“Stop it!” Sophia shouted, her voice muffled by the flour coating her face. She tried to shield herself with her hands, but the assault continued, relentless and humiliating.The leader stepped forward, his sneer turning into a menacing grin. “You think you can just walk into the limelight and not face any consequences? Think again.”Sophia’s mind raced. She had to get out of there. She turned to run, but the group blocked her path, closing in like a pack of wolves.“I told you we have a message to deliver to you, don't just scurry off without hearing it” The leader said.Sophia squared her shoulders, trying to muster any semblance of courage she had left. “What message? Why are you doing this?”The leader smirked, taking another step closer. “We want to remind you of your place. You might think you’ve hit the jackpot with Alexander, but people like you don’t belong in our world. Stay out of the spotlight, or things will get worse.” Sophia’s heart pounded in her chest. She realized t
Alexander’s eyes narrowed. “Madison Pierce? Are you certain?”“Yes,” Ethan replied. “I traced the payment to a shell company connected to her. The gang members also admitted, under pressure, that they were paid to send a message to Sophia.”Alexander slammed the folder shut, his anger boiling over. “Why would Madison do this?”Ethan sighed. “It appears she’s jealous and feels threatened by Sophia. Madison has been trying to force her way into your life, and when she saw Sophia as a potential obstacle, she decided to act.”Alexander clenched his fists. “This is unacceptable. She put Sophia in danger.”Ethan nodded. “I suggest you take action quickly, Alex. Madison won’t stop unless she’s confronted and dealt with.”Alexander stood up, his mind racing. “I’ll handle it. Thank you, Ethan.”Ethan gave a curt nod. “I’ll keep monitoring the situation. If anything changes, I’ll let you know immediately.” ***************Sophia called in sick at work, grateful
****************Alexander settled into his bed, having rushed through his nightly routine and skipped dinner altogether. Frustration from the evening’s events weighed heavily on him. As he lay in the dimly lit room, staring at the ceiling, his thoughts churned relentlessly.‘Was this really Sophia's plan from the beginning?’ he mused, his mind racing with doubts and suspicions. He wondered if she had been paid to sabotage him, and if that was the case, how had her mysterious benefactor known about his plan to propose the contract? The thought gnawed at him, making sleep an elusive prospect.The necklace Sophia had worn that evening was an amulet his mother had once owned, a family heirloom imbued with sentimental value. He had given it to the first and only girlfriend he had ever dated, Bridget, during their brief but intense relationship. His father had arranged the relationship, a strategic move in the world of hig
******************Sophia dried her hair with a towel as she walked out of her bathroom, the cool air of the apartment a stark contrast to the steamy warmth she had just left. Her phone dinged, indicating a new text message. She picked it up, a flicker of hope sparking inside her. Alexander had finally replied to her message.She had called him several times, each unanswered ring deepening her anxiety. Frustrated, she had resorted to sending him a long text, explaining everything about the mysterious parcel and the necklace. Now, she anxiously opened his message, her heart pounding.‘I don't want to have anything to do with you anymore, Miss Bennett. Our contract will be broken off. I will send the legal paperwork to your mail.’ Sophia’s heart sank. She would have been relieved to end the tumultuous relationship if it weren't for the money she desperately needed. She had just sent almost all of her savings to Camelia
******************Sophia sat anxiously on her couch, her phone clutched tightly in her hand. She had sent Alexander the picture of the package as proof, but hours had passed, and still, there was no response. Doubt gnawed at her. Did he still not believe her despite the evidence?She tried to distract herself, but her thoughts kept circling back to the events of the past few days. Emma had been a great support, but it was Jake who had provided the context that made Alexander’s reaction more comprehensible.Jake, Emma’s boyfriend, had come over the previous night after hearing the full story. He was the Editor-in-chief of Elite Chronicles, one of the most reputable magazine companies in the city. When he arrived, his face had a look of concern mixed with curiosity.“Sophia, I think I can shed some light on why Alexander reacted the way he did,” Jake had said, settling into an armchair across from her.Sophia had looked at him, hopeful and desperate for any explanation that could make s
CHAPTER 1 As the room began to spin before her eyes, Sophia couldn't help but feel a wave of frustration wash over her. Why did Madison have to pick on her yet again? Sophia thought to herself, her annoyance mounting with each passing moment. Taking a deep breath to steady herself, she finally decided to reply, her voice steady despite the turmoil she felt within her. "Yes," she said, her words ringing out with a quiet resolve, "I have a boyfriend.”Madison's expression changed from a spiteful glare to one of shock. She had asked the question loudly, intending to ridicule Sophia and put her in her place. But what? Did Sophia just say yes? Madison thought to herself, frustration welling up within her. She couldn't afford to believe it."What is his name?" another guest chimed in, their curiosity piqued as they turned their attention to Sophia."Why didn't you bring him along to the reunion?" someone else questioned, their tone laced with intrigue."Well, he probably didn't have time
As Alexander and Dominic exited the boardroom, their banter continued, punctuating the air with a playful energy."That was an epic one, Mr. CEO," Dominic remarked sarcastically, a smirk playing at the corners of his lips.Alexander chuckled, matching Dominic's tone. "You did a nice job as well, Mr. Vice President," he replied, the corners of his mouth quirking upwards in amusement.As they strolled down the hallway, Dominic nudged Alexander with his elbow, a mischievous glint in his eye. "On a good day like this, you should at least post our new bagged deal on your social media," he suggested, his voice laced with mock seriousness.Alexander shrugged, considering the suggestion. "The news will be out before twenty-four hours anyways, so what's the point?" he countered, his tone tinged with indifference.Dominic nodded in agreement, but his persistence remained unwavering. "That's true, but posting on your page doesn't hurt, you know," he reasoned, a playful grin tugging at his lips.A
Sophia buried her face into her pillow, her sobs muffled by the soft fabric. Emma sat at the edge of the bed, a comforting presence beside her friend. She reached out and gently stroked Sophia's hair, offering silent support as tears streamed down Sophia's cheeks."It's just... I've finally started to get my life together, you know?" Sophia's voice wavered as she spoke, her eyes red and puffy from crying. "With the promotion at my job and everything..."Emma listened quietly, her heart aching for her friend. She had seen the hateful comments online, the cruel words cutting deep into Sophia's already wounded spirit."You don't deserve any of this," Emma reassured her, her voice filled with sincerity. "Everything will be fine, I promise."As the night wore on, the darkness outside slowly gave way to the soft light of dawn, casting a gentle glow into the room. Sophia's sobs gradually subsided into quiet sniffles, her exhaustion finally catching up to her. She leaned into Emma's comfortin