Page 43 of The Bratva's Plus-Size Bride

But when I didn’t say anything, Ben continued his thought process.

“Forget them. Forget all about that place for working you to the bone and turning you away far too easily,” he said, tone full of resolve. “Start a new publication.”

As his words settled in, disbelief crept over me. My brows furrowed as I pulled back enough to look up at him. “What?”

As the idea unraveled in his mind, Ben seemed more convinced by it. “Yeah, that sounds like the exact thing you need. Start your own paper or magazine and show them every reason why they should’ve kept you on their team.”

I blinked up at him, still startled and not completely sold on the idea. “That’s…easier said than done. I don’t have any resources.”

Ben managed a small smirk at that as he brought a hand up to cradle my face. “But you do. It’ll be funded by Levov money, of course. You can take the reins and run the show, and I’ll handle the finances like I already do for my family. Whatever you need or want, you can have it.”

“But…wouldn’t that put your family out?” I questioned, caught between the allure of that idea and being unable to conceptualize the thought. “I don’t want you pouring money into it for nothing.”

He chuckled. “So long as everything was done right from the start, it would generate enough revenue to be plenty worth it. We’re always coming up with new enterprises, and media is a branch we have yet to explore.”

I was completely stunned.

It would take an incredible amount of planning and foresight, and I had many things to consider, but as he allowed me to sit with that idea, I couldn’t deny how tempting it was.

Not to mention, it would be a huge sacrifice for both of us. Such a big undertaking would require a lot of time and effort and take away from the work Ben already had on his plate. I was doubtful about being able to pull off something like owning a publication, but from the pure sincerity and unwavering faith in his eyes, I knew Ben was completely serious.

“Really?” I asked, desperate to know if it was a real, tangible plan, or an afterthought destined to be forgotten by morning.

Ben smiled at me and nodded. “Really. If journalism is your passion and something you want to spend the rest of your life doing, then why should you wait for someone else to decide if you’re worthy of having that position?”

My eyes softened as I looked up at him, aware of how his words acted like a balm to my previously breaking heart. To my surprise, his hope and faith were more effective than I could’ve guessed.

“You’re a Levov, Gemma. You don’t need to wait around,” he reassured me as he carefully moved a loose strand of hair behind my ear. “If you want something, you take it.”

The longer I held his gaze, the more I could feel myself easing into the idea. My heart swelled, and the suggestion, along with his blessing to move forward with the plan, was more than I could ask for.

Unable to hold back, I pushed forward into his embrace again, enveloping him with my arms tightly. I wanted him to feel every ounce of gratitude I had within me, put at ease by the possibilities lingering ahead of us.

“Thank you, Ben,” I murmured as he encircled me completely, his chin resting against the top of my head. I could feel the vague sensation of his lips pulling into a smile.

Even if I had lost out on one of my biggest dreams, I had no idea that an even brighter horizon was ahead.

He found a way to mend that ache, all while considering just how important it was to me.

And thanks to Ben, I was beginning to feel at home.

Chapter 22 - Benedikt

It didn’t take me long to realize just how pleasurable it was to be able to see that unfettered happiness as it surrounded Gemma.

There was something about being able to offer her the chance to build something with her own hands and to put her mind to it. It was more fulfilling than even pursuing my own ambitions, and I knew it was an absolute privilege to be a part of her new endeavor.

I was glad that Gemma didn’t have to worry about her boss or the internship, and instead of busting her ass just for the mere chance at landing her dream career, she was able to work towards her success from the jump and decide every direction she wanted to take.

At every opportunity she had, Gemma was busy doing research and diving into every aspect of running a publication. Even if it could be overwhelming and certainly took a lot of care and determination, she never showed signs of stopping.

Watching as that fresh-eyed courage and inspiration returned to her was all the confirmation I needed to know I made the right choice in suggesting she skip the middleman and chase after exactly what she wanted. Even if I had to throw in some time to take care of the gritty details, especially when it came to the finances and resources, I didn’t mind. Seeing that passion return to her was all the reward I needed.

Regardless of the hurdles we would have to tackle, I was glad to see just how engrossed in the research and planning she was. She was committed and dedicated, and I did not doubt that she would blow it out of the water.

She was busy and didn’t have time to dwell on losing out on the internship or the fact that aside from me and my family, she didn’t have much. So long as she wanted to pursue the publication, I was more than willing to do whatever it took to mend every issue I caused for her.

While my home life had become a hopeful, reliable place for me and Gemma, it didn’t mean that progression was also happening at work. Instead, that had become one big open-ended question.

---