Chapter 2 The Proposal

Sophia stood in the luxurious lobby of Walker Industries, her nerves jangling. She had agreed to meet with Aaron, though every fiber of her being screamed that this was a mistake. She smoothed her hands over her skirt, trying to appear composed, but inside, her stomach churned. Aaron Walker was intimidating on the best of days, and today, she had to convince him to marry her. As she was led to his office, she rehearsed her words in her mind, knowing that Aaron wasn't the kind of man who liked surprises-especially not surprises like this.

Aaron was seated behind his sleek, modern desk, reviewing documents with the intensity that had made him one of the most powerful men in the business world. When Sophia entered, his piercing blue eyes glanced up, and the faintest flicker of surprise crossed his usually unreadable face. "Sophia," he greeted her, his tone neutral. "I wasn't expecting you."

Sophia took a deep breath and began explaining. "Catherine... she's too ill to go through with the wedding. She doesn't want to let you down, and she doesn't want the company to suffer. But she can't... she can't marry you."

Aaron leaned back in his chair, his eyes narrowing as he listened. "And?" His voice was cold, demanding the point.

Sophia's hands trembled as she delivered the proposal. "She wants me to take her place. Temporarily. Just until she's better."

For a moment, there was silence in the room, the kind of silence that feels like the calm before a storm. Aaron's jaw clenched, and his eyes darkened as he stood up, looming over her with an intensity that made Sophia's heart race. "You're joking," he said flatly, his voice simmering with barely-contained anger. "This isn't a game, Sophia. I can't just switch fiancées like I'm changing business partners."

Sophia swallowed hard. "I know how this sounds, and believe me, I don't want this either. But you know how important this is for your company. For my family. Catherine trusts me, and she believes this is the only way to avoid a scandal."

Aaron's expression remained hard, but she could see the gears turning in his mind. He was a man who thrived on control, and this situation had thrown his carefully planned world into chaos. Finally, he sighed and pinched the bridge of his nose, muttering something under his breath. "You realize what you're asking, right? This won't be easy for either of us."

"I know," Sophia whispered, trying to ignore the flutter of fear in her chest. "But we don't have a choice."