Chapter2
1073 Words
Chapter 2: The Wedding of the Century
A group of chefs had made an extensive breakfast – croissants, fruits and eggs. While there was a team which could do anything for you yet Sophia hardly touched her food.
“Eat,” Alexander said, taking a sip of his black coffee. “You’ll need the energy.”
She arched an eyebrow. "For what? More fake smiles and hand-holding?"
He leaned back in his chair, smiling. “Exactly. We have our first public appearance as a married couple today.”
Sophia sighed and pushed her plate away. “This is going to be a long year.”
Sophia shifted the diamond bracelet around her wrist as she tried to shake off the heaviness of Alex’s hand resting possessively at the small of her back. The Sterling estate’s grand ballroom sparkled with all that gold chandeliers polished marble floors restive of a sea of guests dressed elegantly. It was their first official public outing as newly married husband and wife, and hardly anyone else but the two of them could sense the tension between them.
“Smile, sweetheart,” Alex murmured through clenched teeth. “People are watching.”
Sophia forced a bright smile and angled her face toward him as though she were in love with him. It was a dance—one where each step, every look, and touch was painstakingly choreographed. They had to sell this marriage, and tonight was the first real test of that.
Olivia Grant was positioned across the room and she watched with an eye of an eagle. Green eyes that were sharp watched closely every move they made. She waited—waited for their performance to falter in any way, for one mistake that would give her the ammunition she needed to destroy them.
“I need a drink,” Sophia whispered, her voice tight.
“Only champagne,” Alex replied. “We have to keep it classy tonight.”
Sophia felt like snapping at him, but that moment had gone when Victoria Sterling walked over, surrounded by a gaggle of powerful socialites. Sophia straightened immediately, her heart racing. Victoria was the real power here; she was the one person Alex needed to persuade more than anyone else.
"Ah, there’s the happy couple," said Victoria, her regal tone oozing with sarcasm. "Sophia, my dear, you look lovely. Marriage is quite becoming of you."
“Thank you, Mrs. Sterling,” Sophia said smoothly. “It’s been an adjustment, but I suppose love finds a way.”
Victoria arched a knowing brow but said nothing.
Just as Sophia thought she could catch a breath, Olivia slid up next to them, glass of champagne in hand and a sugary smile playing on her lips. “Darling, you simply have to tell me,” Olivia purred, “how on earth did you and Alex become so wildly in love? One minute you were a journalist and then poof! You’re the lady of the Sterling fortune.”
Sophia’s spine stiffened. She felt Alex lift his fingers a fraction more on her waist, as if to say it was time to be quiet. This was a test, and she couldn’t afford to fail.
Later that night, back at Alex's penthouse, the awkwardness between them finally snapped.
“You need to be more careful,” Alex said, tossing his jacket onto the couch. “Olivia is looking for any excuse to break us.”
Sophia crossed her arms. "Oh, I'm sorry. Perhaps next time I should bring a prepared script."
Alex ran a frustrated hand through his hair. "This is not a joke, Sophia."
“No, it’s a performance,” she retorted. “And I’m tired of pretending to be your loving wife when you hardly ever look at me when we’re alone.”
Alex sighed and turned to pour himself a drink. "You knew what you signed up for."
"Did I?" Sophia's voice trembled. "Because with each passing day, this arrangement feels more and more suffocating."
Silence suspended for a moment between them. Then, unexpectedly, Alex’s face softened. “I saw how you handled Victoria tonight,” he said. “You were impressive.”
Sophia blinked, caught off guard. “Thanks... I guess.”
He passed her a glass of wine. “You’re alright, so I guess it’s worth something.”
She took it, watching him carefully. Maybe, just maybe, there was more to Alex Sterling than she had thought.
The soft morning sun just barely broke through the city skyline as Sophia sat at the kitchen counter, nursing a cup of coffee. She contemplated her mind still spinning from the previous night’s confrontation.
Alex walked in, wearing a sharp suit, and looked like the powerful billionaire the world perceived him to be. He didn't spare her a glance and grabbed his coffee.
“We need to talk,” Sophia said, setting her cup down.
Alex exhaled sharply. “Can it wait? I have a meeting.”
“No, it can’t,” she pressed. “We can’t keep pretending this is easy. Olivia is already suspicious, and Victoria is watching us like a hawk.”
Alex’s jaw tightened. “I know what’s at stake, Sophia.”
“Do you really?” She challenged me. “Because it certainly feels like I’m the only person around here trying to make this realistic.”
Alex placed his coffee down with a thud. “That’s not fair.”
Sophia stood, and her frustration broke through the surface. "What's not fair is that I'm risking it all, and you keep acting like this is just another business transaction."
His eyes darkened. “Because that’s what it is.”
Her heart clenched at what he said, but she wouldn't let it show. "Then maybe you should start treating it like a partnership and not a transaction."
A taut silence stretched between them until Alex finally sighed. “Fine. What do you propose?”
Sophia met his gaze, resolute. "We start behaving as if we're in a real relationship. No more cold shoulders. No more avoiding each other unless absolutely necessary."
He studied her for a long moment then nodded. "Alright. But you need to trust me, too."
She swallowed. “That goes both ways.”
For the first time, something unreadable flickered in Alex's eyes. Sophia didn't know if she could trust him yet, but one thing was for sure: everyth
ing between them was about to be different.
- Writer
