SOPHIA'S POV
In not less than six months, I had gone from experiencing the excitement and happiness of getting engaged to the love of my life, to the desperate need to succeed in the life, and finally the unexplained anger of having my marriage now planned with a total stranger in a bid to settling family debts. Being the only daughter of the family, I had found myself hoping that they'd be a little resistant to Mr Smith's suggestions as they'd wish to marry off their only daughter to someone who loves her completely. The hope slowly faded into thin air the evening after the proposal from Mr Smith, as they had me called into the living room to discuss the potential of this opportunity. It only left me wondering if my parents had been like this all along or if the desperation of the situation was giving the ugliness in their hearts a face.
Disappointment in their unwillingness to protect their own daughter turned into anger at their desperation to be a part of the family of billionaires, finally ending with a deep sense of betrayal towards Marcus; a feeling which only caused me more pain and anguish.
How was I to explain exactly what was happening?
How was I to say Mr Smith hadn't even threatened my family over the issue, and that it was just a greedy attempt at getting their hands on the wealth of a billionaire?
How was I to convince Marcus to believe I had no part in this when even I do not believe that as the whole drama started because of one random act of kindness. If the universe had decided to have had allowed his driver not to have an emergency that will leave him (Mr Smith) helpless during his health crisis, just maybe I would still have my life in track.
As I sat in the darkness of my room, contemplating my next reasonable option, my call ringtone blared across the room with love emojis dancing across the screen of the phone; it was Marcus. I reached for it but soon placed it down as I couldn't even find the voice to explain my predicament to his understanding.
Deep down, I knew I shouldn't be shutting Marcus out and the need to properly explain things, but I also knew Marcus and how he'd react when I tell him something of this nature with a lot of "I don't know" attached; he'd be more pissed.
Reluctantly, I convinced myself into accepting the extended invite by the Smith's for me to meet and properly get to know their son, Damien. This meeting would, no doubt, infuriate Marcus but I needed to attend to be able to find a way out of it. All I needed to do was just make myself unattractive enough and ensure everything that could possible go wrong, does. As I wasn't given the opportunity to be able to call off the wedding and halt the preparations, I'm pretty sure the guy in question would be able to do that for us. After this meeting, I hope to meet up with Marcus with some good news about this nightmare finally coming to an end.
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At exactly 6pm, a car and a driver were outside our front door to pick me up for the meeting (because I refuse to call it a date) and I must admit, that made my tummy bubble with butterflies. Not saying my boyfriend hasn't done gentlemanly gestures for me because he is no doubt the sweetest soul to ever exist, it's just that there are some sweetness only-
"What in the fuck are you thinking, Sophia!" I half yelled at myself that I could feel the driver's questioning gaze on me as he held the door to the car open.
Smiling awkwardly, I entered into the back seat and got strapped in, as the driver proceeded with taking me to my destination.
All through the ride, my mind raced around a million and one things all at once, and they all revolved around the strange man I was meeting. I had resisted the urge to google him and decided to willingly punish myself with not knowing what he looks like.
"The boss is inside, waiting." A lady I'm assuming to be the maid said, leading me into the huge mansion, that could pass of for a castle. The walk was a bit long but finally we did make it and unfortunately, the dinner table was set in what seems like a bedroom.
What was this guy thinking?
Like I would actually have sex after meeting him?
"He would be with you shortly." She said, walking briskly out of the room. As the door she walked through closed, another door at the east corner of the room opened to reveal an extremely magnificent figure of a man. He was tall, probably a 6 foot and 2 inches and god! does he flaunt that tall stature of his.
His head was held down as he walked in, throwing me a quick glance, that held no emotion, for less than a minute and taking a seat at the far end of the table. He remained quiet and just continued with whatever it was he had going on in his phone.
I stood awkwardly for an extra minute without even an ounce of attention from him. That, was enough for me to loose that admiration I had just developed even faster than I felt it. I knew his type; a pretty face with an ugly ass personality backed by lots of daddy's money.
"I don't know what you and your parents have planned out but one thing I know for sure is that there is not going to be a wedding." I finally said as I had gotten tired of the suffocating silence that held me down for what seemed like fifteen years.
"You say that like I was begging you to actually marry me." He uttered bluntly, not still looking up from his phone, and even though I hated his stupid guts, his voice was sending shivers down my spine. Was this a crush thing?
"This entire predicament is simply because you were unable to get yourself a wife, which I might add, is extremely disappointing." I mustered up all the disgust in my soul and made extra sure my words were well laced with them. I was expecting a comeback from him but he dropped his phone down, still holding his silence as he sipped from whatever was in the mug in front of him.
