Chapter 7

Sophia woke with a sharp pain pounding inside her head.

She frowned and slowly opened her eyes. The white ceiling above her came into focus, but the brightness made her wince. She closed her eyes again and swallowed, feeling a dryness in her throat.

She tried to move her right hand, but a slight tug stopped her. When she looked down, she saw an IV attached to the back of her hand. Confusion settled over her as she stared at it.

She was in a hospital.

Sophia tried to sit up, but pain immediately shot through her head and down her side. She gasped and fell back against the pillow.

"Don't try to sit up yet."

Sophia turned her head toward the voice.

A nurse stood beside her bed, one hand resting on the IV stand as she watched Sophia carefully.

Sophia blinked several times. "What happened to me?" she asked, her voice barely above a whisper.

The nurse adjusted the flow of the IV before answering. "You were brought here after a road accident," she explained. "You've been unconscious for several hours."

Sophia stared at her.

The memory returned in pieces. Rain, headlights, a car losing control, her body hitting the ground, then darkness.

She closed her eyes as another wave of pain moved through her head.

"Your injuries aren't life-threatening," the nurse continued while checking the monitor beside the bed. "You have a concussion, bruises, and a few other injuries, but the doctor will explain everything when he comes."

Sophia opened her eyes again. "How long have I been here?" she asked while looking at the nurse.

"Since last night," the nurse replied, writing something on the chart at the foot of the bed.

Sophia let out a slow breath.

Last night.

It felt like it had happened only minutes ago.

The nurse placed the chart down and adjusted Sophia's pillow. "Try to rest," she advised while gently lowering the head of the bed. "Your head may hurt for a while."

Sophia nodded. "Okay."

The nurse gave her one last look before walking toward the door. "I'll let the doctor know you're awake," she said as she opened it.

Sophia watched her leave, then she closed her eyes again.

Her head hurt too much.

A few minutes later, the door opened again. "Sophia!"

Emily hurried into the room, her face pale with worry.

She stopped beside the bed and stared at Sophia for a moment before placing both hands against the mattress. "Oh my God."

Emily pulled the chair closer and sat down. "You scared me so badly," she said, reaching for Sophia's hand. "I kept calling you, but your phone was switched off."

Sophia looked at her weakly. "I'm sorry."

Emily shook her head while rubbing her thumb gently over Sophia's fingers. "Don't apologize," she said. "I'm just happy you're awake."

Sophia swallowed. "My head hurts."

Emily immediately leaned forward. "Should I call the nurse?" she asked, already beginning to rise from the chair.

Sophia caught her wrist weakly. "No."

Emily sat back down when she saw Sophia's expression. "Okay," she said softly, keeping hold of her hand. "Then don't talk too much."

Sophia nodded, then she suddenly remembered her belongings. "My bag."

Emily looked toward the chair beside her. "It's here."

Sophia's eyes moved toward it. "The blue folder?"

Emily reached down and picked up the handbag. "That too."

She placed it carefully on the bed. Sophia opened it and pulled out the blue folder. Her fingers moved through the papers. Several pages were damp and wrinkled from the rain, but most of them were still readable.

She counted them silently, then her brows drew together. "One is missing."

Emily leaned closer. "Are you sure?"

Sophia checked the folder again. "Yes."

"What document?"

Sophia frowned as she tried to remember exactly what had been inside. "The expansion strategy I was working on."

Emily looked at her with confusion. "Maybe it was lost in the accident."

Sophia shook her head. "It was inside this folder."

Before Emily could answer, someone knocked on the door, and both women turned.

Two men walked into the room.

The older man carried a black leather briefcase. The other wore a dark suit and stood slightly behind him.

Sophia's fingers tightened around the folder.

"Miss Bennett," the older man said while stopping a few feet from the bed. "I'm Victor Hale, legal counsel for Carter Group. This is Mr. Grant, our head of corporate security."

Sophia looked between the two men. "What do you want?"

Victor placed his briefcase on the table and opened it. "We're here on behalf of Carter Group," he said while taking out a document. "We need to discuss a private matter with you."

Sophia's eyes dropped to the papers in his hands. "I'm in a hospital."

Victor placed the document on the table beside her. "We're aware of that," he replied while straightening the papers. "That's why we'd like to resolve this quickly."

Sophia picked up the document, and her expression started changing slowly as she was reading it

The agreement required her to keep everything concerning Carter Group confidential. Sophia continued reading until she reached the final pages.

Her eyes narrowed. "You want me to sign this? Why?”

Victor adjusted his glasses before answering. "Given your former involvement with Carter Group and your close relationship with Mr. Carter, the company believes this is necessary to protect confidential information."

Sophia let out a quiet breath. "Confidential information?" She lifted the agreement again and turned another page. "I haven't spoken to anyone."

Victor remained standing. "We're simply taking precautions, because it is better to settle these matters promptly."

Sophia slowly pushed the agreement away. "I'm not signing it."

Victor glanced at Mr. Grant before looking back at her. "You should reconsider."

Sophia shook her head. "No."

Mr. Grant stepped forward and folded his arms. "Miss Bennett, this is a standard legal protection for the company."

Sophia turned her attention toward him. "If it's standard, why am I being asked to sign it while I'm lying in a hospital bed?"

Neither man answered immediately.

Sophia picked up the agreement again. "I haven't given an interview. I haven't contacted the media. I haven't accused Carter Group of anything. So what exactly are you afraid I'll say?"

Victor's jaw tightened. "We aren't afraid of anything."

Sophia lowered the document. "Then you wouldn't be here."

Emily stood from her chair and moved beside the bed. "She's injured," she said firmly while pointing toward the door. "Whatever this is can wait until she's better."

Victor looked at Emily. "This concerns Carter Group and Miss Bennett."

Emily crossed her arms. "And she's still a patient."

Mr. Grant shifted his weight. "We're not forcing her to sign."

Emily shook her head. "Then leave the document and go."

Victor turned back toward Sophia. "If you refuse to sign, Carter Group may have to pursue other legal options."

Sophia stared at him. "Do whatever you think you need to do."

Victor slowly gathered the papers. "We'll give you some time to reconsider."

He turned toward the door.

Before he could take another step, a calm voice came from behind him. "Reconsider what?"

Everyone turned.

Alexander stood in the doorway, and Sophia recognized him immediately. He was the man from the accident. The stranger whose face had been the last thing she remembered before losing consciousness.

Alexander walked into the room with a single document in his hand.