GILDED LIES

Chapter Two: The Blacklist

Fourteen days later

"I'm sorry, but we've decided to go with another candidate."

Sophie stared at the manager of Value Taste Pub, a dive bar that smelled like stale beer and broken dreams and felt her last thread of hope snap.

"Can I ask why?" she managed.

The manager, a middle aged man named Tony, looked uncomfortable. "Look, girl, you seem nice, but... word gets around, you know? Something about problems with a high class individual?"

Of course. Even here, in a place where the fanciest thing on the menu was a burger that came with actual vegetables, Alexander Sterling's influence had reached her.

Sophie walked out of the pub with no direction, her phone buzzing with yet another text from her mother.

Sophie, the hospital called about the payment plan. Can you call me tonight?

Sophie closed her eyes and leaned against the brick wall outside the pub. In two weeks, she has been turned down by seventeen restaurants, three coffee shops, two food trucks, and now a dive bar that probably violates health codes on the regular.

Her bank account had $157 in it. Her rent was due in five days. And her mother needed her next treatment payment by Thursday.

She was so screwed.

Sophie's phone rang, startling her out of her thoughts. Unknown number.

"Hello?"

"Ms. Anderson? This is James Morrison from Adobe, Webb and Associates. I represent Mr. Alexander Sterling."

Sophie's stomach dropped to somewhere around her knees. "If this is about pressing charges”

"Nothing like that. Mr. Sterling would like to meet with you. Are you available this afternoon?"

"Why would Alexander Sterling want to meet with me?" Sophie's voice came out sharper than she'd intended.

"I don't have those details, ma'am. But Mr. Sterling asked me to mention that it would be... financially beneficial for you to hear him out."

Sophie's grip tightened on the phone. She thought about her mother, about the stack of bills on her kitchen table, about the seventeen job rejections in the past two weeks.

"Where and when?

"The Crystal Hotel, penthouse suite. Four o'clock."

The line went dead, leaving Sophie staring at her phone in disbelief. What could Alexander Sterling possibly want with her? And why did the mention of financial benefit at this time?

Two hours later, Sophie stood outside the most expensive hotel in Manhattan, feeling like a bit nervous in her one good dress, a simple pink dress she had bought for job interviews back when she thought she will actually get hired somewhere.

The elevator to the penthouse felt like a ride to her own execution. When the doors opened, she was greeted by a man in an expensive suit who was definitely not Alexander Sterling.

"Ms. Anderson? I'm James Morrison. Thank you for coming."

The penthouse suite is really luxurious, the kind of place Sophie had only seen in movies. Floor-to-ceiling windows offered a breathtaking view of Central Park, and the furniture probably cost more than most people made in a year.

"Mr. Sterling will be with you shortly," Morrison said. "Can I offer you anything? Coffee? Wine?"

"I think I've thrown enough wine for one lifetime," Sophie muttered, then immediately regretted it when Morrison's eyebrows shot up. "Sorry. I'm not really sure why I'm here."

"I believe Mr. Sterling will explain everything."

As if summoned by his name, Alexander Sterling emerged from another room, and Sophie's breath caught in her throat.

She has forgotten how commanding his presence was. In the restaurant, she was too angry to fully appreciate the sharp line of his jaw, the way his dark hair was perfectly styled, the broad shoulders that filled out his black suit like it was tailored by the best craftmen

He was dangerously beautiful in the way that will make smart women do incredibly stupid things.

"Ms. Anderson." His voice was as smooth and intoxicating at the same. "Thank you for coming."

"I'm still not sure why I'm here," Sophie said, proud that her voice came out steady.

Sterling's lips curved in what might have been a smile. "How has your job search been progressing?"

Heat flooded Sophie's cheeks. "You know exactly how it's been progressing."

"I might have an idea, yes." Sterling moved to the bar and poured himself some wine, the casual gesture somehow making him seem more intimidating, not less.

"Tell me, Sophie. May I call you Sophie? what would you say if I told you I had a job offer for you?"

Sophie's laugh was bitter. "I'd say you've got a bad sense of humor."