Refusing to back down from this obvious fight, "Are you a daddy's boy that gets everything handed to him on a platter of gold?"
"Watch your mouth missy." He finally said, and although it sounded angry, I still found my tummy tickling with excitement. This excitement only further infuriated me.
"What? Did I hit a nerve or something?"
"Just keep your mouth shut and let me try to figure a way out of this situation." He slammed the mug onto the table, shattering the mug in the process. Thankfully, it was a really strong wooden table and it seems his anger issues are well understood by everyone as no one rushed in even with that loud sound of a breaking mug. I, on the other hand, had my stomach jump into my mouth by the abrupt shock of such raw anger.
Silence followed,but even that did not last as, "I always used to think that circumstances like this only happen in movies and books but here I am, experiencing a real life nightmare." I whispered softly but audible enough for his hearing.
"And it must sound exciting to you, isn't it?" It was scornful, disrespectful and rude, but then again, I expected nothing less.
"Maybe." I heard myself say, hating my own stupid guts immediately.
His eyes were suddenly flickering with some sort of flame I was pretty sure just showed up there. He looked as though he had just seen a delicious prey he was now willing to bite into. Although I still held my composure, staring straight at him, unfazed by the obvious change in his mood, my inner being was crumbling piece by piece. Don't get me wrong, it wasn't the look he had on that scared me, it was the how he manged to hold it. It felt as though my clothes were being ripped out of my body and I could feel my heart pounding relentlessly against my rib cages.
"I h-h-ave to s-tart going now." I stuttered, struggling to my feet as I grabbed hold of my purse, ready to leave before I did something I knew I was bound to regret.
As though reading the panic in my heart and also choosing to take advantage of it, he got up from his chair and took his first step towards me and that unconsciously caused me to take a step back. I immediately hated myself for doing that as I had just given him the idea that he was, indeed, having an effect on me, but even more so, for forgetting how to actually get out of the room. In his deliberate attempt at adding salt to an open wound, his face slowly curved into a half smile as he took his next step forward. Against my own wish, my feet took yet another step backwards, probably trying to protect me form the impending danger fast approaching.
A gentleman, they say, should at this point provide safety and reassurance by taking a step backwards, thereby allowing the lady room to breathe and feel more comfortable. Damien was praised to be an epitome of gentlemanliness so why is he not stepping back?
Stupid thoughts like this were what ran through my mind as I continued running away from him.
Running away from him?
Was I really doing that?
If I am to be honest with myself, a part of me was curious to see how this would end. Would he kiss me? Would he turn out to be a great kisser? Would he be better than Marcus?
I know,that was a very silly thought to have, especially about someone I was now engaged to but still, who doesn't fantasize about having a one time thing with a billionaire?
My back crashing against the wall and his hot minty breath on my face pulled me out of the train of thoughts I was driving down fantasy land. I was just 5'7" who had been in love with a 5'11" guy, but now pressed against the wall by a 6"2' was a whole different feeling.
My eyes were looking upwards and I couldn't help but admire the beauty this man held. His creator must have definitely taken his time while moulding every inch of him.
As I continued staring up at him, my eyes involuntarily wandered towards his lips, standing majestic in his clean shaven oval shaped face. They were so inviting and tempting that I felt my weight being shifted towards my toes as my height was suddenly increasing. What I was doing, I had no idea, but all I knew was the fact that I just wanted to have a taste of those pink, soft, full lips. I was already half way there when an image of smiling Marcus flashed through my mind, waking me up from the lustful state I had dragged myself into.
"What are you doing?" I bellowed, shifting my weight back to my heels and bringing my height back to normal.
He was silent, staring down at me with eyes that said he knew too well that my angry outburst wasn't entirely that of anger. He still had me under his spell, and I'm pretty convinced he knew that.
"Stop that, Damien!" I heard myself say as I tried pushing him away from me, an attempt of mine which soon turn out to be an extremely wrong move of mine. Catching my hands midway and pinning it above my head, he pushed his face even closer, too close that even the slightest reaction from either of us would cause our lips to crash against each other.
With his finger travelling down my neck, and towards my breast, my eyes still locked against his, I impatiently awaited him to make me his.
But I am Marcus'!
I love Marcus
What is this guy doing to me?
Even while having these conflicting thoughts, I felt my eyelids shutting tightly and my lips pouting in anticipation for that kiss.