she stayed and worked to have abducted her on her way to work that day.

“What’s the matter?” Ben returned and had to ask when he saw her staring at her phone, looking indecisive about something.

She didn’t give an immediate answer so he took the phone from her and saw for himself.

“Call her, let her know you won’t be returning.” He told Belle after he read Laura Johnson’s message.

“What? No.” Belle opposed the decision he just made.

“What do you mean no?”

“I haven’t decided yet…”

“There’s nothing to decide, I don’t want you working there anymore.” He said with finality in his voice. Unlike Belle, he wasn’t scared that Crow could come after her, no, that wasn’t the reason for his decision, he knew he could protect her from him.

He made that decision because he had been looking for ways to keep her away from Nathan and an opportunity just presented itself.

“I still want to work there,” she opposed again.”It’s just that I’m worried Crow might come for me.” She sighed, raising her eyes to look up at him from where she sat.

“Did the police say anything yet, about finding Crow?” She thought she should ask when Ben didn’t say anything after her.

“Why do you still want to work there, tell me?” He ignored her question, wanting to know.

“I’ve just started to build a career there and…”

“What career? You are just an intern.” She heard him when he cut her short and those words hurt her.

“I plan to also become an editor someday, you know.” She got off the bed and made to walk out but he held her back, effortlessly pulling her to himself.

She struggled, she didn’t want to be held by him, not now, she was pissed by what he said and didn’t even want to look at him. Her struggle was useless because it made no difference, he held her tight and she couldn’t move an inch away from him.

Seeing that it was hard to walk away from him, she turned her face in another direction to show him that she didn’t want to look at him; she was annoyed.

She had turned her face left but the moment she did that, Ben’s strong hands gripped her jaw and brought her face back to his against her will. She started to shake her head.

“Let’s go of me, I don’t want to look at you!” She busted into tears when he did that.

Ben looked at her teary face briefly, no expression to tell he didn’t like those tears on her face so he pulled her closer even if she still struggled against it. He hugged her.

“Is it what I said? I’m sorry.” She heard him apologize with his lips so close to her ears as he hugged her tight. Her tears stopped.

She couldn’t explain it but his hug calmed her down in seconds. Maybe it was the effect of his torso pressed against hers or maybe it was just the closeness she felt when he hugged her and she could smell his cologne. Or maybe it was his words; the apology.

She dried her tears on his shoulder, rubbing her face against his shirt. Ben felt her warm tears wet his shirt but he didn’t mind, he started to rub on her back, slowly and calmly.

Belle lifted her face from his left shoulder, looking at him with her lashes still wet from her tears. Ben thought her eyes were more charming now with her long lashes looking thicker than they usually were because of her tears and her blue eyes looking glassy.

She kissed him, she felt horny. She wouldn’t say but she was glad now that he had cancelled that meeting.