“Not without you,” he says, reaching his hand toward me.
“Do not touch her,” my father snaps, taking a step closer to him. “You are to never go near my daughter again. What you do with Cameron is one thing, but you won’t soil my daughter.”
“Ha.” Ben laughs. “Should I tell them it’s a little too late for that, or do you want to?” My face turns red, as does my father’s, but for two separate reasons. “Prue. I’m like a minute away fromgetting my ass kicked, once again, for your honor. Can we please go?”
I stand up without putting much thought in it. Ben has proven he cares more about me than anyone else I’ve met. I’m not letting him get hurt over me again. I can’t. So, if leaving here with him keeps him from harm, I’ll go, but I’m not sure I won’t come back.
I don’t trust my father not to destroy Ben’s career just to hurt me.
My father steps between us, blocking me from Ben.
“You will not go with him, Prue. Do you hear me?” he shouts in my face. “You will fix things with Charles, marry him, pop out a few kids and fulfill your duties to this family. Let’s hope Charles never finds out about what you did with this boy. God help us if he does.”
“Oh. He knows. I made sure of it last night when I kicked his ass,” Ben chimes in.
My father raises his arm, and for a moment I think he is going to hit me. My heart skips a beat as I wait for him to strike, but he turns, slapping Ben across the face.
Ben laughs, openly laughs, rubbing his cheek. My mother gasps. I blink back tears.
“You vile little shit.” My father grabs at Ben’s shirt, yanking him forward. “If you ruined the business deal of a century for me, I will cut off your tiny dick and feed it to you for dinner.”
“I see where Prue got that insult from.” Ben chuckles, shoving my father back and breaking free from his hold. “But I gladly proved to her my cock is big enough to feed a family of six.”
My father shakes with anger, balling up his fists. “Get out now!” he shouts.
“Prue?” Ben says, ducking his head to the side to look at me. “Hey, baby, it’s okay. Let’s just go, okay?”
“She isn’t going with you. I’ll call the cops. They will be here before you make it down the driveway.”
“And what will you tell them, Calvin? That the man you assaulted took your bargaining chip away? Have some class. Don’t make a scene. Wouldn’t want anyone thinking you’re anything like me.” Ben smirks. “Prue.”
“Excuse me, Dad,” I say, trying to get by him.
He grabs my arm tightly, yanking me back. His grip hurts my arm. The very act of him yanking me floods my mind with memories of Charles, the very man he wants me to marry.
“Let her go,” Ben snaps, taking a step forward. “Because if you don’t, I’ll have no choice but to do something drastic, like I did with Charles last night.”
“Please, Dad.” I look up at him, tears in my eyes. “I can’t marry Charles. He hurt me. I’ll do anything else you want, just don’t make me marry him. Please.”
“He wouldn’t have hurt you if you just looked the other way, dear,” my mother says. “Men have affairs, you just have them buy you something expensive and move on.”
“God that is disgusting,” Ben groans. “Let. Her. Go.”
My father tightens his grip on my arm, and I wince. Ben’s eyes widen as if the sight of me in pain makes his anger double. He reaches into his pocket, pulling out the pocketknife from last night.
I shake my head, pleading for him not to do anything to make this situation worse.
My father laughs when he sees it. “Going to stab me, kid? Jail is a better cage than you deserve.”
“Oh no. I’m not going to stab you. That would be counterproductive.” I watch as Ben unfolds the blade, pressing it to his shoulder. “Buddy, just because I fucked your daughter, doesn’t mean you have to stab me.” Ben presses the blade until itcuts through his hoodie, and keeps pressing, until I see him bite his lip. His eyes never leave my father’s face.
“What the fuck are you doing?”
“Me?” Ben questions, as the blade slips deeper into his flesh. “This is all you.”
“No one will buy it. I have witnesses,” my father counters.
“Prue won’t defend either of us, and I’m willing to bet your wife’s medicine cabinet has plenty of reasons to make her an incredible witness. Regardless, it’s not really the court of law I care about, but the court of public opinion. I don’t think it looks very becoming of the CEO of some huge company knifing some guy.”
