Clara stormed into Benjamin's office the next morning, her fear replaced with a surge of determination. If she was going to be dragged into his dark world, she deserved to know what she was up against.
Benjamin looked up from his desk, his eyes narrowing slightly at her sudden appearance. He was dressed in his usual sharp suit, but there was a subtle dishevelment about him—his tie slightly loosened, his hair unkempt.
"Clara," he said, his voice calm but tinged with caution. "You're up early."
"I couldn't sleep," she replied curtly, shutting the door behind her. "We need to talk."
Benjamin leaned back in his chair, folding his arms across his chest. "About what?"
"Don't play coy," Clara snapped, surprising herself with the sharpness in her tone. "I heard you last night. The Moriartis know about me, don't they?"
His jaw tightened, but he didn't deny it. "You shouldn't eavesdrop."
"I wouldn't have to if you were honest with me," she shot back. "You said you'd keep me safe, Benjamin. But how can I trust you when you don't tell me the truth?"
Benjamin rose from his chair, his towering presence both intimidating and oddly reassuring. He walked around the desk and stopped a few feet from her, his expression softening.
"You're right," he admitted, his voice low. "I should've told you. The Moriartis found out about you sooner than I anticipated."
Clara crossed her arms, trying to mask the fear bubbling beneath her anger. "What does that mean for me? Am I some kind of bargaining chip now?"
"Never," Benjamin said firmly, stepping closer. "You're not a pawn in their game, Clara. You're under my protection, and I won't let anything happen to you."
"But why?" she asked, her voice trembling. "Why go to all this trouble for me? I'm just some girl who runs a flower shop."
Benjamin hesitated, his gaze dropping to the floor for a moment before meeting hers again. There was something vulnerable in his eyes, a crack in his otherwise impenetrable armor.
"You're more than that," he said quietly. "You're the only thing in my world that doesn't feel… tainted."
Clara's breath caught in her throat. She didn't know how to respond to that, so she looked away, her emotions a tangled mess.
"You don't have to trust me yet," Benjamin continued, his voice softening further. "But I need you to know that I'm doing everything in my power to keep you safe. And I will eliminate anyone who threatens you."
His words sent a chill down her spine, but there was also a strange comfort in his unwavering resolve.
"What's your plan?" she asked after a moment.
Benjamin's expression hardened, the ruthless side of him resurfacing. "The Moriartis are testing my patience. They think they can use you to weaken me, but they've underestimated how far I'm willing to go."
Clara frowned. "And what does that mean, exactly?"
"It means I'm going to end this," he said, his tone cold and final. "Once and for all."
Clara wanted to argue, to tell him there had to be another way, but the look in his eyes told her it was pointless. Benjamin was a man used to getting his way, and he wouldn't stop until the threat was eliminated.
"I don't want to be the reason people get hurt," she said quietly.
"You're not," Benjamin replied, his gaze softening again. "The Moriartis have been a problem long before you came into my life. This isn't just about you, Clara—it's about sending a message to anyone who thinks they can challenge me."
Clara swallowed hard, unsure of what to say. She felt like a pawn in a game far bigger than herself, but she also couldn't ignore the warmth in Benjamin's voice when he spoke about protecting her.
"Just… promise me you'll be careful," she said finally.
Benjamin's lips curved into a faint smile. "Always."
As Clara left his office, her mind was still racing with questions and fears. But there was also a flicker of something else—hope.
For better or worse, her life was now entwined with Benjamin's. And though she didn't know what the future held, she couldn't shake the feeling that he was the only one who could guide her through the darkness.