Chapter 5

The Accepted Offer 

Alexander was walking slowly to his office as the snail. He was so relaxed and calm this particular morning. He didn't quite notice a particular figure sitting in the visitor chair as he drifted his gaze to his shelves.

But as he turned toward his desk, he froze mid-step.

Sophia sat stiffly in one of the plush armchairs opposite his desk, her expression carefully composed but betraying hints of discomfort. Her fingers were interlocked in her lap, and her gaze darted briefly toward him before settling somewhere over his shoulder.

Alexander shut the door behind him, the click echoing in the room. 

“Sophia?” His brows furrowed in real surprise. “To what do I owe this……unexpected visit?”

He walked toward his desk, setting his briefcase down first before sinking into his chair.

Sophia breathed down, her expression was unreadable. She held her posture still, lips pressed into thin lines.

He leaned forward slightly, his eyes narrowing. “Let me guess. You've come to repeat the message you sent earlier to my secretary—what was it again?. Oh yes. “I'm not interested. The offer is not accepted.”” His tone was sharp, laced with an edge of mockery.

Sophia was perplexed. “What is the meaning of that? When did we have time or meet to tell you that? No! No! Don't put that to me, I won't buy it from you.” She rebuked the allegation.

“You can't hide from me, Sophia” Alexander forced out a fake smile, filled with anger and rebuked. “You have been playing games with me all this while. You think you can just talk to me anyhow. You're sending—” 

“Stop this, Alexander,stop it!” She yelled back to him, interrupting. “Why are you lying to me? Have you made any findings that show I'm the one sending the messages? You're using my vulnerability to label me as a wicked person. Isn't it?”

Sophia began to shed tears, rolling down her cheeks.  

“I have no other person we are negotiating a deal with.” Alexander noted, reducing his voice very low but barely audible. “Your tears can't trigger me to pity you. I'm very sure it is because your mother's health conditions are worse and your unpaid debt is the reason you think twice to accept this offer. It has affected your reasoning.” He hissed.

She blinked, used her handkerchief to clean her tears. “That is not the reason that drives me here.” Her eyes still brimming with unshed tears.

Alexander looked up with curiosity and a slow, skeptical smile tugged at the corner of his lips. “Then, what is it? What drives you here? Pretender!”

Referring to her as a pretender aches a pain in her heart. Hatred for Alexander grew more exceedingly in her heart. He even hates that she would be announcing her consent to be a wife to the proud, self-centered man. Finally, she hates how powerless she was.

“I’ve changed my mind,” she said evenly, there was a faint tremor in her tone that betrayed her.

He walked toward his chair and sat down, folding his arms around his chest. 

“Change your mind,” he repeated, savouring the words. His smirk increasing, his dark eyes glinting with something skin to triumph. “And why the sudden change of heart? The last time we spoke, you were so….. adamant.”

Sophia I haled deeply, her composure faltering slightly. “My mother….” She hesitated, struggling with words. She was so ashamed to reveal her helplessness and vulnerability that give in to his offer. 

“Her condition is getting worse. The hospital bills–”

Alexander bursted into a loud laughter that reverberated across the luxurious office and beyond. It was oozing with mockery.

Sophia remained seated, looking at the ground, and felt ashamed of herself. It seems the ground should open and she should cover her up from the mockery and laughter. 

Alexander leaned forward again. “So, the mighty Sophia has finally realized her limits.” He said laced with disdain. “How refreshing!” 

Her cheeks flushed at his condescending tone, but she refused to look away. “I’m here to agree to your terms. The contract marriage, your financial support—everything. I’ll do it.”

Sophia's jaw tightened, her hands clenching in her lap. “Don’t make this harder than it already is, Alexander. I'm not here to be mocked.” She stated firmly, still looking back.

“Oh,I'm not mocking you,” he said, though his grin suggested otherwise. 

“I’m simply admiring how quickly principles crumble under intense pressure.” He stood, walking around the desk to stand in front of her. 

“You could've saved yourself from trouble if you'd agreed in the first place. 

She shot him a glare, but he ignored it, extending a hand to her. “Well, then. Shall we finalize the details?”

Sophia hesitated, staring at his outstretched hand as if it were a snake ready to bite. But after a moment, she reached out and shook it.

“Miss Sophia” He called her, a tone filled with mockery and dominance. He walked around her and stayed at her side, placing his hand on her shoulder briefly before starting using his hand to caress her hair romantically.

Sophia was almost frozen. She sat down motionless, unknown to her what to do next. Her heart rejected the romance but she couldn't resist the urge and the pleasure it gave.

“You're enjoying it already,” Alexander whispered, smiling slightly. His lips dangerously close to her ear, “but you’re already falling into the rhythm of this arrangement. See how easily you surrender?”

Alexander chucked softly, the sound deep and intoxicating. “Ah, but denial suit you, Miss Sophia. It makes you even more interesting.” His hand stayed for a moment longer, his touch both infuriating oddly soothing, before he finally stepped back.

The absence of his hand felt like a weight lifted and a strange void all at once. Sophia clenched her hands tightly in her lap, trying to steady herself as Alexander returned back to his desk, clearly satisfied with the effect he had on her.

He sat down on his chair with a graceful ease, pulling a sleek folder from the top drawer. “Enough of games,” he said, his tone professional now but still heavy with dominance. He opened the folder and slid a stack of paper across the desk to her.

“Here it is?,” he said, gesturing to the document. “The contract. Everything is stressed out—- my financial support for your mother's health, the terms of our agreement, and of course, the roles we'll both play.”

Sophia swallowed hard, her gaze fixed on the contract document. The black ink on white paper seemed to be blurred before her eyes. Her heart ached as she thought of her mother's pale, frail form in the hospital bed.

“Sign it.” Alexander commanded her, divert his attention to a document in his hand, surveying it.

Sophia was already lost in thought. She started to imagine how her mother's treatment will be paid, her brother's tuition fees to be settled as well their debt. 

Alexander looked up abruptly, stretching her hand to collect the document, hoping for it to be signed already. He was amazed to see her lost in thought, tapping the table rhythmically with her pen. 

“Are you not ready again with the contract? Is something troubling you with the terms?” Alexander asked repeatedly, yet no response.

“Sign it!” He yelled, his voice a quite command. Sophia awakening into consciousness, pen dropped from her hand.

“I'm sorry,” she apologized. “I'm evaluating the benefits, and it is really awesome.”

“Are you sure?” Alexander asked, doubting her praise.

“Yes!” 

Her hand trembled as she picked up the pen. Each stroke of her signature felt like a heavy blow on her dignity, her independence, her dreams. When she finally set the pen down, she couldn't bring herself to look at him.

“There,” she whispered, her voice hollow.

“It's done.”

 He leaned forward, his eyes gleaming with satisfaction as he took the signed contract. “Good. Welcome to the next chapter of your life.” He stretched out his hand for a handshake. 

Sophia hesitantly received it, shook hand.