CHAPTER 24.SOPHIEI woke up the next morning to missed calls from Vincenzo. I wasn't awake when he called, but I'm glad I wasn't there to pick it up. I didn't want to talk to him yet; I was still preoccupied with thoughts of how Jenny would react to this news. My heart raced with different thoughts, and I couldn't help but hope that she'd understand what really happened. It was beyond me; I couldn't do anything to reverse the tides.My heart kept beating nonstop each time I dialed her number and she didn't pick up. Each call went unanswered, and I clenched my fists in frustration. I made my way to the kitchen and quickly made some scrambled eggs and sausages. I ate breakfast before preparing for work. I made sure to store Jenny's portion in the microwave; I'm pretty sure she's at a club drinking herself into a stupor. I hope she gets a better deal and a brighter future in the face of a bigger and better opportunity.A few minutes later, I pulled up to Jerald Magazine and parked my ca
CHAPTER 25 VINCENZO My lips pursed, and a wide grin spread across my face, my eyes sparkling with joy as I watched her quickly leave my office.A cute little kitten. I could see the fear in her eyes about anyone catching us here and then seeing me spanking her. It sounded quite funny.I walked to the mirror, adjusted my clothes, and then headed down to where the shoot was happening. I pumped my fists as I walked, thrilled with excitement about the shoot.This isn't normal. In fact, everything isn't normal; she is changing me in such a short time. Coming to work every day? I don't usually do that. I just sit in my club all day, visit my debtors, and then come back at night to count the money the girls made on the pole.Being excited about a shoot? I don't usually do that either. I smack the faces of those cameramen whenever the flash goes off in my face. I shoved the thoughts out of my mind and quickly hastened my steps to the hall. When I got there, Sophie was already there; the
CHAPTER 26.SOPHIE.The chirping of birds and sunlight streaming through the window woke me from my slumber.Sitting up in bed, I tugged at my eyes, trying to ward off the remaining sleepiness.I needed to get to work quickly when I suddenly paused, noticing my surroundings.It looked really familiar, but I couldn't quite remember where I was. How did I get here? The last thing I remembered was resting in Vincenzo's office.My eyes narrowed as I glanced at the table, the interior decor, and the clothes hanging in the wardrobe.Those clothes belonged to him. He must have brought me back here.I let out a deep sigh. I must have been too tired to even notice that I had been moved.That shoot was quite stressful. It was my first major job for a big cover, and even though I knew it was worth it, I also knew it was the most stressful thing I had ever done in my life—except for marrying that asshole Leo.The changing of outfits, makeups, wigs, and shoes? I heaved a deep sigh.I fell back ont
CHAPTER 26 SOPHIE I exhaled sharply, a gasp escaping my lips. “Why are you picking on me?” I asked, my hands on my cheeks.“What?” She stared coldly at me. “I'm only trying to discipline you for Master. You need to learn manners, and that is my job here.”I raised an eyebrow, still in disbelief while my cheeks burned in pain.But then again, where are you rushing to? Has Master gotten bored of you so quickly that he sent you away?” They both burst out laughing.I swallowed hard, refusing to fall into their bait. This isn't the fucking time, Sophie, I reminded myself. Making a scene with these crazy psychos will only alert Vincenzo that I was leaving his estate without telling him.I ignored her and tried to walk out again, but the other woman rushed to the front, blocking my way.“And where do you think you're going, huh?” she snarled. “Didn't she tell you that you can't walk away from her?”I scoffed, looking away, my fists clenched at my sides as I tried to control my emotions.Th
CHAPTER 27.SOPHIE “Jenny!” My eyes went wide with disbelief. I tucked my wet hair behind my back. “What happened?”“Get the fuck out of my house, you ingrate!” she accused, her voice laced with rage. “I don't ever want to see you near my home. If I see you near my house, I will call the police!”My jaw almost dropped to the floor at her choice of words and sudden change of character. I stood there, a wave of shock washing over me as I watched my friend of two decades hurl insults at me.I stood frozen in front of the door, her words cutting deep into my heart.I couldn't quite wrap my head around what must have triggered such an outburst from her. I couldn't believe what I was hearing—my confidante and best friend, the keeper of my deepest secrets, was now standing in front of me, her eyes blazing with anger and hatred."You're an ungrateful, selfish, and manipulative bitch!" Jenny spat, her voice venomous. "You think you're so perfect, don't you? You think you're so much better tha
CHAPTER 26 VINCENZOI jolted awake when I heard the ringing tone of my phone, a sound that was only associated with my family. It could only be my mother, father, or sisters, or perhaps the janitors who worked with us. I quickly stood up and reached for the phone, answering the call. I yawned, trying to wipe the sleep from my eyes. Since the heavy downpour started, I had been asleep; the shoot had been quite stressful.“How could you?” My sister's cold voice vibrated through the speakers of the phone.Her tone was icy, and I could feel her rage from a mile away. I froze, a chill running down my spine.Knowing Rosa, I could easily tell from the way she spoke that things were really bad. She is the second youngest sister; I’m quite a bit older than she is, and she usually respects me, regardless of our family ties. I wondered what was wrong. Was she speaking to someone else in the background, or was it really me she was upset with?I shook my head inwardly. Perhaps she wanted to call
