The Virgin Bride

Envy

"I thought that time was convenient for you to get to know your husband and learn to love him," she expressed while taking a seat next to me as if she owned the place.

I would have loved to kick her out at that moment and force her to leave if I had to, since I couldn't trust her and even less my father. For me, my family had practically died the day they both handed me over in marriage to a stranger. But in a way, I was curious to hear what her excuse was for showing her face there.

“Why did you come?" I questioned, convinced that her intentions weren't exactly to catch up with my life. It was already too late for her and me to pretend to be sisters, so there had to be something hidden in her visit. “And how did you know I'd be here?”

“Please, you're Christine Love. It's easy to know where you'll be when you have so many fans who adore you. I just had to pretend to be one of them to get the information I needed.”

It was true that as my fame increased, my private life was becoming more and more invaded by all those who wanted to know a little more beyond my brand or my products. It was as if they wanted me to do a reality show of my life so they could live it too. But beyond what could be seen on social media, my life wasn't all luxury and travel. It was also a lot of work and exhaustion. I really enjoyed myself and worked excessively.

"Alright," I said, leaning back to get a better view of the place, just to find out if someone wasn't watching or if my sister had the audacity to bring a paparazzi who could photograph me with her. Perhaps to reveal something about me or even to blackmail me. I couldn't trust Sophie. "Tell me what you want, because if you went to the trouble of doing all that, I suppose you're looking for something from me.”

Sophie smiled while pretending to read the menu in front of her. She slightly raised her gaze and immediately snapped her fingers to call a waiter, which I found to be in very poor taste since there was no need to do that. There was a small button on the table to call a waiter without bothering other people. But apparently, Sophie, who always boasted about her comings and goings around the world, had no idea about that.

I tried to ignore the waiter's annoyance when he arrived at our table and Sophie ordered something to eat, a salad and a lemon drink with alcohol. Of course, I put it on my tab, which, although annoying, I had to endure because now I was supposed to be a public figure and had to avoid at all costs that Sophie's provocations affecting my career. If those were her intentions.

"If you're so eager for me to get to the point, I'll tell you," she said once we were alone, crossing her legs very proud of herself. “I want to be a model for your brand.”

I looked at her perplexed and for a few seconds, tried to imagine her on my brand's i********: account. She contrasted with all the beautiful photographs of my products and not because of her beauty, but because my brand was my own image. What on earth was Sophie thinking?

As expected, I let out a small mocking laugh, that should be enough for my sister to understand what my answer was.

"What are you laughing at?" she complained and frowned.

"At how ridiculous your request sounds," I expressed this time without an ounce of mercy in my words. I had already endured a lot from her, and I wasn't going to fulfill any of her stupid whims. Sophie looked at me a bit perplexed, though not entirely surprised.

"I knew you would refuse," she expressed with a satisfied smile, which made me believe that Sophie wasn't so foolish as to come to me with such a proposal without having a way to convince me. Perhaps blackmail or maybe something in return.

"If you knew what the answer would be, why did you risk coming?"I asked, somewhat irritated. I should have guessed that Sophie had some leverage from our father. He always had an ace up his sleeve.

"I want to propose something," Sophie suggested. But she fell silent when the waiter brought her order to the table, which I had to admit looked appetizing, even if it was just a salad. "How about we work together?

I let out a laugh.

"You and me? Why? We've never been good sisters. In fact, calling us sisters is a stretch. Let's just say acquaintances. Why would I want to work with you?”

"Because if you accept, I'll tell you the reason why our father decided to marry you off to that philandering businessman," Sophie revealed with a certain malice as she finished speaking. I looked at her, somewhat interested in her proposal. But what good would knowing that do me now?

The only thing I was really interested in, and why I was determined to keep working until I got that damn interview, was my revenge. After that, I would start my divorce proceedings and try to forget who my family had been and who the hell Arthur Sallow was. I didn't need to know their reasons, and I certainly didn't need to know my father's reasons, so Sophie could go to hell as far as I was concerned.

"I don't need to know such a thing, and, of course, I don't need someone like you, not even because you're supposedly my sister, as my birth certificate claims. So you can go back the same way you came and stick your proposal where the sun doesn't shine," I said with a calmness that even surprised me. "And just to be clear, if you had been a better sister, if you hadn't allowed them to take away my freedom and much less use me as a damn toy they could pick up or throw away whenever they wanted, maybe, just maybe, I would have considered it. But since you're a heartless witch, my answer is no.”