Chapter 3 : The offer.

"Don't be silly. I don't want to believe you've got nothing inside that big head of yours. I don't want my father to find you here. We should think of getting you out of here before he walks inside,” She whispered. Her head is spinning already. She could barely think straight to come up with a solution.

"And I asked us not to make love here. We could have just gone to your place. Now see the mess you caused me.” She blamed Johnson for what was happening.

"Enough with the self-pity. It wasn't my fault. Don't act like you didn't want it, too. If you were so serious about this, you would have declined. But no, you jumped on the bed and consented.” he clapped back and taunted her. Leaning forward to her room door, Thompson called out again, this time, screaming out his lungs.

“Sophia, I know you're in there. Why are you not answering? I've been calling for over an hour. I need you downstairs this minute. Are you trying to play a prank on me?”

Making an indistinct chatter, Sophia ordered Johnson to go hide inside the bathroom immediately while she hid his clothes and shoes. After confirming that Johnson was out of sight, she opened the door and pretended to be asleep.

“Dad, what are you doing here? I thought you went job hunting?” Sophia yawned to convince her father, but he wasn't falling for her tricks. Somehow, Thompson felt Sophia was hiding something. Narrowing his gaze everywhere, Sophia tossed the question. “Why is your room so scattered? I've been searching for you all over the house. A thousand times I called, but not for once, did you respond? You are sweating, too. Is everything the matter?”

“Yeah, Dad. I'm doing just great. I felt a bit ill after your departure. I had to get some drugs to feel better. I guess I fell asleep immediately. I didn't even know when you got back,” she lied with a good performance.

"Are you getting better? We should take you to see a doctor,” concerned about her health status, he suggested.

"Don't worry about me. I'll be fine. Now let's talk about you. Did you get the job? You called me from a different phone. What happened to yours?” Sophia swiftly deviated from the actual discussion.

"Hmm! I see” Thompson sighed and faced the ground. He was speechless and worried. He didn't know how to explain to Sophia how he got robbed.

"Dad, what's the matter? You don't look happy. What's the problem?”

Motioning to her bed, she quietly sat down and placed his hands below his jaw. “How do I explain this to you? I've got good and bad news. I bet you're not ready to hear them,”

"What are you talking about? Your suspense is slowly ripping my soul apart. Say something, You know how much has been kept in suspense!” She flared up. She couldn't bear his prolonged silence. He stood up, held her hands, and explained everything that happened including the robbery incident and how his old friend, Duncan, lent him a loan of $1 million with the assurance of improving his life again.

"I don't even know how to react to this. First, you got robbed. Then you meet an old friend who gave you a loan of $1 million? That's absurd! It's not even adding up. Is that all? Why do I have a feeling you're hiding something? Does this loan come with a condition?” asked Sophia. From Thompson's body language, she could discern he's got a skeleton in his cupboard.

Aside from losing his phone and cash to a robbery, Thompson doesn't seem so excited talking about the huge sum Duncan gave him. He still can't get the robbery off his head.

"I guess I have to tell you already. You deserve to know the truth,”

"What damn truth are you talking about?” Sophia's nostrils flared up. She was eager and impatient to hear what Thompson had to say.

"I, erm...erm. Gosh! How do I do this?” He stammered and disclosed to Sophia that as part of the loan repayment condition, she'd be getting married to Duncan's billionaire Son, Fabio, in a contract marriage that would last for 5 years. Thompson also revealed the vow he made with Duncan while they were little.

Johnson covered his mouth to avert a scream. He couldn't believe his ears as he eavesdropped on the conversation from the bathroom where he did. Boiling in rage and disgust, the question that plagued his mind was. “Why is her father so cruel? I can't give up without a fight. I can't watch and do nothing while Sophia is forcefully taken away from me. That's never going to happen,” vowed Johnson. Deep down, he wanted to come out of his hiding place and punch Thompson in the face, but he decided to halt until Thompson was out of Sophia's room.

“Dad, Tell me this is one of your pranks and I'll believe you. How can you even stand in front of me and say those words, knowing they would hurt me? Are you aware I'm in a serious relationship with Johnson? Dad, I'm disappointed. I don't even know this guy. How do I love someone I haven't met yet? Does that even make sense to you? You could have done better,” Sophia wailed. She felt betrayed and humiliated that her father would choose her over material things.

"Don't you dare talk back to me? Who gives a damn about love? Just give it time. You'll grow to love him. When I met your mother, she never loved me. She even hated me the first time. But when she started developing feelings for me, I craved more. You're going to get married to his son and that's final. I guess you're not too young to become an orphan, right?” Sounding the threat, Thompson hinted at what was like a suicide note.

"Dad, please stop that. You're beginning to make this sound like a death wish. I love Johnson so much and that's it. We've come a long way to quit now. Breaking up with him means committing suicide. It's Johnson or no one. He might not be rich now, but I'm pretty he's got a bright future, at least better than someone I don't even know,” she yelled at her father and was rewarded with a thunderous slap.

"You will obey as my Father. This is our only escape route from poverty. Johnson has got nothing to offer. Can't you see? Wake up and smell the coffee. I'll be stepping out to get some things. Make your decision now. I may be forced to disown if you chose to go against my orders. Is that understood?” Thompson angrily slammed the door and exited. Sophia had to go check the house a few minutes after to confirm his departure. She got so engrossed in her thoughts and forgot about Johnson hiding in the bathroom.

"I heard everything! I don't wanna talk about it now. You've had a rough day. I wish to go home now,” Johnson frowned, and he motioned out from the bathroom majestically and got dressed. Sophia was speechless and shivered. She couldn't move closer to Johnson, knowing how hot-tempered he was. Right in front of her, he exited the house without saying goodbye.

*********************

It was 2:45 pm at the Duncan's Mansion and the night was still serene and reenergized.

"Son, you don't even have anyone in your life right now, do you?  And I hope you do not consider making Nikki your wife?” Duncan reaffirmed and left Smith in astonishment. Everything seemed to be happening so fast.

"But … .but I'm not inclined to marry. Besides, I don't even love this so-called Sophia. Dad, for goodness’ sake, we are not in the old days. How do I even explain this to Nikki, my girlfriend?” Fabio yelled at his Dad as the two almost came to blows.

"You've got less than 9 days to walk down the aisle with Sophia, or consider yourself excommunicated from the family's inheritance. I'll shift all your inheritance to your younger brother, Felix. He's more of a man than you'll ever be. Just look at you. You're nothing but a complete disappointment to the family. Your brother is more than a complete man than you can ever become. I just wish your mom was…”

"Oh, don't you dare speak ill of my mom? Take her name out of your mouth.” He fumed at his Dad and was rewarded with a thunderous slap.