Meanwhile, Bennard...

Bennard has been sitting for a long while on the living room sofa, his hand supporting his low head, face laying on his palm. His body slumped, his posture was defeated, his spirit crushed. He's lost in thought, in despair, in pain. His heart aches, his soul is heavy, his mind is racing. He's feeling helpless, powerless, and hopeless. He doesn't know what to do, he doesn't know how to react. It's until he hears the clicks of Lena's heels that he finally looks up and notices the woman is still in the same state as she was before, "Lena? You're not cleaning yourself up?"

She looked at him and smiled, "No sir, Liam asked me to keep it as I am, so I'll keep myself in this manner until he says otherwise." Her voice is light, her tone is casual, she's clearly not bothered by her current state.

Bennard is at a loss of words, "I... I see."

"I'm here to give you an update in regards to..." Lena proceeds to talk business to Bennard as if nothing is amiss, she talks with the same professionalism and calmness she always has.

Barely anything registered in Bennard's head, no business matter can get through his mind. Not when his wife is upstairs with that monster, and him here. The woman he vowed to love and protect, the woman he vowed to cherish and honor. The woman who is now upstairs, being done–god knows what to her, by that monster of a man. He can't help but imagine what's happening, what he's doing to her, what she's doing to him, and it's tearing him apart.

But Lena's words snaps him out of his thoughts, "... And the two have agreed to cancel the deal and the partnership, with a note that Ms. Sandra is not to be trusted in the future, both personally and professionally. That would conclude today's report on the business side of things with your end Mr. Bennard and Ms. Sandra's." Lena concluded with a smile.

"Lena, why are you okay with this? Why are you letting him do this to you? To her?" Bennard blurted out, his voice full of pain, anger, and confusion.

"Mr. Bennard, I'm not sure what you're specifically referring to, but I'm assuming you're talking about the way Liam is treating me?" She asked, her tone is gentle, her expression is understanding.

"Yes, I'm talking about that!" Bennard exclaimed, his voice is full of frustration, "He's treating you like a toy, like a-an object! He's using you, he's playing with you, he's degrading you, and you're just taking it. You're just letting him do it, why?" He can't understand how anyone can be treated like that, let alone someone who is as accomplished and intelligent as Lena, or his wife for that matter.

Lena looked at him, her eyes full of understanding, "Mr. Bennard, I know it's hard to understand, and I know it's hard to accept, but I'm not being treated any differently than I deserve." She said, her voice is soft, her tone is gentle, "After, well you know, The Click. We women realize that it's how we are meant to be treated. And it's not just me, all of us are like this. We all have the same realization, the same understanding. We all have the same desire, the same drive, the same purpose. To please him no matter what." She said, her voice is full of conviction, her eyes are filled with certainty.

"But why?" Bennard asked, his voice full of confusion, "Why do you want to please him? Why do you want to serve him?" He can't wrap his head around it, It's beyond his comprehension, and it's driving him insane.

The idea of women liked being treated like this, the idea of women wanting to be treated like this by this one man, when otherwise they wouldn't, is beyond him. He can't accept the fact that Lena, his wife, and all women would choose to be treated like this by this one man. When otherwise they would fight tooth and nail to be treated better, to be treated equally when it comes to every other man.

"I'm not sure what else to tell you Mr. Bennard..." Lena said, she knows that he's struggling, she knows that he's having a hard time accepting the reality at hand, "Other than he deserves it. He deserves to have us, to do whatever he wants to us. He deserves our service, our bodies, our everything. All of it and more. And we're more than happy to give it to him." She said, her voice is full of conviction, her eyes are full of certainty.

He can't understand it, he can't comprehend it, and he can't accept it. Bennard found it impossible then, back when Sandra tried to gently explain what The Click is. And he still finds it impossible now, when Lena tries to do the same. The idea that a singular event could have such a profound impact on all women worldwide is absurd. How it seemingly changes their beliefs, values, and attitudes, even though it doesn't. As if all of them just give an exception to Liam. That they let Liam do whatever he wants to them, despite their own beliefs, despite their own values, despite their own attitudes. Or rather, all of that becomes irrelevant as Liam's wants to come first to them. It's like they've given him a free pass, a carte blanche to do whatever he wants to them, to treat them however he wants, without any consequences, without any repercussions, without any accountability.

He can't understand how a person, especially a woman, could just willingly give themselves to someone like that. Someone who has no respect for them, someone who sees them as objects, someone who sees them as playthings. But what's even more baffling is the way they seem to be willing to give up everything for him, to do anything for him, willing to endure anything for him. The way they seem to enjoy it, the way they seem to revel in it, the way they seem to crave anything he'd do to them.

He's trying to rationalize it, he's trying to understand it, he's trying to make sense of it. A futile endeavor, but something he does anyway. Because what else can he do?

"I see." Bennard finally said, his voice low, defeated, "I think, I need some time to think, to process all of this. If you may excuse me."

"Unfortunately I can't let you Mr. Bennard," Lena checked her watch and saw that it's time, "Liam has asked you to go to the master bedroom right now. I'm sure it will help you process this... event better." Lena smiles, Bennard can't be sure if her smile is of pity, or malice, given her previous sets of words.

"Liam wants me there? For what?" He asked, his voice was weak, his expression was tired.

"I don't exactly know, however I suggest that you don't make him wait." Lena said, her tone is gentle, her expression is understanding, "For your sake."

Bennard sighs, he stands up and starts to make his way towards the stairs, his steps are heavy. He knows that nothing good can come out of this, he knows that he's going to witness something horrible, but he's unable to stop himself. He feels like he's being pulled, like he's being compelled to go, like he has **** but to go.