Marrying A Snapping Turtle

Sophia

***Nineteen Years Later***

“Sophia!! Look over here!!”

Ida, wearing large aviator glasses, turned toward the sea of cameras and flashed a dazzling smile. Curly blonde hair hugged her angular face giving her a sharp and sophisticated vibe.

“When will you release your next work?”

“Will you be putting one of your works in the next Charity Auction?”

Ida only smiled mysteriously and got into the back of a generic black SUV with tinted windows. With the door closed, and the car moving, Ida sighed in relief. Ripping the blonde wig from her head, she slid the hairnet off and shook her short brown hair loose. Kicking off the two-inch heels, she flexed her toes and sighed once more.

She then took a couple of cleansing sheets and went at the red lipstick and heavy makeup on her face until she got most of it off. Only then did she close her eyes and relax into the leather seats with a satisfied grin.

Her driver looked at her from the rearview mirror. “If I didn’t know any better, I’d say you are two different people.”

Ida smirked and opened her eyes. “Good. That’s what I’m going for. I’d rather die than have the paparazzi follow me around like a monkey in the zoo.”

The driver snorted. “You know, being the young Miss of the Jacques family, you’re already a figure in the limelight.”

Ida rolled her eyes. “It’s different. To the world, I’m just a sheltered princess. No one pays me any mind because I’m short, plain, and boring.”

Ida clenched her jaw at her brutal assessment of herself. Coming in at a little over five feet two inches, she was easily the shortest person in her family and was particularly sensitive about that.

Ida did everything to mask her short stature but after almost breaking her ankle wearing three-inch heels, she gave up and succumbed to her fate of being short and focused on other things. Her brothers used to laugh at her but after a couple of slaps to the back of their heads, they learned to stop poking her sore spot.

Ida had a rare talent in oil painting which her mother noticed during Ida’s childhood. Over the years, her mother accompanied her to study abroad under different famous artists. As she grew up and went to an Ivy League school, she finished with a double major in business and art. Ida reasoned that if all else failed, she would open an art studio but surprisingly, her artwork became world-acclaimed and many art collectors clamored to get their hands on one of her oil paintings. She hid from the world behind the name “Sophia”, a wild carefree woman full of passion. With a complete do-over and heavy makeup, she easily looked five years older and no one would ever mistake the reserved Ida for the walking s*x goddess, Sophia. No one knew of her identity except for her mother, her teachers, a couple of servants, and her agent.

Ida looked out the window and frowned when she noticed they were not heading back to her apartment.

“Where are you taking me?” she asked angrily.

Her driver shot an apologetic look through the rearview mirror and replied sheepishly, “Sorry, miss. Your grandfather requested to bring you home for dinner tonight.”

Ida chuffed and propped an elbow on the side of the door resting her face on her hand, staring blankly at the passing scenery.

“Traitor,” she murmured.

“You do know your grandfather is technically my real boss, right?”

“Yeah, but you were assigned to me so technically I’m also your boss.”

The driver sighed and decided to close his mouth and drive. Ida always wanted the last word.

When they arrived at the Jacques family estate, Ida glanced out lazily but her facial expressions froze when she noticed more cars parked at the front of the mansion.

“Wait… who is here today?”

The driver cleared his throat. “I don’t know, miss.”

“George…” Ida drawled angrily.

“Okay okay! It’s the Hendricks! They’re here for a family dinner.”

Ida’s top lips drew back in a sneer.

It had been almost twenty years since she last ran into a Hendricks. She almost forgot about them. Although her family was still close to the Hendricks, she avoided any get-togethers and her family respected her wishes, especially with what happened at the ranch all those years ago. But now… this?!

Ida unbuckled the seatbelt and leaned up against the back of the driver’s seat.

“Uncle George,” Ida whined.

The older man jumped at the sudden saccharine voice that blew into his ear and his foot jerked, stomping on the brake pedal.

“Ack!” Ida shrieked as she banged her collarbone on the headrest of the seat.

“I’m so sorry, miss!” George shouted, “You scared me earlier.”

Ida sat back in her seat and put her seatbelt back on. “I just wanted to ask if you know any more information about why the Hendricks are here tonight.”

George was not only her driver, he was the king of gossip in the Hendricks family. If you wanted to know anything that was going down, he’s your guy. Though he was loyal to a fault and would never divulge anything to outsiders, within the walls he was a notorious chatterbox.

George pursed his lips refusing to spill.

Ida reached up and tapped his shoulder. “George, you know I treat you more like an uncle than a driver, right?”

She saw George tense up as he drove them into the garage.

“George, please. I’m scared. You know I don’t get along with the Hendricks twins. If this has anything to do with a marriage alliance, I need to know now.”

George sighed as he pulled the car to a park. He glanced around and then whispered lowly. “You didn’t hear it from me but your grandfather did invite the two young master Hendricks to the house for dinner. Everyone is gossiping that you’ll be marrying one of them by the end of the year.”

He then paused and with another sigh, handed her the keys to the car. “I’ll just say I misplaced this. You’ll need to go in and freshen up so someone inside sees you before you make your escape.”

Ida patted George on the shoulder gratefully. “Thank you so much.”

George sighed and ruffled the hair on the back of his head. “Let’s head in.”

Ida pocketed the keys and jumped out of the car. Her amber eyes glinted under the lights as she walked through the backdoor and into the elevator. If push came to shove, she would just run away from home. No one, not even her grandfather could force her into a marriage.