Love’n’Lust

“You have become so rich and successful at a young age, for a business man, would you give that to luck or hard work?” She asked.

“Hard work. I worked hard to get to where I am today.” He said with his voice full of confidence.

“A lot of people work hard, everyday they try their very best but still they don’t always get the reward for their hard work you know.” She told him.

“Is that supposed to be one of the questions?”Exclusive content © by Nô(v)el/Dr/ama.Org.

“Uhm no, sorry I deviated.” She shook her head.

“Don’t apologize, thinking about it now, you are right, not many people are rewarded for their hard work, I guess luck did play a role, maybe I’m lucky enough to get the deserving reward for my hard work.” He smiled.

“You were adopted into a wealthy family, that luck begins there, don’t you think?” Her confidence was growing, she felt progressive.

“Believe me, it is harder having to get what you want as an adopted child to a wealthy family. You sometimes have to prove that you can be more than just that adopted child.”

Belle went on to ask him all the questions written on the paper and he answered them all, honestly, finding no reason to lie to the public, but she still had to be sure, so she began to go through the papers she brought with her while Ben watched her the whole time. He looked at the time on his watch and decided to stop her.

“You do know you have just two minutes left to be seated here with me?” She stopped what she was doing, she didn’t even know. “Leave Mrs Johnson’s questions, talk to me.”

“Huh?” She asked.

“Talk to me, ask me anything you want to, your questions and not those written down.”

“Oh.” She now understood him. “Are you in any sort of relationship whatsoever?” She asked after thinking for a short while.

“No.” He answered calmly.

“Are you a romantic?” This question he got made him chuckle, nobody usually asked him that, mostly because everyone who had been living in city S knew that.

“No.” He answered again.

“May I ask why?” She asked, disappointed at his reply but she didn’t get an answer from him because his secretary had placed a knock and walked in almost immediately. It was the same lady who had showed her to his office.

“Excuse me sir but the representatives from our recent partnering group of companies are here for the meeting and are all waiting for your presence at the conference room.”

“I will be there now, wait for me.” He dismissed her before returning his attention to Belle.

“We have run out of time, Ms Miller. Sadly.” He stood up and she did same, picking up her belongings. “It was really nice meeting you.” He put out his hands for a departing handshake but her gaze was cast on his face.

He had to cough slightly to bring back her attention from his face to his hands which he still held out for her to shake.

“You too.” She took his hands and he smiled warmly, walking her to the door. Now outside the door, he closed the door behind them both.

“Your pencil.” She held up his office pencil which he had given her earlier.

“Keep it,” He stood opposite her. “I’ll call you.” He said and began In another direction, his secretary hurrying behind him. Belle stood there for a short while, hugging the papers she held, a smile decorated her face.

In the taxi, on her way back to the media house, it occurred to her that he didn’t have her number but he said he was going to call her. How did he exactly plan on doing that, was he going to somehow get her number like in those romance novels she usually read? She didn’t know, she was going to find out how he got her number when he called.

Belle was a romantic, a big time romantic at that, when he said he wasn’t, it surprised her because she thought he looked too good not to be someone who believed in love like her. She was going to wait for that call, it didn’t matter to her that he said he wasn’t a romantic, he probably had not met the right person to shoe him what love felt like. She sighed, a smile still on her face, Mrs Johnson was going to be so happy, Ben had answered all of her questions.

…

“you did ask him everything right?” Laura Johnson asked her excitedly when she came back to the media house.

“Yes, it’s all in the recorder.”

“Good, now I just have to make sure it’s edited just alright before we publish it, this should be big for us. He never answers many of these questions in a public interview.”

Belle just nodded to her every excited words, happy with how her day was going.

“Thanks for letting me interview Mr Larkson.” Belle still thought she had to appreciate her more.

…

“Heyy girl, how was your first day?” Cherry asked when she opened the door for her to come in.

“Okay.” Belle answered not really ready to tell all that had happened today but she was still beaming with smile and heading to the couch, her legs were tired.

“Just okay?”

“Yeah.”

“Oh wow, I thought you would have complains, I mean my first day at drizzle wasn’t owkayy.” Cherry said joining her to sit.

“Well, her’s at a media house, you work at a bar Cherry, big difference.” Brie said from where she was at the kitchen.

“Brie? Are you making a sandwich?” Belle asked hungrily.

“Yup. Do you want me to make one for you?”

“Yeah?” Belle said.

“Okay.”

“Me too! make one for me also.” Cherry chirped in.