Michael’s POV The engagement was a week away. I sat in my office, staring at the sleek ring box on the desk in front of me. The diamond inside was flawless much like Cindy Berlick herself. A perfect match for the life my family had carefully planned for me. I didn’t want it. I leaned back in my chair, running a hand through my hair. My mother’s voice still rang in my ears from our conversation earlier that morning. “Michael, this engagement is important for all of us,” she had said, her tone as crisp and calculated as ever. “The Berlick family’s influence will strengthen our position, and Cindy is exactly the kind of partner you need.” Partner. From the moment I was born, my marriage was destined to be a business. I never thought there was anything wrong with marrying a woman I didn't love to help the family business, as my father, my grandfather, they all did the same way. This is the way our family continues, the reason that our family business can keep expanding. “I
Sophia’s POV The notification of my day off came as a surprise. Michael rarely let me out of his grasp, even for a moment. I tried not to read too much into it, but the thought of a free day made my shoulders relax for the first time in weeks. I wasn’t used to unexpected kindness at work or anywhere, really but when Michael’s assistant informed me I had the day to myself, I didn’t question it. Instead, I texted Crystal June, my closest friend, asking if I could drop by. “Of course, come over! I’ve got snacks,” she replied almost instantly, followed by a heart emoji. Crystal and I had been friends since high school. She had always been the sunny, outgoing one, the kind of person who could make anyone feel better just by being around her. Even now, as adults, she managed to find the silver lining in everything. When I arrived at her apartment, she greeted me with a hug and a wide grin. “You look like you could use a break,” she said, ushering me inside. “You have no idea,” I m
Sophia’s POV “Sophia,” he said, his voice low and earnest. “There’s something I need to tell you.” But before he could say the words, my phone buzzed. I hesitated, glancing at the screen. Mr Mahone:Come to my apartment. Now. The words were simple, but the message was anything but. My stomach sank. Of course, it had to be now. Michael had a way of making everything feel urgent, as if his whims were the only thing that mattered. “Is everything okay?” Williams asked, concern flickering in his eyes. I swallowed hard, forcing a smile. “It’s work. I have to go.” He looked disappointed but didn’t argue. “Can I walk you home?” I shook my head quickly. “It’s fine, really. I’ll call you later.” He hesitated, then nodded, his smile tinged with sadness. “Alright. Be careful, okay?” I nodded, my chest tightening as I stood. “I will.” As I walked away, I couldn’t shake the guilt that clung to me like a second skin. Williams deserved better than this better than me. Mr Mahon
Sophia’s POV The notification buzzed on my phone early in the morning, the sound cutting through the stillness of my apartment. I rolled over in bed, dreading what I already knew I’d see. Debt Reminder:Amount overdue: 100,000$. Failure to pay may result in further action. I closed my eyes, the words searing themselves into my mind. My stomach churned, and I let out a shaky breath. This wasn’t new these reminders were constant. The creditors didn’t care about my circumstances, my struggles, or how hard I was working to stay afloat. All they cared about was the money. After a few minutes of staring at the ceiling, I forced myself out of bed. There was no point in delaying. I needed to face Lincoln Burrows, the man behind the loan company that held most of my debt. The bank was quiet that morning, the hum of machinery and hushed conversations creating a tense, sterile atmosphere. I withdrew what little I could spare from my account, my fingers trembling slightly as I stuffed th
Sophia’s POV The resignation letter felt like both a liberation and a concession. I stared at it for a long moment before finally gathering the courage to walk it over to my manager’s office. My hand was steady as I knocked on the door, though my chest felt tight with every breath. “Come in,” my manager called, her voice calm and composed. I stepped inside, the letter clutched tightly in my hand. “I’d like to submit my resignation,” I said, placing the envelope on her desk. Her brows lifted in surprise. “Sophia, are you sure about this? You’ve been an asset to the team.” I nodded, keeping my tone polite but firm. “Yes, I’ve decided it’s time for me to move on.” She sighed, glancing down at the letter before nodding. “Very well. You’ll need to complete the one-week notice period and hand over your work to your replacement.” “Of course,” I replied, offering a small smile. As I left her office, a strange sense of relief washed over me. One more week. That was all I had to
Sophia’s POV By the time I finished my shift, my arm throbbed relentlessly despite the makeshift bandage I’d applied at the restaurant. My exhaustion weighed heavily on me, both physical and emotional. As I trudged home, my phone buzzed with a call from Crystal. “Sophia,” her voice was immediately concerned. “I heard about what happened. Are you okay?” I sighed, clutching the phone tightly. “I’m fine, Crystal. It’s just a burn. I’ll take care of it.” “No, you won’t,” she replied firmly. “You’re going to the hospital. I’m picking you up in five minutes. Don’t argue with me.” True to her word, Crystal arrived in a flurry of determination, ushering me into her car and driving me to the nearest hospital. The hospital visit was quick. The doctor cleaned the burn, applied a soothing ointment, and wrapped my arm in a fresh bandage. “It’s a second-degree burn, but it should heal well if you take care of it,” the doctor explained. Crystal hovered by my side, her protective energy a
