Bound by fortune

chapter two.. The call

Sophia’s Pov

Two weeks later, I was folding sweaters at Macy's during my lunch break when my phone rang. The number was unknown, but something made me answer anyway.

"Is this Sophia Martinez?" The voice was crisp, professional, and somehow familiar.

"Yes, this is me."

"This is Dr. Patricia Wells from Marriage at First Sight: Billionaire Edition. Congratulations, Sophia, you've been selected to move forward in our casting process."

My hands went numb, and I nearly dropped a cashmere cardigan. "I have?"

"We were very impressed with your application and background check. Your experience in the wedding industry, combined with your personal story, makes you exactly what we're looking for."

"What happens next?"

"We'd like you to come in tomorrow at 2 PM for a final interview and psychological evaluation. This will be filmed as part of the show, but don't worry it's mostly a formality. Based on your profile, we already have someone in mind who would be perfect for you."

After hanging up, I immediately called Maya.

"Oh my God, they called!" I whispered, hiding behind a rack of winter coats. "They want me to come in tomorrow!"

"I told you!" Maya's excitement came through the phone loud and clear. "You're going to be rich, Sophia! Rich and married to a billionaire!"

"I'm going to be married to a complete stranger," I corrected. "A stranger who could be anyone. What if he's awful?"

"What if he's perfect? Stop thinking about all the ways this could go wrong and start thinking about how it could go right."

The next afternoon, I found myself sitting in a fancy office in a Manhattan high-rise, wearing my only good interview outfit and trying not to sweat through my makeup. The production team was surprisingly professional, explaining everything and making sure I was comfortable before filming began.

Dr. Patricia Wells was exactly what I'd expected from a reality show psychologist mid-fifties, perfectly styled, with kind eyes and a warm smile that seemed real.

"So, Sophia," Dr. Wells began once the cameras were rolling, "tell me what you're looking for in a marriage."

"Honestly?" I shifted in my chair. "I just want someone who won't lie to me or steal from me. Someone who sees me as an equal partner, not something convenient."

"That's very honest. Your application mentioned a difficult breakup with your former fiancé. How has that shaped what you want in a relationship?"

I thought carefully before answering. "It taught me that I have terrible judgment when it comes to men. Marcus seemed perfect , charming, supportive, and ambitious. I thought we wanted the same things. Instead, he was using me to build his own life while destroying mine."

"What would you say is your biggest fear about this process?"

"That I'll fall for someone who's just pretending to care about me," I admitted. "I'm scared I'll make the same mistake twice trusting someone who sees me as disposable."

Dr. Wells leaned forward, her expression sincere. "What if I told you that we've matched you with someone who values loyalty and honesty above everything else? Someone who's been betrayed by people he trusted, just like you have?"

"I'd say that sounds too good to be true."

"Sometimes the best things come when we least expect them, Sophia. I have a very good feeling about your match."

After the interview, Dr. Wells handed me a thick packet of legal documents and production agreements.

"Congratulations," she said with a smile. "You're getting married this Saturday."

"This Saturday?" My voice cracked. "As in four days from now?"

"The wedding will be at the Plaza Hotel. Everything will be provided with your dress, flowers, catering, even a maid of honor if you don't have someone you'd like to invite. All you need to do is show up and say 'I do.'"

I flipped through the papers with shaking hands. Marriage certificate, prenuptial agreement, show contract it was all real and legally binding.

"Dr. Wells," I called as she headed toward the door. "Can you tell me anything about him? About my husband?"

Dr. Wells paused, choosing her words carefully. "He's powerful and successful, but also... complicated. He has walls built up around him, but I think you might be exactly what he needs to let them down."

That evening, I sat in my apartment staring at the marriage certificate that would soon have my name next to a complete stranger's. In four days, I would walk down the aisle to marry a man I'd never met, never spoken to, never even seen a photo of.

I called my mother in California, knowing I had to tell someone in my family what I was about to do.

" Are you sure about this?" my mother asked after I explained everything. "Marriage is sacred. It's not something you do for money."

"Mama, I'm about to be homeless. This is my only option."

"There are always other options, Sophia. You could come home, start over here."

"And do what? Work at the grocery store for minimum wage? I'm twenty-eight years old, Mama. I can't move back into my childhood bedroom."

My mother was quiet for a long moment. "If you do this, promise me you'll keep your heart open. Money isn't everything, Maybe God is putting this man in your path for a reason."

"Or maybe I'm about to make the biggest mistake of my life."

"Maybe. But you've always been brave, Sophia. Braver than you give yourself credit for."

After hanging up, I looked around my tiny apartment, the home I was about to lose, the life I was about to leave behind. In four days, everything would change. I just hoped I was strong enough to handle whatever came next.