What do I stand to gain miss

"Why do you want me to help you?" Ben’s voice was calm, yet there was something dangerously alluring about it. He swirled the amber liquid in his glass, his sharp gaze locked onto Serena. The weight of his stare made her stomach twist, but she refused to waver.

  "Please help me," she pleaded, stepping closer. "I will do anything I mean it."

  Ben raised a brow, setting his glass down on the sleek marble counter. The dim lighting of his penthouse cast deep shadows across his face, accentuating the sharp angles of his jawline. He tilted his head slightly, as if analyzing her desperation.

  "Anything?" His voice was low, almost teasing, but his eyes remained cold, unreadable.

  Serena’s breath hitched. A sudden shiver ran down her spine, though she wasn’t sure if it was from fear or the magnetic pull Ben had over her.

  What have I done to myself?

  For the first time, the gravity of her situation sank in. She had willingly walked into the lair of a man far more powerful and dangerous than Jake. The very air around Ben crackled with dominance, and now, she was at his mercy.

  Ben took a slow step forward, closing the distance between them. His tall frame towered over her, making her feel small vulnerable. But she refused to back down.

  He exhaled, the scent of whiskey and something darker lingering in the space between them. "Then marry me instead."

  Serena's eyes widened. "What?"

  Serena’s breath caught in her throat. Marry him? The words echoed in her head, sending a shiver down her spine. She had come here seeking revenge, hoping to use Ben to ruin Jake, but she never expected him to turn the tables on her so easily.

  Her eyes locked onto his, searching for any trace of mockery, but all she saw was cold calculation. He was serious.

  Ben took a step closer, forcing her back against the glass window once more. The city lights shimmered behind him, casting sharp shadows across his chiseled features. He was breathtakingly handsome, but also undeniably dangerous.

  “Well?” he drawled, tilting his head slightly. “You were bold a moment ago, practically throwing yourself at me. But now, suddenly, you’ve lost your voice?”

  Serena swallowed, forcing herself to meet his gaze. She couldn’t back down. Not now.

  “I just… I wasn’t expecting you to say that,” she admitted, her voice quieter than before.

  Ben chuckled, low and dark. “That’s because you underestimated me. You thought you could seduce me, make me your pawn in whatever petty revenge game you’re playing.” He leaned in, his lips brushing against the shell of her ear. “But I don’t play by anyone’s rules but my own.”

  Serena clenched her fists at her sides, her heart hammering. She needed to think fast.

  “Why marriage?” she asked, forcing her voice to stay steady. “If you just want to help me ruin Jake, you could do that without tying yourself to me.”

  Ben smirked. “True. But why should I help you for nothing? If I take you as my wife, you become untouchable. Sandra won’t be able to threaten you, Jake will be powerless, and you’ll have all the wealth and power that comes with my name. Isn’t that what you want?”

  Serena hesitated. It sounded tempting more than tempting. She had spent years being controlled, manipulated, and belittled by Sandra and Jake. If she married Ben, all of that would end. She wouldn’t just be free; she’d be powerful. Besides isn’t that why she approached Ben.

  But there was something in his gaze that unnerved her.

  “And what do you get out of this?” she asked warily.

  Ben’s smirk widened. “A wife, of course.”

  Serena frowned. “You could have any woman you want. Why me?”

  Ben shrugged as he poured himself another glass of whiskey, swirling the amber liquid lazily before taking a sip. “Because you amuse me. And because I enjoy taking things that belong to Jake. He always thought he could have anything he wanted now I get to take the one thing he thought was his.”

  Serena bristled at that. She wasn’t some trophy to be won in a battle between uncle and nephew.

  “I’m not an object,” she said firmly.

  Ben chuckled. “No, but you are desperate. And desperate people make the best deals.”

  Serena sucked in a sharp breath. He was right. She was desperate.

  “Marry me, and you’ll have everything you’ve ever wanted,” Ben continued, stepping closer again. “Revenge. Power. Security. I’ll take care of your grandparents, and you’ll never have to beg anyone for anything again.” His gaze darkened. “But in return, you’ll belong to me. Completely.”

  Serena’s pulse quickened.

  “What does that mean?” she whispered.

  Ben leaned down, his lips hovering just over hers. “It means you obey me. No lies. No games. You will be my wife, and you will act accordingly. In public and in private.”

  A strange heat coiled in Serena’s stomach at his words. She wasn’t naïve; she knew exactly what he meant.

  She forced herself to stay strong. “And if I say no?”

  Ben pulled back, his expression turning cold. “Then leave. Go back to Sandra. Go back to begging for scraps. Go back to being Jake’s pathetic little fiancée, watching him cheat on you while you smile and pretend it doesn’t hurt.”

  His words cut through her hesitation like a blade. She lifted her chin, pushing away her fear. She couldn't back out now.

  "Wait," she blurted out before he could turn away. "I’ll do it."

  Ben’s lips curled into a slow, wicked smile. "Good girl."

  Are you ready to do everything I command?" he asked, stepping closer until their bodies nearly touched.

  Serena instinctively took a step back, but Ben followed, matching her movements until she was backed against the cold glass of the floor-to-ceiling window.

  Her lips parted, her voice barely above a whisper. "Yes."

  Ben’s expression didn’t change, but something in his eyes darkened, as if sealing a deal with the devil himself.

  "Welcome to my world, Serena," he murmured. "I hope you know what you've just done."

 “Tonight is your first test and how you behave will determine if I will help you “..