Crossroads of Fate
Becky stared at the photographs in her hand, her heart racing. There was no mistaking the man in the final photo, Ben, shaking hands with her father, the man who had always been absent from her life, the man who had been a shadow in her memories. Her father, who had never shown any interest in her well-being, was now linked with Ben.
She stumbled back, her mind spinning with confusion and disbelief. "Why? Why would Ben be meeting with him?" she whispered to herself.
Liam, standing nearby, watched her carefully. "You don't understand yet, do you?" he said, his voice steady but laden with frustration. "Ben's not just your boss. He's tangled up in something much darker than you can imagine. Your father isn't who you think he is."
"Stop," Becky snapped, clutching the envelope like a lifeline. "What are you saying? My father's a stranger to me, but that doesn't mean I'm going to believe whatever you're trying to tell me."
Liam took a step forward, his gaze intense. "This isn't just about Ben. It's about you, Becky. Your father has made deals with dangerous people, people who would do anything to keep their secrets hidden. And Ben... he's caught in the middle."
Becky's mind reeled. Could it be possible? Could Ben, the man she had been falling for, really be involved in something that sinister? Her heart wanted to believe in him, but the evidence in front of her couldn't be ignored.
Becky couldn't shake the images from her mind as she returned to Ben's office later that evening. She needed answers, even if she wasn't sure she could trust him anymore. She had to know if the man she thought she knew was hiding something far darker than she'd imagined.
Ben was behind his desk, his expression unreadable as she walked in. The moment he saw her, his eyes flickered with a mix of recognition and wariness.
"Becky, we need to talk," he said, his voice strained.
She didn't waste any time. "You and my father. What's going on, Ben? Why were you meeting with him? What does he have to do with all of this?"
Ben's face darkened, and for a moment, he didn't answer. The tension between them grew thick, suffocating. Then, slowly, he stood and walked toward her. His gaze never left hers.
"I wasn't planning on telling you this, but now... I don't have a choice."
He reached into his desk drawer and pulled out a thick manila envelope. "This is why I've been distant. Why did I've kept you at arm's length."
Becky took the envelope from him with trembling hands. As she opened it, her breath caught in her throat. Inside were official-looking documents, photographs, and a letter from her father dated just a few weeks ago. It was an agreement, a deal, and the contents of it made her stomach churn.
Her father had sold her out, he had used her as a pawn in a high-stakes business deal involving Ben. But it wasn't just business, it was much worse than that. The deal included her family's involvement in an underground operation, one that Ben had been trying to expose for months.
But the worst part? Ben had known. He had known about her father's betrayal long before she did. He had been trying to protect her by keeping his distance.
"Becky, I never wanted you involved in this," Ben said, his voice barely above a whisper. "I wanted to keep you safe, away from this mess. But your father... he's been pulling strings behind the scenes. And now, everything's falling apart."
Becky's mind spun with this new information, her feelings a tangled mess. Ben had been protecting her, but it felt like betrayal all the same. He hadn't told her the truth when she needed to hear it. He hadn't trusted her enough.
Her eyes filled with tears. "You knew this whole time, Ben? You knew what my father was doing to me? And you never told me?"
Ben stepped forward, his hand outstretched, but she stepped back, shaking her head. "I trusted you. I wanted to believe in you. But you kept me in the dark. You used me just like everyone else did."
"No, Becky," Ben said, his voice hoarse. "You're not a pawn in this game. You never were. I wanted to protect you. But now... now I'm afraid it's too late."
As the weight of Ben's words hung in the air, the door to the office burst open. A tall man in a dark suit stepped in, his face calm and calculating. He looked at Becky, then at Ben, and then he smiled, a smile that sent a chill down her spine.
"Ben," the man said, his voice smooth. "I see you've finally told her everything. It's a shame, really."
Becky's breath hitched in her throat. "Who are you?" she demanded, her eyes darting between the two men.
The man turned his gaze to her, his smile widening. "You don't remember me, do you, Becky? You've seen me before, though. I'm your father's associate. And now, I've come to collect."
Before Becky could process his words, the man lunged at her, grabbing her arm with an iron grip. Ben moved quickly to intervene, but the man was faster, pulling a gun from his coat pocket and pointing it directly at Ben.
"Stay back, Ben," the man warned, his voice cold. "You've done enough damage. It's time to end this."
Becky froze, her heart hammering in her chest. Everything had changed in an instant. The life she thought she knew, the love she thought she'd found with Ben, was now shattered. This wasn't about romance anymore. This was about survival.
"Ben..." Becky whispered, her voice trembling with fear. "What's going on? Who is this man?"
Ben's face was hard, resigned. "He's the one who's been controlling everything from the shadows, Becky. He's the one your father made deals with. And now he's here to clean up the mess."
The man smiled darkly. "Yes, Ben. And now, it's time to make sure this mess stays buried starting with her."
Becky's heart stopped as the man cocked the gun. The world seemed to freeze at that moment.
Then, the door slammed open again, and a familiar figure stepped into the room, eyes wide with fear.
"Stop!" Julia screamed.
But it was too late.
The shot rang out.