A Wife for the Billionaire
Chapter 119: SOFIA

Chapter 119: SOFIA

I opened my mouth to tell him that he didn’t need to think about my offer because I was willing to sign the document with or without. But for the third time, I couldn’t say it.

It’s been over a minute since he had been silent. A minute that stretched like a goddamn year. A minute that I’ve tried three times already to tell him that I take those words back. That my demands were irrelevant, but couldn’t.

Each time I had tried to tell him, the words just freeze on my throat as my mind whispers,

"Remember, you will be keeping silent for the rest of your life. That’s too much compared to what you are asking"

It was true. My brand for lifelong loyalty was more than a fair bargain. In fact, I

was been kind and considerate. More than most would, if they were in my shoes. Many would demand monthly payments to keep their lips shut until the day they draw their last breath and that was reasonable.

Till-death bargains, promises, oaths or in this case, agreement can never be really paid for. No amount no matter how much can be enough to squash a till-death loyalty.

But here was Richard, from the slight furrow of his brow, he was considering not fulfilling my request. He was thinking about turning me down. He most certainly was.

His fingers massaged his jaw as he stared intently at me as if the answer he sort could be derived from my expression. It was hard cooling my expression to neutrality when it felt like those obsidian pools were boring into my soul.

It was harder still keeping calm. My legs were bouncing and I resisted the urge to bite my nails. The wait felt excruciating and dreading. Honestly, a rejection or denial would certainly feel better than this dreadful anticipation.

"What would people think if after a year or less with me, you are relieved with your own brand?" He suddenly asked.

It wasn’t a denial, but it wasn’t really acceptance either. But it was something, even if I didn’t know what.

"I seem to recall a certain someone who doesn’t give a shit about other people’s opinions or has he changed?" I asked.

With a smirk, that reputable smirk of his, he said,

"Well, Sofia, a brand is not like opening a boutique or bodega. You have to know it’s a lot. The paperwork, the capital required, the adverts, the promotions, do you even have any designs to launch this brand of yours with?"

I hated that he was speaking to me like I was a child. Like I didn’t know anything about launching a brand. It was condescending, but he was going to pay. If there was any reservation I had towards accepting his offer without meeting my demands, it just went up in flames.

"To answer your question, yes, I have more than enough designs to launch my brand" I lied.

It wasn’t necessarily a lie. The truth was that I didn’t have any designs yet because my brand wasn’t like any other. It wasn’t based on me or my wants or my preferences. My brand was about my consumers, my clients, their wants and their preferences even if they don’t know it themselves. With my sartorial intuition, I can discern what’s their style and what’s more like them when donned.

U-nique will offer clients the choice to have their personality tailored to their style. It will make every attire, every dress, every garment, every wear, to reflect the individuality of the person donning it.

The bonus about it was that even in ignorance, my reading will suffice and make up for what’s lacking. U-nique will change the world and put my name on the very map of it.

"And," I began just as he opened his mouth to speak, "you don’t have to lecture me on the technicalities of starting a brand, I wasn’t born yesterday."

"Good," he gritted, "I was almost beginning to think you were. But then as someone who understands the complexities of starting a brand, why do you think a year of service makes you deserving of it?"

I didn’t care that his words had been aimed to get back at me for shutting him up, I snapped,

"Exactly what a privileged prick would say. Quick to dismiss hard work because he has always had it easy"

He didn’t bother to mask his anger as he returned,

"And only a gold digger would seek to establish herself with the first opportunity she’s given. And it’s funny because she claims it’s hard work whereas she’s just seeking an easy way to set up herself"

The nerve! How can he think that I was exploiting him when he had been doing much worse to people like me, all his life?

"You!" I huffed, standing abruptly, as I pointed at him. By God, I hated him, so much that I could literally strangle that perfect neck of his.

"For what it’s worth, I hate you too" he offered as I stood looming above him like a thundercloud.

"I don’t care what you think, it’s either you accept my demands or forget about it. After all, what good is working together when I can’t even stand your prideful ass?" I said, stabbing my finger at him with each word.

"Believe me, the feeling is mutual. Perhaps more even..."

"But you are desperate, right?" I interrupted.

"Of course not!" He snapped immediately.

I smiled as he realized that he had failed to leash his emotions. It was too late to pretend that that didn’t just happen, but apparently he wanted to erase it immediately as he continued in a more controlled tone, though his words sounded forced,

"I’m anything but desperate. I just need this over with as soon as possible, so we can both go our separate ways. So, um, yeah I will grant you your shot at establishment."

