Beneath the Mask

When the past calls

Chapter five-

Sophie POV

The sharp trill of my alarm jolted me awake, cutting through the haze of restless sleep. Another day, another long grind in the world of James Blackwood. I dragged myself out of bed, dressing quickly in a navy pencil skirt and a white blouse—simple, professional, forgettable.

At 7:25 AM, I was already stationed outside waiting for James , holding his bag and his coffee. My routine was etched into muscle memory: greet him, follow him to his private quarters as he prepared for the day, and deliver his schedule. It wasn’t glamorous, but it was predictable and my usual routine.

When James appeared at precisely 7:30, his eyes were distant, brooding, a storm brewing just beneath the surface. He murmured a curt “Good morning,” and I followed him as he strode into his office, his steps purposeful and brisk.

“Your first meeting is with Delnut Enterprises in thirty minutes,” I began as I placed his coffee on the desk. “After that, you have a working lunch with the finance team—”

The door flew open, cutting me off mid-sentence. My chest tightened as she entered. Stella Ashford. Clad in a fiery red suit that screamed power and privilege, she swept into the room with the grace of someone who had never been told no.

“Good morning, darling,” she purred, walking straight toward James, her stilettos clicking like a countdown.

James stiffened, his irritation palpable. Before I could step back, Stella leaned in, aiming to kiss him. He caught her wrist and pushed her back gently but firmly.

“What are you doing, Stella?” His voice was sharp, slicing through the tension. “And how many times do I have to tell you to knock before barging in?”

Stella blinked, her confidence faltering for the briefest moment before she composed herself. “Oh, come now, James. I don’t need permission to visit my fiancé,” she said smoothly, ignoring his scowl.

James’ gaze darkened, and he snapped his fingers toward the door. “Martha!” he bellowed.

The receptionist appeared in the doorway, trembling under his glare. “Y-Yes, Mr. Blackwood?”

“Why did you let her in without announcing her?” he barked.

He said in a mean tone , “Do I pay you to be stupid or don’t you know your job anymore?”

Martha stammered, trying to explain, “I… I tried, but Ms. Stella insisted—”

“Enough,” he cut her off, his tone icy. “If you can’t follow simple rules, you’re done here. Pack your things now and don’t come back.”

My stomach dropped as Martha’s face crumpled, but she nodded and fled, knowing there was no use arguing.

James turned back to me, his mood still smoldering. “Why did you stop reading the schedule?” he snapped.

I blinked, taken aback. “I thought—”

“You thought?” His tone was cutting. “I don’t pay you to think, Sophie. I pay you to do your job. Now, finish.”

I clenched my fists, swallowing the words bubbling up my throat. “You have to leave for the meeting now, Mr. Blackwood,” I said evenly, refusing to let him see how rattled I was.

“Then go prepare the car,” he barked, dismissing me with a wave of his hand.

I turned and left, my chest tightening as I heard his raised voice behind me. Stella must have said something, igniting his infamous temper. Their arguments were nothing new; the entire office knew James couldn’t stand her, despite their arranged engagement. Still, hearing it unfold again made the air in the office feel suffocating.

By the time I returned from arranging his transport, James was calmer, though the tension lingered like smoke. He handed me a folder without looking at me.

“You’ll go to Singapore tomorrow for the Magnate Global summit,” he said.

“Me?” I blinked, startled.

“Yes, you,” he snapped, irritation flickering in his tone. “I have other priorities.”

I wanted to argue, but his expression brooked no disagreement. Nodding, I left his office, exhaustion weighing on me like a heavy coat.

The sight of my apartment’s warm lights felt like a balm to my frayed nerves. Fiona greeted me at the door, her wide grin an immediate contrast to the day’s chaos.

“Why are you so happy?” I asked, dropping my bag by the couch.

Her smile grew even wider. “We’re rich!”

I frowned, confusion knitting my brow. “What are you talking about?”

Fiona practically bounced on her toes. “The man from last night—James—he paid for your services for an entire year!”

I froze, the air sucked from the room. “What?”

“Yes!” she exclaimed, practically glowing. “And you won’t believe how much—”

“You accepted?” My voice rose, cutting through her excitement.

“Of course, I did! Sophie, this is life-changing money!”

I felt my face flush with anger. “I don’t care how much it is, Fiona. You need to give it back. Right now.”

Her smile faltered, confusion replacing her glee. “Why? Don’t you realize what this means? You’ll never have to work under him again!”

“That’s exactly the problem,” I snapped. My heart pounded in my chest as panic began to set in. James Blackwood wasn’t a man who gave anything without strings attached. And if Fiona had accepted on my behalf…

Fiona crossed her arms, her tone defensive now. “Why are you so upset? He obviously loves your voice—”

“It’s not about work!” I interrupted, my voice trembling. “You don’t understand what he’s capable of. Giving him control over anything in my life—” I broke off, shaking my head. “Just… return the money, Fiona.”

She sighed, exasperated. “You’re overreacting.”

“No, I’m not,” I said firmly. My mind was spinning, the walls of my carefully compartmentalized world threatening to collapse. “Promise me, Fiona. Promise me you’ll give it back.”

Fiona hesitated, her stubborn expression softening slightly. But before she could respond, my phone buzzed on the table.

I glanced at the screen and felt my stomach drop.

It was him.

Richard Liam.

His name sent shivers down my spine. He’s back!

Fiona’s eyes widened as she saw the name. “Aren’t you going to answer?”

I shook my head, fear coursing through me like ice.

The phone stopped ringing. Then, seconds later, a message flashed across the screen.

“You’ll regret ignoring me.”

I stared at the words, my breath hitching and hands trembling in fear. What does he want from me now? How do I escape this?