The Merger

Chapter 7

(Stephen’s POV)

I tap my fingers on my desk my leg shaking angrily as I review the footage my private investigator emailed me. It’s that dog, Benjamin, screwing my sweet Elizabeth like some w***e in her office. My eyes linger on her face, she screams that filthy animal's name as he f***s her against her office door. I slam the laptop shut unable to look at the horrifying sight before me any longer.

“Davis!” I shout, startling my hopeless assistant from whatever he’s doing behind that desk. He scrambles to his feet and hurries over.

“Y..yes sir Mr. Pierre, what can I do for you?” He stammers. I take a deep breath, attempting to regain control of my rage before speaking.

"Davis, I need you to gather some information for me. I want to know every detail about Benjamin's upcoming trip overseas. Where is he going, when is he leaving, and most importantly, how can we ensure he doesn't come back?"

Davis's eyes widen with a mix of surprise and apprehension. He clears his throat nervously before responding,

"Uh... Mr. Pierre, I... I'm not sure if I understand. Are you suggesting...?"

Cutting him off, I lean forward, my voice laced with a dangerous intensity.

"Yes, Davis, you heard me right. I want you to tamper with the plane's engine and make sure it doesn't reach its destination. I want Benjamin gone, permanently."

Davis's face pales, his hands trembling ever so slightly. He stammers again, struggling to find the right words.

"Mr. Pierre, I... I can't do that. It's illegal, immoral... We can't resort to such extreme measures."

I narrow my eyes at him, my anger intensifying.

"Davis, do you remember who signs your paychecks? Do you understand the consequences of crossing me? This is not a request, it's an order. I expect you to follow through, or I'll find someone who will."

His shoulders slump, defeated. Davis reluctantly nods, his gaze fixed on the floor.

"Yes, Mr. Pierre. I... I'll do as you ask, but please understand, I don't think this is the right course of action."

A cruel smile tugs at the corners of my lips.

"You don't get to have an opinion, Davis. Your job is to do as I say, no questions asked. Now go, gather the information, and make sure it's done discreetly. We can't afford any mistakes."

As Davis shuffles out of my office, a mix of guilt and dread weighs heavily on my conscience. I know what I'm asking him to do is not only morally wrong but also deeply illegal. Yet, the seething anger within me blinds me to any sense of reason or empathy. Benjamin deserves to pay for stealing my beautiful Lizzie, and I will stop at nothing to ensure it.

Closing my eyes, I try to push away the image of Benjamin defiling Elizabeth. intense jealousy courses through my veins, fueling my determination to exact revenge. But beneath the anger, a tiny voice whispers, questioning the path I'm about to tread.

As I hear Davis's footsteps fading in the distance, I'm left alone in my office, the weight of my actions settling upon me like a suffocating fog. I wonder if the darkness consuming my heart is worth the cost of destroying another man's life. But at that moment, the desire for vengeance drowns out any lingering doubts, driving me forward with a relentless purpose.

Little did I know, the decisions I was making would set in motion a chain of events that would forever alter the course of my life. The path I had chosen was a treacherous one, paved with deceit and destruction. And as I sit there, lost in my thoughts, I can't help but wonder if there's still a chance for redemption, or if it's already too late. I shake my head ridding myself of the thoughts. Staring at my phone I suddenly get an idea. I scroll through my contacts and stop when I find the name I’m looking for. None other than Benjamin’s ex girlfriend Deriah! I dial her number and the phone rings twice before her squeaky voice sounds on the other end.

“Hi Stephen are you ready for that good time I promised you?” She says seductively. I grit my teeth, this woman hadn’t a ounce of class.

“I need your help.It’ll be beneficial for you.” I tell her sternly.

“Okay. I’m listening.” She says curiously. I smile deviously, I know this will work.

(The next morning)

(Ben’s POV)

I wake up to the soft rays of sunlight streaming through the curtains, casting a warm glow over the spacious bedroom of my mansion. The events of last night flood my mind, a euphoric blend of passion and desire that lingers in every fiber of my being. Eliza. Her name dances on my lips as I recall the way she responded to my touch, her breathless moans filling the air as I pounded her back against the office door ultimately shattering the glass everywhere.

As I stretch my arms lazily, a smile tugs at the corners of my lips. I've wondered what it would be like to have Eliza and finally, we have crossed that line, indulging in a forbidden love that electrifies my soul. But as my mind drifts back to reality, a surge of excitement courses through me maybe we can make this merger work after all. She’s not as uptight and prudish as I thought.

I roll over and reach for my phone on the nightstand, intending to check the time and notify my guys to fix the door to Eliza’s office before her staff arrives. However, as I unlock the screen, a message notification catches my eye. It's from Deriah, my ex-girlfriend. My heart sinks as I realize that the timing of this message couldn't be any worse. Elizabeth is lying next to me, unaware of the complicated history we share. She met Deriah at the banquet and boy was that a bad encounter.

An internal struggle ensues as I weigh the consequences of opening the message versus protecting the newfound happiness I've discovered with Elizabeth. But honesty has always been my policy, so with a heavy sigh, I tap on the notification, revealing Deriah’s words that burn into my consciousness.

"Benji, I miss you. Can we talk? Please. I haven’t stopped thinking about you since the other night."

As I read those words, guilt intertwines with my longing for a fresh start. I know I can't ignore Deriah’s message, nor can I deceive Elizabeth by concealing it. With a heavy heart, I slide out of bed, careful not to disturb her slumber, and make my way to the bathroom.

The water from the shower cascades over my body, attempting to wash away the weight of my past. But as I stand there, allowing the warm droplets to soothe my troubled mind, I can't escape the truth. The tangled web of emotions threatens to suffocate me, the collision between my past and present threatening to unravel the delicate threads connecting me to Elizabeth.