I made to return a witty response, but he shut me up as he continued,

"To be honest, I don’t really blame you. You just found a way and exploited it, it’s not like it’s not popular among your kind, always looking for the easy way out. Milking from we that have made it"

He knew that he was striking a nerve. He knew that I was hurt. That he was insulting me, and he also knew that I would take it because he was granting me the opportunity of a lifetime.

It wasn’t my proudest moment, but I swallowed it all. I kept mute as he opened his laptop and punched away on his laptop. Not even when he said, not taking his eyes off the screen,

"Look at that. The almighty Sofia Blake suddenly keeps mute, you really want this, don’t you?"

Of course I wanted it. I’ve been waiting all my life for it. My own brand, it was a dream come true, and if my silence was the price to pay, gladly will I turn mute and remain so no matter how much he tried to aggravate me.

"Fetch those," he said, pointing at the printer.

I felt like running to the printer, but for appearances sake, I walked like I didn’t give a damn. It was hard because every fibre of my being was overridden with happiness. It’s fuel propelling me to go faster.

I retrieved the new slips, walked back to my seat and read the adjustments that was made in regards to my demands. I didn’t care if he was watching, I smiled as I read,

*ARTICLE 4: COMPENSATION*

4.1 The Employer shall pay the Employee a monthly salary of $10,000.

4.2 Additional benefits include:

- Housing accommodations

- Transportation

- Access to exclusive events

4.3 The Employer agrees to fully compensate the Employee with her demand of starting up her brand so long as she meets his demands to the latter.

I didn’t care if he added that to spite me, I only saw ’compensate’ and ’brand’.

Only one thing remained to seal it all, our signatures. I moved the slips to him, with a moment glance, he tsked, signed and passed it back to me. Taking the pen, I bent to seal my fate... my phone started ringing. I jumped at the sound, I thought I had put it back into my purse but apparently not.

It was Alicia. Accursed Charlie and not knowing when to keep his mouth shut.

"Excuse me" I muttered, rising to take the damn call as far away from him as the room allowed.

"Hello" I said, picking up.

"Your husband-to-be tells me that he’s oblivious to your whereabouts, why is that?" Alicia wasted no time asking.

"Um, I just needed some air so I went for a walk. The news of marriage happened so fast that it left me breathless"

I threw Richard a warning glare as he chuckled.

"Yeah, marriage can do that. But there’s nothing to worry about, this is what you need." she went on.

"But um, I thought we would get the chance to know each other before we decided that" I tried.

"Dear child, a man like Charlie is rare, it’s best if you lock him down immediately that is why I’ve decided to help things along. In agreement with your husband-to-be, you will be getting married in two weeks time. Isn’t that wonderful?"

It took sheer will for me to remain standing. Only that the same luck didn’t help the phone because it slipped from my hand, clattering to the marble floors.

Hastily, I picked it up, Alicia’s voice echoing from the other end,

"Hello?"

"Sofia, are you still there?"

"Yes," I forced myself to say. Masking my tone to sound happy, I continued, "That’s wonderful ma, very wonderful news. I’m sure Charlie is elated."

"The poor thing is crazy about you, he wanted it to be done sooner in fact"

"Of course, he did," I muttered under my breath.

"What was that?" Alicia asked.

"Um... nothing. Just that it’s all happening so fast and I don’t know if it’s still what I want. Marriage..."

"Listen to me young lady," she ordered, cutting me off, "I’ve tried to be lenient with you, but it seems that has blinded you to the fact that you are choiceless on the matter. You don’t have a say, or have you forgotten already? I don’t give a damn if it’s what you want or not, it’s happening, so you have five minutes to get your ass back to the house so we can start planning your wedding, am I understood?"

"Yes ma" I managed.

The call ended.

I almost sagged to the floor, then I heard,

"Is everything all right?"

I had forgotten that he was there. I had been so caught up in my drama that I had forgotten the elephant in the room. He must’ve heard everything because I didn’t bother to tone down my voice.

Hastily I wiped the tears brimming in my eyes. Stretching my lips in a smile, I turned to face him. His expression genuinely beared pity, my tears almost fell at the sight.

"I really want to do this, but it turns out that I don’t really have a choice. I’m sorry" I said, sniffing back my tears as I pushed the slips towards him.

Gathering my things, I dashed out of there.