Page 37 of Ben

Diamond smiled at Mouse. “She created my virus.”

Ben's gaze went to her and then to Mouse.

“Damn.” He whispered.

“Why?”

She continued to explain to him what she’d told the family. “I also got Mouse to help me set up the security software for the charity fund. She created the illusion for you that the money was missing and that I was going to need your help getting it back; she then created one for my account that would make it seem that the money was transferred to my account and that I had a malicious virus attacking me.

Afterward it was to disappear, and everything would go back to normal afterwards. We didn’t know that you were going to try and transfer the money out the same day we put our plan into action. She got an alert and blocked it. I didn’t find out about it until I went back to work what you had done. But I couldn’t very well come and accuse you of doing something that I already did.”

“Why?” he whispered again.

“I needed something to get your attention and thought that if we worked together to get this money back, you would start paying attention to me again. I didn’t think everythingwould spiral out of control and that you’d force me to marry you. The ploy was only to last for a day or two before it was resolved. Gaining your attention again, but then I had to keep it going because of my circumstances and that you seemed very excited about the virus.” She couldn’t keep the bit of jealousy out of her voice that she’d felt when the virus took away some of his focus.

Diamond continued. “I also didn’t expect you to use your money and deposit it into the account.”

“I see.” He turned to Mouse, taking her in as she waited, not saying a word. Both Ben and Mouse were similar in that respect. Mouse said very little and kept to herself. The only time she’d shown any life was when she’d been helping Diamond with her plan, never once asking her why.

“You are hired by BenAm, by the way.” He said to Mouse before turning back to Diamond.

“No.” Mouse stated firmly.

Ben turned, eyeing Mouse speculatively. He opened his mouth, but Diamond needed to get everything off her chest, and then he could deal with Mouse later.

“Please listen to the rest of what I want to say, and then you can decide on what you want to do after that.”

He returned his attention to her, his eyes and face reflecting nothing.

“I didn’t plan for this to get so out of hand; like I said, it was just to get your attention, but then you stepped in and said you would help under one condition: that I marry you.”

“I should have been surprised and appalled at what I just got myself into and the guilt I should feel for what I’d done. But I couldn’t shake the feeling that this was right for me, that you were right for me and had been all along. I was just using theexcuse of making you notice me and to make my life exciting again. But the real truth that I admitted to myself was that I wanted you. And I didn’t put up a fight. I wanted to see where we could go from here. Just you and I with no interference from family and friends. You were more than I’d ever hoped for in a man and a husband. You woke me up sexually and emotionally. I was seen and treasured, but I didn’t know if I was loved.”

She licked her suddenly dry lips. "Everything changed for me, and now I need you to not just be obsessed with me anymore but in love with me. Diamond the person. You showed me that night in the bathroom what it felt like for someone to look into your soul and accept you for who you were. I didn’t know that was what my lonely heart was missing. You made me feel things I never felt before. I found out more about myself with you when I look into your eyes.”

Diamond couldn’t lose him and hoped that despite the hurt he’d just felt and her manipulation of him, he was in love with her.

They both were broken in their own ways, but together they were a whole.

She turned to Mouse. “Can you wait outside for me? I will take you back to the shelter soon.”

“We will drop you off; we have business to discuss, and I won’t take no for an answer. Just ask anyone in the family.”

Mouse’s dark brown eyes stared at Ben for a fleeting second, and then she shrugged and then silently exited the way she came in.

Ben faced her, his head tilted. “Does this mean that the end of the year is off the table?”

She smiled, hope pouring through her. “Depends.”

“On what?”

Her lips trembled. “If you love me or not, can you forgive me?”

His eyes widened, and he turned, pointing to the pictures behind him.

Diamond shook her head. “No, for the mess I made with our families. And that wall is your teenage boy obsession of me. Do you love me? The flesh-and-blood woman, me, Diamond?”

He walked up to her and cupped her cheek. “I am not always good with expressing myself when it comes to emotional stuff, Diamond, but with you it is easier to feel and love. I will continue to work on that for you. But my obsession was born because I saw you, Diamond, and wanted the light you shone so brightly that day and every day that I am in your presence. Your light, it pierced my darkness. I love you.” He whispered solemnly.

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