Chapter-5

Benedict Henderson's POV

"Your father..." She trails off looking away. "He cheated."

"What?" On Mom?

"He cheated the Board of Directors showing false profits. Many people lost their jobs." She continues. Fuck!

"So he is a fraud?" It is a rhetorical question. Mom lets out a sigh.

"Yes." She nods. "Yes, he is." Her voice sounds as if she is telling that to herself as she agrees. "The Albertos and we were not close, but after your father committed suicide after losing everything, they took us in. No one was ready to even give a job. We were nearly on the streets." She looks at me blinking back tears. I can only imagine what it must be like having a four year old me at that time.

"I am sorry you had to go through that Mom." One day... One day, I will give you everything back! For you and Layla!

"Don't be." She pats my head. "We can't change the past." Another sigh. "It's a good thing that that Little Princess wanted to help us that day." A smile takes over her face.

"What?"

"You know how Layla has a soft heart?" She asks. I frown. What does she have anything to do with this? I nod. She is a Brat, but yes, she is soft inside. "She saw you crying and she gave you her bear. She wanted you to be her friend." I just stare at her. That's my Little Star! "Annabella Alberto was thinking of taking us in and when her daughter is infactuated with you, she asked me to come work here."

"She really can have anything she wants." That Little Brat! I can't help the smile on her lips as I think of her pouty face she pulls when she doesn't get her way, which is very rare. "Do you ever miss that?" She must have lived a luxurious life. She sighs looking away.

"Of course. But I like the life I have now. I have friends that are true. I have a life that's not an illusion. I love this. I have enough." She speaks with contempt and a smile on her face. "I have you!" She ruffles my hair like I am little kid. I shake my head at her.

"Do you think money will solve everything?" I ask even though I know the answer. "Do you think I can get anything if I have money?" She frowns at me.

"Maybe you can get most of the things, but not everything. You surely can't buy love."

"But I think most people will accept me." Like the Duke!

Later that night I fall asleep thinking about her, wanting to meet her, hold her and to look into those beautiful eyes.

I am so sorry, Lyls. Looks like I have to stay away from you for a while.

Fuck! That's going to hurt like a bitch!

Layla Alberto's POV

I know that his distance is not voluntary, but he can't keep pushing me away.

"What did you say to him?" I ask Papa as I walk into his office. My hands are crossed over my chest. My brows are knit together. I am hurt! So freaking hurt! Papa looks at me and Max is smirking at me.

"Ah, the Devil is here." Max comments.

"Ben stopped talking to me after you spoke with him! What did you tell him?!"

"You are angry at me because of Ben?" Papa asks in shock.

"He is the only friend I had growing up! Only true friend!" All others just want the money, fame or whatever they are seeking from me. "You took that away from me!"

"Princess, look-"

"I don't care, Papa. I want him as my friend!"

"As a friend or a boyfriend?" He asks seriously. I meet his stare. Ah! I want him as my boyfriend! But that seems impossible to happen! I will settle for friend for now! As long as I can stay close to him!

"Friend! Why has he stopped speaking to me completely after you spoke with him? Why?" Tears nearly prick my eyes.

"Why can't you be friends with someone else, Princess? You are going to school. You will meet new people." He tries to reason with me as he gets up and comes to me.

"Yes, but not true friends! You know that!" Papa puts his hands on my shoulders. "They make me feel alone." My voice becomes meek in the end.

"I am sorry, Princess." He hugs me. "I don't want you to feel alone." He pulls back and looks at me. "You can have your friend back." My face immediately splits into a smile. "But I really hope you try to make new friends. I don't trust that boy." His face becomes serious again.

"Thank you, Papa!"

Ben is back to his cold self again. He wouldn't speak to me, look at me or even acknowledge my existence. It's been one week since I spoke to Papa and convinced him to let Ben be my friend. I am going crazy! We made eye contact a few times and he just turned the other way and left.

I tried to take my new friend's, Jess, advice. She is so cool! She kicked a guy in the nuts cause he squeezed her ass. He fell down crying and clutching his balls. She walked over his shaking body as he kept chewing her bubblegum.

I tried to make Ben jealous by talking to a guy. I twirled my hair between my fingers as I put my hand on the boy's arm. The minute my hand touched the guy's arm, Ben who was standing at his locker looking at his book, punched the locker so hard, it left a dent. I stood there with my mouth hanging open. He bumped shoulder with the guy I was talking to as he walked away.

So here I am, with Jess, in this tight black dress at Tim's party. He is one of the guys from the Football team. He was all grins and smiles when he invited me. He is kind of cute, but my heart is set on a certain guy from whom I came to the party. Not to mention it was so hard sneaking out. I had to climb out of the window and they get down through a ladder. Jess helped me.

I smile as I walk into party.

If only I knew that by the end of this party, that smile would no longer be gracing my face. If only I knew that it's going to be a huge mess for me and that it's going to be my first and nearly my last one party. So I say to myself.

All the best, Layla! It's your first party!

A/N:

Hey my cute dumplings!

Hang in there. Things are about to go roller coaster. Just tried to give you a peek into Ben's past. Was it boring? Do tell me your thoughts.

Please VOTE and COMMENT.