Chapter 4

 "Umm, I don't understand."

Sophia protests softly 

"Don't worry about it, you'll understand."

Alexander tells her calmly but with a hidden intention. 

 Sophia turns to scan the room and look at where she is, and she is very impressed with the decor of his office, although she feels like some flowers would make the place a little bit brighter and beautiful. 

 "I know you're wondering what you're doing here, you're wondering why I called you? But wonder no more because I want to bring you an offer that will take away your problems."

Marcus hands her the document. Sophia quickly goes through it. But she does not speak. 

 "You look a little confused. I'll have Marcus spell it out for you. Marcus, please do the honours."

  "Yes, sir. So, Miss Sophia Carter, Mr Alexander Blackwood is proposing a marriage contract between the two of you. In exchange for getting married to him, you, Miss Sophia Carter, will get a total of 2 million dollars."

 Sophia looks confused and disgusted.

 "What is this? What nonsense is this?"

"I know you think you have much of an option, but you don't. Listen Sophia. I want you to know that I'm aware of your current situation. I'm aware that your father has just been arrested and you're about to lose your mother, Emil Carter, whom you love so much. I also know that the hospital has told you to pay the bail before next week or you'll lose your mother."

Alexander spills everything he knows about her with cockiness and viciousness his wicked business skill is brought to light.

 Sophia feels scared but does not show it. She does not utter a word. 

 "I want to ask a question?"

Alexander wasn't expecting that, but he would accommodate it.

"Ok, go ahead."

“Do you even have a heart? You look at someone and take advantage of their pain. Does your heart even beat? 

Sophia already has tears at the lids of her eyes, but her voice echoes. While Alexander is caught between telling her to leave his office and maintaining composure, he laughs because the spectacle of a show amuses him deeply. He breathes in and then speaks.

 "When I saw you at the party, I knew that my grandad would be pleased that a woman like you would be standing by my side, it would be more believable but with what you've said, if you don't agree to sign this contract I'll make sure your mother does not get the help she needs no matter how much you have"

Alexander knew that he was bluffing, but all of a sudden became the desperate one. 

 Sophia is so deep in thought that Alexander's voice brings her back to reality with a sharp halt. 

"Sophia"

The way he called her name, with so much authority. She couldn't help but admire it. Why would she even admire someone who was this heartless? His beard complemented his dark hair. His extremely built body. You would know he spent time at the gym. Sophia knew that he was powerful and she was helpless. She needed the money, and she could risk turning away this offer; she would die.

“Make up your mind.”

 Alexander made it sound like a threat to hasten her. At that moment, Sophia knew that she needed the money; that was her silver lining. If she didn't take it, she would lose her mother, the only person she had cared about. With all the eyes in the room staring at her and the pressure, she finally agreed.

 "I will sign the contract."

She said in a faint voice. This brought a faint smile to Alexander's face. Alexander was so excited. That he had succeeded. In a joyous feat, he handed her over the pen as Marcus showed her where to sign.

 "I'll go over the rules and clauses once more, to make it clear to you. The marriage is going to be valid for a span of 12 months, and in exchange, you'll get 2 million dollars. During the period of the marriage, we will sleep in separate rooms, you will not be involved with another man publicly and privately."

"Involved?" 

Sophia asked innocently

"You can't date or sleep with another man."

"What about you?"

The question tripped Alexander off; he didn't even know what to make of it. Was she dumb? Why would she be asking that?

"It's not stated in the clause if you would do the same."

Alexander thought to himself that it was not supposed to be there.

"That's not important, it's none of your business."

Sophia had gotten the answer she wanted 

"Part of the contract would include a wedding, public appearances of us, and course, meeting my grandad, which is the most important. No one must know this is a contract, if not, I'll sue you for every penny you've got."

 He said this with a wicked grin in his voice.

Sophia finally signed the papers. Immediately, he removed the ring from his pocket and gave it to her. Sophia opens the case and a perfectly cut diamond ring is looking at her. 

 "My secretary got you some designer outfits. Marcus will put it in the car and drive you to one of my penthouses."

Sophia was shocked but tried not to show it. Before she left the office, Alexander had something to say.

 "You're going to be my wife, which means you'll be in the public eye a lot. Do not do anything to embarrass me because that will be unforgivable."

Sophia turned and nodded, but she, too, had a term that wasn't mentioned during the contract signing.

 "What about intimacy?"

 "What about it?"

 "There was nothing like that in the contract, I wanted to know if-”

Right before she could finish the statement, Alexander cut her short 

 "You're not obligated to any duty of marital conduct of intimacy, but if it happens, even though I doubt it will. It will never be part of the agreement."

 Sophia was relieved; at least she knew what she was getting herself into. But why did he doubt it would happen? "Am I not beautiful enough?" Sophia thought to herself as she scurried off quickly. 

 Sophia calls Olivia and narrates everything that happens as the driver takes her to Olivia's apartment.

 "Sophia, shut up."

Olivia says excitedly. Immediately, Sophia enters the house Olivia starts jumping and hugging her.

 "So you're getting married to Alexander Blackwood like thee Alexander Blackwood like the CEO of Blackwood Enterprise. Aww, you're so lucky. You've got to meet your prince charming."

 "It doesn't feel like that. It feels like I sold myself to save my flower shop. That's what it felt like."

 "I get Soph, but at least you get to keep your mum alive. Oh my gosh, Sophie, look at the size of that ring, it's so big."

 Olivia see

ms so carried away by Sophia's new life, but Sophia isn't.