A Wife for the Billionaire
Chapter 30: SOFIA

Chapter 30: SOFIA

Minutes and seconds stretched like an elongated elastic. Ever slow, as I waited.

"Who do you want me to read? I remember asking him and five minutes later that stretched like a year, he was yet to say something.

My legs were beginning to hurt, my waist ached. Never have I ever regretted why I didn’t take his offer to sit than in that moment.

Taking the seat now would dent everything I’ve accomplished in the last... how long has it been since I stormed through those glass doors.

As if on cue, the LED timer in the left side of his office read 12:00.

Running the numbers in my head, I was able to approximate my time since I

entered his office to close to 40 minutes and counting.

All that time and he is yet to be convinced that I’m the real deal. That his company needs me.

Maybe I’m overreaching, a gift like mine was an advantage and in this competitive world, every advantage counts.

Just as I was about to tell him to hasten up his thoughts, he spoke,

"Tell me, Sofia, how do you plan to

’read someone’ when you can’t even dress yourself?"

I knew it. I knew he would never take the bait that easy. He would want to play hide and seek before going for the target.

Shame colored my face as I tried not to look at my attire. It was difficult, but I had come so far to allow him to with my emotions like that. So, holding my head high, I replied,

"I’d rather not discuss my personal style, Richard. It’s irrelevant to my qualifications."

He chuckled. What he found funny about my answer, I didn’t know, but I hated being mocked.

"Oh, but it’s very relevant." He began, "Your... eclectic taste says a lot about your judgment. And I’m not impressed. You say your personal style is irrelevant to your qualifications, but I seem to recall a particular passage, sentence rather in Anna Wintour’s letter of recommendation that said ’impeccable fashion sense, a taste so unique in this modern age’ or am I wrong? Wait a minute, could it be that that letter was forged?"

"That’s ridiculous!" I stamped, "and you know it is. Every word in that letter came directly from Anna and if you doubt it, why not ask her yourself? Surely with your rate of success, you must have her number"

I know it’s hard to believe that someone like me, especially in my poor choice of attire would have a letter of recommendation from Anna Wintour. But for him to suggest forgery, that’s preposterous and low even for him.

"That won’t be necessary, not that I believe you especially with... that" he said confirming my suspicions. He might not believe me, but he knew that letter was as original as his first design. Even though he leaned forward and used his right hand to emphasize my attire, I didn’t care much especially after he just accepted the letter and its contents even though he still doubted a few sentences.

But I would be stupid to let an insult slide even if I was relieved, so I retorted in a voice that echoed my anger,

"I’d advise you to focus on my skills,

Richard, rather than my wardrobe."

A wave of power washed over me, leaving my skin a map of goosebumps as I spat his name with as much disdain as he had used in the elevator.

He had hated it, but he was so freakishly good at hiding his emotions. One moment it’s there and the next - poof, it’s gone. Leaning back and steepling his fingers, he said,

"Ah, but that’s where you’re wrong, Sofia. Fashion is about aesthetics, and you, my dear, are a mess."

I tried to control my rage as I was forced to hear him say my name with the same disgust as he had used in the elevator. He even added an extra coat of it, my finger knuckles flexed and unflexed as I fought from letting my volcano explode, then I toned,

"Maybe I am a mess, but I think this back and forth thing you’ve been doing for minutes now is simply because you are scared of this ability of mine."

Now, it was his turn to get angry. How fast my mind had come up with such a witty retort, was very applauding. I once said something about our minds knowing us better than we do ourselves, and in that moment I knew it couldn’t stand Richard as well and it sure as hell hated his guts.

"Don’t kid yourself. You are nothing for me to even bend a hair in fear"

I may have been too fast to thank my mind, for as much as it tried to help. I sometimes wished it wasn’t just as quick to remember, as it echoed the same words that had once broken me.

You are nothing.

You mean nothing.

Daughter of a world renowned criminal and an abettor.

I will never see you as anything more.

It felt like an icicle had been plunged into my heart, spreading a wave of iciness through me. My eyes glazed with cold tears, but I sniffed it back and putting my whole being into it, I masked my face back to neutral.

"Vera, get your ass in here" he called, too angry to have noticed my lapse. And was

I glad.

Fearfully Vera walked in, and that was all I needed to banish that thought of weakness. I have to do my possible best to make sure this man knows that he’s not that terrifying. And Vera has to see me do it.

"Sir, I know you said I’m not to disturb you until after the interviews, but Claire has been calling nonstop. She says it’s urgent." Vera said, not bothering to get an inch closer from half of the space where she stood.

I had seen his phone screen wake a few times and I wondered who Claire was and why was he not answering? Surely, he didn’t prioritize this game of ours that much.

"Read her," he said, pointing at Vera.

"Wait, what now?" Vera asked, puzzled.

"So, how does this ’ability’ work? Do you need to touch her or get closer to her? How exactly do you intend to impress me?"

The mockery was acute in his tone. And he was going to swallow his tongue once I was through.

"I’m not here to impress you, Richard. I’m here to prove my value." I said, coolly.

