LOGINTime moved fast and soon it was almost 7pm, the time Kael scheduled for the date. Sofia stood Infront of her vanity mirror critiquing her outfit. She'd never been inside Northgate's mall but knew it was for those with large pockets and right now she doubted if her blue cropped cardigan, white leather skirt and black knee length heeled boots was making enough statement. She thought if seeking her brother's opinion but remembered she couldn't risk him finding out,at least not yet, plus she was still giving him the silent treatment.
She stared for some more minutes before picking up her black fur purse and heading out still unsure. Her parents were not sitted in the living room so she didn't need to lie, and Sean was out with his friends.
She got into her already waiting ride and leaned back, placing her head on the headrest as the driver pulled out of the driveway and hit the road. The ride was calm and peaceful the entire twenty minutes and finally the driver pulled up to the magnificent driveway of Northgate's mall. She stepped out after he parked properly and headed towards the entry point, feeling so nervous her fingers clutching her purse tightly.
She made her way to the Grindstone Cafe. She could see Kael seated at a quiet corner through the transparent floor to ceiling glass. He looked innocent and harmless a stark contrast of who he really was.
A staff held open the Cafe's door, bowing politely as she walked in, before letting it close behind her. She looked around in admiration before making her way to the corner where Kael was seated.
He looked up when he heard her footsteps and a look of admiration flashed through his eyes for a brief second before he returned to his normal controlled look.
“You’re early, that's good” he stated as she pulled out a chair facing him and sat down.
With a wave from Kael, a server appeared at their table with the menu. She was young, and polished, with a practiced smile that looked real.
“Good evening," she said,her eyes lingering on Kael a second longer. “What would you like to have?”
Sofia opened her mouth to order the cheapest thing on the menu but Kael beat her to it.
“She’ll have a flat white. Oat milk. One sugar and a blueberry scone, the one with a crumb topping."
“What would you have,sir.” She asked as she took notes.
“I’ll have a black coffee," Kael responded fixing his gaze on a pissed looking Sofia.
“What’s up?" He raised a brow and leaned back in his seat, eyes still fixed on her like she was some weird animal he was trying to understand.
“Why did you do that?” She snapped with lowered voice.
“Do what?" He asked nonchalantly.
“I didn't order that,” she frowned. “ I'm not a kid and I'm capable of ordering my own meal." She registered her displeasure.
“Am I not surprised to care for my girlfriend?” Kael taunted, making the frown on her face deepen.
“ First you forced me to date you, now you wanna control what I eat too?”
“I gave you choices, Sofia, I didn't force you to choose, and if you have decided that you won't be sticking to that choice you can walk out the door, but be rest assured, I'll make everyone see how sacrificial you are.”
Kael words was the reminder she needed of how much was at stake. She needed to behave or she'll damage her brother's career and her's before it's birth.
The server returned with their order few minutes later and began serving. She served Kael's coffee bending in a way that revealed her cleavage from her now unbuttoned shirt. Kael simply ignored obviously used to cheap behaviors like hers. When she noticed his disinterest, she lightly brushed his arm and tucked some tiny strands of hair behind her ear with a pathetic attempt at a seductive smile.
“Go get your manager,” Kael ordered, his emotionless voice that dropped the temperature of the Cafe several degrees lower. The server froze before running off confused, reappearing with a man in his early thirties.
“Good day sir,” how may I be of help to you sir?" The man, obviously the manager of the Cafe bowed respectfully to Kael puzzling Sofia.
“I want her fired." Kael responded without mincing words. The manager froze obviously not expecting that.
“May I ask why sir?" He asked carefully his eyes darting from Kael to the server.
“For disrespecting my guest with very disgusting and inappropriate actions," Kael said pointedly.
“I understand sir, I'll let her go immediately.” The manager nodded getting the hint. He turned and walked towards Laurie—the server. Firing her was something he'd considered a long time ago, but the girl was not as innocent as she looked. She had something going on with some of the higher ups who didn't let her get fired. But Kael was different, he was one of the few who's authority could not be questioned, not even by those men wrapped around Laurie's fingers.
And the she had offended him.
“Laurie," he looked straight at her with the satisfaction of being able to finally do what he's always wanted.
“You’re fired, please hand over your badge, get your things and vacate the building in the next one hour or you'll be excorted out.
“You’re going to pay for this." She glared at him,threw her badge at him and walked away. She knew Kael had authority in the mall, that's why she pulled that—to get him wrapped around her fingers. But she'd failed for the first time. Her tactics wish worked on other men, had failed on Kael. Or was it because of that bitch?” The thought of not being the one on that chair, sitting across from him, this handsome face before her irked her. But she wasn't done yet. He just had her fired and she could do nothing, not even confront. She wasn't done yet though. There's no way she was letting such a rich guy slip through her fingers.
“Time to initiate plan B.” She smirked staring at the majestic Nort
hgate mall building before turning and finally working away.
