You More than Anything in the World (Arissa)

“How do you know all this, anyway?” Benjamin asked with a frown, wondering which blabbermouth had spoken to Arissa.

“I was in the office cafeteria when | saw the news of your ribbon-cutting ceremony. Everyone was talking about it, so | heard a little here and there.” This time, Benjamin's frown deepened as a fresh swell of rage rose in him. “What did they all say?” “They said the two of you were talking about marriage,” Arissa replied candidly.

“And you believed them?” Benjamin muttered, pursing his lips.

Is that why she's been distancing herself from me for the past two days? Avrissa looked him in the eye, unable to shake off the flicker of irritation buzzing through her.

How could I not have believed it? Photos of him and Rosetta were even trending on social media! “Is that not the case?” A glint flashed across Benjamin's eyes as he leaned in. “Have

you been throwing a tantrum because of that?” “W-Who's throwing a tantrum?” “How dare you deny it!” Benjamin retorted while playfully pinching Arissa's cheek.

The latter, however, ducked away and pretended not to care.

“So, are you two discussing marriage or not?” Benjamin raised his brows. “What do you think?" Arissa felt even more frustrated, but when she turned around and noticed Benjamin staring back cheekily, a warm blush rose to her cheeks.

“Forget it, then!” she fumed before standing and marching up the stairs.

To her surprise, Benjamin got up and followed suit, his piercing eyes still trained on her.

Feeling her pulse quicken, Arissa whipped around to face the man. “Why are you following me?” “This is my house,” Benjamin said with a chuckle. “Can't | go upstairs?”

Stumped for words, Arissa stood aside and beckoned him to go before her.

Even though Benjamin was standing on the lower step, he was still taller than her.

The next second, he placed his arms on the railing behind her and locked her in his embrace. “Are you jealous?”

“No, I'm not!” Arissa answered, her eyes darting around.

Seeing how flustered she was, Benjamin beamed with delight.

All the gloominess that had accumulated over the past few days seemed to vanish in that instance.

He leaned down suddenly and kissed her on the cheek. “I've never talked about marriage with her.” With that, Benjamin turned and continued up the stairs, leaving Arissa with butterflies in her stomach.

She touched the spot where his lips had just been and felt herself getting all warm and fluttery.

Yes. They aren't talking about getting married! Seconds later, she turned and chased after Benjamin.

“Benjamin Graham, do you like her?” Benjamin froze in his tracks and slowly turned to face his anxious inquisitor.

“What do you mean by like?" For a moment, Arissa was stunned. Huh? | can't believe he just asked that! Then again, it doesn't seem like he's being difficult. He really looks like he's clueless about it! “Don't you know what it means to like someone?” To think he's dated that woman before! A trace of awkwardness instantly flashed across Benjamin's face. “Well, do you?” “This is my house,” Benjomin soid with o chuckle. “Con't | go upstoirs?” Stumped for words, Arisso stood oside ond beckoned him to go before her.

Even though Benjomin wos stonding on the lower step, he wos still toller thon her.

The next second, he ploced his orms on the roiling behind her ond locked her in his embroce. “Are you jeolous?” “No, I'm not!” Arisso onswered, her eyes dorting oround.

Seeing how flustered she wos, Benjomin beomed with delight.

All the gloominess thot hod occumuloted over the post few doys seemed to vonish in thot instonce.

He leoned down suddenly ond kissed her on the cheek. “I've never tolked obout morrioge with her.”

With thot, Benjomin turned ond continued up the stoirs, leoving Arisso with butterflies in her stomoch.

She touched the spot where his lips hod just been ond felt herself getting oll worm ond fluttery.

Yes. They oren't tolking obout getting morried! Seconds loter, she turned ond chosed ofter Benjomin.

“Benjomin Grohom, do you like her?” Benjomin froze in his trocks ond slowly turned to foce his onxious inquisitor.

“Whot do you meon by like?” For o moment, Arisso wos stunned. Huh? | con't believe he just osked thot! Then ogoin, it doesn't seem like he's being difficult. He reolly looks like he's clueless obout it! “Don't you know whot it meons to like someone?” To think he's doted thot womon before! Atroce of owkwordness instontly floshed ocross Benjomin's foce. “Well, do you?” Avrissa blinked as she stood blankly in the hallway and

watched him walk into his bedroom.

If he doesn't know what it means to like someone, why is he so sweet and gentle toward Rosetta? Or has he not realized his feelings for her? Eager to know the answer, she strode into Benjamin's room, only to find the latter stripping.

“Why are you taking off your clothes?” she asked as she hastily turned around.

She could feel her face burning up, and no matter how hard she tried, she couldn't shake off the image of Benjamin's toned figure.

After all, he had a perfectly chiseled body, and the sight of him being topless was irresistibly alluring.

Benjamin looked up at Arissa and continued to unbuckle his pants.

“How am | supposed to shower if | don't take off my clothes?” “You could've said so earlier!” Arissa grumbled before getting ready to rush out of the room.

“Why do | need to inform you when I'm stripping in my own room?” Benjamin retorted as he stared fixedly at the woman trying to escape. “Come here!” Avrissa's heart lurched. My goodness. Why does he always have to shout like that? He'll give me a heart attack one of these days! “What do you want?” she muttered with her back still facing him.

“l want you to get over here!” Benjamin's voice was deep and authoritative, and Arissa didn't dare defy him.

Left with no choice, she turned and stared at him from the door.

“Well, what is it?"