Exiting the shower, I wrap a towel around my waist and step back into the bedroom, only to find Elizabeth awake, her eyes fixed on my phone, her expression a mix of curiosity and anger. In that instant, I know she has seen the message from Deriah, and I brace myself for the storm that is about to ensue.

She looks up at me, her hazel eyes searching mine for answers. I can see the hurt and confusion etched in her features, and my head hurts at the thought of causing her pain after just taking a step further with her in our relationship. Stepping forward, I reach out to her, my voice filled with regret. But she flinches away from my grasp.

"Elizabeth, I... I'm so sorry. I didn't mean for you to see that. It’s not what you think.” I try to explain. She raises her hand signaling for me to stop speaking.

“Do you still love your ex?” She questions daring me to answer.

“Not one bit. I only have eyes for you now Liz.” I try to reassure her. Just then my phone buzzes in her hand and she turns her attention down to the screen. A promiscuous photo of Deriah pops up. Her red hair tossed messily over her shoulders she has on a sheer lace negligee with her ass tooted out to make her curves more profound. I feel a wave of panic wash over me as I witness the fury burning in Elizabeth's eyes. She slams the phone into my chest, the weight of it echoing the weight of her disappointment. I watch as she turns away, her gaze darting around the room in search of her belongings.

"Elizabeth, please," I plead, my voice tinged with desperation.

"It's not what you think. I haven't been in contact with Deriah since we started seeing each other."

She scoffs, her voice dripping with sarcasm. "Oh? Because that picture on your phone tells a different story, Ben."

I scramble to explain, my words tumbling over each other in an attempt to salvage the fragile connection we had just begun to build.

"I swear, Elizabeth, I didn't ask for that photo. Deriah must have sent it on her own accord. I have no interest in her anymore."

She whirls around to face me, her eyes ablaze with anger and hurt.

"How can I trust you, Ben? You've shattered the trust I placed in you, and I can't ignore what I've seen. The message said she couldn’t stop thinking about you since the other night. Is it the night you left my house? Or maybe one of the nights when you were ignoring me?"

My heart sinks, the weight of my mistakes pressing heavily upon me. I reach out to touch her, my voice filled with sincerity and regret.

"Elizabeth, I know I messed up. But please, just give me a chance to explain. We can work through this."

She pulls away, her voice laced with bitterness.

"I don't think so, Ben. I can't be with someone who still carries the baggage of their past. It's clear you're not ready for a committed relationship."

As the finality of her words settles upon me, a surge of panic courses through my veins. I can't bear the thought of watching the possibility of a future together slip away. Desperation seizes me, and in a last-ditch effort to salvage our connection, I reach deep within my soul and reveal the truth.

"Elizabeth, there's something else I need to tell you,"

"I have a business trip overseas, and I want you to come with me. It's an opportunity for us to explore new horizons, to build something incredible together. Please, don't let this misunderstanding cloud your judgment."

She hesitates, uncertainty flickering in her eyes. I can sense the internal struggle she faces, torn between anger and hurt and the flicker of longing that remains. Finally, she sighs, her voice tinged with resignation.

"I can't make a decision now, Ben. I need time to process everything. But don't think that this means everything is forgiven or forgotten. I have other things to worry about besides you f*****g your ex. I just want you to know that you will never touch my body again! As long as you are messing with other women I don’t want to have anything physical with you again." Her words hit me like a slap across the face, igniting a fiery rage within me. My short temper surges, and I feel a searing heat radiating through my body. I clench my fist, desperately attempting to contain the mounting anger that threatens to consume me.

"I did not sleep with her, Eliza," I manage to say, my voice laced with simmering anger. She turns away, her back facing me, and in one swift motion, she grabs her purse off the dresser and gathers her blazer into her arms. Without sparing me another glance, she strides towards the door with purposeful steps. The intensity of my frustration swells, overwhelming any semblance of reason or restraint.

In a sudden burst of uncontrolled fury, I spin around and seize her arm tightly, my grip like a vise. Her startled squeal rings through the room as I forcefully turn her around and slam her against the wall, my breathing heavy and my teeth gritted in an attempt to contain the raging storm within me. The world around us seems to fade away, eclipsed by the red haze that clouds my vision.

"Get the f**k off of me, Benjamin!" she yells, her voice echoing in my face, but her resistance only fuels the flames of my anger. I feel the fury coursing through my veins, overpowering any remnants of rationality. The room trembles as my clenched fist, guided by sheer instinct, crashes against the wall, leaving behind a gaping hole as an embodiment of my inner turmoil.

Elizabeth's eyes widen with a mix of fear and shock, and her voice trembles as she pleads,

"Stop this madness, Ben! You're scaring me!"

But my short temper has reached its peak, deafening me to reason and empathy. The words that escape my lips are tainted by uncontrolled anger, each syllable dripping with resentment.

"You can't just walk away from me like this! I won't let you dismiss me so easily!"

Tears glisten in Elizabeth's eyes as she finally finds her voice, her words trembling with a mixture of defiance and hurt.

"Ben. I can't be with someone who can't control their anger, let alone their s****l desires. I deserve better. I will not stand for abuse or my ‘man’ sleeping around."

Her rejection pierces through my anger like a sharp blade, awakening a pang of remorse deep within me. The weight of my actions crashes down upon me, and I release my grip on her arm, my hands shaking. The room falls into a tense silence, broken only by the sound of our ragged breathing.

Without another word, Elizabeth pushes past me, her eyes brimming with hurt and determination. The door slams shut behind her, leaving me alone in the wreckage of a broken room and a shattered relationship. My short temper has cost me dearly, leaving me with nothing but regret and the bitter taste of my destructive behavior.