Chapter 3: Marry Me
846 Words
"Find her."
The order left Adrian Vale's lips with the same cold authority that had built Vale Holdings into a global empire.
Three days later, his security team had found nothing.
No birth records.
No employment history.
No social media accounts.
No fingerprints in any accessible database.
It was as though the woman in the cream-colored coat had never existed.
Adrian hated loose ends.
And she had become the most dangerous one of all.
The quarterly board meeting began at exactly nine o'clock.
Around the long mahogany table sat the most powerful executives in the company.
Adrian stood at the head of the room, his voice calm and precise.
"The Sterling acquisition moves forward as planned."
Several board members exchanged nervous glances.
No one dared argue.
Not after the attempted attack.
Not after Adrian had returned to work less than forty-eight hours after nearly dying.
"Mr. Vale," one executive said cautiously, "perhaps you should consider increasing your personal security."
"I'll handle it."
As Adrian turned the page of his report, the boardroom doors swung open.
Every head snapped toward the entrance.
A woman walked in as though she belonged there.
Cream-colored suit.
Dark hair falling in soft waves over her shoulders.
Sharp, intelligent eyes that scanned the room without hesitation.
The same woman from the crash site.
Gasps echoed around the table.
"Who let her in?" someone demanded.
Security rushed toward her.
"Ma'am, you need to leave."
"Stop."
The single word came from Adrian.
The room fell silent.
Sophia met his gaze.
"You've been difficult to find," Adrian said.
A flicker of amusement crossed her face.
"So have you."
The board members stared between them.
Adrian stepped forward.
"Who are you?"
"I told you before," she replied evenly. "Someone trying to keep you alive."
"And yet, you disappeared."
"You didn't listen."
Adrian's jaw tightened.
"You have sixty seconds before I have security remove you."
The woman glanced around the room.
Then she said something no one expected.
"Your chief financial officer transferred ten million dollars into an offshore account last month."
The CFO paled.
The board erupted into chaos.
"What nonsense is this?"
"She's lying!"
Adrian raised a hand.
Silence returned instantly.
His gaze never left Sophia.
"Continue."
Sophia tilted her head.
"The person behind the attacks isn't done."
Her expression remained calm.
"There will be another attempt within seventy-two hours."
A chill swept through the room.
"You're insane," the CFO snapped.
Sophia ignored him.
Instead, she looked directly at Adrian.
"Your security team can't stop them."
Adrian crossed his arms.
"And you can?"
"Yes."
A dangerous glint entered his eyes.
"Why?"
For the first time since entering the room, Sophia hesitated.
Because I promised.
The words remained trapped behind her teeth.
Instead, she said, "Because if you die, a lot more people will follow."
The room erupted once again.
"This is absurd!"
"Call the police!"
"Mr. Vale, don't entertain this woman!"
Adrian stared at Sophia.
Every instinct told him to have her escorted out.
But another part of him remembered the severed brake lines.
The anonymous threats.
The text message.
She won't save you next time.
"What do you want?" he asked.
Sophia's gaze sharpened.
Finally.
"We need to get married."
Silence.
Utter silence.
Even the air in the room seemed to freeze.
One board member choked on his water.
The CFO looked ready to faint.
Adrian blinked once.
Then twice.
"I'm sorry," he said coolly. "What?"
Sophia didn't flinch.
"A legal marriage."
The room exploded.
"This woman is insane!"
"She's after your money!"
"Security!"
Sophia kept her attention fixed solely on Adrian.
"If you want to survive the next six months, marry me."
Adrian laughed.
A short, disbelieving sound.
"I don't know your name."
"That won't change my answer."
"I know nothing about you."
"That won't change my answer either."
Adrian took a step closer.
The room held its breath.
"Give me one reason why I should trust you."
Sophia's expression softened.
Just for a second.
Then she said quietly—
"Because your father trusted mine."
Adrian froze.
The mention of his father hit like a punch to the chest.
His father had died twenty years ago.
No one talked about him.
No one dared.
"How do you know my father?" Adrian demanded.
Sophia's eyes darkened.
"You don't have enough time for that conversation."
She reached into her handbag and placed a sealed envelope on the table.
"Open this after I'm gone."
Then she turned and walked toward the door.
"Wait."
She paused.
Adrian's voice dropped lower.
"Who are you?"
Without looking back, Sophia answered—
"Someone who can't afford to fail."
Then she disappeared.
Adrian stared at the envelope.
The room buzzed with whispered speculation.
Slowly, he reached for it.
Inside was a photograph.
The picture had faded with age.
Two men stood side by side.
One of them was Adrian's father.
The other had his arm wrapped protectively around a little girl.
On the back, written in hurried handwriting, were six chilling words:
> Protect Adrian Vale at all costs.
Adrian's blood ran cold.
Because beneath those words...
Was his father's signature.
- Writer
