1

SOPHIA

My sister needs help.

I did it! I had finally gotten an achievement to be proud of.

One of the untouchable, corrupt, and monstrous prime ministers in the country was about to go down, thanks to me. The headlines tomorrow would be the bomb!

After pulling up in the driveway, I practically ran into the building to see my editor and boss. Benjamin King. We had spoken over the phone, and I could literally hear the excitement rolling off him in waves.

I had barely stepped into the office when he pulled me into a hug, taking me by surprise. It also set off a million butterflies in my stomach. I had had the biggest crush on him for a long time.

He gestured for me to sit beside him on the sleek leather couch, and his eyes gleamed. “Let’s see what you’ve got.”

He flipped through the pages of my report, eyes shining like he had seen gold. He nodded approvingly before stating, "I always knew you were the very best, Sophia!"

"Thanks, Benjamin," I muttered. Heat crept up my cheeks as he stared at me in admiration.

"You've proven yourself again and I'm so proud of you," he stated.

Walking over to his desk, he pulled out a file and handed it to me. "That's why you're the only one I can trust with this. We need all the information you can get about that billionaire. Sources tipped us off that he has some dirt on his nails. I need you to dig it up."

I glanced through the profile. This was high-class, nothing like before. The world-class billionaire, Ricci Russo.

"It's huge, but the bigger the fish, the bigger the price," he stated, taking a seat close to me again.

"Consider it done," I stated, a smirk crawling across my cheeks.

"As for this victory, will you be chanced for us to have dinner later too—"

My heart leaped but plunged when he was interrupted by the sound of my phone. I had waited for Benjamin to make this move for a long time, only to have it ruined by some annoying caller. Annoyance swirled within me.

"Please, excuse me," I stated to Benjamin ruefully before stepping out to take the call.

Harsh words were on the tip of my tongue until I heard the voice on the other end of the line. "Sophia," a tiny, sniffling voice called from the other end of the line.

I paused, pulling the phone away from my ear to see the caller ID. "Sara?" It couldn't be. How long had it been since she spoke to me..  years?

She burst into tears once I placed the phone back to my ear. Her sobs were heartwrenching.

"Talk to me, Sara. What's the matter? Why are you crying?"

Her words came out, choked and stuttered. "Can you imagine? Dad wants me to get married to a total stranger! He says I have no choice. Can you even believe that he says in getting married in two weeks? Two weeks!!"

My heart skipped a beat. What was Dad up to now? How could he even think of just marrying his daughter off? "I don't understand. Why is he making you get married, and why the rush?"

She sniffled on the other end of the line, sucking in a deep breath before speaking up finally. “His business is in trouble. It has been for a while, but a few weeks ago, it got the final blow. He tried everything to save it. Nothing worked. Then, suddenly, a few days ago, he came home excited, saying he found a way he could finally save his business and his wealth.”

Her voice wavered. “I was so happy for him until he told me the condition. He found an investor… but the deal comes with a price. A marriage alliance.”

I felt my entire body go stiff as the words fell from her mouth. “A marriage alliance? What the hell is this, a Victorian-era drama? We live in the 21st century! Nobody does that anymore!”

Sara fell silent at my outburst but soon spoke up. “Please, Sophia. Help me talk to him. I can’t… I can’t do this. I can't get sold into a marriage. There won't be joy. I won’t survive this marriage. I can't survive the alliance.”

Her desperation was suffocating and already giving me the hiccups. I sighed, rubbing my forehead to display my confusion even though I was not quite feeling complete pity.

"Okay, okay. Calm down. I’ll talk to him.”

But in my heart, I already knew this wouldn’t end well. He doesn't like me a single bit, and I believe talking to him is a total waste of everything.

*******

“Who the hell do you think you are...huh?”

My stepfather, Gerald's, voice thundered through his expansive home office, making me flinch slightly. Crippling fear slithered through my body as he slammed his palm on the mahogany table.

“Coming into my house, telling me what I can and cannot do?”

I swallowed hard but held my ground, even though fright threatened to silence me.

“Father, Sara is miserable already. You can’t force her into this....”

“Enough of your shit!” he roared, his face turning pale red. “Do you think I want this for her? Do you think I enjoy watching my daughter cry? I have tried everything I could ever think of! Every single door slammed in my face. I have a family to take care of! Your mother. Your brother. If the company collapses, we lose everything! Will you provide for us? Your little job, can it take care of this family? Can it pay any bills?”

The sneer in his voice as he spat out the words made my stomach churn in anger.

I had worked my ass off for years, trying to gain even a sliver of his approval. But he never cared about that.

Still, I shoved my emotions aside. Now wasn’t the time for feelings. Now wasn't the time to bring unnecessary issues to the table.

"Who is this investor?” I asked, keeping my voice steady and calm, not trying to display my emotions.

He grabbed his jacket and briefcase, preparing to leave. Then, with one last glance, he said, “Ricci Russo.”

Time seemed to pause. “Ricci Russo? The world’s second richest man?!”

His expression was unreadable at this point, as my heart pounded. “Yes. And in two weeks, Sara will be his wife. That’s final.”

With that, he strode out of the house, leaving me standing there, stunned, helpless, furious, and mostly confused.

Sara’s fate had already been sealed, and there was nothing I could do... or could I?