Michael’s POV The private jet touched down smoothly, and the cabin crew moved efficiently to prepare for disembarkation. I had spent the past week in grueling meetings and negotiations, and all I wanted was the comfort of my home or, at least, the closest thing I could call home. Cindy hadn’t even texted to check on me. Then again, I hadn’t reached out to her either. Our so-called relationship was a transactional nightmare, and the less we spoke, the better. I sent Theo a quick message as the plane taxied to a stop: “Meet me at the airport.”Theo replied immediately: “Okay, sir.”The drive from the airport was uneventful, though Theo did his best to update me on the office happenings during my absence. I only half-listened, my mind drifting to thoughts of Sophia. I hadn't seen her for days, but her absence from the office had been noticeable. For the first time, I realized just how much her presence anchored me. The way she stood up to me, even when she was scared, was som
Cindy’s POVI received the text from Mrs. Mahone just before noon. The screen lit up with her name, and my heart skipped a beat. She rarely texted me directly unless it was for something important or, in this case, something that likely required damage control. "Cindy, meet me at Delicieux at 7 PM. We need to talk. Come alone." The message was curt, and it made my stomach churn. Ever since Michael had stormed out of the house after our last argument, things had felt unsteady. Now, his mother, one of the most powerful figures in our social circle, is summoning me for a private dinner. It could only mean one thing: she was furious. I didn’t take any chances with my appearance. Mrs. Mahone appreciated elegance and sophistication, and if there was one thing I knew, it was how to play the part of a perfect fiancée. I chose a sleek black dress with a high slit and paired it with diamond earrings and a pearl necklace. My makeup was flawless, just enough to accentuate my features witho
Sophia’s POVThe past few days had been a lot for me, but today felt particularly off. My body was heavy with fatigue, and every little sound seemed to reverberate through my head like a drum. It wasn’t the usual exhaustion from late nights working or dealing with Michael’s unpredictable temperament. This was different. I stopped by the pharmacy on my way to the office to pick up some over-the-counter malaria medication. I convinced myself it was probably just a mild fever or stress-induced fatigue. The last thing I needed was to let my health interfere with my work, especially when Michael was just returning from his business trip. By mid-morning, I was barely holding it together. My head throbbed, and waves of nausea rolled through me relentlessly. I kept sipping water, trying to ease the sensation, but it only got worse. Just as I was reviewing some reports at my desk, the smell of Laura’s overly strong coffee wafted over. That was it. I rushed to the restroom, holding my h
Michael’s POVThe sun was setting, casting long shadows across the polished marble floors of La Belle Étoile, as I adjusted my cufflinks and entered the restaurant. I had reluctantly arranged this dinner after my mother’s earlier call, knowing exactly what she wanted to discuss. “Michael,” she had said in her no-nonsense tone, “Cindy has been patient enough. I’ve fixed the date for your wedding. It will be in two weeks.” My grip tightened on the phone, but I didn’t interrupt. “We need to discuss the arrangements. Dinner at eight,” she concluded, leaving no room for argument. I respected my mother, but this wasn’t something I could let slide. Marrying Cindy was out of the question, no matter how much she insisted. Still, I agreed to meet her, knowing I’d have to tread carefully. I chose the restaurant deliberately. La Belle Étoile was quiet, private, and exactly the kind of place my mother preferred. I arrived early, claiming a secluded table in the back. When she walked in
Sophia's POV I had just returned to my desk from a particularly tiring morning when Laura, ever the office gossip, leaned over my cubicle with a sly grin. “So, have you heard the big news?” she asked, her voice dripping with the kind of malice disguised as curiosity that only Laura could muster. I barely looked up, uninterested in whatever tidbit she was peddling. “I’m busy, Laura,” I muttered, flipping through some files. “Oh, but you’ll want to hear this,” she continued, ignoring my tone. “It’s about Mr. Mahone.” At the mention of Michael’s name, I froze for a moment. I cursed myself inwardly for reacting, but my hands stopped moving, and I knew Laura noticed. She smiled triumphantly. “The wedding date has been set. Two weeks from now, Cindy and Michael will tie the knot. Isn’t that exciting?” The words hit me like a punch to the gut. For a moment, I couldn’t breathe. My mind swirled with disbelief, denial, and something I hated to admit heartbreak. “Two weeks?” I mana
Michael's POV The moment I watched the clip Sophia sent me, everything fell into place. The doubts I had, the lingering unease, and the whispers I’d ignored,it all made sense now. The clip was identical to what Theo had tried to show me days ago, but I had brushed him off. Cindy, the woman my mother had begged me to forgive, was parading around town with no remorse. She wasn’t just manipulative; she was bold about it. Laughing in public about how she had me trapped in this sham of a wedding, leveraging my family’s reputation and my mother’s expectations. Anger surged through me, but beneath that was something worse,disgust. At her, yes, but also at myself. How had I let it get this far? Without hesitation, I texted Sophia: "Meet me in my office at 9 AM tomorrow. We need to talk."I needed to see her. I needed her to confirm that what I felt in my gut was true,that Cindy didn’t belong in my life and that I wasn’t the villain Cindy painted me to be. I waited in my office, the