Michael’s POV When the email from the translation department landed in my inbox, I skimmed it out of habit, expecting another update. But one line stopped me cold: “Sophia Scofield has submitted her resignation and is proceeding to do her notice period for 1 week” I stared at the words, my chest tightening with an emotion I couldn’t quite place. Sophia wants to resign? The thought was laughable. She can’t resign. Not from me. I set the email aside, leaning back in my chair as irritation simmered beneath my calm exterior. Sophia had overstepped plain and simple. She thought she could walk away, that she could slip out of my grasp without consequence. That wasn’t how this worked. It wasn’t love. That was very much clear. Love was a sentiment, a weakness. It was just hard to train a woman who is compatible with me. She is my carefully cultivated kitten. I spent 5 years finally teaching her the way I like in bed. How can I let her go easily? No, Sophia leaving wasn’t an opti
Micheal’s Pov The restaurant was upscale and buzzing with activity when we arrived. Cindy greeted the hostess with her usual charm, and we were escorted to a table in the center of the room. As we sat, my eyes scanned the restaurant out of habit, taking in the polished décor, the murmurs of conversation, and the clinking of glasses. Then I saw her. Sophia. She moved gracefully between tables, balancing a tray with practiced ease. The restaurant uniform clung to her figure in a way that made my jaw tighten, and I wasn’t the only one who noticed. Several male diners turned to watch her, their gazes lingering longer than necessary. Sophia Scofield, a waitress The thought irritated me more than it should have. I had known she was resourceful, but this? This felt calculated, designed to draw attention, to provoke me. Cindy's bright laughter echoed through the restaurant, drawing attention. She tried her occasional attempts at playful conversation. But I responded with the
Sophia’s POV“Drive faster, please.”My voice was shaky, my breath uneven as I sat curled up in the back seat of the taxi. My entire body trembled, my hands gripping my lap so tightly that my nails dug into my skin.I couldn’t go home.Cindy’s men would find me. They knew where I lived. If I went back to my apartment, I would be walking straight into a trap.So there was only one place I could go.Crystal.She was the only person I trusted. The only person who had been by my side through everything.I gave the taxi driver her address, and the moment he started driving, my emotions crashed down on me like a tidal wave.My chest felt tight, my stomach twisted in knots. I replayed everything that had happened tonight, and with every passing second, my rage grew stronger.Cindy had taken everything from me.She had trapped me in that disgusting club, turned me into a stripper, humiliated me in front of strangers… and then, as if that wasn’t enough, she had tried to sell me off to a monste
Sophia’s POVFor a brief moment, I thought I had won.When I stormed off the stage, refusing to let Cindy humiliate me any further, I believed that was the end of it that they would let me go, that I had broken free from whatever twisted game she was playing.But I was wrong.So wrong.“That was quite the stunt you pulled on stage,” Cindy said, her tone slow and calculated, her sharp eyes watching me like a predator watching its prey.I clenched my fists. “I’m done, Cindy. I’m not doing this anymore.”Her smirk widened. “Oh, sweetheart. You don’t get to decide that.”I glared at her. “You can’t force me to do this.”Her eyes darkened.“I don’t need to force you, Sophia. You already signed the contract. You belong to me now.”“I don’t belong to you!” I snapped, my voice rising.She sighed dramatically, rolling her eyes. “I really hate when people make things difficult.”Then, without warning, she turned to the guards and waved a lazy hand. “Take her upstairs. She has a guest to attend
Sophia’s POVAs I stepped onto the stage, my heart pounded so loudly that it drowned out the heavy bass of the music playing in the background.Bright neon lights flashed across the room, casting shades of red and blue over the crowd. The air smelled of alcohol, sweat, and expensive cologne. The atmosphere was thick and suffocating, trapping me in a world I didn’t belong in.I wrapped my trembling fingers around the cold metal pole, my grip unsteady. My legs felt weak beneath me, and my stomach twisted painfully.I could feel hundreds of eyes on me.Watching. Waiting. Expecting.Men filled the front rows, leaning forward, their faces full of excitement. Others lounged in the VIP booths, drinks in hand, their expressions smug and predatory.Then, I saw them.Stacks of dollar bills.Being thrown at my feet. Being waved in the air. Being offered to me like I was a product for sale.A cold shiver ran down my spine.This wasn’t me.This wasn’t who I was supposed to be.I swallowed hard, tr
