A Wife for the Billionaire
Chapter 70: SOFIA

Chapter 70: SOFIA

There is a saying about knowing a man by knowing his story. Like in reading about a man’s life, one could I don’t know become more relatable to him, because he understands the journey taken to get where he was.

I thought I knew Anna Wintour. I thought I knew her story, but after last night’s research, it’s clear I didn’t even know her.

Anna Wintour was born in London, England, to Charles Wintour, a newspaper editor, and Eleanor Baker, an American socialite. Her early life was marked by:

1. Exposure to journalism and publishing through her father.

2. Developing a passion for fashion, influenced by her mother’s style.

3. Struggling with dyslexia, which fueled her determination.

Anna began her career in fashion at:

1. Harrods (London) as a junior fashion editor.

2. Bogue (London) as a fashion assistant.

3. New City Magazine as a fashion editor.

4. Bogue (US) as creative director, eventually becoming Editor-in-Chief in recent times.

Her rise to prominence was marked by:

1. Innovative styling and visual direction.

2. Championing emerging designers ( Sarc Jacobs, Melinda McQueen).

3. Revitalizing Bogue’s brand, increasing circulation and influence.

4. Becoming an iconic figure in fashion, after taking my advice. Last year, New City magazine had ranked her number 5 in their "Most dressed female Bosses" issue.

Anna’s personal life has been:

1. Marked by high-profile relationships. She dated Xavier Riggs, the popular NBA star, before Collins McMillan, one of the greatest romance writers of the 21st century stole her heart and walked her down the aisle.

2. Dedicated to her daughter, Beth McMillan and Lee, her British shorthair cat.

3. Characterized by intense focus on her career.

During the course of her career, Anna has faced:

1. Criticism for promoting unrealistic beauty standards.

2. Accusations of being demanding and difficult.

3. Backlash for Bogue’s lack of diversity.

4. The pressure of being the only female Editor-in-Chief since the New City branch was opened a decade ago.

I had finished telling her about my own story of somehow getting roped into saving a man’s job by potentially saving a company as well.

She was yet to say anything, her face betrayed no expression apart from the slight crook of her eyebrows hinting at her being in thoughts.

After last night, I developed more respect for her. From a girl struggling with dyslexia, Anna had conquered the world. Her story was my latest inspiration and I’m going to strive to get to a point in my life that another girl out there would take it as an inspiration.

It’s hard to even recall that she had dyslexia, she didn’t wear glasses and yet her sight was considered more than accurate. Perhaps there’s a story on that, after all not all deets can be found online.

"So, let me get this straight," she said after minutes of stalled silence, "you found yourself in this situation because you simply spoke up about the absurdity of a man losing his job for simply following orders, right?"

A nod.

Swallowing the pink liquid in her glass, she added,

"I heard the guy’s a monster, but didn’t take him to be the devil. Honestly, Sofia I don’t know what you want me to do, agreeing to write about Wellington’s upcoming collection after series of rejection, doesn’t seem like the best thing to do, even if a man’s job is at stake. In fact, that’s more reason not to even consider it."

"I know, I know, but_"

"Do you though?" She interrupted, "Cause genuinely, I wonder if you still remember how we run things here, we don’t publish what we are asked to, we only publish what we want to. I have worked with the Wellingtons ever since I became the Editor-in-Chief, even before that boy became the CEO. Me and his dad had an understanding, Bogue was to be the first magazine to release any news about the Fashion Empire, but ever since that boy took over, it’s as if we’ve been going after crumbs left by other magazines and I can’t have that."

Of course, he failed to maintain the relationship, classic Richard’s move.

And now, he had me here begging for something he had destroyed by his own

ego.

"Listen Anna, I’m not saying you should do it for him, the narcissist prick doesn’t deserve it. Do it for your readers, for your fans out there who have been waiting for a Bogue confirmation of the new collection, because you know if Bogue hasn’t written about it, it’s still a rumor. Besides, you know any issue with Wellington news sells better and faster than other issues" I offered in hope of getting her to change her mind.