Micheals pov The minute I left Sophia's house, I felt like the world was crumbling beneath my feet, my chest was heavy and my mind was spinning with everything I had just seen.Sophia in William's arm, the way she had looked at me defensively, upset but also done I couldn't shake the feelings that maybe I had lost her already.As I drove through the city Aimlessly, the idea of going home felt unbearable, the Mahone mansion, the penthouse, even my office all of it seemed suffocating.I needed to be somewhere loud, somewhere chaotic where I could drown my own thoughts.I ended up at the nightlife, a night club I haven't been to for years. It was the kind of place I like alot, dim light, loud music and different kinds of faces you would never see again.The bouncer recognized me immediately, he gave me a respectful nod before letting me in without saying a word.Immediately I stepped in, the bass of the music vibrated through my chest, shortly increasing the ache I was carrying.I went
Sophia's POV The office was different immediately, I stepped in that morning, it wasn’t the normal activity or the noise of keyboards that caught me off,It was Michael. The energy he carried into a room, he commanded respect without even trying. I looked at his office door as I passed by, half-hoping to catch his eye or receive a slight nod of acknowledgment. Instead, I saw him sitting at his desk, his posture was stiff and his expression very null. He focused on his laptop, and didn’t even look up. Something was wrong. Throughout the morning I tried not to think of the heavy feelings in my chest, I told myself that he was just having a bad day.Maybe his business trip had taken a toll on him, But when I finally gathered the courage to knock on his office door and enter inside, I admitted it was more than just a bad day. “Michael,” I said, in a steady calm voice “can we talk?” He didn’t look up. “If it’s about work, go ahead.” “It’s not just about work,” I said. “I want
Michael’s POVI sat in my office, swinging slightly in my chair, feeling the weight of everything crash down on me.The silence was deafening.I reached into my drawer and pulled out the small, velvet box that had been sitting there for weeks.Slowly, I flipped it open, my eyes locking onto the expensive diamond ring inside.It wasn’t just any ring.I had handpicked it for Sophia, making sure it was as unique and breathtaking as she was.The center stone was a rare, flawless blue diamond, cut into a perfect oval shape, glistening under the office lights. Surrounding it were smaller white diamonds, intricately set in a platinum band, crafted with the finest details.It was elegant. Luxurious. Timeless.Just like her.I ran my thumb over the smooth surface of the ring, my chest tightening.This was supposed to be for her.For the woman who had somehow broken through my walls, the woman who made me feel things I never thought I could feel.But I had been too late.She didn’t love me back
Sophia’s POVI woke up to the sound of the city outside my window, the faint hum of traffic, distant honking, and people moving through their morning routines. But none of it mattered.Not today.I lay in bed, staring at the ceiling, my mind swirling with thoughts.Should I go to work today?Should I just quit and walk away from everything?Would it even matter?Everything felt so pointless.Cindy’s words from yesterday were still playing in my head.“Guess what? He has agreed to marry me so your debt can go away.”“I knew he never liked you anyway. He just likes what’s in between your legs, slut.”My stomach twisted at the thought.Michael had lied.All those moments of kindness, the quiet intimacy, the way he made me feel safe lthey had all been meaningless.He was choosing Cindy.iHe was done with me.I sighed and rolled onto my side, trying to convince myself that I didn’t care.But I did.More than I wanted to admit.A few hours later, as I was still lying in bed, debating whethe
Sophia’s POVI sat on the couch in Michael’s penthouse, my legs curled beneath me, staring at nothing in particular.For the past few days, I had been trying to find peace, trying to convince myself that things were getting better.Michael had been caring, more than I ever expected him to be. He had even apologized to me for his behavior after Paris.That should have meant something, right?But the moment my phone buzzed, I knew peace was temporary.I reached for my phone and checked the notification.It was a text from Cindy.I frowned and clicked on it.Cindy:I thought Michael loved you. Guess what? He has agreed to marry me so your debt can go away. That is so sweet of him.I knew he never liked you anyway. He just likes what’s in between your legs, slut.I froze.My hands shook as I read the text again.And again.And again.My chest tightened, and a wave of nausea washed over me.Michael… agreed to marry Cindy?Was that what he went to discuss with her?Was that why he came back