"Are you? We’ll see about that." he returned.

With a smile I hope irritated him, I continued,

"This ’power’, I call Sartorial Intuition and no, I don’t need to touch her or get closer. I just have to be close enough to take in her appearance and read what it says"

"Well go on then, show me this ’Sartorial Intuition’, which is a cheesy name by the way"

"Sir, what is happening? I’m yet to finish organizing the files you’d be needing for this afternoon’s board meeting. Can I just get back to it?"

Vera’s voice broke with fear and I felt for her. Being thrown in like a lab rat for manifestation of an ability she has never heard of, I understood her fears and tried to soothe them.

"Vera, you have nothing to be afraid of. I assure you, it doesn’t hurt or affect negativity or any of those things we see with people who have powers"

"Thanks for the assurance" Vera answered, her tone laced with sarcasm as she covered her chest with her folded arms as if she felt exposed under my scrutiny.

Letting out a breath, I focused on her and the lines came,

"Vera, your bold, red dress is a statement piece. It exudes confidence and a desire for attention. The fitted silhouette and daring neckline suggest a woman who’s comfortable with her body and isn’t afraid to showcase it. The matching ruby earrings imply sophistication. However, the subtle flutter sleeves and silver necklace with a tiny, crystal pendant hints at a softer, more vulnerable side."

"I value the in between compliments, but I’m not desiring for attention neither do I have a vulnerable side" Vera complained.

"Surely that can’t be it?, anyone could read that" Richard scoffed.

I heard them as if from far away, to be able to read right I really have to focus, like a reader in a noisy environment. I have to push other voices away and read, if not they lines could blur or disappear, so as if I didn’t hear them, I

continued,

"Perhaps Vera is trying to reassert her presence, reclaiming attention she feels she’s lost? Or maybe she’s seeking to rekindle a spark, possibly with someone in particular?_"

"That’s absurd!" Vera yelled, her voice like a sound coming from the other side of a soundproof glass. Then she straightened herself and with her face rimmed with lines of apology, she finished, "Those are lies, there’s no truth in them"

Vera’s cheeks flushed, and I knew that I was reading her right and determined not to falter, I unacknowledged her and went on, my eyes drawn to her hands,

"Your nails, painted a deep, berry red, indicate creativity and flair. The simple, gold bangle on your wrist adds a touch of elegance, but the slight chips on your nails indicates anxiety. Even now, your fingers are tapping on your elbow, suggesting your uneasiness in your Boss’ presence"

"That’s enough!," Vera stamped, flushing a shade darker of crimson as she curled her fingers.

Turning to her Boss, she said, " Sir, I

have had enough of this evaluation or whatever the hell this is, I beg to take my leave"

Eager to be done with her read, I ignored their drama and added,

"Your overall style, Vera, speaks of a woman who’s assertive, yet guarded. The way you wear your hair, pulled back in a sleek bun, suggests control, but the subtle wisps framing your face reveal a softer side. And your choice in red feels like a beacon drawing attention to you, almost as if someone in this company complimented on how gorgeous you look in red. Perhaps that was in the past when you were still together and now, with this bold display you are trying to get him/her back. Or you are still in the relationship and you want to really please the other person. Am I wrong?"

"I have no idea what you are talking about," Vera answered, looking away from neither of us.

But not before I saw the surprise that marked her features, and her boss wasn’t so good with hiding his, this time around.

Even his voice failed to hide them as he threatened, "Vera, be honest with me or risk losing your job, do you know this lady?"

Raising both her hands, Vera swore,

"I promise you Sir, that I’ve never ever seen this lady before. I swear on my mom’s grave"

"That’s alright, Vera. You can take your leave" he said, waving her away.

It was shocking to see a glimpse of humanity in him. He believed her, but at what cost? Making her remember a tragedy just so he could know she wasn’t lying. Humanity, my foot! This man wasn’t human.

"You," he said, turning and pointing at me even as I murmured softly to the departing silhouette in red.

"I didn’t mean to hurt you or remind you of something you didn’t want to remember"

"Be honest with me or risk an arrest because I don’t take it lightly with

people lying to me. How did you know all that? Who in this company shared these things with you? Remember I hate liars" he hissed, snapping my gaze away from Vera who against all propriety, answered me with her middle finger raised in a ’fuck you’ before closing the door.

This was his fault. How could he be so cruel? I never intended to make an enemy out of Vera, if I was going to get this job, that’s the last thing I needed. Matching his coldness, I hissed back,

"Shocked, right? Let me assure you, most times I’m shocked myself by the things I read, but no one told me anything about Vera before I came here. In fact, this is my first encounter with her. So what’s it going to be, believe me or arrest me?" I finished, daring him as I held out both hands.

I tried not to give in to the voice saying,

"Stupid girl, was that really necessary? If he arrests you now, we both know Alicia would leave you there to rot"

"Sofia Blake," he mused and my breath caught, "if you are truly speaking the truth, why don’t you convince me by throwing that spotlight on yourself," at my puzzled expression because those weren’t what I was expecting. He added, "read yourself, Sofia".