#108 “It’s a Small Price to Pay.”
The room crackled with tension as Alexander zipped up his jeans, ignoring Megan’s pleas to stay. He wasn’t about to be manipulated, especially after waking up in a compromising situation that reeked of Megan’s scheming.
Megan, undeterred, shot him a warning. “Alex, if you walk out that door, the tabloids will have a field day. Pictures of you wasted last night, me dragging you back here – the whole scandal. You won’t be able to show your face without becoming the headline sensation of the century.”
Alexander, unimpressed, shot back with a smirk. “You think that’s gonna work on me? Nice try, Megan.”
But Megan wasn’t done. She played her trump card, dark eyes narrowing with determination. “Oh, it gets better. Those pictures will be nothing compared to what they’ll have of us coming and going from this apartment. You leave, and our secret rendezvous becomes public knowledge. Think about what Sophia will say.”
Alexander’s eyes narrowed, the mention of Sophia injecting a new dose of tension into the room. Megan continued, “You leave, and Sophia won’t just lose trust in you; she’ll despise you even more. But I can make it all go away.”
She leaned in a dangerous glint in her eye. “All you have to do is publicly announce our engagement. It’s a small price to pay, considering the alternative.”
Alexander scoffed, crossing his arms. ” Engagement? You’re out of your mind, Megan. I’m not playing your games.”
But Megan, confident in her manipulation tactics, didn’t back down. “Think about it, Alex. This could be a win-win. We announce our engagement, take control of Horizon Media Holdings together, and ride the wave of publicity. It’s a lucrative deal, don’t you see?”
Alexander, his patience wearing thin, shot back, “You really think I’d sell out like that? Drag Sophia into this mess just to satisfy your ambitions? Not a chance, Megan.”
Megan’s eyes flashed with frustration and determination. “You’re making a mistake, Alex. A big one. You’ll regret it when the headlines hit.”
The air in the room hung heavy as Alexander absorbed Megan’s audacious proposal. He didn’t utter a word, but the silent intensity radiating from him spoke volumes. His jaw clenched, and his piercing gaze bore into Megan, revealing a storm of emotions beneath the surface.
With that, Alexander brushed past her, determined to face whatever storm awaited him outside the apartment. The stakes were high.
Alexander reached for his phone, his fingers tapping with a restrained fury. He made a call, his voice low and commanding, “Yeah, it’s me. Temporarily keep Megan under control. “The terseness of his words hinted at the brewing tempest within him.
Alexander navigated the familiar streets, his mind racing with thoughts of Sophia. His usually calm demeanor was now a tempest of emotions. The thought of Megan’s attempt to manipulate him fueled the fire within, and he was determined to set things straight with Sophia.
The journey to Sophia’s place was a tumultuous one. Every passing moment seemed to stretch as Alexander grappled with the looming confrontation. As he reached Sophia’s doorstep, he took a deep breath, mentally preparing for the storm he was about to face. He knocked on the door, uncertain of what awaited him on the other side.
*
The morning Sophia groggily opened her eyes, realizing that the restless night had left its mark. As she prepared for the day, a lingering unease persisted, a reminder that whatever was going on with Alexander had seeped into her thoughts and refused to let go.
As she rubbed her eyes and tried to shake off the fog of sleep, Sophia’s mind was already a battlefield of conflicting emotions. The events of the previous night replayed like a broken record, and the turmoil within her was reaching unprecedented levels.
“I mean, seriously, Sophia, get a grip,” she muttered to herself. She stared at the ceiling, attempting to make sense of the tangled mess in her mind.
“How silly was I?” she mused aloud, a sardonic smile playing on her lips. ” Alexander is just a friend, right? It’s none of my business who he sleeps with. Even if that someone is Megan.”
Sophia winced at the thought. The reality of Alexander’s actions hit her like a punch to the gut. “Knowing they’re practically enemies, he still drinks with her and goes on a date? Seriously?” She shook her head, trying to dislodge the disbelief that clung to her.
The internal monologue continued as Sophia grappled with her emotions. “I should’ve seen this coming. But, no, I had to go and develop some weird fondness for him. Great, just great.”
She sighed, the weight of her emotions pressing down on her. “And now what? This fondness, or whatever it was, is plummeting to freezing point. What a fantastic way to start the day.”
Despite the morning sun attempting to coax a sense of normalcy, Sophia couldn’t escape the shadows of the night before. As she reluctantly got out of bed, the uncertainty of her feelings lingered like an unwelcome companion, casting a pall over the day ahead.
The morning unfolded with Sophia navigating the familiar motions of getting ready for the day. As she tiptoed around the apartment, trying not to wake the still-sleeping Evelyn. She decided to take refuge in the routine of making breakfast, the rhythmic clatter of pots and pans offering a brief distraction from the chaos within.
The aroma of sizzling eggs and brewing coffee filled the air as Sophia moved around the kitchen, mechanically preparing her morning meal.
Just as she settled into the routine, a knock echoed through the apartment. Sophia furrowed her brow, not expecting any visitors at this early hour. With a quick glance at the still- closed bedroom door, she headed to answer it.
Upon swinging the door open, Sophia’s eyes widened as she found Alexander standing on the doorstep. His presence caught her off guard, and for a moment, the air between them seemed charged with the residual tension from the night before.
“Hey,” Alexander greeted, his voice carrying a hint of uncertainty. Sophia blinked, momentarily speechless. “Uh, hey,” she replied, surprise and wariness in her tone. The unspoken questions lingered in the air, and she wondered what had brought him to her doorstep after the events of the previous night.
Alexander shifted uncomfortably, running a hand through his disheveled hair. “Can we talk?” he asked, his eyes searching hers for some sign of understanding.
Sophia hesitated, her guard still up. Talk? About what, exactly?”
