Bound By Contract

Episode 5

"Who are you? Why are you pulling me? Leave me alone." Sophia shouted as the light turned on again. She saw no one but all their guests staring at her. She quickly hid the curiosity on her face as she smiled and hung her hand on James. But she was sure that she had seen someone, but not James.

Immediately, James turned as he whispered to her. "What happened? Who was holding you? Is everything okay?" James said in a whisper as he held her hands tightly.

He could feel that she was shaking in fear, but he held her, spun her around and kissed her to cover her nervousness. The guest gave a thunderous applause as he kissed her. Sophia's eyes lit up in surprise. Because she wasn't expecting that from him.

The applause and the kisses made Sophia steady her racing heart. Just then, she noticed a piece of paper that was on her palm. As she closed it, they walked outside to their awaiting limousine to carry them back.

As they entered the limousine, James forced himself to ask because he didn't see anyone, and it was only him that was standing beside Sophia while in church.

"Why were you shaking in church like someone startled you?" He asked. S9phia turned, as she said that it wasn't James, but she didn't know how she would say it and whether she would be believed.

"Do you mean whilst we were still standing?" Sophia asked, pretending not to know what he was talking about. But how could she say it? His bodyguards were around them. How could someone enter to the point of pulling her close to himself? Was it one of his bodyguards?

"Yes, that is exactly what I am talking about."

"Never mind, I am okay, just that I was a bit nervous about this whole situation," she said, holding the piece of paper tightly in her palm, not allowing James to see it since his eyes were fixed on her as if he was seeing through her. Her mind still wondered how she got it and what was inside it.

Sophia had to stop by to take her bags which she had arranged before the wedding ceremony. As she was done, his bodyguards carried it to another car that was meant to carry her bags. As she was about to leave, her dad walked inside her room. She could see the sorry look inside her father's eyes, but there was no amount of sorry he could say, the deed had been done.

"James is a good man. He will treat you rightly. I promise you that dear. Fear not." Her father said with a small reassuring smile plastered on his face.

"Okay, dad, I have heard what you said, and I have to go now," Sophia said as she waved at him. She left the house. Sophia watched from the back of the car as their house grew smaller and smaller; she had to face her fears. As they drove, she knew that her life had taken a new turn, the one she was not in control of again. She watched as the Sophia she knew was fading away, and a new Sophia entered.

All her dreams she wanted to accomplish seemed as if they had gotten to the point of no return. But as she looked at the window all she could see was determination. As Sophia's mind was filled, and she was not even paying attention to where they were going, just then James' voice broke her thoughts. "Are you okay? You seem a bit distant," he said.

Sophia turned to him, forcing a smile. "I am fine, just tired".

James nodded, but his eyes still fixed on Sophia, as if he didn't believe her.

The limousine pulled up to a luxurious mansion, and the gates opened before they got there. Sophia's heart was filled with joy as she saw her new home, but she tried to hide the joy from her face as she looked from one window to the other, embracing the beautiful mansion decorated with flowers. As the car came to a stop, James offered his hand to lead her, and she refused. "Lead the way, no need to hold me," James nodded as he walked. After all, the marriage is not real. Why does he care so much?

As they entered, Sophia's bag was packed into James. Immediately her eyes widened as she met with James. "Are we staying in the same room?" she asked,

"Yes, we are. Are we not married?" James asked. " I can't stay in the same room with you, I can't," Sophia said as she walked out of the room to the living room. James motioned his workers to stop and pack her bags in the room opposite his.

James came out to the living room; he stood as he watched Sophia smiling at the beautiful artwork displayed all around the living room. "Do you like them?" He asked as he sat down on the couch. Sophia jerked her head around as she put her hands on her chest. "You startled me, and I hate it when someone does that to me, and remember I am not sleeping with you in that same room." Sophia said as her face was filled with a smile turned to an angry one.

"You know, it's like you are stubborn, and let me tell you something, I like stubborn ladies," James said as he smiled at her. "Your bags have been packed in the room opposite mine. Here, you have the key," James said as he handed her the keys. Sophia's eyes lit in disbelief, "he just agreed with what I just said, without shouting at me", Sophia thought, as her gaze locked at his back as he walked back to his room.

As Sophia entered her room, she froze as her eyes got stuck with the designs on the wall and the big gigantic bed that was in it. She embraced the beauty of the room. She spent hours appreciating every piece of luxury in the room. Just then, her mind went back to the mysterious piece of paper as he went to open it.