C6 6

"Darling!! Come meet Mrs. Fort," Benjamin drawled, startling Isabella.

Isabella looked at him with wide eyes and an open mouth.

"What?" she asked in surprise, making Mrs. Fort frown.

"Why does your fiance look as if she is informed about your engagement only now?" Mrs. Fort asked.

"Fiance?" Isabella whispered in disbelief.

Benjamin cursed himself for being so impulsive. He turned towards Isabella, pleading with his eyes.

"Darling, I know we decided to keep it a secret until Mom and Dad come back from the trip. But Mrs. Fort, here, wanted to meet you," Benjamin said.

Isabella didn't understand anything, other than the look of desperation in her boss's eyes. So she simply nodded at him and shot a nervous smile at the older woman in the cabin.

"So, how did you two actually meet?" Mrs. Fort asked.

"It's an arranged marriage," Benjamin said.

"It's a love marriage," Isabella said at the same time.

Benjamin closed his eyes in dread.

"Love or arranged?" Mrs. Fort asked.

Isabella chuckled nervously.

"Benjamin, why are you so shy? It's okay to tell everyone that we are having a love marriage," Isabella said.

"Where did you meet?" Mrs. Fort asked, finding something fishy.

"It's a long story, ma'am," Isabella said.

"Tell me the simplified version," Mrs. Fort said.

Isabella looked at Benjamin in panic. Benjamin mirrored her expression.

"Actually, we met during a train journey," Isabella said.

"A train?"

"Yes, Benjamin was heartbroken after his ex-girlfriend's marriage. He boarded a random train. And I happened to be on that train. Destiny! Right, Benjamin?" Isabella asked, looking at Benjamin.

"Yeah, yeah," Benjamin mumbled.

"How did the heartbroken Benjamin fall in love with you?" Mrs. Fort asked.

"Oh, he was so depressed. And I kept on talking, trying to cheer him up. But he got annoyed with me. Then, at one station, I got down to buy a bottle of water. He had also gotten down at that station. I didn't realise that the train would only stop for two minutes there. I missed the train. Then some rogues started following me, and I ran to Benjamin for help. The next train was only after 12 hours. So we had to stay somewhere. During that time, we got to know each other and became friends. Slowly, we fell in love," Isabella narrated her supposed love story.

Benjamin closed his eyes in disbelief. He hoped to hell that Mrs. Fort had not watched the Bollywood movie "Jab We Met." He remembered watching it with Eleanor long back.

"Okay. Are your parents happy with the marriage?" Mrs. Fort asked.

"Yes, yes," Benjamin was the one to answer, not wanting Isabella to launch into another filmy story.

Mrs. Fort looked at baby Sapphire playing with Isabella's chain.

"Well, in that case, I am relieved. I will proceed with the legalities. I will keep in touch with Mr. Gabriel. And yes, if something goes wrong from your side, Mr. Lockwood, I will be forced to change my decision," Mrs. Fort said.

Benjamin and Isabella, along with baby Sapphire, walked towards the cabin door with a polite smile, escorting Mrs. Fort out.

"It was nice meeting you, Isabella. Hope you guys will get married soon," Mrs. Fort said and walked away, leaving the employees on the floor looking at them in surprise.

"What have you done, Ben?" Gabriel asked as soon as they were back in the cabin.

"Gabriel! You wanted me to pretend that I am engaged."

"Yes, but I didn't ask you to introduce her as your fiance."

"What was I supposed to do? She wanted to meet my fiance. Where was I to go and find one? Isabella walked in with Sapphire at that time, and I didn't think further."

"And that impulsive decision has complicated things."

"We could say we broke up," Benjamin said.

"She already looked suspicious at that filmy story Isabella narrated. The only solution is for you to get married now," Gabriel said.

Isabella gasped.

"What is going on here? Who was that woman? Why was I introduced as your fiance?"

"I think you should explain it to her in detail, Ben. I will see you later." With that, Gabriel walked out of the office.

"Down, down," Sapphire demanded as soon as the strangers went out.

Isabella set the little girl down carefully, who then waddled on her chubby little legs towards the Barbie doll she abandoned earlier.

