A Wife for the Billionaire
Chapter 113: SOFIA

Chapter 113: SOFIA

In spite of the unexplainable dread that made my steps heavy, I walked over to the printer and retrieved the two slips that contained the deets of the contract he spoke of.

I didn’t dare turn them over. But even from the white blanks at the back, I could make out the dark indents on the front page. Words and punctuations that held the power to change my life.

A part of me was elated, that curious part of me. It jumped at the prospect of not just being the personal assistant to Richard, but also an important party in helping him take such a life changing decision.

But a greater part of me, the untrusting part of me, wasn’t sharing that prospect. In fact, it was sharpened to pick out the flaws that must be hidden in

the slips I hold. That’s if it wasn’t a prank.

Richard watched me, his poise; confident. Either he wasn’t lying about the benefits he had emphasized, or he was waiting to laugh his heart out when I found out that this was some sort of Ponzi scheme.

I reached for my purse, my hand halting in mid air as he asked,

"Where are you going?"

"Back home, of course." I replied, surprised he was even asking. "Isn’t that how this type of thing works, you explain what you want, hand me the contract and I leave to go and review it and get back to you?"

He twirled his chair, while he said,

"That’s where you are wrong. Like I said earlier, I don’t need you, Sofia. I can easily employ the services of judges from popular TV shows and let them handle the entire thing, but that would take time and I don’t have that luxury. I need this to be over as soon as possible, so I can get on with my life. So, my dear, it’s either you review the contract here and sign now, or you leave."

"Why the rush though?" that untrusting part of my mind echoed. And indeed I wondered as well.

"A few hours to review this," I flipped the slips as emphasis, "would hardly matter and that’s all I ask. It’s either that or good luck with your selection without me" I finished, slamming the leaves on his desk.

He stared at the paper, then looked at me, before leaning forward almost challengingly,

"A simple two page contract, and you are requesting for hours to review, whereas many will sign the damn thing immediately without even reading."

"Well, in case you haven’t noticed, I’m Sofia Blake, not many. Not fools that would jump blindly to their own peril, and I think you know that already. Who knows, this might be a blood test to see what I would do and if I’m worthy of this offer. But make no mistake, I know my worth and I hate games"

A grin stretched his lips. So annoying that I wanted nothing more than to slap it off.

"Do you now? Your worth, I mean. I seem to recall a certain someone who was rendered choiceless some minutes or was an hour ago, and now that I’m offering her a choice, the bitch seems to have forgotten that I’m literally saving her ass"

He dared call me a bitch. He was going to pay.

"And I remember a certain prick, also choiceless himself who no matter how concealing he hides it or how prideful he can’t admit it, he needs my help. He needs me and because I’m not a fool like most who would jump at his every whip, he seems to have forgotten that that is literally why he needs me. That is what sets me apart and I really hope he knows that what I can do and the ability to call him out on his shit, those are rare. Perhaps rarer than diamonds."

He sagged to his seat, turning it to the right as he massaged his jaw. That was when I noticed the almost invisible tan of where beards could have been. He must shave daily since there was not even a speck of hair to be found.

"You are not as important as you think you are. You are nothing. You have nothing and here I am offering you something... something beyond what you could ever dream of. An elevation from the position you applied for, and you overstep. Typical"

His words hurt. They were like cuts from a very sharp blade, slashing at me with every word. Once again, I was being reminded that my life was worth nothing. That the name I paraded about wasn’t even mine and he may not know that, but perhaps he was right. I had nothing.

But that doesn’t mean I should just let him win. I couldn’t simply take those words, I couldn’t grant him that satisfaction.

"All my life, everyone has reminded me that I’m worthless because I’m a bastard. But you are wrong, and so are they. If you think I will allow you to treat me like trash because you think I’m desperate and that I need you to save me, then you are a dreamer. Because I will rather kill myself and be done with it all than allow you or anyone for that matter to tell me my worth and have me believing otherwise. Have a nice day"

I turned to leave, angry that he thought so low of me and at the same time was stupid enough to offer me a job. But I was more angry at his choice of words, the same Alicia always used, to taunt him with that.

"The least I can do," he said, halting me from leaving, "is to have Vera lead you to the conference room where you can review the contract. And also provide you with anything else you need, let’s say refreshments"

I was angry and perhaps with his words; more than I was before. He should have simply apologized, but of course, the prick would never really say those words. Those words of his were the closest he would ever come to apologizing and I was going to make sure he knew that I knew. If that makes any sense.

Turning to face him, I said,

"You know it would have been easier if you simply said, ’I’m sorry’, but I will take it. After all, apologies varies and not many can dismiss their pride to utter the heavy five-lettered word"

He scoffed, his mask dropping for a second to show his relief, returning fast enough as he said,

"Oh please, you think that’s an apology? You must really be daft, I’m merely doing you a favor. I know going back home is the last thing you want to do now after your stepmom spinned the news of marriage on you. If anything you should be on your knees thanking me profusely. Or have you forgotten?"

Damn! I hated that he was right. Yet again. How is it that he knew and could analyze so much? It was almost like he could memorize words and really read meaning into those words.

"Your silence proves that I’m right, or are you proud enough to deny it?"

"Get over yourself. Even though I don’t want to go home, I can easily go to a park or a friend’s"

He glanced at the ornate clock on the right wall of his office. Sighing, he said,

"Why must everything be an argument with you? Are you always like this, or is it just me..."

"Believe me, you are not that special. I’m like this, unagreeable. I think that’s the right word, with everyone who is a privileged prick like you" I cut in.

"But it must be exhausting, is it not? It’s been more than thirty minutes already and you still can’t simply take this win. You can go to a friend’s or the park, but none of that will offer what the conference room can. You can concentrate without any form of distractions in an air conditioned space while also taking care of your other comforts like food. So, for both our sakes, just let me call Vera to come escort you to the conference room. I really need an answer today, can’t tell you why, but maybe if your response is affirmative then I might just tell you."

He looked almost tired. For a moment, I pitied him, then I remembered that nothing is ever clear with him. This might just be an act. A ploy to get me to take his offer, but he had been right about one thing. Time had stretched since I came and it was stupid to let it stretch further bantering on and on. Charlie must have called multiple times already, but my phone was on mute and stuffed inside my purse.

One more hour without a response and he might go calling Alicia and I can’t have that.

"Fine," I said, "call Vera and have her escort me to the conference room. And tell her that I want the best you guys can offer in terms of my comfort. And I will have you know that trying to bribe someone to take a position is a desperate call, no matter how you make it look. Just as withholding information as an ultimatum to get me to say yes"

He smiled. An actual smile, not the fake or masked kind. This was the real deal. His chiseled features seemed to soften as his fuchsia lips stretched. His dark eyes sparkled with glee and his body sort of relaxed as he reached for the telephone on his desk and said,

"Get in here, Vera."