Chapter 6 - Benedikt

After Gemma gave up her cursing the night prior, the silence gave me the chance to finally think as I mauled over everything.

Even if I didn’t feel like considering her wishes that much, I wasn’t completely heartless. Instead, I kept thinking about what she said—how the internship was all she had.

I didn’t want to admit just how long that thought lingered with me, but as the night went on, I found myself contemplating what that could mean in turn for me. If she maintained some sort of tie with the paper, then surely there was a way I could take advantage of the opportunity.

Two birds, one stone kind of thing.

As the pieces clicked into place and the rest of my plan unfolded in my mind, I was decided by morning. While it would mostly help me in the end, it also felt like throwing a bone to Gemma. Sweetening the deal for her, in a sense.

The moment I spotted her passing through the threshold as she entered the room, I felt more assured about my plan. It appeared she accepted the clothes I had purchased for her, which seemed like a positive first step.

Even just looking at her brought me a sense of satisfaction.

While it was normal for the club lighting and atmosphere to make people seem more attractive than they really were, that didn’t apply to Gemma.

Standing in the naturally lit kitchen with her dark hair and the sharp edge of her green eyes, there was no denying her beauty. Even while wearing a knit sweater, her full curves looked so appealing and made me wish I could reach out and feel them for myself. She did such an incredible job of carrying herself confidently, even if she was hesitant about the situation.

But, of course, I wasn’t an animal. Time and place.

Still, a faint smirk remained on my face, satisfied by how it was all unfolding.

“Come sit,” I told her, gesturing to the chair on my right as I adjusted the papers in front of me. Even if I didn’t hide my smugness too diligently, I knew it would be better for us both if I acted like less of an asshole, so I chose my words carefully and kept my tone as inviting as possible.

Gemma was like a frightened deer, even if it seemed like she possessed claws at times. She was flighty, and if I wanted to have myself a cooperative wife, then I needed to act accordingly.

Those tempting eyes lingered on me for a moment as the beginning of a scowl formed on her lips. She glanced at the papers, and I could tell the gears were quickly moving in her head. There were even traces of fear lingering there, though she sat silently and looked more closed-off than anything, like she was attempting to seem neutral about the whole thing.

Letting go of a breath, I met her gaze. “I’ll cut to the chase to save us both some time. I know this is not a situation you likely ever wanted to find yourself in, but that is simply life. And since I’m aware of the unfortunate luck that made our paths cross, I figure I might as well make a deal with you. You know, as a token of good faith.”

Gemma regarded me critically, maintaining as much space between us as possible. Her eyes narrowed slightly, and she loosely crossed her arms over her chest.

When she didn’t say anything, I leaned back in my chair. “I’ll give you a refresher of your choices, since I’ve added a few caveats since I last brought it up. First, you can willingly sign these legal papers and become my wife, returning to your internship on Monday via Levov escort as if nothing happened—plus, you get to stay in this nice house with me. The condition is that you also have to change the name in that article to someone else—we can discuss that part later.” Letting my words settle between us for a moment, my smirk grew. “Or, you will marry me anyway, and you’ll be forced to stay here and give up your work completely. Of course, that option is less tempting, but still…it is your choice to make.”

Every emotion that crossed her face intrigued me as my words settled in, and she watched me closely, never taking her eyes away. From shock to fear, to anger, and back to fear again—it all moved so quickly. And while I managed to catch them, she certainly put in the effort to mask her true feelings.

Sitting in that chair with her back straight as if receiving orders, Gemma looked at me like I was nothing but a monster. A cruel, deceitful blight in her life. I didn’t blame her; I knew what I was doing.

Unfortunately for her, the world out there could be much crueler than me.

“So you’ve taken death off the table then?” she asked, voice low and quiet.

With a muted chuckle, I leaned against my armrest and propped my chin up on a fist. “You could say I had a change of heart. You sounded so sweet shouting at me last night…how could I resist?”

Her nose twitched with subtle anger at that, perturbed by my ability to joke. Surely, it made her furious despite concealing it well.

“How kind of you…”

I found her muttered words amusing. Even while facing an impending change brought on by force, it seemed she truly did have a smart mouth. She was sharp, and I expected nothing less from an eager journalist like herself.

Grin pulling at my mouth, I cocked a brow. “So…what will it be then? The choice is in your hands: cooperate, or be compelled. Regardless of what you choose, you will leave this room a Levov. Might as well maintain as much autonomy as you can, right?”

My words were grating against her skin, evident in how she clenched her jaw and looked prepared to stand her ground for as long as necessary.

However, for a beat, consideration moved through her eyes, and she let go of a breath.

We both knew there was an obvious choice, but it was one she had to make herself.

While yes, I was coercing her into legally marrying me, I didn’t want to bear the brunt of that responsibility on my shoulders. One could say it was a means of keeping my conscience clean, and it removed some cognitive dissonance from such a gray situation.

