The Billionaire's Bargain

Chapter 7

The encounter with the locked door had been gnawing at Sofia ever since that evening. Alexander’s abrupt dismissal when she brought it up only made her more suspicious.

Days passed, and the weight of curiosity became unbearable. It wasn’t just the door—it was everything. The tightly controlled way Alexander moved through his world, the unspoken rules of his household, and the constant watchfulness of his staff. Something about it all felt… wrong.

She decided she’d had enough of being kept in the dark.

That evening, while Alexander was out attending a business meeting, Sofia roamed the penthouse with purpose. She retraced her steps down the corridor until she stood in front of the locked door again. Her heart pounded as she examined the keypad. What could he possibly be hiding?

As if on cue, the head housekeeper, Mrs. Greaves, appeared behind her. "You shouldn’t be here," she said, her voice low but firm.

Sofia spun around, startled. "I wasn’t doing anything," she lied.

Mrs. Greaves’ gaze softened, but only slightly. "Miss Sofia, there are things in this house that are better left alone. Trust Mr. Alexander's judgment."

"But why? What’s behind this door?"

The older woman hesitated before shaking her head. "It’s not my place to say. But if you care about him, you won’t push further." With that, she turned and walked away, leaving Sofia more determined than ever.

Later that night, Alexander returned. He seemed tense, his tie loosened and his usual calm demeanor replaced with visible frustration.

"Rough night?" Sofia asked cautiously as he poured himself a drink.

"You could say that," he replied curtly.

Sofia hesitated, then decided to confront him. "What’s behind the locked door at the end of the hall?"

Alexander froze, the glass halfway to his lips. His eyes darkened, and for a moment, she thought he wouldn’t answer.

"That’s none of your concern," he said finally, his tone cold.

"None of my concern? I’m supposed to be your fiancée, Alexander. Don’t you think I deserve to know what you’re hiding?"

His jaw clenched. "Sofia, I have given you everything—a place in my world, protection, a life most people would kill for. But some parts of my life are off-limits. That’s the way it has to be."

She stared at him, hurt and frustration bubbling to the surface. "Do you even trust me?"

Alexander set his glass down with a thud. "This isn’t about trust. It’s about safety—yours and mine. Drop it, Sofia. I mean it."

But Sofia couldn’t drop it. The more Alexander tried to shut her out, the more determined she became to uncover the truth.

The opportunity presented itself two days later when Alexander left for a business trip. This time, Sofia wasn’t going to let fear—or Mrs. Greaves—stop her. She borrowed a hairpin from her vanity, knowing it wouldn’t work on the keypad but needing to try something, anything, to c***k the mystery.

As she tinkered, the sound of a faint beep made her jump. She looked up to see the keypad light flicker green. The door clicked open, and Sofia’s breath hitched.

She pushed the door open cautiously, revealing a dimly lit room. Shelves lined the walls, filled with documents, photos, and what appeared to be confidential files. In the center of the room was a sleek, black desk, and on it, a single laptop glowed faintly in sleep mode.

But what truly caught her attention was the wall to her left. It was covered in photographs—of her.

Sofia stepped closer, her heart racing. The photos ranged from recent events to moments she didn’t even remember being photographed. There were even pictures of her from before she met Alexander, taken in her hometown.

Her stomach churned. What was this?

Before she could process the discovery, the sound of footsteps echoed down the hall. Sofia’s pulse quickened as she realized Alexander was back—and heading straight for her.