THE RIVAL HEIR

CHAPTER 4:THE WRONG ANSWER

Victoria's Pov

I barely slept that night.Every time I closed my eyes, I saw the folder sitting on the conference table.PROPOSAL FOR A TEMPORARY PUBLIC ENGAGEMENT. It sounded ridiculous even in my head.By morning, I'd convinced myself it had all been a strange dream.Then my phone rang, reality came back."Morning," Sofia said.Victoria: "You sound far too cheerful."Sofia: "I've had coffee."Victoria: "I need at least two before I can deal with you."She laughed.Sofia: "Meet me for breakfast."Victoria: "I don't have time."Sofia: "You haven't eaten since yesterday."Victoria: "I had coffee."Sofia: "Victoria."I sighed.Victoria: "You always know exactly what to say to make me feel guilty."Sofia: "It's a gift."An hour later, I found myself sitting across from her in a quiet café a few blocks from the office.She slid a plate toward me.Sofia: "Eat."Victoria: "I don't like being ordered around."Sofia: "And yet you're doing it."I tore off a small piece of toast just to stop her from staring at me.Satisfied, she picked up her coffee.Sofia: "So..."I already knew where this was going.Victoria: "No."Sofia: "I haven't even said anything."Victoria: "You were about to."She smiled into her cup.Sofia: "You know me too well."Victoria: "I've had years of practice."For a few minutes we talked about everything except the meeting.The weather , a new restaurant opening downtown.A movie neither of us had time to watch.It felt nice.I hadn't realized how much I'd missed normal.Eventually, Sofia dropped her cup down.Sofia: "You've been thinking about the proposal."It wasn't a question.I looked out the window before answering.Victoria: "I hate that it's even an option."Sofia: "I know."Victoria: "I keep trying to come up with another solution."Sofia: "And?"I shook my head.Victoria: "So far, all I've come up with is winning the lottery."Sofia: "That would help."Victoria: "It would.”We both laughed, but it faded almost as quickly as it came."I'm not afraid of pretending," I admitted quietly."I'm afraid of what happens if it works."Sofia frowned."What do you mean?""If people believe it..." I looked down at my untouched breakfast. "What if I start believing parts of it too?"She didn't answer straight away.Instead, she watched me with the same thoughtful expression she'd worn since the gala.Sofia: "You don't know Alex very well."Victoria: "No."Sofia:"But you've never said he was a bad person."That caught me off guard.I'd called him frustrating, reserved, impossible to read. But never cruel."I don't know what to think about him anymore," I said honestly."He apologized.""I know.""And?"I let out a slow breath."And I believed he meant it."For some reason, saying those words out loud unsettled me more than I expected.Because if Alex hadn't wanted to hurt me...Then maybe things weren't as simple as I'd convinced myself they were.Before either of us could speak again, my phone buzzed on the table.The screen lit up with a message from an unknown number.We need to talk before your board meeting.—Alex CarterI stared at the message for several seconds.Sofia leaned forward."What is it?"Without saying a word, I turned the phone so she could read it.She looked back at me."What are you going to do?"I looked at the message again.I had no idea. I read the message again.It was only one sentence, yet somehow it made my morning feel even heavier."I'm guessing that's not a casual invitation for coffee," Sofia said.I shook my head."No.""Are you going to reply?"I wasn't sure.Part of me wanted to ignore it and pretend I'd never seen the message. That would be easier.But it hasn't solved a single problem lately.I typed a short reply.Where?The response came almost immediatelyThe café across from Carter Tower. I sighed."Well?""I'm going."Sofia studied me for a moment before nodding."Then don't let him control the conversation.""I'll try.”Alex was already there when I arrived.He sat near the window with a cup of black coffee in front of him. He looked up as I walked in and stood politely."Thanks for coming.""I almost didn't.""I know."I pulled out the chair across from him but didn't touch the menu.Victoria: "I don't have much time."Alex: "I'll get straight to the point."That sounded familiar.Victoria: "What is it?"He rested his hands on the table.Alex: "My father isn't telling you everything."I frowned.Victoria: "What does that mean?”Alex: "The engagement wasn't his first idea."I stared at him.Victoria: "What are you talking about?"Alex: "He wanted to buy the rest of Neuman Hotels outright."The words settled heavily between us.Victoria: "And?"Alex: "I convinced him not to."I searched his face, looking for some sign that he was joking.There wasn't one.Victoria: "Why?"He looked down at his coffee before answering.Alex: "Because I knew what the company meant to you."For a second, I forgot what to say.I hadn't expected that answer.Victoria: "I don't need your sympathy."Alex: "It's not sympathy."Victoria: "Then what is it?"His eyes met mine.Alex: "I don't want to see your family lose everything."Something about the way he said it made me believe him.That was the problem.Believing him felt dangerous.I looked away first.Victoria: "You barely know me."Alex: "I know enough."The silence that followed wasn't awkward.It was uncertain.Like we were both trying to figure out where this conversation was supposed to go.Finally, I stood.Victoria: "I still haven't decided about the proposal.""I'm not asking you to, I just wanted you to hear the truth from me before someone else changed it."I picked up my bag."I appreciate your honesty."The words surprised both of us.As I turned to leave, his voice stopped me one last time."Victoria." I looked back."If you decide to walk away..."He paused."I won't blame you."I held his gaze for a moment before giving a small nod.Then I walked out of the café.For the first time since all of this had started, I wasn't sure Alex Carter was the person I should be afraid of.And somehow, that frightened me even more.