Isabella smiled watching her. The baby is so adorable.

"Sit, Bella. This will take time," Benjamin mumbled.

Isabella sat on the couch, with Sapphire close by.

Benjamin took a seat next to her and told her about his sister and the jerk who married her for money, how his family is now plotting to get Sapphire's custody to get the properties in her name.

"They don't really want her. But they want Sapphire's inheritance," Benjamin said.

Sapphire, who heard her name, looked up at them.

"Sapphy?" she asked, pointing at herself.

"Yes, Sapphy," Benjamin smiled at her, and she went back to playing with the doll.

Benjamin walked towards his desk, opened a drawer, and came back with a small photo frame.

"This is Eleanor."

Isabella looked at the photo of a younger Benjamin with a girl who looks so similar to Sapphire.

Sapphire, who heard her momma's name, held onto Isabella's knees and stood up.

She saw the photo and squealed.

"Momma!" she squealed, patting on the photo.

Isabella picked the little girl into her lap.

"Sapphy, momma," Sapphire again said, touching the photo.

Benjamin took in a shaky breath.

Isabella hugged the little girl closer, feeling anguished for the little one's loss.

"Momma, where?" Sapphire asked, and her chin trembled slightly.

"Sapphy wants momma." The trembling turned into sobs.

Benjamin picked Sapphire in his arms and hugged her closer to his heart.

He gently walked to and fro in his cabin with a sobbing Sapphire, singing softly for her.

An exhausted Sapphire fell asleep in his arms, and Benjamin laid her in her baby basket.

"Poor baby," Isabella mumbled.

"They wouldn't love her, Bella. Not like I do. I can't let her go, Bella," Benjamin said.

Isabella looked at him helplessly.

Benjamin took her hand in his.

"I know I am asking too much of you. Nobody likes to take on someone else's kid. But I am desperate, Isabella."

"Benjamin..."

"Will you marry me, Isabella?"

Isabella gasped.

"Benjamin, what are you saying? Marriage is not a child's play. And I cannot make a decision alone like that. I belong to a conservative Italian family, Benjamin."

"I will talk to your parents, Isabella," Benjamin said desperately.

"But we don't know each other, Benjamin."

"Isabella, are you in love with anyone?" Benjamin asked.

"Of course not. My mommy will kill me," Isabella said, scandalised.

"So it would have been an arranged marriage for you anyway. You will be getting into a relationship not knowing anything about him. Why can't that be me?" Benjamin asked.

"I don't know. I don't know what to say, Benjamin," Isabella said, feeling confused.

"What is it that you want in life, Isabella? You must have some concepts about your future husband, right?"

"I never thought about that. I only wanted my husband to be someone who will support me in achieving my dreams," Isabella said.

"What are your dreams, Isabella?"

"I wanted to open my own bakery," Isabella said and explained the reason why she joined the job.

"I will open a bakery for you, Isabella. I will invest in your dream," Benjamin said enthusiastically.

Isabella smiled sadly.

"If I let you do that, how will I be different from John?" Isabella asked.

"Don't compare yourself with him, Isabella. He married Eleanor only for her money. You won't do that, right? If we get married, will you be able to love me and Sapphire, Isabella?" Benjamin asked.

"I... I don't know. I will try," Isabella mumbled.

"That's all that matters. Not all marriages start with love, Isabella. We have a lifetime together. We will get to know each other. We will go on dates. We will support each other. And eventually, we will fall in love," Benjamin said, and Isabella looked on doubtfully.

"Okay?" she said, which came out more like a question.

"My only request is that you treat Sapphire like your own."

"I will never mistreat a child, Benjamin," Isabella said.

"Thank you so much, Isabella," Benjamin said.

"Benjamin, please don't rush about it. I can't marry you if my parents do not agree," Isabella said.

"I will make them agree, Isabella. I will talk to them," Benjamin said, holding Isabella's hands in his.

The door of his cabin opened with a bang, and they both looked up to see Alessandro rushing inside. He stood shocked seeing Benjamin holding Isabella's hands.

Isabella quickly extricated her hands from Benjamin's hold and stood up, gulping.

"What the hell?" Alessandro asked in outrage.