"And the winner for best business this year is…" the silence was palpable. Many held their breaths, but a certain young woman closed her eyes, crossed her fingers and whispered her name multiple times, praying it would be her.
"Benny Jones!" the announcer waved and a round of applause echoed throughout the event centre.
Benny shot her mascara adorned brown eyes in shock, the men, and women that sat beside her and were also into business clapped for her and encouraged her to get on stage, "I'm Benny!" with happy feet, she stood and walked to the stage, one of the nominees offering to take her there. She took his arm respectfully and found the top of the stage t0p receiver her award.
She looked at the silver trophy and was moved to tears, the crowd cheered louder as she waved to everyone, thanking them for their love.
"So Ms. Jones, what do you have to say now that you have won this award?" The host gave her the mic to deliver her speech. The room fell silent and everyone expected her to deliver a long speech from how she started and how she got there, but she summarised it and was ready for the moment.]
"Never give up. Ever. Keep working and the sky is your starting point. Thank you so much everyone." Another round of applause echoed, and she was practically dancing down the stage with all the joy in the world.
The event did not end there, there were refreshments after the awards were given, and many people stayed back to enjoy themselves further. Some reputable men and women got awards, while others promised themselves to work harder. Benny was extremely grateful for her award and kissed it when no one was looking. It was practically the best day of her life.
But she felt it was incomplete. Her fiancé was not at the event with her. He had his own event to attend, and she was sure he would win an award too. But as she thought about him, a smile crept up her lips. In her handbag, there was a surprise waiting for him, and she was excited to get home and give him the good news.
The moment she stepped closer to the table to grab more food, all eyes were on her. Dressed in a deep sapphire-blue velvet gown that hugged every curve with effortless elegance, she was nothing short of mesmerizing. The strapless design showcased her smooth shoulders, while the corset bodice cinched her waist, accentuating her hourglass figure. The thigh-high slit revealed just enough leg to be both daring and sophisticated, her every step exuding confidence.
Her black hair cascaded in soft waves down her back, framing a face that was pure temptation—bold brown eyes enhanced by dark mascara, thin lips curved into the kind of smile that made men weak. The gown shimmered subtly under the chandelier lights while she picked the finest meat onto her plate.
She planned not to eat too much, or the corset would suffocate her. After dropping her plate, she noticed a man was about to approach her but pretended to not see him and moved out of the room. The moment he saw that he was leaving, he decided to let her go.
Getting into her car and speeding off, currently past ten in the evening, she hoped to make it before midnight to give her fiancé the news. It was something they had always wanted, and she found out a few days before the event but thought it would be better to give two pieces of good news at once. She heavily banked she would win the award.
The wind blew into her hair as she let down the roof off her car, the skies were clear with stars and the traffic was light. Benny was happy, after years of hard work, sleepless nights, multiple losses and profits, she finally reached the pinnacle of her business. Now she wanted to reach that same height in her relationship.
She fantasized that her fiancé will marry her on the spot the moment she drops the news, she laughs to herself as her house was slowly coming into view. They were both business people and did well in their businesses, but Benny did better. Enough of fantasizing, she was home and parked her car in the garage.
Benny stepped into her darkened living room, the familiar scent of leather and faint traces of jasmine lingering in the air. She pressed the light switch, and a soft glow illuminated the sleek, modern space. Black leather couches framed the room, their deep cushions untouched, perfectly arranged around a polished obsidian coffee table. A white rug softened the space, contrasting against the inky walls. The grand staircase curled toward the second floor like a shadowed serpent, and the glass panels lining the upper level reflected the dim light. Even the fireplace, now dark and unlit, seemed to add to the quiet sophistication of her home.
But the moment of peace shattered in an instant.
Benny barely had time to register the figure lunging at her before cold steel glinted in the dim light. Instinct took over. She twisted, dodging just as the knife sliced through empty air where her ribs had been seconds ago. Her bag slipped from her shoulder, hitting the floor with a dull thud as she reached for the attacker's wrist. Fingers like a vice clamped around the stranger's forearm, forcing the knife upward as Benny struggled for control.
The woman was taller, stronger, blonde hair swinging wildly as she pushed forward, using her weight to pin Benny against the wall. A fist struck Benny's side—a sharp explosion of pain—but she gritted her teeth, twisting her attacker's wrist until the knife clattered onto the coffee table.
Benny didn't hesitate. She shoved the woman backward, using the brief moment of advantage to catch her breath. But her attacker was relentless, recovering quickly and slamming her into the glass railing of the staircase. The impact sent a tremor through the structure, but Benny reacted fast, driving her knee into the woman's stomach. The blonde grunted, but before she could regain control, Benny grabbed the back of her head and slammed it against the nearest mirror.
