After a while, she gathered her courage and broke the silence. “I’m… going for an interview tomorrow,” she said softly, glancing up. “At Allure Fashion.” Alexander looked up, his expression unreadable. “That’s good,” he said, his gaze steady. “Do you need my help?” Sophia’s heart skipped a beat. The thought of him, Alexander, using his influence to help her was… tempting. She remembered how he’d handled the Hawthornes. It had taken him mere hours to dismantle an entire corporation. She hesitated, torn between the easy road and her pride. “No,” she finally said, shaking her head. “I want to do it on my own. Only my efforts should help me.” Alexander studied her for a moment, a glimmer of admiration in his eyes. He didn’t press her, just nodded slightly, as though respecting her decision. But there was a hint of expectation in his gaze, as if waiting for her to ask him anyway. She faltered under his intense gaze, then added with a shy smile, “But… can you pray for me? Wish me l
When the door closed behind him, the woman muttered under her breath, "What’s there to panic about? Unless you’re not qualified." After 20 minutes, the employee returned, calling out, "Samantha LeClerc?" Samantha stood up with a prideful smile, but there was something in her posture that suggested she already had the job. "Wish me luck," she said to no one in particular, then followed the employee into the interview room. Sophia was left alone for a few more minutes, her nerves returning in full force. She stood up and paced slightly, trying to calm herself. Finally, the door opened 20 minutes later, and the same employee called her name, "Sophia Blackwell?" Her heart jumped in her chest. "Here goes," she whispered under her breath. *** Meanwhile, somewhere in the city, Marcus lay on the bed, his arm loosely around Lila as she nestled against his chest. The weight of his family’s crisis should have sobered him, but old habits die hard. Lila traced circles on his shoulder,
Sophia walked out of Allure Fashion clutching her file folder tightly. Her heels clicked against the pavement, echoing her hurried steps. The meeting with the panel had gone well, but her mind churned with nervous anticipation. She did her best and will leave the rest to God. She had to walk past a few blocks since she had her driver drop her far to avoid drawing much attention. “Well, well, well, Sophia,” Lila’s shrill voice echoed, causing Sophia to pause mid-step. She turned her head, and her heart sank when she saw Lila. She was standing a few feet away with Marcus, who looked equally surprised to seek off her. Her eyes immediately darkened with anger. Memories of that night when he drugged and tried to force himself on her came flooding back, making her clench her fists. This bastard... How could I have ever loved him? I must have been blind to trust him, let alone fall for him. She took a deep breath and turned away, intending to ignore them and move on. “What are yo
“Mom, stop,” Ethan said. “It's not your fault. I’m happy to help.” Sophia chimed in, her tone softer. “Don't worry Mom, once I secure a job, Ethan won’t have to juggle work and school anymore. I promise things will get better.” Ethan gave her a grateful smile. “I appreciate that, but for now, I’ve got this. Besides, you’ve already done so much for us.” Catherine wiped away a tear. “I don’t deserve such wonderful children.” Sophia leaned over and kissed her mother’s forehead. “You deserve the world, Mom. Now let’s eat before the food gets cold.” As they shared their meal, the room was filled with warmth and laughter. For a brief moment, the weight of their struggles seemed to lift. *** In the evening, Sophia entered Valmere, her heels clicking against the polished floor. She glanced at her watch, knowing Alexander would arrive soon. She hurried to the kitchen, rolling up her sleeves to prepare dinner. The warmth of the home wrapped around her like a comforting blanket. D
Sophia chose 5 nice dresses and 2 pairs of shoes for her Mom. She called a nearby attendant. “Excuse me.” The attendant approached with a forced politeness. “Yes?” “Please help me with these dresses and shoes, I'll get them.” The attendant was surprised and looked at Sophia for a while before saying, “Are you sure you want to buy all of them?” It was Sophia's turn to get surprised, “Didn't I make myself clear? Of course, I want to buy them.” She was getting irritated by the services of this store. The attendant, a short woman, sneered at her, looking at her outfits before saying, “It doesn't matter what you say, but can you afford them? You should know we're busy here, Miss, don't ask for things you can't afford.” Sophia gave the other woman a cold glare before asking, raising her voice, “Are you selling to me or not?” The attendant was intimidated by her cold eyes and immediately obliged. She took the items and walked towards the counter. As Sophia followed behind, she
Sophia felt heat rush to her cheeks. She didn’t want to admit it, but the thought had crossed her mind. The price tags were enough to make her heart race.She quickly laughed it off. “Of course, I believe you! Why else would I follow you? I just think it’s better not to buy too many at once. Tomorrow, they might have even nicer dresses since fashion keeps changing.”Elena nodded thoughtfully. “You’re right, my dear. But this old woman rarely goes shopping. I spend most of my time at home.”Sophia smiled, appreciating Elena’s honesty. “Then let’s make sure today is worth it.”The young attendant chimed in. “You have such a good eye, madam. This one will look stunning on you,” she said, holding up a royal blue dress.Elena beamed. “Thank you, dear. You’re very kind.”As they moved from one section to another, their conversation flowed naturally.“So, Madam Elena,” Sophia said, holding up a soft pink dress, “do you have a favorite shopping buddy?”Elena laughed. “Oh, yes. My late husband