Something in his tone made Sophie look at him more carefully. He seemed different from the man in the restaurant, less cold,and more... calculating? Like he was studying her, trying to figure out how to manipulate her.

"I think you should see this as a business proposal?" Alexander Sterling replied

“What kind of business proposal is this if I may ask” Sophie Inquired

Instead of answering, Sterling walked to the windows, his hands clasped behind his back. "What do you know about my family situation?"

"Only what everyone knows. Sterling Industries, tech empire, more money than some small countries."

"My father believes in control through any means necessary. Recently, he's decided I need to... settle down. To Provide stability for the company image."

Sophie frowned. "Okay, but what does that have to do with"

"He's chosen a wife for me. Victoria Andrew." Sterling's voice was flat, emotionless. "Perhaps you've seen her as one who does not meet your standards."

“But, what a minute, what does this have to do with me”

"The engagement recently ended. He said sharply." Sterling turned to face her, his expression unreadable. "My father was... displeased."

"So get engaged to someone else. I'm sure there's a line of women who'd kill for the privilege." Sophie replied still in thought

"There are conditions attached to my inheritance. Marry within thirty days, or transfer control of Sterling Industries to my father permanently."

The pieces started clicking into place in Sophie's mind, and she felt sick. "You need a wife?”

"I need a wife who won't complicate things. Someone who understands this is purely business."

Sophie stared at him, waiting for him to finish. "Are you asking me to marry you?"

"I'm asking you to consider it."

"You're insane." Sophie made toward the door. "Completely, insane."

"Am I? Think about it rationally, Sophie. You need money,don't you, it's painfully obvious. I need a temporary wife who won't develop inconvenient feelings. We solve each other's problems."

"We hate each other!" She yelled

"Exactly. No risk of messy emotions complicating the arrangement."

Sophie's hand was on the door handle when Sterling spoke again.

"Five hundred thousand dollars for one year of marriage."

Sophie froze. "What did you say?"

"Five hundred thousand. Plus your mother's medical expenses covered completely, the best doctors, the best treatment, whatever she needs."

The number hit Sophie like a physical blow. She turned slowly, her heart beating fast. "How do you know about my mother?"

"I make it my business to know things about people who interest me. Rosa Anderson, diagnosed with stage two breast cancer six months ago. Treatment costs averaging fifteen thousand per month, sixty percent covered by insurance." Sterling's voice was sharp and firm, but his eyes never left her face.

"You've been sending home every spare penny, which wasn't much on a server's salary. Now, with no income at all..."

"Stop." The word came out as a whisper. "Just stop." Enough already

"One year, Sophie. Twelve months of pretending with a man you already hate. In exchange, your mother gets the treatment she needs, and you never have to worry about money again."

Sophie felt waves of thoughts filled her mind. The number, Five hundred thousand was tempting. There was her mothers hospital bills and treatments

"There has to be something else attached to this."

"Ofcourse there is." Sterling moved to his briefcase and pulled out a thick document. "You'd live in my penthouse, attend social functions as my wife, maintain the illusion of a happy marriage. After exactly one year, we divorce quietly, you disappear with your money, and we never see each other again."

"Why me?" Sophie's voice was barely audible. "Why not hire an actress or... or someone who actually fits into your world?"

Sterling was quiet for a long moment. When he spoke, his voice was different, but more honest.

"Because you're the only woman I've ever met who looked me in the eye and told me exactly what she thought of me.

My father will try to use my wife against me, turn her into a weapon. But you?" His smile was sharp. "You already think I'm a monster. There's nothing he can say that will make it worse."

Sophie stared at the contract in his hands, still in doubt, she said. "I need time to think."

"You have until tomorrow at noon."

"That's not enough"

"It's all the time either of us has." Sterling set the contract on the coffee table between them. "Take it with you. Read it carefully. And Sophie?"

She paused at the door, not looking back at him.

"Think about your mother."

The door closed behind her with a soft click. Sophie clutched the contract to her chest and tried to stay as composed as she can

But as the elevator carried her back down to reality, one thought kept ringing through her mind

Sometimes making a deal with the devil was the only way to save the people you loved.