Chapter 1: First meeting

Sophia's POV:

A long, deep sigh escaped my lips as I checked my wristwatch for not knowing how many times. I've been sitting inside the coffee shop for almost forty-five minutes, but I still can't catch a glimpse of the person who sent me a message yesterday... Mr Daniel Kelley. He is the CEO of Kelley International Corporation, my 'so-called' fiance and a husband to be three weeks from now.

He said he wanted us to meet and see each other personally before announcing our engagement party next week. I agreed, so I cancelled my first practice appointment just to meet him.

Maybe someone would get confused about the engagement party. How can two people get engaged without knowing each other or without even seeing each other? Well, this is just a contractual marriage, so to be intimate with each other isn't necessary. We just need to be in this marriage for a year and after that, we'll go our separate ways again.

"Ten minutes. No, five minutes. Five more minutes and if he still doesn't show up, I'm gonna leave and I won't show up until the engagement party." I murmured in a low voice as I wandered my eyes around the restaurant.

And to get myself busy while waiting for another minute, I put my earphones back and listened to my new dance music downloaded from my phone and continued to create new dance moves in my head.

I was already indulged in the music and enjoying the beat when I noticed that someone was standing in front of me. I removed my earphones and looked up to see a tall, handsome man in a dark suit.

The first thing I noticed was his eyes, they were cold and you can never see even a single emotion on them. It's like you're looking at an emotionless man.

"Sophia."

My breath hitched at the sound of his voice, so cold yet so sexy. And the way he mentioned my name sent shivers down my spine.

"Yes. Are you Mr Kelley?"

I asked, straightening my seat as I looked him directly in the eye. He didn't answer my question, instead, he pulled the chair across my seat and settled himself comfortably without leaving his eyes on me. It's kinda odd and creepy, but I held my breath and fought the urge not to look away.

"Mr Kelley, right?" I asked again, but just like my first attempt, I still got no answer.

I was about to ask him if he was kinda deaf when he finally opened his mouth.

"Tell me, Sophia, how much money did my mother offer you to accept this agreement?"

I was taken aback by his question. I didn't expect him to ask me such a question. That was what they called NOT beating around the bush. Straightforward. Straight to the point and without even saying 'Hi', 'Hey' or whatever.

"What? I-I'm sorry?" I asked to clarify what I heard.

"Come on, Sophia. I just wanna know how much money my Mom offered you for this deal?"

I gulped at the way he stared at me like I was some kind of dirt.

"How did you meet her and how did you ask her to choose you to portray this act?"

I chuckled sarcastically right after he finished his question.

"Excuse me, Mr Kelley? But for your information, your mother hasn't offered me even a single cent from your family's bank account!"

"So, what do you mean? Did you just accept this deal with nothing in return? Oh, come on, Ms Sophia, I'm a businessman and you can never fool me like you did to my Mom!"

I formed my fists into a ball and tried to calm my raging nerves. How dare this man insult me with his money? But instead of shouting and giving him a death glare, I smiled. A smile that I'm sure would get into his nerves.

"Is that why you wanted to meet me, Mr Daniel Kelley? Just to insult me and throw in my face that all I wanted was just your money?"

"Why, isn't that your reason why you agree with this? So, tell me how much do you need---"

"Then what? Are you going to tell me to back off and cancel the deal?" I chuckled again, shaking my head. "Listen here, Daniel Kelley! Not all things in this world have a price and you can buy with your shiny-shimmering cards or with your precious money inside your pants!"

I brought my face closer to him and I didn't miss how he was surprised by my action.

"For once and for all, your Mom didn't offer me a single penny! In fact, she asked me for help. To help her older son and act as his wife for a year! And yes, I have a reason for marrying you, but it's too far from the money! So, just tell me directly if you don't want me to marry you and stop throwing insults and judgements at me! Or if you want, you can talk to your mother, because I didn't insist on this wedding!"

I stood up and took my bag from the table, but then I remembered something that I had to tell him.

"Tsk.Tsk.Tsk. Daniel Kelley. Yes, you're handsome, you have broad shoulders, sexy and a perfect husband material for your looks..."

His mouth slightly opened as his eyes widened a bit.

"But you know one thing I've realized? I realized that no matter how good looking you are, it's the opposite of your attitude! It stinks! You need to shower more than three times a day all year round!"

I saw how he was taken aback by my last sentence, but I didn't wait for him to respond. I left him open-mouthed and walked my way towards the entrance of the coffee shop. I don't care what he thinks of me after this. If he doesn't want me to become his contractual wife, then that's fine. But I don't need his insults. I've suffered a lot of insults and judgements before, I don't want more this time.

