Bound By Fate

Chapter Six

Monday came with a weight in Sophia’s chest she couldn’t shake off. Ever since she received the message from Alexander Voss—the CEO himself—she’d been overthinking every possible reason why he would want to see her.

As she stepped into the office building, her heart beat faster than her heels clicking against the marble floor. She greeted the receptionist absently and made her way to her desk. She wasn’t ready to face him yet, whatever it was.

“Good morning, Sophia,” Henry said, walking over with two steaming cups in hand. His desk was a few rows behind hers, and he always stopped by on Mondays with her usual black coffee with a little vanilla.

“Thanks,” she said softly, taking the cup.

Henry smiled as he perched on the edge of her desk. “I wanted to tell you something after work. Just something small, but important.”

Sophia raised a brow, curious. “Alright... I’ll be there.”

She took a sip of coffee, her mind still swirling. “By the way… Alexander messaged me. The CEO. I don’t even know why. I’m... kind of scared.”

Henry chuckled. “You? Scared? Come on. You’re one of the best junior execs in this place. Maybe it’s a promotion?”

“Yeah, right.” She shook her head and laughed nervously. “Or maybe I messed something up and I’m about to be fired.”

“Don’t be ridiculous. Just go see him. You’ll be fine.”

Before she could say more, her phone buzzed with another message from Alexander.

“You’ve resumed work today, haven’t you?”

The tone of the message was as cold and direct as ever.

Her stomach flipped. She had to go.

Still, she put it off until lunch break. When noon struck, she stood up, grabbed her tablet like a shield, and walked to the CEO's office.

She stood outside his door for a few seconds, taking slow breaths. Her palm hovered over the door handle, then knocked gently.

“Come in,” came the deep, even voice from inside.

Sophia stepped in, her spine straight and nerves buzzing. Alexander stood by the window at first, but when she entered, he turned and came toward her. He was wearing a white shirt, sleeves rolled halfway to his elbows. His forearms were taut, his expression unreadable. He folded his arms across his chest as he stared at her.

Sophia had to look away. Why was it so hot in here?

“Miss Sophia Adams,” he began, his voice smooth but businesslike. “I’ll get straight to the point. I have a proposition for you. A business one.”

She blinked, saying nothing.

He walked back to his desk, picked up a thin folder, and held it out to her.

She stepped forward and took it, opening the file slowly. Her eyes skimmed the title—Marriage Contract Agreement.

Her head snapped up.

“I did some background checks on my employees,” Alexander said simply, as if this was the most natural thing in the world. “You stood out. Family debt. Strong work ethic. Quiet reputation. No scandals. You are, in many ways, perfect for what I need.”

“I… I don’t understand.”

“My father placed a condition in his will,” he explained, watching her carefully. “For me to inherit my full share of the inheritance, I must be married within two weeks. He thinks I’m incapable of settling down. I plan to prove him wrong. Not with love—but with strategy.”

Her throat felt dry. “You want me to… marry you?”

“Not out of love. I’m offering a contract. One year. We live together in my penthouse. Appear together in public when needed. No intimacy required—unless mutually agreed upon.”

Sophia’s hands tightened around the file. “Why me?”

“I told you. You’re suitable. And if we succeed, you’ll receive ten million dollars at the beginning and at the end of the year. All debts cleared. A fresh start.”

Silence stretched between them.

Finally, she closed the folder gently and looked up. “I appreciate the offer, but I’m not comfortable with this. I can’t marry for money.”

Alexander nodded once. “I won’t force you. But I’m giving you three days to decide. After that, the offer will be off the table.”

Sophia gave a small, polite bow before leaving the office. Her head spun as she walked back to her desk. A marriage contract? Was this even real?

She tried to focus on her emails, but the words blurred. Her mind was a battlefield of questions and what-ifs.

At 5PM, her phone buzzed again.

Henry: “Come to La Maison—just outside the office. I’m waiting.”

Her heart sank. She had forgotten.

Still, she packed her bag and headed out.

The restaurant was softly lit with candles, flowers arranged in a heart shape at the center table. Music played gently in the background. Her steps slowed.

She saw Henry standing there, nervous and hopeful.

“Sophia,” he said with a smile, “I like you. A lot. I’ve liked you for months. And I know this may seem sudden, but I don’t want to waste time anymore. Will you be my girlfriend?”

She froze. Her heart beat loud in her ears.

“You… just broke up with your girlfriend recently,” she said carefully. “And now, you’re ready for something serious with me? Like it’s easy?”

Henry stepped closer. “I know how it looks, but I’ve moved on. I really care about you.”

“I’m sorry,” she whispered. “I can’t. I don’t feel the same. And I’m not ready.”

His face fell. “Sophia, please—”

“I’m sorry,” she said again and walked away.

Her legs felt heavy as she walked back home.

“Today is a different day,” she murmured to herself. “First, I get a marriage proposal—or should I say a contract one—and then a confession from Henry.”

She sighed.

“What a day.”

Sophia reached the apartment just after sunset, her heels clicking softly against the hallway tiles. The whole way home, her mind kept circling back to Alexander’s words like a song on repeat.

“One year. No strings. Just business.”

It sounded simple. Too simple.

But there was nothing simple about marrying your boss.

She paused at the door, her hand lingering on the knob as a wave of light fatigue settled over her. Her chest felt heavy—not painfully, but just enough to make her notice. It had been like this for the past few weeks. Some days better than others. Today… not so great.

She pressed a hand against her chest, took a slow, steady breath, and turned the knob.

The second she stepped in, her senses were hit with tension.

Someone was crying.

Someone else—her mom—was shouting.

“What the hell did you just say, Kate? Are you even listening to yourself?!”

Sophia blinked, taken aback. Her heart gave a strange little skip as her eyes adjusted to the scene in front of her.

For the first time, her mum was yelling at her sister.

Kate was sitting on the floor near the couch, face streaked with tears, shoulders trembling. Their mom stood over her, eyes blazing, voice sharp and unrelenting.

Sophia’s breath caught. That same tight feeling returned, spreading faintly across her chest and up her neck. She leaned slightly against the wall to steady herself.

What’s going on…?

She shut the door quietly behind her, unsure if they even noticed she was home.

But one thing was certain — whatever had happened, it wasn’t small.