THE CEO'S ROMANCE

Sophia's decision

Chapter four.

Sophia sat quietly in her small apartment, staring at the contract documents Alexander Reid had placed before her.She was confused as words kept running through her mind.

"Marry me before the stakeholders' gala."

It sounded impossible. A marriage between a powerful CEO and an ordinary employee from the village who had only recently joined his company.

She remembered the way Alexander looked at her when he explained everything. Behind his arrogant CEO image, she had seen something she never expected.

The company he had built was at risk. The stakeholders wanted stability, and they believed a married CEO would appear more trustworthy than someone who doesn't have a family.But Sophia couldn't shake the feeling that Alexander was hiding something far more than a business crisis.

She closed her eyes and breathed out.

"Why me, Alexander?" she whispered.

The next morning, Sophia arrived at Reid Enterprises earlier than usual. Her heart was beating fast,full of questions as she walked through the common glass door.She knew she had to give him an answer.

Alexander was in his office, looking through some documents when he heard someone knocking.

"Come in," he said.

Sophia stepped inside.

For a moment, everyone was quiet.

"I've made my decision," Sophia finally said.

Alexander slowly looked at her.His expression remained calm, but the slight tightening of his jaw betrayed how desperately he awaited the answer.

"And?" he asked.

Sophia took a deep breath.

"I will agree to your proposal."

Silence snatched between them , heavy enough that Sophia could hear her own heartbeat.

"But," she continued, "this cannot just be a business arrangement. I don't want to be someone you use to solve a problem. If we do this, there must be respect between us.

Alexander stood up and walked closer.

"Sophia, I never saw you as a solution to a problem," he said calmly "From the first day you walked into my office, you were different from all the people who have been coming here. You challenged me. You weren't afraid of me."

Sophia looked away, trying to hide how she felt after hearing his words.

"But this marriage will change everything," she said.

"I know," Alexander replied. "And if anyone comes after you because of this marriage, they will have to go through me first.

Sophia looked at him, wondering if she could really trust the man everyone called the heartless CEO.

Before she could say anything else, Alexander's phone rang. His expression changed immediately when he saw the person who was calling

It was the chairman of the board.

"Alexander,rumors are spreading that you finally made your decision. The gala is in two weeks. We expect good news."

Alexander ended the call and looked at Sophia.

"Everyone will soon know about us."

Sophia felt a wave of fear in her, but she also felt something she couldn't explain.

For the first time, she saw Alexander not as a CEO, but as a man carrying a heavy burden.

"I hope we don't regret this," she whispered.

Alexander gave a soft smile.

"Maybe we won't."

Silence settled between them, but it wasn't uncomfortable. It was the kind of silence that carried unspoken promises, fears, and possibilities. Sophia lowered her eyes, staring at the contract still resting on Alexander's desk.

Just minutes ago, it had seemed like an impossible choice. Now, her signature lay at the bottom of the page, planning their futures together.

She let out a slow breath. "Everything feels different now."

Alexander leaned back in his chair, studying her expression. "That's because it is."

She looked up at him, searching for any sign that he was having second thoughts.

His face remained calm, but she noticed the slight tension in his jaw. He looked confident, yet she could tell the decision weighed on him just as heavily as it did on her.

"What happens next?" she asked quietly.

"The engagement will be announced soon," Alexander replied. "My family will hear about it before the media does. After that, there will be preparations for the gala. We have very little time."

Sophia swallowed hard. The reality of the situation finally settled over her. This wasn't just an agreement hidden behind closed doors anymore. Soon everyone will know about this.

"My coworkers..." she whispered.

"They will talk," Alexander admitted. "Some will believe it's real. Others will think you planned this from the beginning."

A wave of tension swept through her.

"I didn't."

"I know." His answer came without hesitation. "And that's all that matters to me."

Those simple words eased the tightness in her chest more than she expected.

Alexander stood and walked toward the floor-to-ceiling window overlooking the city. The afternoon sun reflected against the glass towers, lighting up the skyline. He folded his hands behind his back before speaking again.

"I've spent years making decisions that benefited everyone except myself."

Sophia watched him in surprise.

"My family expected perfection. The company expected results. Investors expected confidence." He gave a faint smile. "Somewhere along the way, I stopped asking myself what I wanted."

She slowly walked over until she stood beside him.

"And now?" she asked.

He turned to meet her eyes.

"Now I'm taking a chance."

For a brief moment, neither of them spoke. They simply stood side by side, looking out at the busy streets below. Thousands of strangers hurried through their own lives, unaware that two people standing high above them had just made a decision that would change everything.

Sophia wasn't sure where this path would lead. There would be misunderstandings, challenges, and sacrifices. She could already feel the weight of them waiting ahead.

Yet deep inside, a whisper of hope began to glow.

Maybe this unexpected proposal wasn't the beginning of a mistake.

Maybe it was the beginning of something neither of them had been brave enough to dream about.

Outside the office,a shadow stepped away from the halfopened door.A pair of cold eyes watched Sophia disappear down the hallway as a slow smile appeared."This marriage will never happen." the stranger whispered.