CHAPTER 29.SOPHIE.My heart raced uncontrollably, and my hands trembled as he turned his face toward me.It was Leo! My heart skipped a beat when our eyes met, and I gulped, unable to speak. Tension coursed through my body, and I shivered involuntarily, my feet now planted on the car seat as I hugged myself, trying to shield away from the monster.“Hey, sweetheart,” Leo said with a smile. I shook my head in disbelief. No, this must be a dream. It can't be real. I am not his sweetheart.I couldn't process how he had found me or how he knew I was staying at Jenny's place. This couldn't be a coincidence; it felt like a deliberate act. A chill ran down my spine as I sat there, watching him smile at me with a sinister expression.“Adele misses you so much,” he began, and a lump formed in my throat. “What kind of mother leaves her daughter for so long without any promise of coming back, huh?”My body froze, panic racing through my mind. How did he...? Why was he...?I tried to speak, but m
CHAPTER 31VINCENZO I can't quite figure out if I'm more angry that she betrayed me or that I stupidly trusted her so easily.She promised to keep it to herself and not say anything during the interview, only for her to sell out the information.“Vin, do you have anyone in mind?” Niko asked, concerned.I just sighed. I know who it is. It’s Sophie who betrayed my trust. The only ones who knew about my family were Niko, Scott, and Mrs. Hills. I know they would never talk about my family to the media. They have been working for over two decades and would never do anything like that.So all fingers point to my little kitten I’m beginning to get used to.“No,” I said, turning away from him. “I don't know who did this. I need you to take down the news immediately and shut down whatever news station birthed the rumors.”Niko gave a shaky nod and left. Right now, I need to be alone and think thoroughly about what to do next.It might look like a minor case right here, but it's a major one. N
CHAPTER 83 SOPHIE. My body tensed up, and my muscles turned rigid with fear. When his hands ran around my shoulders again, I shivered. I wondered who the hell he was. He wasn't just a mere Robert. Something wasn't adding up. How did he know Vincenzo so well, or was he just trying to guess, perhaps just a coincidence? “What do you think, dear?” He finally let me go and proceeded to sit back in front of me. I felt a deep wave of relief wash over me. I took the opportunity to drag my seat back and pushed myself forward, forcing my feet to stand even if my legs were now shaky. I felt a chill run down my spine, raising the hairs on the back of my neck. “With all due respect, sir, like I said earlier, I'm not interested,” I reminded him. Letting out a sigh, I moved to walk out. “If you'll excuse me, I would love to leave.” “Not so quickly, Sophie.” He jerked up from his chair and quickly made his way to me. “Come on, why are you suddenly acting tough, huh? Vincenzo can hit, and I can't
CHAPTER 82 SOPHIE I still can't believe that Robert tried to come all up on me. For a second, I thought he was a responsible guy with the way he stood up for me against Emma. Asshole! Did he really ask me to come bounce on his dick? Ewww! It was time to go home, and I packed up my things, ready to cruise in my new car. I was no longer staying in the company's lounge; I would be living in a short-let apartment down the street until I was able to scout for a house. Staying in the company lounge had always been a hassle with the crowd of coworkers who had just moved in. I love my space, and staying there only made my space public. Once I was done, I picked up my car keys and made my way to the garage to get my car and drive back home. From afar, I could hear the sound of a car engine. When I looked, it was Robert. He revved his car before driving out of the lane and taking a U-turn to head toward the gate. Unlike every other day when he was done with work, he stopped at my desk to giv
CHAPTER 81 SOPHIE The tension in the room was palpable. I could feel the atmosphere shift from what it was a few minutes ago, and right now I couldn't tell why I didn't feel very comfortable drinking with Robert. Aside from the fact that I knew Emma would go around spreading different stupid rumors, I just felt like Robert wasn't really genuine. I love to come to my job and do what I have to do. Once I'm done, I leave and don't get into a personal relationship with my boss or even my colleagues.I stayed still, sipping my wine silently. The only sound that could be heard was that of the wine pouring down Robert’s throat. He flashed me a smile and dropped his cup on the table. “I didn't know you were going to smash it so easily. How is it with Vincenzo? I have heard a lot of tales about him, and I'm surprised he had such a good sense of humor when you were interviewing him. Is there anything you think I should know?”I raised my brows. “I don't get you, sir?”He chuckled. “Come on, S
