Love’n’Lust

Belle was sitting in between Ben’s thighs on the bed as she stuffed her face with some fries like she wanted. He played with her hair gently as she ate on but that was disrupted when her phone started to ring.

She threw the duvet off her, to check for the phone when she heard it. Ben handed it to her from behind. She sighed and shook her head, not believing she had been searching aimlessly for it all the while.

The thankful smile that formed on her lips after Ben gave the phone to her disappeared when she saw the name of the person calling on her phone’s screen. It was Brie. She decided to pick it up even if she was not ready to speak to her.

“Heyy,” Belle just said.

“Where are you?” She heard Brie almost immediately.

“Uhm…”

“You are with him, aren’t you?”

“I had a rethink and…”

“O my god, Belle.” She heard Brie say frustratingly.”What’s the point of deciding to stay away from him if you are still going to change your mind?!”

“…” Belle kept mute, not knowing what to say and concluding that being silent was the best at the moment.

“You know what? I’m tired, Belle. I’m tired of trying to look out for you. Cherry is right, you are an adult like I am, fully able to make your decisions, I have no say. Goodnight. See you whenever you decide to come around.” Brie cut the call as soon as she was done speaking, not even letting a word escape from Belle.

Belle rubbed the back of her neck slowly, before stretching her arm to keep the phone on the bedside drawer.

“Your sister?” Ben asked her.

“No.” She lied and resumed eating her fries, sitting back lazily in between his legs again, but Ben knew she just lied but he knew and understood her reason.

“I have to be at an annual event next week Tuesday,” he informed her.”It is a charity event, there will be an after-party.”

Belle just listened quietly.

“It is you plus one event, I am expected to be there with an invited partner. I would usually have my assistant hire a model to go with but I want you to be my plus one this year.” He completed and watched Belle sit up to look at him.

“Are there going to be media persons or is it a private event?” She asked.

“The media would be there, surely.”

“I can’t go then.” She concluded.

“You have to,” he brought her closer to himself on the bed and extended his fingers to the back of her neck, caressing her cheek with his thumb.

“I do not want people to see me with you.”

“Isn’t that one of the things you said you wanted?”

“Yes, but what will you tell the media about me? What if a question is thrown at you? What if someone asks; who is the lady with you? Are you going to tell them that I am just a lady you are sleeping with?”

“I don’t usually give answers to such questions.”

“Okay, but my pictures are gonna be taken, and most likely published. They will dig to find out who I am, this is the media we are talking about.” She shook her head.”I won’t go with you, I’m sorry.”

“You will. If you want, you can add a customized mask to your outfit for that day. I really want you to come with me. We would travel there on Monday morning.”

“Hold on,” Belle licked her lips, “Travel? What do you mean travel?”

“The event will be held in city N, not here. We will have to travel there.”

“Ben, what are you saying? Travel? Do you forget I have to go to work? I can’t just travel whenever I want, maybe you can, you are you, you are the boss of your company, and you get to do what you want but I don’t.”

“You don’t have to worry about that, I will take care of it.”

“No. The last time you took care of ‘it’, it wasn’t so good between Mrs. Johnson and me. I’m trying to have a clean sheet with this new boss of mine.” She heard h chuckle lightly after she spoke.

“Don’t worry, that won’t happen this time. You just get prepared to travel on Monday morning, I will come pick you up.”

“…” Belle bit her lips.”What was that you said about a costume?” Her mind went back to that. Ben smiled, happy to explain that to her.

****

Next day.

Belle was busy arranging some files like editor Khan requested when she remembered that she planned to take an excuse for her travel. She did not want Ben to ‘take care of it’, so she was hoping her boss would approve her leave so Ben did not have to.

“Uhm, sir?” She called and had him look at her.

“Yes?”

“I was uhm, I was hoping I could get your approval to take some days off next week, I have to be somewhere important and…”

“Oh that, Mr Kidridge already talked to me about it.” She heard her boss.

“Hmmn?” She asked because even though the name sounded familiar, she couldn’t properly recall who Mr Kidridge was.

“Mr. Kidridge, the chief editor.” Her new boss helped her out.

“Oh.” She just said.”He talked to you about it?”

“Yes, he says you have to leave for some days next week. Finish that up.” He replied, leaving her shocked till it hit her, Ben already took care of it, like he said he would.Copyright Nôv/el/Dra/ma.Org.

An uncalculated smile unknowingly tugged the corners of her lips. She then shook her head with a light chuckle before continuing with what she was asked to do.

****

After work.

Nathan’s car stopped right in front of where Belle stood but she wasn’t surprised today. He came down from the car and was about to come hold the door for her but she opened it herself before he could get to her.

