Goodbye My Arrogant Ex (Marguerite and Leonard) novel Chapter 5

“Marguerite, there’s a limit to how reckless you can be.”

Benjamin’s gaze was steely, disappointment etched across his face. His voice was cold. “If you tell me where Fiona is right now, I’ll let the past go.”

She didn’t flinch. “I told you, I have no idea where Fiona is.”

Marguerite looked Benjamin straight in the eye, her words measured and unwavering. “I had nothing to do with Fiona’s abduction.”

The next moment, Benjamin’s hand clamped hard around Marguerite’s throat.

His fingers tightened. Marguerite’s breath hitched; darkness crept into her vision, panic clawing at her chest. Just as she teetered on the brink of unconsciousness, a shrill ringtone cut through the room.

Benjamin released her.

On the other end of the line, his assistant’s voice came through: they’d found Fiona.

Without another glance at Marguerite, Benjamin turned on his heel and strode briskly toward the door.

Marguerite slumped to the floor, her face ghostly pale. Finger-shaped bruises bloomed across her delicate neck, stark and terrifying.

Downstairs, the sound of an engine rumbled to life and faded away into the distance.

She sat for a moment, forcing her ragged breath to steady, then slowly pushed herself to her feet. Staggering to the bathroom, she caught sight of her reflection—disheveled and shaken—and the tears she’d been holding back finally spilled over.

She and Benjamin had been together for seven years.

Seven years, and still, that wasn’t enough for him to trust her.

Marguerite drew a deep breath, willing herself to calm down. She washed her face, cleaned herself up, and dabbed ointment on the bruises around her neck. Exhausted, she dragged herself to bed and soon fell into a deep, dreamless sleep.

***

Early the next morning, Marguerite’s phone buzzed with a text from her assistant.

[Ms. Taylor, Mr. Foster’s office just announced an emergency board meeting. Did you get the notice?]

It was Benjamin.

She whimpered, desperate to let him know she was the one trapped in the sack. A vicious kick drove the air from her lungs.

“Shut up, will you?”

Benjamin’s glare was full of contempt as he looked down at the figure writhing on the floor. His voice was frigid. “Whoever thinks they can lay a hand on my people must have a death wish. She needs to learn a lesson, and I’ll make sure she does.”

“Ben, isn’t this a bit much?”

Fiona, clinging to Benjamin’s arm, pressed herself against his side, her voice trembling. “Maybe just let it go? I’m fine, really. You found me in time, nothing happened to me.”

Benjamin looked down at Fiona, her gentle demeanor softening his heart. He stroked her cheek with his thumb, his tone gentle. “It has to be done, Fiona. If we let this slide, next time they’ll think they can get away with hurting you.”

“Fiona, I won’t let anyone hurt you.”

Listening to their exchange, Marguerite’s struggles fell away. Then rough hands hauled her up, suspending her helplessly in midair.