Sophie, returning to the apartment with Darell, made them a quick dinner. Then they took a nice bath in each other's arms, enjoying their closeness.
However, both were so tired that they began to doze off in the water. Laughing gently to each other, they went straight to bed and quickly fell asleep, cuddled up to each other.
In fact, it was their first night in several days that they slept through without having to get up earlier.
Waking up in the morning in a much better condition and rested, they ate breakfast and went back downstairs to work.
Thanks to Anton's help, everything went much easier. They weren't as swamped with work as before and didn't have to stay longer.
However, their peaceful days came to an end when one morning Darell's phone rang. The man, getting out of the shower in just a towel, approached the raging phone with furrowed brows, which was ringing for the fifth time.
The calls were from Don, Anton, Noah, Tomas and Diana. Surprised, Sophie emerged from the bathroom, looking at Darell questioningly.
"What's going on?" She put her hand on his shoulder, seeing all the missed calls. But before Darell could call one of them back, someone began knocking urgently on their door. The phone rang again.
"I'll check who it is." Sophie went to the door when Darell answered the phone.
"What's going on? Why..."He hadn't even finished speaking when Don's voice came over the receiver.
"Check the internet. You're the hottest topic, although I doubt it was your doing." After these words, he hung up.
A tearful Diana rushed into the room with a nervous Thomas by her side.
"Darell, it's mom. Look what she did." With a shaking hand, she handed him her phone.
Sophie quickly stood next to him and began reading the shocking news. The main headlines about his and Diana's engagement were on practically every possible website.
Their mother had outdone herself and without their consent announced their engagement to the daughter of a high-ranking politician and a divorced man who was running for the Senate. This time it was to much.
There was no way to reverse it in a normal way, because the world had found out about it.
What's worse, the banquet they were supposed to attend with their partners was to take place in two days.
Darell, handing the phone to his shaken sister, looked very menacing. Without saying anything, he took his phone and went to the other room.
"What do we do now? We can't deny it or Darell's company will suffer. I don't want that" Diana burst into tears, snuggling into Tomas's arms.
"Sit down. We'll wait for Darell and we'll figure something out. We can't leave this like this" Sophie tried to stay calm even though she felt terrible.
Darell had a big problem. He couldn't openly stand up to high-ranking politicians. The press would drag him through the mud and everything he tried so hard for would be buried.
A message from Anton and a call from Dad appeared on her phone. Leaving the couple, she went to the kitchen to answer the phone.
"Sophie, if it's true, I'll kill him with my own hands" Gregorej didn't mess around. Seeing the messages, he became angry. He wouldn't let anyone hurt his beloved daughter.
"Dad, it's not him. His mother did this. Since I started working here, I found out what she was doing and you could say I got rid of her for a while. Apparently, it wasn't enough. Now we have to think of something to get out of this without sinking the company" She quickly explained to her father before he did something unnecessary.
"I'll be there in the evening. We'll meet at Anton's. I need to have a full picture of the situation. Take care, honey. Everything will be fine"
"Thanks, Dad. See you later" She ended the conversation and with a little hope returned to Diana, who had calmed down a bit.
At the same time, Darell was having a very serious conversation.
"This time she overdid it. Did you see what she did? Because of her, my beloved, sister and company will suffer. It's time you did something about her. Don't you think so, Dad? She should stop interfering in our lives. I expect you to show up at the party and sort her out" He spoke incredibly dryly.
"I will" One word and the conversation ended.
Darell tried to calm down. Bringing his father into this was the last resort, but he had no other choice. In two days everything would be explained.
Everything will go back to normal. With a grimace on his face he returned to the room where everyone was waiting.
"We're not talking about anything with anyone at the moment. We'll go to the party in two days and sort everything out. Diana, go back to your place. Don't go out for now, because the press might follow you. I'll take care of the rest" He informed them and went to get dressed. Sophie followed him.
"Wait a minute Darell. Are you sure about this? We have to check who they are and what we'll be able to do first. We can't risk it like that.."
"Sophie" Darell interrupted her suddenly. "This is a family matter. I said I'd take care of everything and I will. You don't have to worry about anything"
"Excuse me? A family matter? From what I see, this is my business too Darell. We're in a relationship" Sophie didn't like how he brushed her off.
"We didn't announce our relationship. If we do it now, it'll look forced. Do you think the press will let this go?" Darell raised his voice, trying not to explode.
Everything he loved could be destroyed. He couldn't leave it like this. Above all, he didn't want Sophie to suffer in any way. He had promised to protect her.
But he didn't know how Sophie would understand his attempt to protect her.
"If that's the case, then do as you wish." With glazed eyes, she turned on her heel and left the apartment.
The man couldn't see that anything was wrong. He was too busy trying to figure out how to handle this.
Meanwhile, Sophie went to her apartment, took a few things with her and called Anton.
"Sophie, I saw the news. What's going on?"
"Give me your address. Dad will come in the evening and I'll be at your place in a while. We have something to talk about."
A minute later, she got instructions and set off. She wasn't going to leave it like that. Darell's words hurt her. She wanted to help him but he rejected her.
So she would do it in her own style. She wouldn't let some woman take her beloved away.
Her family was more dangerous than some politicians. If they thought she would give up, they were very wrong.
Sophie decided to stay with her brother for those two days and think of something with the family. No one would step on the Ruslanovs.
She met Anton and Noah in the driveway to his estate. They exchanged a few words and Anton promised to come back as soon as he took Noah to the office.
"Wait. I have a better idea." He went back to get his sister and took her to the car. "We'll drop Noah off and go straight to Don's. He'll help us find out some important things."
They quickly set off. Sophie asked Noah not to tell Darell where she was. If he wanted to take care of this himself, she would let him. But he shouldn't expect her to stand by and wait.
"I understand that this isn't his doing?" Anton finally asked, seeing his sister's serious face.
"No. But I'm mad at him for not letting me help him."
"Mad you say? So nice." An ominous smile appeared on Anton's face.
"Anton," Sophie threatened, hearing his overly pleased voice.
"Relax, little sister. I won't do anything." He patted her leg.
After a moment, they pulled up to one of the heavily guarded properties. Anton got out of the car, took Sophie by the arm, and went inside.
Walking through several corridors, they finally entered one of the large rooms. There were several people at desks and several at computer monitors.
"Zick, where's Don?" They approached her. The woman looked up from the screen and thought for a moment.
"He went to do something. He should be back in a bit. Do you need anything?" She looked at the woman next to her with interest.
She recognized her immediately. It was Anton's sister, whom she had helped find.
Anton looked around the room impatiently.
"Wait here with Zick and I'll quickly check on my boys okay? Tell him what you want to know" He pointed at the woman before disappearing behind the door but reappearing a moment later.
"No staring at my sister or I'll kill you" He growled at the men who were indeed secretly looking at the newly arrived beauty.
Hearing the threat, they quickly returned to their tasks with their eyes downcast. Sophie looked at Zick a little embarrassed.
"Hi. I'm Sophie. Nice to meet you Zick" She extended her hand to greet her.
"Hi. Sit down" She greeted and patted the chair next to her. "So what do you need?"