“Wow,"They looked up to find Mark chuckling with a goofy expression at the doorway.“I didn't expect this but this is much more progress than I expected.“Seriously?Kael groaned. Everytime he gets close, someone interrupts.“So Mark," Sofia called out, tucking a loose strand of hair behind her ear.“What are we learning next?”The question was supposed to make him excited but something in the nonchalant way she asked that bothered him.“What happened to his shy Sofia, he wondered, his brows furrowed. Didn't it bother her that they almost kissed?Why does it suddenly seem like all these were normal for her.Mark grinned at the question, completely oblivious to Kael's train of thoughts.“Since we are taking giant steps now, this is going to be the last test. It's something you'll have to do to prove to the public you're really in a relationship.” He paused, like he wanted his words to sink into their skulls.“And what would that be,” Sofia raised a brow.“Kiss.”Until those words fel
SOFIA The thirty minutes drive was silent save for the blues playing from the car’s stereo. Sofia watched as they drove past house after house until the city was behind. She'd wanted to know where they were headed but Kael wanted it to remain a surprise.She pulled out her phone to continue chatting with Sean when the car suddenly swayed, the sudden jerk making the device fly out of her hands. The smooth hum of the car breaks into a rough chatter as the car continued to make it's way down the rough path. “Sorry ma'am," the driver apologized, I tried to avoid a rock that wasn't supposed to be placed where it was.“It's fine,” Sofia muttered, staring sadly at the cracked screen of her phone. That cost her ninety hours shift at a cafeteria, and now, only less than a month later, it was damaged.They pulled in through two thick pillars after ten more minutes of rough untared road. The pillars were stacked natural stone and between them a dark hardwood beam with “Atlantis” cut into it
The bang of the wardrobe door was almost like a thunderbolt, quieter but enough to startle her father as he walked in through her half opened door.She made a mental note to lock her room door before picking out an outfit from her now sophisticated wardrobe.“Hey dad.”Her smile was fake but a perfect front for her unsteady hands.She drummed non existent tunes on a nearby table in an attempt to drown her loud heartbeat. “Where's Sean?" Her dad waved off her greetings, still glaring, a hand on his chest, his rapid breathing proof of his disoriented state.Maybe it was the surreal feeling of having new and expensive clothes but she didn't care if he ignored her like he always did.“What’s up Pops," Sean walked in before she could respond, and stylishly pulled their father out of her room, winked at her before shutting the door. “That was close," she heaved, walking to the door and bolting it. “Can't have another Rich walk in," she muttered opening the wardrobe once more.Picking an
Kael sent someone to take her home—his attention was urgently needed and staying to take her home was impossible.Lost in her thoughts,she payed no attention to how much time passed till they arrived at her house.She slowly got out of the car, only letting the man move the shopping bags to the front porch. She didn't know how to lie if her mom or dad laid eyes on the man, and wanted only the trouble of lying about the bags.She stared at the door handle like it was a puzzle she was trying to solve before lifting a shaky hand and pushing it open.Taking in two shaky breathes, she braced herself for her parents verbal attacks, instead the only sound was the echo of the door creaking open—her parents were nowhere in sight.“They are out having dinner with a friend at the restaurant downtown."“Thank God they're out," she sighed, her tensed shoulders finally relaxing. Today was a lucky day for her. “Can you help me move these upstairs?" She asked her twin. Moving them herself might take
Sofia watched him pick out dresses, designed by top designers. One she'd only seen in fashion magazines.He kept filling the trolley, while she watched in stunned silence.The worth of everything he picked was ten times her mortgage. More money than she'd ever smelt her entire life.“Fret not, babe,” Kael smirked. “The worth of everything in this basket is just a quarter of a Viper girl’s monthly salary, which is only a little over half of what a hockey player earns.”Her mouth dropped. If her lower jaw was not connected to her face, it'll be on the floor already. She knew the entire Vipers’ team was elite, she just wasn't aware they earned that much. If she could get that, she'll be able to survive independently, away from her family.“Let's go try it on, shall we?” Kael's voice pulled her back. She trailed behind him, obediently, tugging the hem of her shirt.“This way sir/ma'am," an attendant lead them to one of the dressing rooms while another pushed the trolley full of dresses a
FLASHBACK“I’m the Swan Princess. Yayy!” Five year old Sofia twirled on the ice holding her dress like Disney princesses do in cartoons.“You’re not the Swan Princess, Aubrey Sinclair is," said a little boy.“She’s whatever she says she is. If she says she's the Swan Princess, then she is the Swan Princess." Sean jumped into his sister's defense.“Get off the ice Sofia, you're interrupting your brother's practice.” Their mother approached them and pulled Sofia off the rink.“But I wanna skate too," little Sofia pouted close to tears.“Be quiet, Only Sean is allowed to skate,” her mother scolded her, anger flashing through her eyes.“But I can skate with the other girls," Sofia cried, staring at the little girls figure skating at the other rink with a longing look.“How many times have I warned you not to try outshining your brother,” Mrs Rich spanked her little daughter, Sofia in anger. Sofia let out a cry, unable to understand why her parents never let her do what other kids did.FLA







