Chapter 2 Clash of Ego

Leaving the bathroom, I slipped into a light pink silk pair of sleeping shorts and a matching spaghetti strap top before settling in my bed. Grabbing my laptop, I began my research about Andrew Arthur.

His image adorned the tabloids regularly, labeled as a 'billionaire bad boy bachelor' spotted regularly with numerous women at nightclubs and bars. Scandal upon scandal unfolded, however, each seemed to disclose the same trite information. Digging deeper, I was continuously taken aback by the new information surfacing. Reportedly, he faced several lawsuits due to his ruthless and relentless behavior in business, as well as towards women. Of course, all of those had been conveniently brushed under the carpet using money and bribery, common among the wealthy elite.

He was often dubbed as 'Satan', known for arrogance, vanity, egocentrism, and domineering behavior. Again, these attributes seemed fairly widespread among the boys and men in my social circle, especially at my high school. Having read enough, I ended my research. Cruel and ruthless, I was resolute in not marrying him. However, I I knew I had to do something when a ringtone I recognized played. Panic engulfed me - Mark, my perfect boyfriend whom I was deeply in love with, was calling. A maelstrom of worries, thoughts beset me but realized I had to answer the call.

"Managed to get home safe?" Mark's voice was sweet and refreshing, almost a balm.

"Yeah, my parents haven't materialized, so I'm preparing to retire for the night. We can talk in the morning at school, okay?" I found myself weaving a lie so effortlessly.

"Absolutely, sleep well," Mark responded even more warmly.

Immediately after the call ended, I buried my face into my pillow. A thought suddenly struck - will I still go to school, especially once I'm... married?! The mere utterance of the word pained me, but I realized that I might ruin my reputation if anyone at school discovered my impending marriage.

The exhaustion of my tears now manifested as a stinging sensation in my eyes and a throbbing headache. My phone rang again - a reassuring ringtone that instantly helped soothe me. I answered the FaceTime to talk to Anna, my best friend. Seeing my tear-streaked and swollen face, she was immediately filled with fury, assuming Mark had upset me. I laughed at her assumption and provided her with all the details. It felt like a load lifted off my shoulders, finally confiding in someone, particularly my closest friend who I knew would be supportive in this challenging time. Her shock was equal to mine, but she remained calm and assured me. Not long after I recounted the happenings, she suggested she had an idea."

"'Let's seek him out on social media. He's got to be somewhere; he's still relatively young,' Sophia proposed with a notable desperation creeping into her tone. Our plan was divided with me being responsible for Instagram, and she was covering Twitter and Facebook. I engaged my Instagram and saw my public account had just amassed over 10,000 followers. Browsing through the photos of myself in figure-hugging dresses and swimwear, I shuddered at the notion of so many people having access to such personal visuals, yet I had to preserve the image I had so meticulously crafted and now, more than ever, stick to the mission at hand.

Exiting my profile, I initiated a search for Andrew Arthur. Numerous profiles with the same name appeared, none were his. I reiterated my search several times, but Andrew Arthur appeared to be absent from Instagram altogether. 'Any luck?' I sought Anna progress anxiously. 'None, he hasn't left any digital footprint on neither Facebook nor Twitter. Did your search on Instagram yield anything?' she responded with discernible despair in her voice. 'No,' I admitted dejectedly.

We continued our conversation for a bit longer and decided to rendezvous before school to further discuss the situation. We both hung up, ready to appease our minds with sleep. I leaned back, clapped my hands to extinguish the lights, and was enveloped by darkness. Drifting my eyes closed, I sought refuge from this unanticipated reality, now my new norm."

My eyes darted open, disturbed by the incessant ringing of my alarm. I snatched my phone to check the time - 7:30 AM. Understanding the severity of my time crisis, I scrambled out of bed in haste, pulling on my plaid uniform skirt, a white blouse, and a blue sweater. Dashingly, I entered the bathroom, brushed through my long, dark hair, and applied a light coat of mascara on my lashes. Lip gloss was hastily spread across my lips as I sprinted down the hallway towards the elevator, set for school. 'Sophia,' my father's stern voice called out, forcing me to turn and face him while pressing the button for the elevator. 'Make sure you're home right after school today, there will be serious penalties for tardiness,' his hostile tone sent a chill down my spine. As the elevator door opened, I hopped in quickly. 'Ok,' I managed to respond just before the doors closed. I bolted through the lobby of my apartment just skimming past the doors when I heard Kent call out, 'Good morning, Miss Sophia.' I returned the greeting with a wave as I continued my jog down the street towards my school. Despite its proximity of only a few blocks, by the time I arrived, I was barely five minutes early. Panting slightly, I jogged over to Anna. 'Hey, we agreed to meet before school, not five minutes before it starts,' she playfully chided. 'I overslept, sorry!' I managed to reply, a cheeky grin gracing my face. 'Let's hurry up!' She urged, grabbing my hand to lead me towards the entrance of the school. Our friends flocked us immediately, sharing tales about a new club. My eyes scanned the hallway until I found Mark. Making a beeline for him, he greeted me with a soft kiss. His friends teased him while making funny faces at him. 'Hey, guys,' I responded with a tone of faux arrogance, resulting in them bowing down mockingly to feign adulation. This jest, a running trend since the last week, caused laughter to bubble out of me. I snatched one of their footballs and attempted to run away before Mark intercepted me, pulling me in for a kiss and retrieving the ball from my grip.