Chapter 2

The choice

The cold hospital room reverberated with the steady beep of machines. Sophia was sitting by her father's bedside holding his frail hand as the fluorescent lights above her buzzed softly.

From his arms, tubes were connected.

Her fingers shook.

“I'm in pain. Don't leave me to bear this burden alone.”

All she got was silence.

His once powerful hand which had helped her navigate both life and business now felt like glass because it was too still and too delicate.

A sharp knock on the door shattered the silence. And quickly, Sophia wiped her face dry.

She wouldn't want them to see her crying

A nurse peered in. “It's time for his medication, Miss Bennett.”

With a nod, Sophia got up. “Give me a call if anything changes.”

Her heels echoed like a countdown through the hallway outside the room.

24 hours. Adrian Drake gave her that. She had twenty-four hours to make the decision to sell herself, her future and her name in order to preserve her fathers legacy. Or watch as everything burns.

Under silence, chaos simmered back at the Bennett estate.

Another email reminding everyone of the emergency meeting in 48 hours had been sent by the board.

Another shareholder had withdrawn. A refund was requested by another investor.

She poured a glass of wine for herself but it remained unfinished. She entered her father's study which was dust-lined wood-paneled and unaltered since the scandal.

The wall had a newspaper clipping pinned to it like a scar.

“Amidst chaos, the CEO of Bennett Global was hospitalized after being implicated in a corruption scandal.”

In the picture, her father was seen being led out of a courtroom looking pale and gaunt. There was another article next to it, this one with the name of Adrian's cousin Julian.

Julian Drake: New face of corporate rescue?

Sophia's jaw tightened. She recalled that day like a  dream how the leak had spread like wildfire and how Julian had stepped out to the spotlight in a matter of hours shedding crocodile tears and evasive assurances to help stabilize the company.

How ironic that Julian's department was the source of the leaked documents. She did not have evidence. Just her instinct.

And she was pushed out by the board despite her instincts. Hands trembling, she slid into her chair and opened the envelope Adrian had handed her.

The conditions of the proposed marriage were laid out in clear white pages inside. A business agreement not a love affair. absence of a physical connection.

No emotional entanglements. Making public appearances together. They would split up assets intact after the one-year contract expired.

Adrian Drake. Billionaire. Brutal. Julian's most formidable rival. The man was now offering her a lifeline that suspiciously resembled a golden cage.

Sophia closed her eyes and reclined. Was this the price she had to pay to survive?

She went to see her father again later that night. He was hardly awake at all. In the hopes of a glimpse of reaction she kept a close eye on his face.

“I am aware of what people will say if I take this action. That I'm weak. That I gave up.”

The rain hammered the window more forcefully. However, it doesn't matter what they think. “All I want is to safeguard what you created. I'd like to fight. Even at the risk of somewhat losing myself.”

Squeezing his hand she sobbed. She let a tear fall down her cheek.

Leaving the hospital, she entered the waiting car.

When the driver arrived at the Drake mansion, it was almost midnight.

With its steel glass and frame the structure towered over the city like a fortress.

Wearing a black coat over her silk blouse, Sophia exited the vehicle. No makeup. Without a mask.

Tonight she had no desire to act fake. She rode to the top floor in the elevator. The remaining seconds before crossing the line were indicated by each ding.

Her pulse raced. A sleek dark hallway was revealed as the elevator doors slid open. Ahead, the penthouse door was waiting closed and imposing.

She lifted her fist and gave one knock. The door opened in an instant. Adrian Drake this time without a tie stood there.

He only had that same cool unreadable expression and a dark shirt. He appeared unsurprised.

“You're right on time,” he said.

Sophia blew out a breath. “I had trouble falling asleep.”

“ I couldn't either.” He moved out of the way. She entered.

The penthouse was opulent and peaceful. Each surface was polished. Each line is clear.

“Have you read the contract,” he asked.

“Yes “

“And?”

“I have my terms,” she said

Adrian cocked his head.

“You'll ensure that my father's name is cleared of all accusations,” she stated in a firm voice. “The whole scandal and lies of embezzling funds while he was a partner at your company.”

He nodded a little. “Then it's settled.”

Sophia drew in some air. “I will marry you.”

Adrian remained unfazed. “By morning I'll have the paperwork ready.”

She nodded. But the moment she agreed, something inside of her changed.

She felt as though she had signed away the last aspect of herself that was optimistic about happy endings.

This wasn't affection. Not even loyalty was involved. More like a business transaction.

She turned and gazed out at the city through the glass windows. The horizon was endless.

While lives continued in a thousand buildings with blinking lights, hers was stuck in a deal that was unthinkable just a year ago.

Adrian approached her and stood next to her his hands in his pockets.

Silently he stated. “ Once this goes public there's no turning back. I know people will hate you. They will watch every move you make.

Then she looked at him. “Alright. I am ready.”

For the first time since they first met he gave her a serious look at that moment. “You're not what I expected.”

“I get that a lot.”

For a few seconds, they stood silent.

Then Adrian went to the bar and got a drink for himself.

He lifted the glass toward her. “To us and a blissful marriage.”

She smirked. “You mean a successful business transaction because this doesn't feel like marriage.”