The Enemy I Married

“They’re not waiting anymore.” Ellie dropped the folder on the table hard enough to make the glasses jump. Sophia kept her hands flat on the wood and forced her voice to stay even. “How long?” “Forty-eight hours. Sterling matched Voss Global’s offer an hour ago. The board is ready to fold.” Sophia looked at the numbers again. Red across every column. Payroll due Friday. Three vendors already threatening legal action. She had spent six months cutting costs and chasing contracts. None of it had been enough. “I can still talk to the lenders,” she said. Ellie let out a short laugh. “You tried that last month. They smiled and said no. You’re not your father, Sophia. Stop acting like you are.” The door opened. Marcus stepped in, still wearing his jacket from the train. He glanced at the folder, then at Sophia’s face. “I came as soon as I got your text. How bad?” “Bad enough that Ellie wants the sale signed by Friday,” Sophia said. Marcus sat beside her. “We still have options. I can call a few people—” “No.” Ellie cut him off. “The board already voted this morning in closed session. They want a clean exit. Voss Global is the highest bidder.” Sophia’s stomach dropped. “You held a vote without me.” “You’re the creative director, not the majority shareholder. Not yet.” Ellie tapped the table with one finger. “Robert left the voting shares in trust. Until the board certifies you as ready, I control them. And I’m not certifying a woman who freezes every time someone raises their voice.” Heat climbed Sophia’s neck. She kept her eyes on the papers so no one would see her face. “I’m not freezing. I’m trying to keep people employed.” “Then accept the deal,” Ellie said. “Voss keeps the staff for six months. That’s more than Sterling will offer.” Marcus leaned forward. “Alex Voss doesn’t keep staff. He guts companies and sells the pieces. You know that.” Ellie shrugged. “Then find another buyer by tomorrow night. Otherwise we sign.” Sophia stood and walked to the window. Brooklyn traffic moved below the warehouse. She could see the corner of the old print floor where her father used to walk every morning. She pressed her fingers against the glass and tried to steady her breathing. She had spent her whole life making herself smaller so other people could be comfortable. It had never protected anything that mattered. “I’ll talk to them,” she said. Ellie stood and picked up her bag. “You do that. There’s a charity gala tonight at the Metropolitan. Half the board will be there. So will Alex Voss. If you’re serious about saving this place, show up and convince him we’re worth more alive than dead. Don’t embarrass us.” She left without waiting for an answer. Marcus waited until the door clicked shut. “You don’t have to go.” “Yes I do.” Sophia turned from the window. “If I stay home they’ll say I ran.” “Alex Voss isn’t going to negotiate with you in a ballroom.” “Then I’ll make him.” The words came out thinner than she wanted. Her phone buzzed on the table. An email from an address she didn’t recognize. **From:** a.voss@vossglobal.com **Subject:** Hale Media Sophia opened it. *Be at the Metropolitan by eight. We should talk before the board does something permanent. — A.V.* Marcus read over her shoulder. “He already knows.” Sophia locked the screen. Her hands were steady only because she was gripping the phone too hard. Maya was waiting in the hallway with two coffees. She took one look at Sophia’s face and handed her a cup. “Board meeting went great, I see.” “Ellie gave me until tomorrow night. Voss Global or nothing.” Maya fell into step beside her toward the elevators. “So what’s the plan?” “There’s a gala tonight. He’s going to be there.” Maya stopped walking. “You’re going to walk up to Alexander Voss at a black-tie event and ask him not to buy your company?” “I’m going to try.” “Sophia.” Maya lowered her voice. “That man doesn’t do favors. He does acquisitions. And from everything I’ve read, he still blames your father for that lawsuit five years ago.” Sophia hit the elevator button. “I know.” “Then why—” “Because if I don’t show up, Ellie wins. And every person on the second floor loses their job by Christmas.” The elevator doors opened. They stepped inside. Maya watched her for a long second. “You look like you’re about to throw up.” “I feel like it.” “Good. Means you’re still sane.” Maya took a sip of coffee. “I’ll come with you. Someone has to stop you from apologizing for breathing.” Sophia almost smiled. “You hate those events.” “I hate watching you get walked on more.” They reached the ground floor. Sophia’s phone buzzed again. A new message from an unknown number. She opened it while Maya paid for the coffees. *Your stepmother already signed a letter of intent with Sterling this afternoon. The gala is theater. The real deal closes Friday whether you show up or not. — a friend* Sophia stopped in the middle of the lobby. Maya almost walked into her. “What?” Sophia showed her the screen. Maya read it twice. “Is that true?” “I don’t know.” “Call the trust attorney. Right now.” Sophia’s thumb hovered over the phone. Her pulse was too loud in her ears. If the message was real, Ellie had already sold them out while sitting across the table and pretending there was still time. If it was fake, someone wanted her scared and off-balance before she faced Alex Voss. Either way, the forty-eight hours Ellie had given her were a lie. Sophia looked at the glass doors that led to the street. The city kept moving like nothing had changed. She put the phone in her bag and pushed the door open. “We’re still going,” she said. Maya followed her out. “Sophia—” “If Ellie already signed, then Alex Voss is the only person left who can stop it. I have to see him tonight.” She kept walking toward the subway, the second message burning in her pocket like a live wire. Behind her, Maya called her name once. Sophia didn’t turn around. She had less than four hours. And someone was already lying to her.