Sophia’s POVThe blonde-haired woman stood in front of me, arms crossed, her lips curled into a smirk.“Follow me,” she said, turning on her heels.I hesitated for a moment before forcing my legs to move. My entire body was tense, and my stomach twisted painfully as I followed her down a dimly lit hallway. The air smelled of cheap perfume, sweat, and alcohol, making it harder for me to breathe.She led me to a large room, filled with women who were practicing on poles. Some moved with effortless grace, spinning, flipping, and twirling around the metal bars as if they had been born to do this. Othersnewer ones, I assumed struggled, their hands gripping the poles shakily as they tried to mimic the more experienced dancers.The room was covered with bright red lights, casting a soft, seductive glow. A loud, bass-heavy song played in the background, setting the rhythm for the women who swayed their bodies in sync with the beat.I felt completely out of place.I didn’t belong here.This w
Sophia’s POVThe sound of my phone ringing pulled me from my restless sleep. My eyes fluttered open, and for a moment, I forgot where I was. Then reality crashed into me.The debt. Cindy. The legal action.I quickly sat up, my heart pounding as I reached for my phone. My fingers felt clumsy as I swiped to answer.“Hello?” My voice came out hoarse.“Miss Sophia?” The voice on the other end was firm and professional.“Yes?”“This is Mr. Thompson, the legal representative of the debt company. You are required to come to the office immediately to discuss the terms of the action being taken against you.”I swallowed hard. “I… I understand. I’ll be there soon.”The call ended abruptly.I sat on the edge of my bed, gripping my phone tightly. My chest felt tight, and I could feel the familiar wave of anxiety building up. This was it.Cindy wasn’t playing games anymore.I took a deep breath and forced myself to move. I couldn’t afford to waste time.The building looked even colder than before
Sophia’s POVThe sound of my phone ringing pulled me from my restless sleep. My eyes fluttered open, and for a moment, I forgot where I was. Then reality crashed into me.The debt. Cindy. The legal action.I quickly sat up, my heart pounding as I reached for my phone. My fingers felt clumsy as I swiped to answer.“Hello?” My voice came out hoarse.“Miss Sophia?” The voice on the other end was firm and professional.“Yes?”“This is Mr. Thompson, the legal representative of the debt company. You are required to come to the office immediately to discuss the terms of the action being taken against you.”I swallowed hard. “I… I understand. I’ll be there soon.”The call ended abruptly.I sat on the edge of my bed, gripping my phone tightly. My chest felt tight, and I could feel the familiar wave of anxiety building up. This was it.Cindy wasn’t playing games anymore.I took a deep breath and forced myself to move. I couldn’t afford to waste time.The building looked even colder than before
Sophia’s POVThe pain in my stomach wasn’t going away, and I was starting to panic. I didn’t know if it was because of stress, exhaustion, or something more serious. I had ignored my health for too long, and now my body was punishing me for it.I grabbed my phone with shaky hands and dialed Charles’ number. He was the only doctor I trusted. The phone rang for a few seconds before he picked up.“Hello, Sophia?” His voice was calm but concerned.“Charles… are you at the hospital?” I asked, my voice barely above a whisper.“Yes, I’m here. What’s wrong?”I took a deep breath, pressing my free hand against my stomach. “I’m having really bad stomach pain. I don’t know what’s wrong, but it’s not stopping.”There was a pause before he said, “Come to the hospital now. I’ll check on you.”I nodded, even though he couldn’t see me. “Okay. I’m on my way.”Crystal, who had been watching me the whole time, immediately stood up. “What did he say?”“He told me to come now,” I said, my voice unsteady.
Sophia’s POVMy phone buzzed, and a strange fear gripped my chest.For a moment, I didn’t want to look. I already knew what it was about. My debts. My failures.Slowly, I picked up my phone, my hands trembling. It was from Cindy.“I see you haven’t been meeting up with your debt lately. Legal actions will be taken tomorrow.”A cold shiver ran down my spine. I felt like the air had been knocked out of my lungs.This couldn’t be happening.I had tried my best. I had been paying whatever little I could, just enough to cover the interest, hoping it would buy me more time. But Cindy wasn’t willing to wait any longer.Legal actions.The words made my head spin. What did that even mean? Would they take me to court? Would they freeze my accounts? Would I be arrested?I jumped to my feet, my heart pounding. I needed to go to the debt company. I needed to beg.I rushed to my closet, pulling out the first clothes I could find. My hands were shaking so much that I struggled to put on my jeans. I
Sophia’s POVI gripped the steering wheel tightly, my heart hammering against my ribs as I drove towards Michael’s penthouse. The city lights blurred in the distance, but my mind was sharper than ever.Enough was enough.For weeks, I had endured his mood swings, his cold indifference, and his unexplained anger. But this wasn’t just about him anymore. I had to tell him the truth.I rested my hand against my stomach, barely registering the subtle changes in my body. The nausea, the fatigue all signs of life growing inside me.I needed to know where we stood.Would he accept this child? Would he push me away?Would he finally acknowledge that what we had whatever it was meant something?I shook my head. There was no point in thinking about it now. I just needed to tell him.As I reached his building, I stepped out of the car, my legs trembling slightly beneath me. The elevator ride to the penthouse felt like an eternity. My heart pounded so violently that I thought I might throw up again