Getting back into the class, Benjamin looked visibly exhausted, his breaths still irregular. Approaching Cordelia, he said, "Ms., I'm done."Cordelia stared at him for a moment before reaching into her bag. As she did, Benjamin noticed the necklace he gave her the previous night around her neck, bringing a subtle joy to his tired expression.Opening the bag, Cordelia pulled out a bottle of flavored water and took a sip before offering it to Benjamin and said, “Drink this to calm down.” Benjamin nodded and took the bottle and, without wasting time, drank from it directly. Cordelia's surprise was evident as he touched his lips to the bottle, creating an indirect kiss.As Cordelia handed Benjamin the bottle of water, a wave of shock rippled through the students. The guys, in particular, couldn't contain their jealousy, and hushed whispers filled the air."Seriously? Why is she giving him special treatment?""He's just a show-off. Does she have to give him water like that?""Look at him
The shock rippled through the class as Cordelia announced her generous contribution of $1500. Whispers filled the room, and eyes widened in surprise. It was unexpected, and the students couldn't believe their teacher was making such a substantial donation. Some exchanged glances, trying to comprehend the amount, while others expressed their awe in hushed tones. "Did she just say $1500?”"Is this some kind of joke?""Wow, she's really rich.""I didn't see that coming, honestly.""Imagine what we could do with that money.""Maybe she's secretly a millionaire.""Doesn't she have bills to pay like the rest of us?""That's more than I make in a month.""I guess we're lucky to have her as a teacher.”Benjamin was the only guy who didn't react when hearing the amount. Noticing Benjamin's calm expression. If it was the old Benjamin, he would have reacted shocked but now he was someone new, someone controlling billions so $1500 was just like a paper to him. Some people in the class noticed B
"Did he win the lottery overnight?""He's probably using someone else's money.""I bet it's fake, just trying to impress.""How can he afford that, it's impossible!""Maybe he stole it.”The murmurs were filled with doubt and suspicion. Cordelia repeated herself, "Didn't you guys hear what I said?" The whole class snapped back to reality and started clapping. However, questions and skeptical remarks started circulating.One student dared to ask Benjamin, "Benjamin, where did you get $3000?" To which Benjamin replied straightforwardly, "None of your business.”Irene chimed in, "Well, he's using someone's phone and sent it from there, so it's probably not his money. No need to be shocked." The doubtful murmurs continued.Another voice joined in, "Does this guy even know what it means to spend $3000 of someone else's money?""He just wanted attention; he has it now.""Haha, this guy might get in trouble today for $3000.""He's just trying to impress the whole class; leave him.”Cordeli
Daughter in law? Benjamin shook his head and said, "Mom, it's not Cordelia. Also, stop addressing her as your daughter-in-law; she's my madam, and she might be a few years older than me. Nothing like that can happen between her and me, please stop getting that into your head.”Evelyn furrowed her eyebrows and said, "Who cares if she's older than you? I just want that Cordelia of a lady as my daughter-in-law, and you must do that. Tell me, isn't she beautiful?"Benjamin sighed lightly and said, "She's beautiful, I won't deny that.""Good, then that's it. I guess she must have a kind attitude too. Whether she's rich or not doesn't matter; you must win her heart, son. Did you gift her the necklace?”Benjamin nodded and said, "Yes, I did."Evelyn nodded and said, "Good, I specially gave you that to give to her. Did she like it?"Benjamin nodded and said, "Of course, she did. Today, she wore it to campus."Evelyn clapped lightly and said, "That's all. Fate will seal you both together. Did
"Since you're just starting, I don't think payment is needed now. When everything is done, the building and sales begin, that's when I think I should start receiving payment," Olive suggested.Benjamin chuckled and nodded in approval. "That's a fair approach, Olive. However, for your initial commitment and efforts, I insist on providing you with $10,000. Consider it both as a token of appreciation and a resource for your personal use.”"$10,000?" Olive was visibly shocked. She questioned, "Without any work yet, $10,000? That's quite generous. Why such a significant amount?"Benjamin smiled. "Consider it an investment in your potential. You're going to work for me, and I believe in recognizing and rewarding dedication. Use it for yourself; you deserve to enjoy the quality you'll be contributing to our projects.""Wow, thank you so much, Master. I appreciate it," Olive expressed her gratitude.Benjamin nodded, and without hesitation, he initiated the transfer. As Olive left, Benjamin re
Cordelia nodded and said, "Thank you." She then looked at the car Benjamin brought in and remarked, "Is that your car? Looks new."Benjamin smiled, "Oh yes, I bought it yesterday. It's very beautiful, an Audi R8.""Thank you," Benjamin replied with a smile.Cordelia suggested, "Let's go inside then. It's already getting dark."Benjamin nodded, following Cordelia into the house. The interior was impressive, and he took a seat, glancing around.Cordelia asked, "Would you like to have anything?""No, thank you," Benjamin said with a smile.Cordelia nodded and suggested, "Come to my bedroom, that's where all the paintings are hanging."Benjamin nodded and followed her into her bedroom.As Benjamin stepped into Cordelia's bedroom, the ambiance immediately reflected her taste. The room had an elegant and feminine touch, with pastel-colored walls and tastefully arranged decorations. A soft fragrance lingered in the air, giving the room a pleasant and inviting atmosphere.The centerpiece of C
