The air in Benjamin's office was thick with tension. The dim lighting cast shadows across the room, reflecting the storm brewing within him. Vince sat bound to a chair in the center of the room, his face bloodied and bruised. Two of Benjamin's men flanked him, their expressions grim and unyielding.
Benjamin leaned against his desk, his arms crossed, his face an unreadable mask. He had given Vince time to talk, time to explain himself, but the man had refused to say anything useful. Patience wasn't a luxury Benjamin could afford.
"You've worked for me for years, Vince," Benjamin said, his voice low and dangerously calm. "I trusted you. Clara's life was nearly taken because of your betrayal. You owe me answers."
Vince coughed, spitting blood onto the floor. "You don't understand, Benjamin. Moriarti—he's not just after you. He's after everyone close to you. If I didn't help him, my family—"
Benjamin's fist slammed onto the desk, silencing Vince mid-sentence. "And what about Clara?" he growled. "Did you think about her? Or the consequences of crossing me?"
Vince flinched but didn't reply.
Elias, standing near the door, cleared his throat. "Boss, maybe we should remind him why betraying you is never an option."
Benjamin nodded curtly, and Elias stepped forward, pulling out a small blade. Vince's eyes widened in fear as Elias leaned closer.
"Start talking, Vince," Elias said coldly. "Or I'll make sure you regret every second of your betrayal."
Meanwhile, Clara sat on the couch in the penthouse, her nerves frayed. She couldn't shake the memory of the rogue guard grabbing her, the fear that had gripped her heart in that moment. Though she trusted Benjamin, the secrets he kept weighed on her.
Mia, the maid, brought her a cup of tea and sat beside her.
"Miss Clara, you look pale. Are you feeling unwell?" Mia asked gently.
Clara shook her head, giving her a small smile. "I'm just tired, Mia. Everything that's happened lately… it's overwhelming."
Mia hesitated, then placed a comforting hand on Clara's shoulder. "You're strong, Miss. Mr. Benjamin will do whatever it takes to keep you safe. He cares for you deeply."
Clara nodded, her fingers tightening around the cup. "I know. But sometimes, I wonder how much danger I've brought into his life. If it weren't for me—"
"Don't say that," Mia interrupted firmly. "You've brought something into his life no one else could—light. Hope. He needs you as much as you need him."
Clara looked at Mia, surprised by the intensity in her voice. But before she could reply, the sound of footsteps echoed through the penthouse.
Benjamin had returned.
Benjamin stepped into the room, his presence commanding as always. Clara immediately stood, her worry evident on her face.
"Benjamin, are you okay?" she asked, her voice soft.
He walked to her, placing a hand on her cheek. "I should be asking you that, Clara. You've been through enough."
Clara searched his eyes, trying to read the emotions hidden behind them. "What's going on? Why did that man try to take me?"
Benjamin sighed, his hand dropping to his side. "There's someone targeting me—Moriarti. He's dangerous, and he'll use anyone he can to get to me, including you."
Clara's stomach sank. "Why me? I'm just a florist. What could I possibly have to do with any of this?"
Benjamin hesitated, then decided it was time for honesty. "Because you matter to me, Clara. And in my world, that makes you a target."
Her breath caught. His words were both a confession and a warning.
"Then let me help you," Clara said, her voice stronger than she expected. "I don't want to be a weakness or a liability. If I'm part of this, I need to know how to survive it."
Benjamin looked at her, a flicker of admiration in his eyes. "You're not a weakness, Clara. But if you want to be prepared, I'll make sure you are."
---
The next morning, Clara woke to find a note on the bedside table.
"Meet me in the training room. It's time you learned how to defend yourself."
Clara felt a mix of apprehension and determination as she dressed and made her way to the training room Benjamin had mentioned. It was located in a secluded part of the penthouse, filled with equipment she had never seen before.
Benjamin was already there, wearing a sleeveless black shirt and jogging pants, his toned muscles on full display. He looked every bit the formidable mafia king she had come to know, yet there was something different in his demeanor—an eagerness to teach her, to protect her in a way that went beyond physical strength.
"Ready?" he asked, tossing her a pair of gloves.
Clara nodded, slipping them on. "I think so."
He started with the basics—how to block, how to throw a punch, how to escape a grip. Clara was clumsy at first, but Benjamin was patient, guiding her movements with a gentleness that contrasted his usually intense persona.
"You're stronger than you think," he told her after she successfully broke free from his hold for the first time.
Clara smiled, feeling a spark of confidence. "Thanks to my teacher."
They worked for hours, and by the end, Clara was exhausted but proud. For the first time since her ordeal began, she felt like she had some control over her own fate.
---
That evening, as they sat together on the balcony, the city lights twinkling below, Clara turned to Benjamin.
"Do you think this will ever end?" she asked softly. "The danger, the violence?"
Benjamin was quiet for a moment, his gaze fixed on the horizon. "I don't know," he admitted. "But I do know one thing—I'll fight for us, Clara. For a life where we don't have to look over our shoulders."
Clara placed her hand over his, their fingers intertwining. "Then I'll fight too."
In that moment, surrounded by the shadows of the past and the uncertainty of the future, Clara and Benjamin found strength in each other. They were two souls from different worlds, bound by love and the promise of a better tomorrow.
But even as they shared that quiet moment, the storm brewing around them showed no signs of abating. Moriarti was still out there, plotting his next move. And Benjamin knew that the battle ahead would test not only his strength but also the bond he had with Clara.