Chapter Four

Sophia woke up to find herself in a strange room, her memory of the night before still foggy. “Where am I?” she wondered, glancing around the beautiful space she was in. The room was large and airy, the kind you’d expect in a high-end hotel or a wealthy estate. The walls were painted a soothing shade of cream, adorned with abstract art in muted gold and deep blue tones. A plush, king-sized bed with white sheets and an intricately designed headboard stood at the center.  

“How did I get here?” she muttered, feeling a sharp pain as her hand instinctively touched her head. She winced as her fingers brushed against the bandage wrapped around it.  

Her heart raced as fragments of her memory came flooding back—Ava’s betrayal, the basement, and the chilling image of a man raising a saw over her. Her breathing quickened as her eyes darted around the room. This wasn’t the basement, and she was no longer in chains.  

The sound of approaching footsteps broke through her thoughts, sending her into a panic. She darted to the bedside, grabbing a heavy glass lamp and raising it high above her head.  

The doorknob began to twist. Her pulse quickened as the door creaked open and a shadow emerged. Without hesitation, she hurled the lamp with all her might.  

Victor dodged effortlessly, the lamp shattering against the wall behind him. An impressed smirk played on his lips as he raised his eyes to her. “Good morning, Sophia. Did you sleep well?” he asked, his voice hoarse but gentle as he stepped into the room.  

His heart fluttered as he approached her. For the first time, her beautiful brown eyes were focused on him. There was something about her that had captivated him from the very beginning, a pull he couldn’t explain, now that he was closer to her, he couldn't resist it. 

Sophia, however, didn’t notice the warmth in his gaze. As he stepped closer, she instinctively took a step back, her body trembling. “Please, listen. I—I don’t know how much John is paying you, but I’ll pay you more. Double! Just don’t hurt me,” she pleaded, her voice breaking.  

Victor froze, her words cutting through him like a blade. His eyes softened slightly, the tension in his shoulders easing. “I’m not here to hurt you, Sophia,” he said, his voice steady but laced with sincerity.  

Something in the way he said her name made her heart flutter, the fear in her eyes giving way to confusion. “You’re not?” she asked cautiously, glaring at him as if trying to see into his soul.  

As she studied him, a flicker of recognition crossed her face. “You!” she exclaimed, taking a small step forward. “I remember you!”  

Victor’s heart sank. He stood still, beads of sweat forming on his forehead. He had hoped she wouldn’t remember. The only time she had ever seen him wasn’t a memory he wanted her to hold. 

Sophia took a hesitant step forward, her face curving into a smile as she spoke, "You saved my life" she blurted and Victor's brows furrowed in confusion,  "Yesterday, you saved my life"  Sophia said, she wasn't completely unconscious during the event and she remembered how well Victor fought off the man with the saw. 

"Thank you" Sophia smiled, and  Victor let out a small sigh of relief, his posture relaxing as he realized she hadn’t pieced together the bigger picture. “I’m just glad you’re okay,” he said, his own smile widening.  

Sophia hesitated, her fingers nervously brushing the bandage on her head. “I don’t even want to imagine what would’ve happened if you hadn’t shown up.” Her voice wavered slightly as she took another step closer, her brown eyes narrowing in doubt. Her smile faded as unease crept into her mind. How had he found her? Who was he? She recalled how isolated the warehouse was, its emptiness chilling.  

If the past few days had taught her anything, it was to trust no one.  

Her gaze hardened as she tilted her head, searching his face. “Why were you there? At the warehouse?” she asked, her tone cautious, bracing herself for the possibility of another trap.  

Victor hesitated, his mind scrambling for an answer. He wasn’t a practiced liar, never having needed to fabricate stories. But how could he possibly tell her the truth? That he had been in love with her for over six years, silently watching over her from a distance?  

“Right place, right time,” he finally said, forcing the words out smoothly. “I was following a lead, and it brought me there.”  

Sophia’s brow furrowed, her skepticism clear. “A lead? Are you a cop or something?”  

Victor shook his head quickly. “Not exactly,” he replied, keeping his tone firm yet evasive. “I work in private security.”  

She studied him for a moment before nodding, his explanation making sense. It would explain how he had managed to fight off her attacker so effortlessly.  

“Well, thank you…” She trailed off, waiting for him to introduce himself.  

“William,” he lied without missing a beat.  

Sophia smiled faintly. “I’m Sophia. Not that it matters, you probably already know that.”  

Victor gave a subtle nod, working hard to maintain his composure. “I might’ve heard it mentioned,” he said, keeping his tone formal, though the effort it took to suppress his attraction to her was almost unbearable.  

“Thank you, William,” she said again, her voice softer this time. “If you don’t mind, can I make a phone call? Then I’ll be out of your hair.”  

There was only one person she could think to call, her father’s lawyer. But even he seemed unreliable, as she wondered where he had been  during the years she suffered with in the hands of the smiths. 

Victor hesitated but handed her his phone. “Sure,” he said, extending it to her. As her fingers brushed his, her soft touch sent a jolt through him, his heart racing.  

“I don’t think you should go yet,” Victor blurted, unable to hold back, his words spilling out in a frantic rush. “It’s still not safe out there. The Jacksons, the people who took you, they’re dangerous. They’ll still be looking for you.”  

Sophia’s eyes widened. “They would?” she asked, her voice trembling slightly. Her heart raced as the weight of his words sank in. She couldn’t stay locked away, paralyzed by fear. She had to get back out there, reclaim her company, and make Ava and John pay.  

“Can’t I just report them to the police?” she asked, her tone laced with frustration.  

Victor shook his head, his jaw tightening. “How do you think they’ve gotten away with so many murders?”  

Sophia’s stomach twisted at his words, dread seeping into her chest.  

“Just stay here until it’s safe,” Victor urged.  

She shook her head, stepping away as her mind raced. “I can’t burden you more than I already have,” she said. “And I need to be out there. My ex-husband is probably already scheming to take over my company.”  

Her mind raced until an idea struck her. She turned back to him, her eyes narrowing. “You work security?”  

Victor nodded cautiously.  

“Like a bodyguard?” she pressed.  

After a brief pause, Victor nodded again, this time reluctantly.  

“What if I pay for your services? Can you protect me from the Jacksons and my ex-husband?”  

Victor’s expression shifted, a confident smirk forming on his lips. “I can do more than that, Sophia. I can help you get your company back.”  

Her eyes lit up, but before she could respond, he added, “But I don’t want your money.”  

She blinked, confusion flickering in her gaze. “Then what do you want?”  

Victor stepped closer, his eyes locking onto hers with an intensity that made her heart flutter. A devilish smirk curved his lips.  

“In return,” he said, his voice low, “I want you.”