BILLIONAIRES WITH BENEFITS

The Scars She Hid From The World

REGINA MCBRIDE

The heavy iron gates of the Wilderness Correction Camp groaned as they released me after three years of state-sponsored hell. I stood on the dirt road, clutching a plastic bag that held my entire life, waiting for the family that claimed they sent me there for "rehab." My brother, Brady, picked me up in a luxury SUV only to throw me out onto a deserted highway in the middle of a brewing storm. He told me I was a "public relations nightmare" and that the rain might finally wash the "stink" of the camp off me. He drove away, leaving me to limp miles through the mud on a snapped ankle. When I finally dragged myself to our family estate, my mother didn't offer a hug; she gasped in horror because my muddy clothes were ruining her Italian marble. They didn't give me my old room back. Instead, they banished me to a moldy gardener’s shack and hired a "babysitter" to make sure I didn't embarrass them further. My sister, Kaleigh, stood there in white cashmere, pretending to cry while clinging to her fiancé, Ambrose—the man who had once been mine. They all treated me like a volatile junkie, refusing to acknowledge that Kaleigh was the one who planted the drugs in my bag three years ago. They wanted to believe I was broken so they wouldn't have to feel guilty about the "wellness retreat" that was actually a torture chamber. I sat in the dark of that shed, feeling the cooling gel on the cigarette burns that covered my arms, and realized they had made a fatal mistake. They thought they had erased me, but I had returned with a roadmap of scars and a hidden satellite phone. At dinner, I didn't beg for their love. I simply rolled up my sleeves and showed them the price of their silence. As the wine spilled and the lies crumbled, I sent a single text to the only person I trusted: "I'm in. Let them simmer." The hunt was finally on.

Modern Revenge Scheming

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LOVE WITH BENEFITS

***

ARCHISHA

I was walking home from the market when suddenly a car running on full speed splashed me mud all over my dress.

mother just got me this dress yesterday and now it's ruined thanks to the idiot who just couldn't drive properly. I gently dropped the bag containing the foodstuffs on the ground as I stared at my dress wondering what next to do. I bit my lips in anger trying to process what just happened and how I'm supposed to continue the rest of the journey home looking like someone who just danced in the mud.

The car came to a halt few metres from where I stood and the door flew open only to reveal a man probably in his Mid-forties. staring at him, I could tell that he looks somehow sorry and terrified at the same time.

"I'm so sorry miss. I didn't mean to ruin your dress. Master told me to drive really fast and I was only following the instructions given to me" he explained with both hands clasped together. I felt my anger subside as I took pity on him.

"It's okay sir. I will be fine. don't worry about me" I said trying to sound as calm as I can possibly be.

"Maybe I should pay for the dress" he said pulling out some money from his shirt.

"No you don't have to do that" I gently pushed his hand away "you are an older person and you've already apologized so there's no need for that"

"thank you–"

"What are you still doing there?" a voice startled us making the man yelp in fear. "I'm supposed to be home and you're there exchanging pleasantries. what if I fire you this instant" he yelled

The man quickly got on his knees pleading for mercy "please don't fire me sir"

"How rude" I found myself saying. he darted his eyes at me

"Excuse me?"

"How can you be so mean? he already apologized and you don't want to hear any of it. is this how you were raised?" I raised my voice a bit louder so he can hear me.

"maybe you didn't grow up in India but every Indian child knows that it's a duty of a child to respect an elder" I yelled

"just keep quiet. I wasn't talking to you so you don't have to interfere"

"oh really, we weren't talking to you either. you were the one who put him in this mess in the first place. if you hadn't told him to drive faster then maybe he won't be here apologising for your mistakes." I rant on.

"Listen to me miss. you don't know who I am"

"and I don't care to know either. it's not like you can change the law with your money. and it's not like you can keep my mouth shut with it either." I say picking up my groceries from the ground.

"Is this how Indian women are raised?" he muttered to himself but loud enough for me to hear

"If speaking the truth and putting a rascal in his place is called disrespect in your books then yes, that's how we are raised and I am very disrespectful and if you try to fire this man, I will file a complaint in the station and get you arrested" I threatened

he shot me a deadly stare

"Are you threatening me?"

"yes" I replied "and don't you think I don't have proof. I will simply show this dress to the police and tell them that you ran me over with your car. then we'll see who gets the last laugh" I smirked. feeling defeated, he rushed inside his car and closed the door.

"thank you my child. may the Almighty bless you." he said gently patting my head.

"You should go. he won't try anything stupid" I assured him and he left with a smile. I walked away catching a glimpse of his face again as the car drove away.

SHAURYA

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