“I can get into a car myself,” she told him but he only grinned and return to the driver’s side of the car.

“I won’t be going too far, you can drop me off after a short distance from here.” She told him when he started to drive.

“Are you visiting someone?” He asked her.

“No, I will be staying at my house rather than at my sister’s.” She said and then remembered Brie’s disappointed voice last night. She bit her lips and let out a sigh before looking out the window.

“Here.” She suddenly said, making him hit his breaks also suddenly.

After he stopped the car, he looked at the house his car was parked in front of, then back at her.

“You stay here?” He asked in an unbelieving voice because he knew what the house was worth, he had once done a research publication on it.

“Yeah,” Belle nodded, getting ready to step out of his car but he held her arm, making her turn to him.

“Really?” He asked her again.”This is your house?”

“Yeah,” she shrugged and freed herself of his hold, getting out of the car after.”Thanks.” She didn’t forget to say.

Nathan sat watching, his mouth open in blatant awe as she walked towards the entrance of the house and actually went in. He thought she was joking at first but now, he knew she wasn’t.

He sat back in thought.

‘I was right,’ he said to himself.’I was right, she is of a rich background.’ His opportunistic thoughts were back. He was thinking back to using her like he planned in the beginning before he fell for her.

‘Nothing wrong if I benefit from being in love with her.’ he said to himself again to put off his guilty feeling.

‘I have to work harder now at making her fall for me.’ he set a goal for himself.

****

Later that night.

Belle was in Ben’s arms as they were about to sleep. He stroked her hair repeatedly, enjoying the softness of her skin and how warm it felt; she was his pill for calm after a long day.

“I will be out of city S for a day or two but I’ll be back on time to pick you up on Monday next week.” He told her after remembering he had to.

“Why?” She separated their cuddle to face him.

“Work.” He stated simply and heard her sigh.

“It would be unusual without you here,” she pouted and leaned back in to continue the snuggle.

“How many days to be exact?” She asked after some quiet in the room.

“Two at most,” he replied and it went silent again. Belle dragged her body upon him, placing her hips over his waist while hugging him as they lay still.

****

After work, the next day.

Belle walked into her house lazily, dragging her feet on the ground as she walked slowly.

She was dog-tired and went to the nearest sofa in the living room, slouching on it. She yawned after.

Her phone rang so she picked it up without checking to see who it was calling but she heard just the voice she wanted to hear; Ben’s.

“How was your day?” He asked her.

“Tiring. It’s like he enjoys nothing else but working, he doesn’t even stop to take a break.” Ben chuckled at her explanatory reply.

“Do you want a new boss?”

“No,” she shook her head even if he was not there to see her do so.”How was your day?” She returned his question.

“Stressful, as expected, just that it comes in a different environment.” She heard him but couldn’t listen fully as there was a knock on her door. She calculated walking all the way to the door and sighed tiredly before dragging herself to answer it.

“Ben, please call me back in some minutes, is that possible?”

“Yes. Are fifteen minutes okay?” He asked.

“Yes,” she confirmed before opening the door.”Nathan?” She called in surprise at who she saw standing outside her door.

“You forgot this,” he held out her purse I’m front of her.

“Oh,” she took it.”Thanks, and sorry if it was any trouble,” she smiled, ready to close the door but he stopped her.

“Uhm, I actually planned on making this my first visit to your place.” He gave one of his charming smiles but Belle was too distracted by fatigue to be pleased by it.

“Today? Now?” She asked because no way he could be serious.

“Yes, hope that is fine by you?” He smiled again and made his way inside without giving her a chance to answer.”Wow, this place is pretty splendid.” He complimented before going ahead to take his seat.

Belle saw him seat and just sighed, cursing inwardly but covering it up with a smile before closing the door.

“What would you like to have? Water?”

“Maybe something more. Do you have wine?” His reply almost made her sigh out loud but she just nodded.

“Yes, non-alcoholic, I don’t drink. Do I get that?”

“Yeah, sure.” She saw him nod and headed to the kitchen. She soon returned with a glass in hand and an opened wine in the other. Belle set it on the table in front of him with a fake smile still.

“What about you?” She heard him after she sat.

“Huh?”

“What about you, won’t you be joining me? I mean, I can’t drink alone…” He trailed off, hoping she would do like he planned and she did. Belle decided to return to the kitchen to get a glass for herself; drinking a non-alcoholic wine with him had no harm.

When she went to the kitchen, Nathan quickly got out a parcel from his pocket. He opened it and added some of its powdered content into the bottle of wine, then shook it to mix.