Chapter 5: The Proposal

Chapter 5: The Proposal

The day started like any other. The cold breeze of early morning slipped through the office windows as Sophia arranged the documents for Alexander's meetings. She had been with him for seven years, and yet, the air between them never felt less than tense. Alexander Kingston, the CEO of one of the largest conglomerates in the country, was everything she wasn't. Cold, calculating, and unyielding. And yet, there was something undeniably magnetic about him.

As usual, she found herself questioning her choices. She’d been hired as his personal assistant, a position she’d excelled in due to her diligence and professionalism. But deep inside, she never forgot the real reason she had taken the job—to get close to his fortune, to climb the ladder of success using whatever means necessary. After her father's business collapsed and left her family drowning in debt, Sophia had learned the hard way that survival required cunning. And the rich were always her targets.

She glanced over at Alexander’s office door, hearing his steady footsteps approaching. He was never early for anything, but when he did show up, it was always in that commanding manner that made everyone around him stand at attention.

The door swung open with a soft click. Alexander walked in, his tailored suit looking as perfect as always. His eyes briefly met hers, and for a moment, something flickered behind those otherwise indifferent eyes.

"Sophia," he began, his voice smooth and authoritative. "I need you to handle a personal task today."

Sophia glanced up, maintaining her professional composure. "Of course, sir. What do you need?"

He leaned against the edge of her desk, his gaze intense. "I need you to prepare for something... something quite personal. I want you to design a wedding plan."

She froze, her fingers pausing mid-air as they hovered over the keyboard. "Wedding plan? But—" She trailed off, not sure if she had heard him correctly. "Who’s the bride?"

His lips curled into a half-smile. "You."

Sophia's heart skipped a beat. Her eyes widened, her mind racing. This was a joke. It had to be. Alexander Kingston did not joke about matters like this. And yet, the calm certainty in his voice left no room for doubt. He was serious.

"But, Mr. Kingston... we’ve never... I mean..." Her words faltered as she searched for something, anything, that could make sense of this situation. She had played her part for years—kept her distance, kept things professional, and most of all, never showed the slightest hint of emotional involvement. But now?

"You’re the one I trust the most," he said, stepping closer. "You’ve been by my side through everything—business, meetings, decisions. I can’t think of anyone else I would want to spend my life with."

Sophia's breath caught in her throat. Was this some sort of test? A power play? No, she could see it in his eyes—he was being genuine, too genuine. Alexander Kingston, the man who had never shown an ounce of vulnerability, was offering her something she couldn’t quite grasp.

She opened her mouth to respond, but the words refused to form. Her mind was a whirl of confusion. Was this a trap? Was he playing her, like she had played so many others? Or was this something real?

"Think about it," he continued, his voice softer now, yet still commanding. "I know it's sudden, but I don't want anyone else. Will you marry me?"

Silence filled the room, stretching out, suffocating her in its weight. It felt like a dream, a twisted fantasy. Sophia’s thoughts were racing, but all she could do was nod, the words of refusal stuck in her throat. "Yes," she whispered, almost against her will. "Yes, I’ll marry you."

As the words left her lips, she felt the enormity of what she had just agreed to. This wasn’t just a business transaction, like everything else she had done before. It was personal. And for the first time in her life, she wasn’t sure if she had the control she had once believed she had over every situation.

Alexander smiled, a soft but meaningful gesture that caught her off guard. He reached into his pocket and pulled out a sleek, diamond-studded ring. "I’ll make this official," he said, his voice now a mere whisper between them.

Sophia stared at the ring, her pulse hammering in her ears. This was happening. And just like that, everything had changed. The money, the power, the empire—all of it paled in comparison to the decision she had just made. She had played her role for so long, but now... now, she wasn’t sure if she had been playing the right game.

As the ring slid onto her finger, she couldn’t shake the feeling that she was in too deep. Was it too late to turn back? Or had she just stepped into a new game—one with higher stakes, and no way out?

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