FAZER LOGINSophia’s POVAlexander nods in response.The female attendant turns to me, wearing a pleasant smile, “Hello, Miss Sophia.”“Hello,” I mutter.“This way, please,” she says, ushering us inside with her hands.Alexander puts his arm around my waist and takes the first step after the attendant, who leads us somewhere.Shoppers stop to stare at us; uniformed attendants pause to smile and greet Alexander, then greet me. Our path is cleared faster than I can blink. Heat prickles my cheeks as I’m filled with an awareness of how much attention my man commands.He turns to meet my eyes. His fingers strum on my waist as he holds my gaze, sending light, tickling sensations through me. He doesn’t care that eyes are on us. A tiny giggle escapes my lips. I put my face against his arm, and he shifts his fingers to my elbow, giving it a gentle stroke.Always tickling me every chance he gets.The attendant pushes a door for us. It’s labeled: VIP. She holds the door open, we go in, and she shuts it.Pri
Sophia’s POVHe stands still, eyes fixed on mine, with a black medium-sized suitcase in his grip. My purse still hangs across his body. His eyes drop to the picture frame in my hand, and tears finally leak out of my eyes.Choking, I palm my face with my right hand, breaking down in tears.“Sophia?” He calls softly.In a few seconds, my head is pulled against his hard chest. I shut my eyes and pull the frame to my chest.“What is it?”I shake my head, sobbing. Frame still in my grip, my arms go around him. He does the same, pulling me closer with his arms wrapped around my back. He strokes it with gentleness as I keep sniffling.A memory rushes into my mind: that CEOs and Business Owners Charity Gala—the words he uttered when he dedicated his CEO of the Year Award to me.‘Without knowing, she gave me the push I didn’t know I needed… You’re my reason and will to keep going forward… When I thought I’d drown, life gave you to me…’I couldn’t make sense of it at that time. I thought I didn
Sophia’s POVIt’s pitch black. My heart pounds with reckless excitement mixed with slight unease as I touch my fingers to the blindfold. The fabric is soft against my skin.Alexander quietly ties it behind me.“How many fingers do I have up?” He asks.A strained chuckle slips out of me. “I can’t– I can’t see anything… um…”My hands tremble just a little.Heat from his body caresses me as he moves. I feel him standing very close, right before me.“Soph?”“Mm?” I mumble, swallowing hard.His fingers go around my wrists and peel my hands off the blindfold. Then, they slide to hold my shaky hands. “You’re safe with me.” He utters in a calm, sad tone, lifting my hands to his lips. He kisses my right knuckles first, then the left ones, and keeps his mouth on my hand. His breath is warm against my hands.I nod, hoping he doesn’t feel too bad that I panicked.“If you’re not comfortable, I can take off the blindfold and have you just close your eyes.”“No,” I shake my head and go close, tight
Sophia’s POVMy chest keeps swelling, fists tightening behind him. His eyes hold mine with uncertainty. But in his gaze is a look I’m seeing for the first time—pure, sincere desire. Not the one where his eyes darken with something I can never name.Without thinking, I press my lips on his.And everything stands still.No movement. Just the feel of gloss and soft, warm lips parted slightly against mine.Sensations crawl in my stomach.I release a sigh, pressing my bottom lip between his.His hands fall to the small of my back. I shut my eyes, ready to go all the way.Slam!I pull away with a gasp, dropping to my seat and turning sharply to see where that noise came from. God forbid someone saw us.My eyes widen. My heart pounds.It’s Garvey!He’s just shut the door to Alexander’s G-wagon, grinning from ear to ear with a sunflower bouquet in his grip.Reluctantly, I turn to Alexander. He stares into space like he’s lost. Instantly, he meets my eyes. I quickly avert my gaze, but don’t f
Sophia’s POV“Bye, Mom!” I say to her, waving and grinning so much that my cheeks hurt. She stands at the door and waves back. Ava stands behind her in the shadow, still teasing me with winks while pointing at Alexander, who walks ahead with my small duffel bag and purse hanging across each of his shoulders. I simply roll my eyes and wave at her.Oddly enough, my mom didn’t question my little luggage. Although she did stare at it with a suspicious look the whole time I carried it, until Alexander took it off my shoulder.“Bye, my darling! Have fun and see you soon.”Giggling with happiness, I raise my second hand to wave with more vigor while backing away. “See you soon…”See you tomorrow. I turn around when I get to my new car, still smiling as I watch Alexander. He shuts the door after dropping my white duffel bag on the back seat. Then goes around to get my door.All the roses have been taken out and kept in the garden for now because there were too many. He gets to me, wearing
Sophia’s POV⁓October 24, 2025: Sophia’s 24th birthday⁓I’m twenty-four today. Yay. I pray this is the year I grow, so no one ever takes advantage of me again.As usual, my parents were in my bedroom at midnight to wish me a happy birthday with my first batch of presents—a pricey gift card and some new books to read. Alexander sent a message at exactly 12:00 A. M.: {Happy birthday, Sophia. Thank you for coming into this world on this special day.}I only saw it after my parents left. We’ve not spoken since I last saw him two nights ago, but he’s sent apology messages three times. I read them and had no words, so I only responded with a white heart.I’ve had some time to myself to think and partly process the way he hurt me. It hurts a little less now. And I miss him already.Glasses on and still in bed, I stare at my countdown calendar on my dresser, fixing my gaze on the date circled in red. My wedding is in exactly a week.I shift my eyes to my windows. Today’s roses have not arri
Sophia Rose’s POV“Sophia, you’re getting married,” my dad’s resolute voice replays in my head, like a gnawing, splitting headache. It’s been over twenty-four hours since I found out; over twenty-four hours since I last slept. My breath deep and shaky, I sit in my bright closet, quickly rolling a s
“Let me touch you the way you touched me…” He began after a pause. “Take off your bra, Sophia.”Were these the words that changed everything for Sophia? I think not. This twisted, yet beautiful chase started way before this day. Way before she ever found out that she was arranged to marry him in sev
Sophia’s POV“Your daughter’s run away?” Alexander utters as if it’s news to him. He takes the phone off his ear, taps the screen, and switches to loudspeaker.“Sophia’s never acted out like this,” my dad’s frantic voice echoes. “She’s just… she’s a little sensitive…” My heart shatters.“The news m
Sophia’s POV“Y-your bride?” I stammer.His eyes glint with something unreadable, like an almost predatory amusement. It’s all the answer I need.The man I’m to marry is Alexander Thorne? This lethally beautiful, seducing billionaire, who’s spent the past months haunting my quietest thoughts?An eng