Glass shattered.
The woman stumbled, dazed, blood trickling from a fresh wound on her temple. Benny panted, chest rising and falling rapidly, fingers trembling as she reached for a shard of glass. It was instinct, pure survival—her hand gripped the sharp edge, ready to drive it into the attacker's chest.
But then—
A click.
Cold metal pressed against the back of her head.
Benny froze.
Her eyes widened, breath shaky as she slowly raised her hands in surrender. The blonde smirked after rising to her feet, blood glistening on her lips, her body swaying slightly from the impact but still standing strong.
"Oh I knew you would put up a fight." a masculine voice drew with mischief, her eyes widened with disbelief, but she feared to turn her head as she might shoot her. But she was shaking, uncontrollably. The man that wielded the gun fed her fear even more when he changed his position, now meeting her eye to eye, "my sweet Benny." he cooed.
"Ga-Ga-b-b-ri—" her whole body language was screaming terror, her eyes darting from her fiancé that held the gun to the woman who had just tried to kill her.
"Shh shh shh. My sweet Benny." the gun still pointed to her head, he reached out to the skin on her face, stroking it gently, "a wrong move, and you will be with your mother again."
"Is it now you show up you dick head? She could have killed me!" the woman who had attacked her first wiped blood from her lips and tried to get herself moving again, gently picking up the knife that had fallen from her and glaring at Benny with menacing eyes.
Benny on the other hand still held her hands up, and now she was crying, "is she forcing you to do this? Please, lower the gun." she begged Gabriel, the man who held her at gunpoint, none other than her fiancé.
"Who could ever force me to do anything my darling? Not even you." his eyes settled on her lined lips, so plump, he felt pulled to kiss her, but he held himself back, "I just wanted to tell you that I am leaving."
His words sent shockwaves through her body. He was leaving?
He could read the emotions through her eyes and let out a mocking laugh, "Yes my sweet Benny, I am leaving. And so are you." he pranced around her, the gun never leaving her direction, "I will go, and maybe live on the islands, enjoy my retirement, meet new people. But you will go and be with your mother." his eyes darkened with evil excitement as she let out a small gasp.
So many thoughts ran through her mind, and all she could do was let out short gasps as she didnt want to break down crying. And yet again, he saw her conflict and answered one of her questions.
"Don't worry about everything you have built, it is already mine. Took it from you last week when you were drunk from that party. Now you have nothing, just like you deserve!" The last statement ended in a harsh sneer as she closed her eyes to his expression of anger as she feared he would shoot her anytime.
"Hurry up, I am getting tired of this monologue, just shoot the girl and let's get out of here." his partner in crime rolled her eyes at the once couple and Gabriel shot her a hard glare for ruining his speech. But his anger quickly dissipated when he saw that his accomplice had been injured for his sake so he couldn't be mad at her.
With a sinister smile, he turned to Benny, "I love you sweetheart, in another life you will be mine, and I will be a good person." his hand pressed against the trigger, and she saw her life flash before her eyes.
"Ga—"
The sound from the gun resounded through the air as the bullet flew from the gun to lodge itself straight into her heart. She collapsed immediately, saying goodbye to the world she once existed in.
Gabriel had a smug grin on his face as his partner in crime had started taking valuables the moment she was dead. He looked at her almost lovingly, and she raised her hand at him in dismissal before he tried to peck her, and he was pushed off. He loved it when he teased her.
"What are we going to do with her body?" the blonde woman asked as she took jewellery, credit cards, cash, anything that was worth value and her boyfriend just shrugged as he stared at the lifeless body of his ex, without any emotion, "pass me her bag." he stretched her hand to the purse that had fallen and Gabriel picked it up for her, "take everything in it. We can dump her body in the forest, we stay out for a few weeks and—"
"That isn't necessary." Gabriel cut her short, bringing out a note, putting her DNA on it and even on the gun he used to cause her demise. Everything was placed carefully, "she killed herself, we just got here." the smile became more sinister. The bag he was holding, he searched through it to see money, some jewellery, makeup and… An envelope?
His interest piqued and when he opened it to read the content, his heart fell into his stomach. He suddenly broke down into a nervous sweat and his heart felt stabbed, slowly regretting that he had not chosen a later time to kill her.
"What is that?" his girlfriend asked, but he quickly snapped back.
"It is nothing, let's leave." he signalled to her, keeping the positive pregnancy report with him, not knowing if he was right or wrong.