When I reached my car, I let out a deep sigh and a silent prayer as it started raining outside. It's like raining cats and dogs and now clouding my windshield. I started the engine as I have no choice but to drive in this heavy rain. If only I had known that this was going to be the result of almost an hour of waiting, I wouldn't have had to wait for him. No, I shouldn't have agreed to meet him.

What I said was true, yes I accepted the deal but it's not for money, but his last name, his family name. I need to do it, 'cause I have no choice left when his mother offered the contract.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Flashback:

I was in the parking lot of the mall and walking towards my car when I noticed the figure following me behind. I turned around just to get stuck on my feet. I couldn't believe I saw the last man I wanted to see or should I say, the man I never wanted to see ever again. The man who almost ruined my life in the past. Joseph De Luca.

"Guarda chi c'è? Finalmente ti ho trovato, amore mio." (Look who's here? Finally, I found you my love) he said grinning maliciously.

"Don't call me your love, you bastard!" I shouted at him as goosebumps started to creep all over my body.

"Esuberante." he chuckled. "Non sei ancora cambiato. Come stai, amore mio?" (Feisty. You haven't changed yet. How are you, my love?)

"Ho detto di non chiamarmi amore, cazzo! Bastardo!" (I said don't f*cking call me 'love'! You bastard!)

He smirked and took a step towards me, and I began to step backwards. My heart was pounding inside my chest.

"Dai, non ti manco? (Come on, don't you miss me?"

"Non mi mancherà mai la tua fottuta facia in tutta la mia vita!" ( I won't ever miss your f*cking face, in my entire life!)

And I run to my car. I was about to open the door when I felt a hand over my hand. And the next thing I know, I was slammed into the car door with his lips on my neck.

"Let me go! You're f*cking bastard! Don't you dare touch me!" I tried to push him but he's so strong, so I just screamed at the top of my lungs. "Help! Somebody help me!" I gathered all my strength and pushed him, but not without giving him a hard slap.

He touched the area where my hand landed and smirked at me... then it turned into a demonic laugh.

I was catching my breath as I watched him laugh at me. I can't believe I've seen him again after a long time and in all the possible places, here in California. Italy is too far from here, but why does fate bring this bastard here?

"Who would have thought that after all these years, we will meet again, amore mio? Why did you leave Italy? I've been searching for you everywhere. Do you see this? Do you still remember this?"

He pointed to the long scar on his neck. His face became serious which added to the anxiety that was creeping me at that moment.

"This is the f*cking reason why I looked for you! I almost travelled all over Europe just to find you! But why didn't you inform me that you're just hiding here in California?"

"You're a son of a bitch! If you think you can escape what you did to me six years ago, then you're wrong!"

"Ohh... mia cara Ysabelle, ma non hai prove delle tue accuse!" ( Ohh, my dear Ysabelle, but you have no proof of your accusations.)

"Yes, but I swear to God, Joseph! When I get strong evidence against you, you're going to grow old and die inside the prison!"

"Ohh..tsk.tsk tsk. It's been six years, amore mio. Don't you feel tired? Why don't you give me the gift you refused to give me before?"

"Fuck you!" I shuddered at the thought of giving him myself to him. "I'm getting married, so f*ck off!"

He narrowed his eyes on me, but before he could speak, we heard someone's voice behind and three men in white uniforms, appeared in our sight.

"What's happening here? Sophia, are you okay?" Mrs Kelley came up to us.

Joseph looked at the three men in front of him and turned his gaze on me.

"Non abbiamo ancora finito, amore mio! Quando ci rivedremo, mi assicurerò di prenderti e renderti completamente mio!" he said with a glare before he walked away from us. (We're not done yet, my love! When we meet again, I'll make sure to take you and make you completely mine!)

"Huh!" I closed my eyes and let out the heavy breath I had been holding earlier.

"Are you okay, Sophia?" she patted me on the shoulder and I looked at her with tears in my eyes.

"I'm okay, Mrs Kelley. Thank you for helping me."

"But I didn't do anything."

"No, ma'am. You helped me escape from that man and thank you so much for that."

"Sophia, if you don't mind, may I ask who was that man earlier? And what did he say before he left?"

"He said, we're not done yet. And when sees me again, he'll surely take me and make me completely his."

"Oh my God! Why did he say that? Was he your boyfriend before or your boyfriend now? But you said you're single, right?"

"Yes ma'am, I'm single and he's neither my ex nor my boyfriend, and that's never going to happen. I'll choose to die rather than seeing myself with him." I looked into her eyes to see what her reaction would be if I told her the truth. "He tried to rape me six years ago."

"Oh, my holy Christ!" her eyes widened in shock and I just gave her a sad smile