“Mrs. Evans did exceptionally well,” Mark said with a nod. “She impressed the panel...but...” He trailed off, looking unsure. Alexander’s sharp gaze fixed on him. “But what?” “There was one-panel member who seemed to be targeting her. I looked into it and found out something. It’s personal. She was Mrs. Evans’ senior in college and seems to have had an issue with her ever since. Most likely jealousy.” Alexander’s jaw tightened. “Make sure she doesn’t interfere with the hiring process,” he said coldly. “If she’s causing trouble, remove her. If necessary, fire her.” “Yes, boss,” Mark replied, though his eyes widened slightly at the directness of the order. “She was just standing in for her superior, so it won’t be a problem.” “That’s all for today,” Alexander said, rising from his chair and grabbing his suit jacket. Mark frowned. “Boss, what about these documents?” He gestured to the pile on the desk. Alexander threw his suit jacket over his shoulder without looking back. “
Sophia stood there for a moment, her mind filled with thoughts she couldn’t quite figure. Finally, she sighed and began wiping down the table, her heart feeling both heavy and strangely light at the same time. *** The next morning, Sophia stirred awake as the first light crept into her room. She blinked, momentarily disoriented, until she remembered what day it was. Today was significant! Her mother was finally getting discharged from the hospital. Relief flooded through her as she stretched, savoring the fleeting tranquility of the early hour. But a glance at the clock reminded her she couldn’t afford to be late. She hurried through her morning routine, tugging on a comfortable blouse and jeans before heading downstairs. Passing the large bay window, she noticed Alexander’s car was gone. A frown tugged at her lips. When does he ever sleep? she wondered. Lately, he seemed to be everywhere and nowhere at once. Shaking the thought away, she entered the kitchen to whip up a quick bre
The receptionists exchanged confused glances. Yes, they could tell the man before them wasn't an average Joe just from the aura he gave them. But they couldn't go against the company's policy.They were right, not many people knew who Alexander was except a few business associates. He wasn't in the mood to wait so he pulled out his phone and called Michael.“I’m at the reception,” he said, his voice flat when the call was answered.Michael, who was busy with his work, frowned after answering the call. Alexander has never visited his company before. Did something serious come up? Without hesitation, he rushed downstairs.The moment he spotted Alexander, who was waiting at the reception despite his impatient nature, he got furious.“What are you all doing? Don't you know who he is? The next time you make him wait, you can all forget about working here. He berated the receptionists.He then turned to Alexander and gave him a fr
The sight of Larry made Alexander’s blood boil with rage when his mind flashed back to the "woodie guy" he had been investigating. His eyes narrowed as realization struck him. It was him! He was the same person who had visited Gerald in prison, the one who had likely orchestrated his escape. And him approaching Sophia now? This was not a coincidence. He had his team investigate him and nothing crucial came up. He even sent a half-photo of this man to Michael, his trusted friend, to dig up information. And before he got any feedback, here the man was, sitting across from his wife. Alexander wanted nothing but to walk right before the guy and kill him with his bare hands. The aura around him shifted drastically but before many people could notice it, he took a slow breath, pushing down the anger that was about to consume him. By the time he started walking inside, he had already composed himself and with deliberate strides, he approached the
Back in the chairman's office, Drake Egerton leaned back in his chair and said in admiration, “But I must admit, your wife is something else. Totally different from most women out there. Most care about material things and status, but look at her, she doesn't even want people to know she’s connected to you. And worse? She refused the company. Allure Fashion is the top fashion house in the country, yet she couldn't care less.” Alexander nodded a proud smile on his face. He knew exactly the kind of woman Sophia was and that was why he couldn't resist falling in love with her. Drake smirked. “Man, you've got a gem. If I could win her, I swear I’d take her to my grandpa tomorrow and marry her the next day. I would even make her...” He suddenly stopped, sensing the shift in the air. The deadly glare from his friend sent a chill down his spine. If looks could kill, Drake would be dead by now. He shifted uncomfortably in his chai
