Vows of fortune

The choice

The cold hospital room reverberated with the steady beep of machines. Sophia was sitting by her father's bedside holding his frail hand as the fluorescent lights above her buzzed softly. From his arms, tubes were connected. Her fingers shook. "I'm in pain. Don't leave me to bear this burden alone." All she got was silence. His once powerful hand, a steady guide that had steered her through the tumultuous waters of both life and business, now felt fragile and insubstantial, like glass. The warmth and strength she had always associated with him seemed to have evaporated, leaving behind a chilling stillness that made her heart ache. Each moment that passed was heavy with unspoken words and unresolved feelings, amplifying the emptiness that surrounded them. A sharp knock on the door suddenly shattered the oppressive silence, pulling her back to reality. Instinctively, Sophia reached up to wipe her face dry, her movements hurried and frantic. She couldn't bear the thought of anyone seeing her in this vulnerable state, tears marking a weakness she was desperate to conceal. She took a deep breath, steadying herself, as she prepared to face the world once more, determined to hide the storm of emotions brewing within. A nurse peered in. "It's time for his medication, Miss Bennett." With a nod, Sophia got up. "Give me a call if anything changes." Her heels echoed like a countdown through the hallway outside the room. 24 hours. Adrian Drake gave her that. She had twenty-four hours to make the decision to sell herself, her future, and her name in order to preserve her father's legacy. Or watch as everything burns. Under silence, chaos simmered back at the Bennett estate. Another email reminding everyone of the emergency meeting in 48 hours had been sent by the board. Another shareholder had withdrawn. A refund was requested by another investor. She poured a glass of wine for herself but it remained unfinished. She entered her father's study which was dust-lined wood-paneled and unaltered since the scandal. The wall had a newspaper clipping pinned to it like a scar. "Amidst the chaos, the CEO of Bennett Global was hospitalized after being implicated in a corruption scandal." In the picture, her father was seen being led out of a courtroom looking pale and gaunt. There was another article next to it, this one with the name of Adrian's cousin Julian. Julian Drake: New face of corporate rescue? Sophia's jaw tightened. She recalled that day like a dream how the leak had spread like wildfire and how Julian had stepped out to the spotlight in a matter of hours shedding crocodile tears and evasive assurances to help stabilize the company. How ironic that Julian's department was the source of the leaked documents. She did not have evidence. Just her instinct. And she was pushed out by the board despite her instincts. Hands trembling, she slid into her chair and opened the envelope Adrian had handed her. The conditions of the proposed marriage were laid out in clear white pages inside. A business agreement not a love affair. Absence of a physical connection. No emotional entanglements. Making public appearances together. They would split up assets intact after the one-year contract expired. Adrian Drake. Billionaire. Brutal. Julian's most formidable rival. The man was now offering her a lifeline which suspiciously resembled a golden cage. Sophia closed her eyes and reclined. Was this the price she had to pay to survive? She went to see her father again later that night. He was hardly awake at all. In the hopes of a glimpse of reaction, she kept a close eye on his face. "I am aware of what people will say if I take this action. That I'm weak. That I gave up." The rain hammered the window more forcefully. However, it doesn't matter what they think. "All I want is to safeguard what you created. I'd like to fight. Even at the risk of somewhat losing myself." Squeezing his hand she sobbed. She let a tear fall down her cheek. Leaving the hospital, she entered the waiting car. When the driver finally arrived at the Drake mansion, the clock was nearing midnight. The grand structure loomed over the city like an impenetrable fortress, its steel and glass façade gleaming ominously under the moonlight. The stark lines of the building seemed to reflect the coldness of the night, a fitting backdrop for the emotional turmoil brewing within her. Sophia stepped out of the vehicle, the chill of the evening air biting at her skin. She was clad in a sleek black coat draped over her silk blouse, the fabric whispering secrets of elegance but now feeling almost weightless against her. Tonight, she had chosen to forgo makeup, to abandon the façade that usually cloaked her in confidence. There would be no mask, no artifice; she simply wanted to be herself, raw and unfiltered. As she glided toward the elevator, the soft click of her heels echoed in the stillness, each step a reminder of the weight of her decision. The elevator doors slid open, and she stepped inside, her heart racing with every ascent. The remaining seconds before she crossed the threshold into the unknown felt palpable, each ding of the elevator serving as a countdown to a confrontation she both dreaded and craved. This was it-there was no turning back now. Her pulse raced. A sleek dark hallway was revealed as the elevator doors slid open. Ahead, the penthouse door was waiting closed, and imposing. She lifted her fist and gave one knock. The door opened in an instant. Adrian Drake this time without a tie stood there. He only had that same cool unreadable expression and a dark shirt. He appeared unsurprised. "You're right on time," he said. Sophia blew out a breath. "I had trouble falling asleep." " I couldn't either." He moved out of the way. She entered. The penthouse was opulent and peaceful. Each surface was polished. Each line is clear. "Have you read the contract," he asked. "Yes " "And?" "I have my terms," she said Adrian cocked his head. "You'll ensure that my father's name is cleared of all accusations," she stated in a firm voice. "The whole scandal and lies of embezzling funds while he was a partner at your company." He nodded a little. "Then it's settled." Sophia drew in some air. "I will marry you." Adrian remained unfazed. "By morning I'll have the paperwork ready." She nodded. But the moment she agreed, something inside of her changed. She felt as though she had signed away the last aspect of herself that was optimistic about happy endings. This wasn't affection. Not even loyalty was involved. More like a business transaction. She turned and gazed out at the city through the glass windows. The horizon was endless. While lives continued in a thousand buildings with blinking lights, hers was stuck in a deal that was unthinkable just a year ago. Adrian approached her and stood next to her his hands in his pockets. Silently he stated. " Once this goes public there's no turning back. I know people will hate you. They will watch every move you make. Then she looked at him. "Alright. I am ready." For the first time since they first met he gave her a serious look at that moment. "You're not what I expected." "I get that a lot." For a few seconds, they stood silent. Then Adrian went to the bar and got a drink for himself. He lifted the glass toward her. "To us and a blissful marriage." She smirked. "You mean a successful business transaction because this doesn't feel like a marriage."