Michael’s POVAfter giving Cindy a piece of my mind, I stood up and left the restaurant, my head spinning with frustration.She was completely insane if she thought I would ever agree to her ridiculous demand.Marry her for 25 years?What kind of delusional fantasy was she living in?I clenched my jaw, gripping the steering wheel tightly as I drove toward my penthouse, my mind racing.No matter how much I tried to push it aside, Cindy’s words echoed in my head.“You claim you love her, but you can’t even pay her debt.”I gritted my teeth.She was wrong.It wasn’t about not wanting to help Sophia it was about Cindy making it impossible.She refused a down payment. She refused negotiation.She wanted complete control over me.But I would rather burn in hell than let that happen.When I arrived at the penthouse, I parked the car and walked inside, heading straight to the bar.I needed a drink.As I poured myself a glass of whiskey, I pulled out my phone and called Theo.A few minutes lat
Michael’s POVThe tension in the restaurant was thick, suffocating.Cindy sat across from me, swirling her wine lazily, her perfectly manicured fingers tapping against the glass.I had given her one simple demand cancel Sophia’s debt.But, of course, Cindy was Cindy.She always had to make things difficult.Her eyes glimmered with amusement as she crossed her legs and leaned back into her chair.“You will cancel the debt, Cindy.” My voice was firm, cold, unwavering.She let out a mocking laugh. “I will do no such thing, Michael.”I clenched my jaw as she picked up her glass and took a slow sip, as if this entire situation was nothing more than a game to her.“It has to be paid for, Michael. I don’t care about what you’re talking about.” She set the glass down and gave me a pointed look. “Sophia has to find a way to pay that debt.”I exhaled sharply, keeping my rage in check.“Why don’t you pay it then?” Cindy raised an eyebrow, tilting her head. “Since you want to be her superhero so
Michael’s POVThe moment Sophia left my office with Theo, I pulled out my phone and sent Cindy a text.Meet me in an hour. I’ll send you the location.I didn’t wait for her reply before grabbing my coat and heading out. I had no patience left. Cindy had crossed a line, and I wasn’t about to let her walk away unpunished.This wasn’t about revenge.It was about control.And I needed to remind Cindy who was in charge.The restaurant I chose wasn’t overly fancy, but it was private. A quiet place where no one would interfere.I arrived exactly on time, settled into a booth near the back, and ordered a drink.Then, I waited.And waited.And waited.Thirty minutes passed.Then an hour.And Cindy still wasn’t here.I checked my watch, my patience wearing thin.1 hour and 30 minutes.I gritted my teeth and exhaled sharply.She was playing games.Just as I was about to walk out, the restaurant door swung open.Cindy strutted in, her heels clicking loudly against the floor.She was dressed in a
Michael’s POVRage.It burned through my veins like wildfire, consuming every rational thought I had left.I stood there, fists clenched, my breathing slow and controlled but inside, I was on the verge of exploding.Cindy.That disgusting excuse for a woman.She had trapped Sophia, humiliated her, and tried to break her.And the worst part?I didn’t even know.I had been so caught up in my own bullshit that I never noticed what was happening right under my nose.Sophia had suffered.She had been pushed to the edge, left alone to deal with a storm that she should have never faced alone.And now, standing in front of me, she looked so… tired.So exhausted from all the running, all the hiding.She deserved better.And for the first time in a long time I realized how badly I had failed her.I exhaled sharply, running a hand through my hair.Then, in a voice quieter than before, I said, “I’m sorry.”Sophia looked up at me, her eyes wide with surprise.I held her gaze. “I’m sorry for what y
Sophia’s POVThe silence in Michael’s office was thick, suffocating.My pulse raced as he stood in front of me, his eyes burning with an intensity that made my stomach twist into knots.I could still hear the echo of his last words ringing in my head.“Where the fuck have you been, Sophia?”I had been too scared to answer.Too overwhelmed to speak.But nowMichael moved.He turned sharply toward his desk, grabbed a remote control, and pressed a button.I frowned, confused, until I heard the soft hum of the projector.I turned my head just in time to see the big screen on the wall flicker to life.And thenMy world crashed.The moment the video started playing, I felt my blood turn to ice.No. No, no, no.On the screen there I was.Standing under the blinding neon lights of Miami Underhills.Dressed in nothing but a bikini and bra.I gripped the pole, my hands visibly shaking, my entire body tense and awkward.The men in the crowd cheered, throwing money at my feet, their faces filled
Sophia’s POVThe warm steam from the shower still clung to my skin as I stepped out of the bathroom, wrapping a towel around myself.I felt exhausted.The events of the past few days had drained me mentally, emotionally, and physically.But for the first time in what felt like forever, I had a moment of peace.Crystal had prepared a simple lunch just some rice and chicken and I could already smell the spices floating through the air.“Hurry up, Sophia!” Crystal called from the kitchen. “Come and eat before it gets cold!”I smiled slightly, grateful for her.She was the only one who had been there for me, the only one who hadn’t judged me or treated me like I was worthless.I quickly dried my skin, slipped into a pair of sweatpants and a t-shirt, and walked out to join her.Just as I reached for my plateBANG! BANG! BANG!A loud, aggressive knock echoed through the apartment.I froze.Crystal’s eyes met mine across the table, her face instantly tensing.“Who is that?” she asked cautiou