Chapter 16
621 Words
Three days after the meeting at Lockwood Technologies, Sophia and her team worked tirelessly to revise the design proposal.
Mrs. Evans looked over the updated plans and smiled.
"This is much better."
Sophia nodded.
"Ethan pointed out a few things we overlooked."
Mrs. Evans looked surprised.
"And you accepted his suggestions?"
"They made sense."
Mrs. Evans chuckled.
"I've never seen you admit someone else was right so easily."
Sophia shrugged.
"It was business."
Nothing more.
At least, that's what she told herself.
---
That afternoon, Sophia left the office later than usual.
She was walking toward her car when someone called her name.
"Miss Clark?"
She turned around.
A well-dressed young man smiled politely.
"Yes?"
"I'm from Harrington Fashion Group."
Sophia frowned.
"Harrington?"
"Our CEO would like to speak with you."
"My company works through appointments."
"It's only for a few minutes."
Curious, Sophia agreed.
---
Twenty minutes later...
She arrived at a luxurious café in central London.
Victoria Harrington was already seated by the window.
She smiled as Sophia approached.
"Thank you for coming."
Sophia sat down.
"You wanted to see me?"
Victoria nodded.
"I'll go straight to the point."
Sophia waited.
"I want you to stay away from Ethan."
Sophia stared at her for a moment.
Then she almost laughed.
"Excuse me?"
"You heard me."
Victoria's smile remained, but her voice had become colder.
"I've loved Ethan for years."
"And?"
"You're the only obstacle between us."
Sophia leaned back in her chair.
"I think you've misunderstood something."
Victoria raised an eyebrow.
"I don't want Ethan."
"I don't believe you."
"You don't have to."
Sophia folded her arms.
"I've rejected this marriage more times than I can count."
Victoria looked unconvinced.
"Then cancel it."
"I've tried."
"So try harder."
Sophia sighed.
"You think it's that simple?"
Victoria didn't answer.
Sophia stood up.
"I didn't come here to argue."
She picked up her handbag.
"I hope you get what you want."
Victoria watched her carefully.
"And what if what I want is Ethan?"
Sophia looked at her calmly.
"Then convince him."
With that, she walked away.
Victoria's smile disappeared completely.
She hated how calm Sophia was.
She wanted Sophia to be jealous.
Angry.
Threatened.
Instead...
Sophia acted like Ethan wasn't important to her.
Victoria clenched her fists.
"We'll see how long that lasts."
---
The following evening...
Richard invited Daniel and Grace to dinner.
This time, neither Ethan nor Sophia knew about the meeting.
After dinner, the four parents sat in the living room.
Daniel sighed.
"They're still refusing."
Richard nodded.
"I expected that."
Grace smiled slightly.
"They're both stubborn."
Eleanor laughed softly.
"I wonder where they got that from."
Everyone laughed except Richard.
"I've made a decision."
The room became quiet.
Daniel looked at him.
"What decision?"
Richard folded his hands.
"In two weeks, we'll announce their engagement."
Grace's eyes widened.
"Without asking them?"
"If we keep waiting, they'll never agree."
Daniel looked uncertain.
"I'm not sure..."
Richard interrupted gently.
"They may hate the idea now."
"But one day..."
"They'll understand."
---
Meanwhile...
Neither Sophia nor Ethan had any idea what their parents had planned.
Sophia was relaxing at home with a movie when her phone rang.
It was Lily.
"Hello?"
"Sophia!"
"You sound excited."
"You won't believe what I just heard."
"What?"
Lily lowered her voice.
"My cousin works for an event planning company."
"Okay..."
"They've been hired by the Lockwood family."
Sophia frowned.
"For what?"
"They don't know all the details..."
There was a brief pause.
"...but they heard it's for an engagement party."
Sophia sat upright immediately.
"An engagement?"
"Yes."
Sophia's heart started beating faster.
An uncomfortable feeling settled in her chest.
Could it be...
No.
Her parents wouldn't go that far.
Would they?
To be continued…
- Writer
