Chapter 20 - 20

"That's great news Gabriel" Benjamin told Gabriel, the legal advisor, through phone.

Gabriel had called him to inform that the final verdict of their case will be in their favor tomorrow.

"Keep Lillian away Benjamin . The woman will definitely try something" Gabriel said apprehensively

"I will handle it uncle. Do not worry about her" Benjamin said and hung up the call.

"Benjamin? One Mrs Lillian Thompson is here to meet you. She's quite adamant" Claire said coming inside his cabin.

"Tell her that I'm not here" Benjamin said dismissively.

A few minutes later, Benjamin frowned as he heard the demanding knock on the door of his cabin.

"Benjamin, I know you’re in there." He heard the hateful voice of the hateful woman.

His frown deepened as Lillian walked in, with a frantic Claire, right on her heels, trying to stop her.

"Claire. It's okay. I will manage this" Benjamin said and Claire left with a relieved sigh.

"I’ve been thinking. About Sapphire", she told him coolly.

Benjamin simply raised an eyebrow.

"She is my granddaughter and that means the world to me, but I can see the situation from your point of view. Eleanor was the closest you had of a sibling and now that she is dead…" She gave a small shrug. "I can make things easy for you, Benjamin , or I can make them difficult."

He watched her, without saying anything, but then there was no need for him to do so; he had already guessed the real purpose of her visit to the office.

"If you could, for instance, see your way to…putting a certain sum of money at my disposal, I am sure we can come to some mutually beneficial agreement over Sapphire’s future. I am thinking in terms of, say…" She paused and gave another small shrug.

"Well, let us say, for instance, three million dollars. That is hardly anything to you, Benjamin. You are a very, very wealthy man"

"You want to sell me your granddaughter, is that what you are saying?" Benjamin asked coldly

"How dare you say that. I lost my son because of your ill omened sister. She killed my son" Lillian screamed

"No, if anyone killed both of them it was you, Lillian. You were the one who destroyed their marriage with your greed, and your soulless craving for money. History repeats itself, doesn’t it? And now you want to sell Sapphire to me. Three million dollars, you say"

Slowly Benjamin shook his head. He was tempted to give in and pay her, but he knew that if he did the matter wouldn’t end there. Lillian would come back wanting more money and then more.

Benjamin didn’t trust Lillian at all. He disliked her and he knew that she felt exactly the same way about him and that if she thought she could hurt or damage him in any way at all she would try to do so.

Even if that meant damaging her own granddaughter.

She was starting to scream at him, telling him that she would make him pay for not acceding to her demands, that if he had really cared about Sapphire, really wanted her, he would have been glad to pay her.

It was half an hour before she finally realised that he was not going to give in and left, hurling insults and threats at him as she did so.

****

As Benjamin reached home that evening, he found Isabella and Sapphire sitting on a comfortable chair in the rose garden, cuddled together.

He smiled as he saw his personal haven. His beautiful girls.

He went straight to them and sat next to them, wounded his arms around Isabella's shoulder and pulled them into his arms.

"Benjii" Sapphire squealed in happiness.

Benjamin leaned down and brushed his nose against little Sapphire’s making the toddler break out into peals of laughter.

"More more" Sapphire demanded and Benjamin happily obliged.

Isabella smiled watching their bond.

"Freshen up and come Benjamin. I will get you tea" Isabella said

"No. What I need now is YOU" Benjamin said and placed his head on Isabella's shoulder.

"Tough day??" Isabella asked

"Very"

"Then maybe what you need is good head massage and a warm bath" Isabella said

"I'm tempted" Benjamin said

"Then come on" Isabella said

***

"Where is Sapphire?" Benjamin asked as he saw Isabella walking inside the room with a small cup in her hand.

"With Dad" Isabella said and then sat on the bed, Indian style.

"What's that?" Benjamin asked

"Hot oil. Now, sit on the floor"

Benjamin obliged and sat on the floor with Isabella behind him, on the bed.

Isabella ran her fingers through his hair.

"Mmmmm. That feels good" Benjamin mumbled as he leaned more into her hands.

Isabella poured the oil in her hands and rubbed them together before running her fingers through his hair again.

Benjamin moaned in relief as he felt his muscles relax.

"You have magic in your hands Bella" Benjamin said making Isabella laugh.

"So? What happened in the office?" Isabella asked and Benjamin told her in detail about the woman's visit.

"Lillian. That woman is pure evil" Isabella said making Benjamin laugh.

"I know. But nothing to worry. She will be out of our life for good after tomorrow's hearing" Benjamin said

"Tomorrow is the final hearing right?" Isabella asked

"Yes. And Gabriel said that the case will be in our favor. Mrs Fort submitted her report in our favor. So there is nothing more to worry about" Benjamin said

"That is good to know" Isabella said with a sigh.

"And once the case is over, we are going for our much needed honeymoon" Benjamin said cheekily making Isabella blush.

"Can we go to Bora Bors Benjamin?" Isabella asked

"Bora Bora? No way. We are going to some high range place" Benjamin said

"But I want to go to some coastal areas. They have more activities, like water games and all. In high range places, we only go for sightseeing. That is kind of boring" Isabella said

"Who said anything about sightseeing. We won't be getting out of our suite Mrs Isabella Benjamin Lockwood" Benjamin said and pulled her into his lap.

Isabella gasped at the sudden move.

"What??"

"I'm going to have my way with you darling. And you won't be having the energy to go sightseeing" Benjamin said leaning in for a kiss.

"You have become so shameless, Benjamin" Isabella complained softly.

"Me? I didn't start my shameless acts yet darling" Benjamin said and pulled her into a long deep kiss.