"I know what you’re doing, and you almost had me, Sofia. Using my readers and our legacy as oars to sway me_"

"I meant no disrespect," I cut in, "and I wasn’t like using it-using it, if you know what I mean"

"I do actually, and I admire you for making such a move, it shows you would do better with more resources, perhaps even more than I did. You know I want that for you, to succeed, to be great, to make a name for yourself and to be among the few powerful women of our era. I wrote that letter of recommendation in hopes that it would open doors for you, and in all this, I’m yet to hear anything about your own job."

Anna was smart, I knew she would go there, no matter how sketchy I was about it.

"Yes, the devil kinda offered me a job if I manage to convince you, but I didn’t tell you because I’m not so sure I would be taking it."

"And why is that?"

"Because someone already has the job, this kind sweet guy I met yesterday, and I think it would be cruel to take it from him." I said, averting my eyes.

"Hear yourself Sofia, who still cares about morals and all that shit. Life is a compromise and you gotta be willing to do whatever it takes. Now, let me ask you, if the tables were turned, do you think that this sweet guy would even blink before snatching the job from you?"

"Honestly I don’t think he would, he had even asked Richard to give me the job during his own interview. He did that for me, something I don’t get often"

"And what was the result, isn’t he the one with the job? That a man did something for you, doesn’t mean he’s good. If he had wanted to really do it for you, he would’ve stood his ground, but what did he do?, he snatched up the job for himself. My dear, wake up, men are all like that, reeling you with a sliver of goodness only to stab you in the back once you are in their arms."

I wanted to point out that I was mostly to blame for not getting the job, but that last part seemed a bit personal.

"You are talking about your husband, aren’t you?" I dared ask.

She rose then, sniffing back tears she desperately didn’t want to shed.

"I don’t want to talk about him" was all she said, as she dabbed her eyes with a wipe.

"Sorry, I didn’t mean to pry. It’s just that he’s no longer in any of the photos in your desk and I had wanted to ask, before the whole Ken issue. I’m really sorry."

I felt like slapping myself, once again my mouth was doing it, trying to put me in trouble and cost me these minutes of progress I think I’ve gathered.

"It’s okay, I don’t know why I still allow myself to get all teared up for the fool. It’s been a year after our divorce, he claimed I wasn’t giving him the romance he imagined simply because I was doing better at my job."

Sitting back down, she went on,

"This was after you called me out on my shit and no, I don’t blame you. He was more comfortable with the insecure me, that lady who doubted herself and cared about what people think. He started withdrawing after I regained my confidence, after I took back my power. His books weren’t selling much and he blamed it on me rather than outrightly saying he was jealous of my success. The fool didn’t even attend my ’Editor-in-Chief of the year’ award presentation, and two months later he divorced me. Now, it’s just me, my beautiful girl and my cat, and you know what, fuck him, cause I’m going to do and receive so much more. So, you see, men can’t be trusted, no matter how good they seem at first."

"Well, that’s his loss, cause you are definitely not on your pinnacle yet_"

"Preach" she toned, refilling her glass.

"And who knows, the man who would be proud of your success might be on his way"

Waving her index in disapproval as she drank, she said when she set down the glass,

"Uh uh, we don’t do that. I don’t intend to ever entangled myself with any man again, sure, I would have fun from time to time, but other than that, count me out"

"I don’t even know why I said that, my life problems today, are basically as a result of unhealthy decisions my mom made for a man, so I know firsthand that men are scum"

"So, tell me, are you willing to take the job?"

For her to ask such a question meant that she was considering my request and wasn’t I already planning to sabotage Cole?

"Fuck it, of course I’ll take the job"

"Now, you’re talking. Fill your glass, let’s toast to a way forward"

I did as I was told,

"Now cheers to sabotaging men like they do to us, Fuck Men!"

Clicking my glass to hers, I cheered loud,

"Fuck Men!".