"I've been trained to recognize the subtle details," Benjamin explained. "The brushstrokes, color nuances, and even the aging patterns. It's all part of my expertise."Cordelia couldn't help but feel impressed, though a tinge of vulnerability lingered. The paintings were more than just art; they held sentimental value. Benjamin had exposed the deception, leaving Cordelia in a state of silent contemplation.As Cordelia examined Benjamin, a sense of astonishment filled her. Glancing at the time, it was already 30 minutes past 8. She looked at Benjamin and suggested, "I'm going to cook. What would you like to eat?"Benjamin shook his head, responding, "Just as you said, I should leave after my work is done, so I'll take my leave now."Cordelia sighed, hesitating before saying, "Benjamin, I'm... I'm..." Her words trailed off, and then she suggested, "Let me go and escort you? I'll drive.”However, Benjamin declined, shaking his head. "I came alone; I'll go alone, please. I don't want to be
"What?" Benjamin was stunned. He didn't expect Cordelia to apologize. He was quiet, not knowing what to say."Hey, are you there?" Cordelia asked, sensing the quietness."I am," Benjamin responded.Cordelia sighed and said, "I don't know, but I feel you're so mad at me. Tell me, how can I make it up to you? I'm really sorry for that. I forced myself to get angry and went overboard, you know. There were so many things we had to discuss, that's why I wanted to cook something for both of us, but you angrily left.”"Well, I'm also sorry for that. I shouldn't have held your waist nor flirt. Forgive me," Benjamin said."No, no, you're wrong, Benjamin. It's hard to say this, but I will. It was really a good feeling, that's why my heart started beating faster. But then I couldn't control it and forced out my anger," she said."Really?" Benjamin was stunned. "Haven't you been in love before?" he asked."Love!" Cordelia chuckled. "I don't want to be in love nor do anything relationship, and yes
The rugged man clenched his fists, his pride warring with his fear. “You can’t be serious,” he hissed, his voice barely above a whisper.Abdelkarim cocked the gun audibly, tilting his head. “Do I look like I’m joking?”Reluctantly, the rugged man lowered himself to his knees, the humiliation evident on his face. His companions followed suit, each moving with visible hesitation. The restaurant’s patrons and staff watched in stunned silence, their eyes wide as they bore witness to the surreal scene.One of the men reached for Abdelkarim’s shoe, his hand shaking as he wiped at it with his sleeve. Abdelkarim smirked, glancing down at their feeble attempts. “Pathetic,” he muttered. “Put some effort into it.”As the men continued their reluctant task, Abdelkarim’s tone turned colder. “Now, let’s add some respect to the mix. Each of you will address me properly while you’re down there.”The rugged man looked up, his face twisted with fury and shame. “What do you mean?”Abdelkarim leaned in s
The room fell into an eerie silence, the earlier chatter and laughter evaporating like smoke. All eyes were on Abdelkarim, who stood tall with the gun firmly in his grasp. Even the rugged man who had slapped him seemed caught off guard, his eyes widening in a mix of disbelief and anger.Benjamin, who had been calmly observing moments earlier, straightened in his seat, his sharp gaze narrowing as he assessed the situation. He hadn't anticipated this escalation, and for a fleeting moment, his surprise flickered across his face. Cipherella, sitting beside him, froze, her lips parting slightly as her eyes darted between Abdelkarim and the scarred man.The tension was palpable. The rugged man pushed his chair back slightly, his hands clenching into fists as if ready to retaliate. His companions, who had been laughing moments ago, now looked uneasy, their confidence shaken."You think this is funny?" Abdelkarim said, his voice steady, but the undercurrent of anger was unmistakable. He point
The room went tense as Abdelkarim froze, his gaze darting nervously to the man’s threatening expression. Around them, a few other patrons glanced over.Cipherella’s delicate brows furrowed with concern as she leaned closer to Benjamin, her voice barely above a whisper. "Master, they’re trying to bully him," she said, her eyes darting between Abdelkarim and the rugged man.Benjamin didn’t respond immediately. His sharp gaze remained fixed on the scene, observing every detail—the posture of the men, Abdelkarim’s unease, and the simmering tension in the air. Finally, he nodded slowly and said, "Let’s just watch for now.”"But Master—" Cipherella started, her worry evident."Relax," Benjamin interrupted gently, his tone calm but firm. "Let’s see how he handles himself first. If things go too far, I’ll step in."Cipherella hesitated, but she trusted Benjamin’s judgment. She bit her lip and stayed quiet, her hands clasped tightly in her lap as her eyes returned to Abdelkarim.Meanwhile, Abd