I was certainly willing to do whatever needed to be done to help my family and to ensure our business was taken care of, but even I had principles.

It was something Ari had drilled into us ever since we were kids. You might make questionable decisions that go against your morals for the sake of the family, but the way you went about it ultimately decided your character. It decided whether you were truly wicked or simply a product of circumstance.

While not everyone shared that same ideology, it was enough for me, and that was what mattered.

Finally, Gemma sighed and averted her eyes, as if it were too embarrassing for her to concede. “Fine. At least the first option won’t make my coworkers think I am dead.”

With a satisfied smirk, I stifled an amused sound. “Already thinking like a Levov.”

Of course, that didn’t sit well with her as she scowled and shook her head. I could tell she just wanted to get it over with, likely aware that she had no other choice.

She had done her research, after all. She, more than most people, knew how my family operated.

“If it’s any consolation, you made the right choice, Gemma,” I said, hoping to ease the sting somewhat, mostly so that I didn’t have to deal with any kind of resistance from her. “Freedoms are easy to come by, and yet, they are taken away even more easily.”

Overall, it was the right decision. She could have a semblance of free will, saving me from having to act as her jailor, and I’d have my wife and a way to cover up the information she managed to dig up on us. Plus, another crime family would take the fall for us.

It was a win-win.

My words didn’t seem to be of any reassurance to her, but it didn’t matter. She agreed, and that was enough.

“With all that being said, let’s get started then,” I hummed, far too proud of myself for orchestrating the whole thing.

At that, Ari stepped into the kitchen from the living room with the officiant in tow—the very one he brought to marry him and Vivian.

My brother, while supportive of the ordeal, given how it would help the family’s image, held only the slightest doubt in his eyes. Maybe he saw a bit of himself in my rashness, though he wasn’t going to protest since he had been no better himself.

Gemma flashed me a confused look at their entrance, startled, as she surely assumed we had been the only ones there.

“This is my eldest brother, Ari. He’s here to witness the ceremony,” I explained, watching as the reality of the situation seemed to set in for her at the sight of them.

Ari pulled a faint reassuring smile for her as he waved awkwardly. He may have been big and domineering most times, but when it came to women, especially prospective brides, joining the family, he always did his best to temper his intimidation factor.

I had to admit, it had seemed like an easier idea to wrap my head around when it was only that—an idea. A theory that hadn’t been brought into physical fruition yet.

The slightest part of me questioned if I was doing the right thing at all. It was no secret that I wanted a wife, and my brothers could testify to that, but in that moment, it struck me what that really meant.

I didn’t know Gemma, and we didn’t have any kind of connection outside of her misfortune that brought her to our club. I didn’t even know the first thing about what she liked. Regardless, I was binding her to me, mostly against her will, and if I eventually learned something I didn’t like about her or decided the marriage just wasn’t going to cut it, I’d have to face the consequences of that.

While divorce was certainly always an option, it was messy and caused more fuss than I wanted to deal with. Besides, I didn’t want to ever concede to the fact that I potentially made the wrong choice.

I would look like an idiot for even putting us through this rigamarole in the first place.

My pride was on the line, but I failed to see that beforehand, and there wasn’t anything I could do about it now. Reminding myself that it was for the good of the family, I followed through with it.

With Ari as our witness, the officiant got right to it. He ran us through everything, completed the half-assed ceremony, and had us sign the papers.

When Gemma wasn’t required to speak, she simply didn’t. Instead, she went through it with a half-startled, half-blank expression as her hand guided the pen numbly while she signed the legal forms and accepted the wedding band I slid onto her finger.

Before long, everything was done. Gemma was my bride and officially a Levov.

I had hoped to garner more satisfaction from the process, but it was like something in me knew something was missing. While all my bases were covered, that one thing necessary to make a marriage work just wasn’t there.

We didn’t know each other, and yet, we were officially husband and wife.

But at the end of it all, it didn’t matter. I could swallow it back and shoulder that responsibility so long as it meant keeping the family image intact. We all had to bear certain things for the family. For the business.

The moment we were finished, Gemma wasted no time leaving the room in a rush. She hurried away, and while her expression didn’t give away her true feelings or any indication of breaking, the quickness she moved with betrayed her.

I knew it would be a lot for her to process, so I let her go.

Even I was feeling whiplash from how quickly it all played out, and I was well aware that she had more to come to terms with than I did.

After receiving a pointed look from the officiant, who eventually showed himself out, I was left to stand in the kitchen with Ari, who snickered to himself. His hand landed on my shoulder as I silently stared at the threshold Gemma had just run across.

He let go of a breath. “Congratulations, Ben. You officially have your work cut out for you.”

I wanted to gloat about my successful win at a hypothetical chess match, managing to secure myself not only a bride but also a scapegoat from the bad press, but I had the feeling Ari was right.

I may have forced her hand and changed her life completely, but I still had to live with those consequences, too.