After We Collided: Bound by a deal

VALE MANSION 

Angella walked in putting on a pink body hug gown dressed in her most expensive fragrance she walked in her red lipstick making her extremely noticeable 

"I am doing perfectly fine mother, how have you been? Hope Benson isn't being a pain in the ass to you" Angella giggled as she peaked her cheeks as a sign of greeting. 

"Well am fine my baby, just trying to get Benson to get a wife before the ending of this week is extremely frustrating" 

"Get a wife?" Angella felt literally interested in the conversation 

"Well his father would be retiring soon and Benson would be the one handling the entire properties and companies so his father needs to know his capable by giving him the task to bring home a decent woman" Benson's mother explained 

"I will do everything possible to make Benson mine he'd be mine and no one else would dare take him away from me even if it's the last thing I do on earth". Angella giggled to herself as she let drowning in her thoughts, making sure to put up fake smiles with Mrs Vale. 

BENSON'S EMPIRE  

The city light thinned as Benson drove farther away from the restaurant, it was late already and the chaos of the day was slowly drowning into the night. Bella sat stiffly in the passenger's seat, for a moment she felt like a wife of a rich man but quickly she snapped out of that delusion. 

This was all a game, don't drown yourself into it whispered to herself. She turned facing the other side, her eyes fixed on the road ahead. 

She avoided Benson's gaze and said nothing to him since the both of them got into the car, the soft music playing from the car speaker was the perfect distraction they needed to just stay quiet and not make it awkward.

The car slowed as massive wrought iron  gates emerged from the darkness. 

They didn't look like ordinary gates, they were tall black and cold–engraved with intricate patterns that screwed power instead of beauty. 

This was one of his fathers mansion, Benson's favorite place ever since he was young. 

Security cameras shifted slightly as the car approached, and within seconds the gates opened smoothly, as if the mansion itself had been expecting them. 

Bella swallowed. 

The driveway stretched endlessly, curving through manicured lawns so perfectly trimmed they looked unreal. Soft golden lights lined the path, illuminating fountains, sculpted hedges, and marble statues standing like silent guards. The further they drove the heavier the air felt. 

Bella left her mouth wide open, she had never seen a house this enormous and engraved with so much detail. 

Then the mansion appeared. 

It rose from the darkness like a fortress–wide, grand and intimidating. Tall glass windows reflected the moonlight, while white stone walls gleamed under the outdoor lights. 

The building wasn't flashy; it  was controlled, deliberate, and overwhelmingly expensive. This wasn't a home built for warmth, it was built for dominance. 

Bella turned to Benson as he finally brought the car to a halt. The car stood beneath a massive entrance archway. Before she could process what she was seeing uniformed staff appeared, opening the door in perfect synchronization. 

Bella stepped out of the car, the shock and fear in her entire body was overpowered by excitement and joy 

"Wait, you live here? This explains why you're so proud" she laughed to herself looking around the entire mansion as if she was a child licking ice cream for the first time. 

Benson couldn't help but laugh at her ridiculous reaction. 

BELLA'S  POV 

The marble beneath her feet was cold, polished to perfection. She looked around, her chest tightening as reality settled in. This wasn't luxury she had seen on television. This was another world-one she didn't belong to, yet had just been dragged into.

Benson walked ahead of her, calm and unbothered, as if this place was nothing more than an extension of himself.

"Welcome home," he said casually, without turning.

Bella stared at the mansion, her heart pounding.

She hadn't just agreed to a contract.

She had crossed into a life that could swallow her whole.

Bella walked in and almost fainted on seeing the interior, she just couldn't believe her eyes. Everything felt so unreal that she was in heaven she thought to herself. Her eyes caught sight with the crystal chandelier above her head, its reflection made her notice the beautiful marble so polished Bella could see her reflection. 

That  was the only beauty the house had, every other thing smelt and looked like power and she didn't like it 

Her eyes catch sight of the beautiful cotton chairs in the living room embroidered with one of the most expensive materials in the city. She nodded her head in semi satisfaction indeed the designers did quite a good job putting this place together.

The house was big really big, Bella turned to look at the staffs who were practically very busy doing one or two 

Realizing she has been standing in front of the entrance door all these while .

Her thought was interrupted by the ringtone coming from Benson's phone, he looked at the screen it was his father the irritation and frustration showed in his face.  

"Yes father?" His voice sounded cold as he picked the call 

"Well Benson it's been a week since you were asked to bring a woman home and we clearly see you're not taking your life serious, so me and your mother have decided to host a party tomorrow and we invited all the ladies in New York City, tomorrow you're going to pick a girlfriend and you have no excuse." 

His father sounded harsh 

"Alright father see you tomorrow" Benson turned the phone off, he was definitely going to be ready by tomorrow. 

ANGELLA'S HOUSE

Well tomorrow is the day we will do everything possible to make sure Benson falls for me he would be choosing me and no one else Angella screamed super excited 

"I hope my master piece of a dress is ready?" She turned looked at her two friends 

"Yes it is Queen bee"