Alexander nodded, stepping closer, trying to sound more sincere, his eyes pleading for her to believe him. “Yes, he knows. Drake isn't just an employee; he's a good friend, and I trust him. Just like Michael and Jake. Besides, we studied abroad together, so we're more like brothers. But I promise, he didn’t know anything about you until after I called him. He couldn’t have interfered with your promotion because he wasn’t involved until I made that call.” Sophia relaxed slightly, knowing they could trust Drake with their secret. Still, that didn't mean she had forgiven him; she was still angry. “You made me look like a fool there. I shared my experiences and struggles at work, and you didn't say a word. How can I trust you?” she asked quietly, still wondering what else he was hiding from her. Alexander’s shoulders slumped. He crossed the room, closing the gap between them. “I know, sweetheart. I should’ve told you sooner. I’m sorry. I will never hide a
Sophia felt her heart beat faster as every head in the meeting room turned to her. Some faces held admiration, others curiosity. Almost all the women in the room gave her an envious look. The men seemed intrigued, their eyes glancing at her with curiosity. What's it about her that had caught the chairman’s attention? And then there was Nina. Her green eyes narrowed slightly and she couldn't conceal her jealousy. She gritted her teeth and clenched her fists under the table. She had worked tirelessly in this company, but no matter how much effort she put in, she couldn't outshine Sophia even though she had joined long before her. And what made it even worse was that Sophia was not only hardworking and talented but also kind. It made it impossible to hate without looking petty. Her friend Emily, on the other hand, beamed with excitement. She nudged her with an elbow, lowering her voice. “Oh my God, Soph! What did you do to catch his at
“Well, what do you expect?” Emily grinned. “A mysterious, wealthy, young, and handsome chairman? Of course, everyone can't wait to see him. But the big question is: Is he single? I know many people are ready to try their luck.” Sophia rolled her eyes but smiled. “You included, right?” Emily waved her hand dismissively. “Please, I’m just here for fun. But who wouldn't like such a charming man?” She added, widening her eyes. “Hey don't tell me you're not interested?” Sophia shrugged her shoulders, disinterested, “No, I'll pass, but all the best. I hope you can impress him.” She was amused by how these women were behaving like school girls mesmerized by a man they hadn't even seen. Emily laughed out loud before lowering her voice, “I think someone needs luck more.” “Who?” She asked surprised. Emily motioned her head and Sophia followed. Sure enough, she saw Nina, who was checking herself out in a mirror, adju
Curious, she made her way to the front of the office, only to spot Larry standing at the reception desk, flashing her that same charming smile. Sophia blinked, surprised to see him. “What? Larry? What are you doing here?” Larry gave her a friendly smile. “I bet you're surprised. I was, too, when I heard you work here.” Sophia just looked at him quizzically as if saying that's not enough explanation. Larry added, “Well I came here to have my suite designed. I heard Allure Fashion is one of the best fashion houses in Eldridge and Kyla. Who knew you were one of their best designers.” Sophia tried to hide her surprise. “Yeah, that’s a coincidence.” Larry shrugged, unfazed. “Since you work here, I was hoping you could help me pick out something for an event I’ve got coming up.” Sophia hesitated for a moment, then nodded. It wasn’t every day a client showed up at her workplace, and besides, he had been kind t
“How long have you been in Eldridge?” Sophia asked, looking at him suspiciously. How come he knows people who are around me? Is it a coincidence? Who else will he mention next?Larry saw her suspicion and guarded expression and realized he had talked too much.He leaned back, giving her a friendly smile, taking a casual sip of his coffee.“Not so long but I have attended several events here. It's not hard to get to know famous people like Jessica Jason who's rumored as the most beautiful woman in Eldridge. Besides, even people outside of Eldridge know her.”She thought about it and figured it was indeed possible for him to know Jessica and Alexander since they were famous people in the business circle.“That makes sense. Well, do you know her personally? I just got to know her recently.”He shrugged his shoulders and said, “Of course not, I just saw her a few times, but just between us,” he said, leaning closer, “she's not as beautifu
Alexander went to his room to get some rest. He freshened up and climbed in his bed but the room and bed were so empty. He had been used to sleeping together with his wife, but now, he felt like an abandoned child, and he cursed Jessica several times. After lying down for a while, he realized he couldn't sleep. He left his room for the balcony, where he smoked several cigarettes and the blowing wind and cold night cooled him. Sophia, too, couldn't sleep; she turned around on the bed several times, but still, her mind was fogged with everything that had happened today. She knew she was at fault too. She shouldn't have overreacted and taken it out all on her husband. She got out of bed and went out of her room, descending the stairs on the way to the kitchen. She went to the fridge and took some milk. She drank slowly on the kitchen counter hoping that it would help her get some sleep. She then left the kitchen