CHAPTER 80SOPHIE Someone like Emma calling me a whore is quite diabolical.I mean, that is her profession. She does that for a living. I see what she wears to get Robert’s attention, just like she was screwing our former boss, and now she stands in front of me accusing me of whoring myself out to get a BMW?Such a clumsy bitch. I just rolled my eyes and chose not to engage with her. I wouldn't give her the satisfaction of seeing me riled up. I'm just a new car owner. I will let broke bitches holler. That is the best they can do. Barking dogs don’t bite.“What?” she scoffed. “You can’t speak anymore? Cat got your tongue now, huh?”“Go on, bitch! Speak! I see you have no evidence to refute my claims,” she snarled, and I just rolled my eyes.Soon, the door creaked open, and it was Robert. Every staff member quickly returned to their tasks, scurrying back to their respective seats now that the CEO was here. Emma, on the other hand, forced a smile and leaned in close to my desk like she
CHAPTER 79 SOPHIE “Hello, are you missing Sophie?” One of the airport workers walked up to me and asked as I alighted from the jet.I stopped scrolling through my phone to find an Uber and turned to him. “Yes, I'm Sophie. Any problems?”Before he spoke, I refocused on my phone, searching for the closest Uber from the airport to my workplace. I just knew Emma wouldn't spare me if I dared to show up late today. She hadn't seen me for seven consecutive days, and I'm sure her patience was wearing thin.That clueless bitch!“Ma'am, your car is parked that way,” the young man said, pointing to the garage. My eyes followed his gesture, and I saw a covered car. I gulped before turning back to him.“I’m sorry I could have come out earlier, but I was a little busy and didn’t notice when you dropped off. Mr. Vincenzo said you have the keys; I’m going to open it up for you now.”For a moment, it felt like I was in a fairy tale. My face lit up with excitement as I approached the car, and the man
CHAPTER 78VINCENZOI know something is wrong, but she isn’t willing to speak to me about it. After she went upstairs, her attitude and everything changed. When we came into the party, she was very much excited. What changed?I tried to talk to her in the car, but she wasn't even listening. Her mind was elsewhere. It hurt to see my kitten this way. Just when I thought I had gotten her back, now there’s a last-minute misunderstanding. She keeps saying it’s about work, but I know that it isn’t. Sophie is a resilient woman, and everything that happens at work would never affect her daily life or ruin her mood.It was at the party. I'm sure of it. I’m a hundred percent certain that something went down at the party, and I can't wait to call my mother and ask her if she knows any of the people who met Sophie and what they said to her that made her feel this way. But for now, I wanted to make sure I gave her the new car keys. After our misunder
CHAPTER 77SOPHIE I walked out with my heart pounding in my chest. I took the stairs, walking very fast as if scared she might be trailing me. I barely even knew her or her name to explain what she had just told me. For now, I couldn't stop to think about what she said. All I could think of was getting the hell out of this party. I didn't feel like staying anymore; I just wanted to leave. It seemed like the majority of the guests were psychos. I took the hallway leading to the elevator, and after a few minutes, it beeped. I pressed the button, waiting patiently for it to slide open. Once it did, I made my way out. On reaching downstairs, where the main party was happening, I met Vincenzo. He quickly approached me with a concerned look. “What happened, Sophie? I’ve been looking for you all over the place. Did you get lost coming down here?”I shook my head and forced a smile. “No, I didn’t. I just stopped to use the restroom; that was all that to
CHAPTER 76SOPHIE I forced a smile, turning to Vincenzo, and he nodded, giving me the go-ahead to follow his mother. My heart skipped a beat as I followed her. She held tightly to my hand as she navigated through the crowd of guests, and finally, we were in the hallway. She let me go and heaved a deep sigh of relief."Have you met Foxy?" she asked, and I nodded."Yes, ma'am. I met her a few minutes ago, and we exchanged pleasantries."She nodded and flashed me a smile before we continued. I couldn't really tell where she was taking me. It felt like I was now part of the family with the way they were welcoming me in. For the next couple of minutes, we walked down a large, straight hallway, and then we finally arrived at the large lounge on the right. Once we got there, she pushed the door open, and a deep wave of nervousness washed over me when I saw the crowd inside.It looked like there was another party happening in there. I couldn't quite figure out what was going on. The next min
CHAPTER 75.SOPHIE The world seemed to pause. The room fell into a heavy silence, broken only by gasps. Vincenzo wasn’t lying; everyone was holding their breath as they stared at me. I froze for a moment, his eyes piercing into mine—both shocked and amused.“Oh my goodness!” The MC’s voice snapped everyone back to the stage. “That was spectacular! Is there anyone who can do better than this?”He looked around before continuing, “Okay then, it’s sold to the damsel sitting over there.”The room erupted into applause, and I felt a thrilling twist of excitement in my stomach. It felt exhilarating to have so many eyes on me, and bargaining at the auction was thrilling.But Vincenzo's face twisted into a frown as he leaned closer. “You’re making a lot of people aware of who you are. Right now, I feel like punishing you!”I smiled and rolled my eyes. “Go ahead and do it. I want to be punished for acting like a child.”He scoffed and looked away for a moment before grabbing my arm. “Let’s go