As they entered, Benjamin's gaze swept over the bustling interior of the establishment. The atmosphere was thick with chatter, clinking glasses, and faint music playing in the background. At one side of the room, a group of rugged-looking men occupied a long table. They were loud, drinking and eating heartily, with wisps of smoke curling from the cigarettes and cigars they casually puffed.Their appearances were striking—some had jagged scars running across their cheeks.Others had scarves tied around their heads, their expressions hard and uninviting, with sharp eyes that scanned the room like predators on the lookout. A few wore leather jackets with frayed edges, while others had rugged shirts and boots.Benjamin took note but didn’t linger on them. Instead, he calmly made his way to an unoccupied corner on the other side of the room. He settled into a chair with an air of quiet authority, his face betraying no hint of concern. Cipherella followed closely, her gaze flickering brief
Benjamin settled back onto the couch, gesturing for Cipherella to sit. She listened intently as he recounted the night's events."Cipherella," he began, "I met Abdelkarim yesterday. His boss wasn’t exactly treating him right, and he seemed ready for a change."Abdelkarim shifted uneasily, but Benjamin continued. "We ended up being followed by three of Darnell's men. They tried to corner us, but I convinced them to switch sides and work for me. Abdelkarim here was part of that, and he’s proven he’s willing to take on something bigger.”Cipherella raised an eyebrow, intrigued but cautious. “And they just… agreed? Just like that?”Benjamin nodded, a faint smirk playing on his lips. "Sometimes all it takes is to show someone what they’re worth. They’d been risking their lives for scraps. Now, they have a reason to be loyal." He glanced at Abdelkarim, who looked both grateful and a little overwhelmed.Cipherella sighed, finally relaxing a bit. “If you trust him, Master, then that’s enough
The men exchanged nervous glances, doubling down on their story despite Darnell's threat. The first man cleared his throat, attempting to sound confident. "Boss, like we said, it was just a routine check. We saw the car following and thought it could be a minor threat, so we stopped to make sure it wasn’t an issue. But they turned around as soon as we approached."The second man nodded quickly. "Exactly, boss. We didn’t think it was worth disturbing you for something so small, figured we could handle it ourselves.”Darnell's gaze remained icy, not buying the excuses. His eyes bored into each one of them, but they held firm, each nodding in agreement, sticking to their story. "We were just looking out for you, boss," the third one added, trying to muster confidence. "Didn’t want to waste your time.”Darnell narrowed his eyes at them one last time, as if weighing the truth of their story. Finally, with a wave of his hand, he dismissed the tension. “Fine,” he said sharply. “Get back in
The men climbed out of their cars and walked over to Darnell’s vehicle, where he stood waiting, his expression already dark with suspicion. As they approached, he wasted no time.“What’s wrong?” Darnell’s voice cut through the silence, his gaze sharp and unyielding. “Where’s the last car?”The men looked at each other, shifting uncomfortably, clearly at a loss. Finally, one of them spoke up. “We...we don’t know, boss. One minute, they were right behind us, and the next...they weren’t.”Darnell’s jaw tightened. “I don’t want excuses. Give me an answer.”They fumbled for words, but all they could offer was a helpless shrug. Frustrated, Darnell took a deep breath and crossed his arms. “Fine. Who was in the last car? Give me their names. Now.”The men stammered for a moment, then rattled off the names of the three who had been in the missing car, exchanging nervous glances as they waited for Darnell's reaction.Darnell narrowed his eyes, his impatience evident. “Call them. Now,” he ordere
As the men disappeared down the road, Abdelkarim turned to Benjamin, a worried crease on his brow. "Do you trust them? What if they tell their boss everything?"Benjamin's expression was unwavering. "They won’t."Abdelkarim’s eyebrows rose, disbelief flickering in his gaze. "How do you know?"Benjamin smirked, a trace of confidence in his eyes. "Because I gave them something Darnell never has: respect. They’ve been doing his dirty work for scraps. Darnell treats them as disposable. But me? I just paid them a month’s worth in minutes and offered them a way out. Right now, loyalty is cheap—but it’s the one thing Darnell can't buy.”Abdelkarim nodded slowly, his gaze steadying with newfound determination. “I’m ready to work for you, Benjamin,” he said with a slight smile. “But... tonight, I don’t have anywhere to stay. I might just end up sleeping in the car.”Benjamin’s expression softened. “Don’t worry about that. You’ll stay with me,” he replied. “As long as you’re willing to follow m
Benjamin looked at them intently. “How much do you want to be paid?” he asked, his voice calm but commanding.The men glanced at each other, hesitating for a moment. Finally, one spoke up, “Every month… pay us double what Darnell does.”The other nodded, adding quickly, “Yeah. 2000 dollars each.”Benjamin smirked, a glint of amusement in his eyes. He had expected them to ask for something outrageous—10,000, even 50,000 dollars a month. Instead, they only wanted a mere double of what Darnell paid them. To someone like him, 2000 dollars was nothing, even if he had to pay them that amount daily.“Deal,” he said without hesitation, nodding once.They stared at him, dumbfounded. “Wait… deal? Just like that?” one of them asked, disbelief evident in his voice.Benjamin shrugged. “2000 dollars a month is nothing to me if you’re loyal and good at what you do.”They exchanged glances, still stunned by his response. "You... you really mean that?" one of them asked, sounding almost hopeful.Benja