Sophia’s Point of View
“This will be your bedroom.”
My new bedroom was massive with rich velvet drapes, a four-poster bed with silk sheets and hard intricately carved mahogany furniture that was a testament to how bloody rich Reid Prescott was.
Which begs the question: what was his true reason for marrying me?
Now that Mom’s hospital bills were paid, my worry about Reid’s motives returned.
Why did he want revenge on the Baxters?
I spun to face him.
“What is your deal with the Baxters?” I asked as I met his steel gray gaze. “Why would you bring a stranger into your life as your wife just to get at them?”
Reid crossed his arms casually leaning against the doorframe, an indecipherable expression on his face.
“Rule three, Miss Evergreen. Our private life remains private and separate.” He said, his expression devoid of any warmth as he emphasized on the separate part of his sentence.
Right, that was one of our rules.
“I think you mean Mrs Prescott.” I corrected with an arched brow.
Focusing on Reid Prescott calling me Miss Evergreen despite the fact that we were married was a welcome distraction from thinking about the fact that Reid Prescott had placed that third rule in place precisely to circumvent my prying into his mysterious motives.
The tips of his lips twitched into a shadow of a smile that I was beginning to realize was Reid Prescott’s only concession to humor.
“You will be radiant at your comeback into society.” His words were laced with amusement but all I felt was confusion.
“My comeback into society?” I echoed.
He lifted his shoulders elegantly in a casual shrug before clarifying.
“Your comeback as my wife.”
Hearing him call me his wife felt… weird but my mind was already racing piecing things together.
If he wanted to make our marriage into a big deal then there could only be one reason. He wanted to create chaos with the Baxters and me in the center.
It was at that moment I realized what my role as Reid Prescott’s wife was going to be.
“I’ll be a distraction while you get back at the Baxters.” I said feeling stupid that I was only just realising this.
I saw the flicker of shock race across Reid Prescott’s face before he smoothed out his expression.
“You are more perceptive than you look, Sophia.”
I fought the urge to roll my eyes at him. Simply because I’d agreed to marry him in a day didn’t mean I was dumb. I’d just been desperate.
“I don’t intend to just be your trophy wife,” I stated evenly. Well then if he was going to use me, then I intended to use him as well. “I intend to pursue my personal goals as well and you are going to help me, Mr Prescott.”
Reid Prescott arched an impeccable eyebrow.
“And why would I do that?”
I could barely hold back my smile as I reminded him.
“Rule one, Mr Prescott.”
Rule one: Both parties would help each other fulfil all their goals until the contract ended.
Mr Prescott looked at me with a bland expression.
“What do you want?” He asked dispassionately.
I didn’t hesitate before responding.
“I want to get my college degree and I want an active role in your company.”
Yes, I knew I was asking for too much. I also knew there was no way he would agree to the second request but I wanted to know what the limits of his help would be and-
“Fine.” Reid Prescott said cutting short my train of thought.
Wait what? Did he just agree?
Before I could think of what to say to this, Reid had already turned to leave only he turned at the last moment fixing me with a stare that seemed to look into the depths of my soul.
“Sophia Evergreen,” He said. “For your sake know when to stop pushing.”
Then he was out, the door of my room slamming behind him.
Was that a threat? And if it was as long as I had gotten what I wanted, did it matter?
Why did it feel like I was way in over my head, playing a game the rules to which I didn’t even know?
When I told Tina about the marriage, she stared at me in utter disbelief for a few seconds.
“You got married to Reid Prescott?” She asked for the third or fourth time and I could barely hold in my nervous laugh.
“I know it’s crazy but he’s pretty convincing.” I shrugged.
I didn’t tell her that this was a revenge scheme because I knew Tina would not approve. She wanted me to be happy and move on from what the Baxters had done to me.
Getting married to a stranger for the sole purpose of getting revenge on the Baxters was not moving on.
“I… it’s just so fast,” Tina seemed to have been rendered speechless by my news then her warm eyes searched my face curiously. “Is this what you want, Sophia? Truly?”
No. If it had been up to me alone, I would never marry ever again. Much less to someone I barely knew.
But I had Mom and my unborn child to consider. This marriage was for them and my future. I would make sure to leave this marriage stronger than I had entered and if I could get revenge on the Baxters while at it, that would just be the icing on the cake.
“Yes,” I told my friend. “I want this marriage.”
Tina nodded once before pulling me into a warm comforting hug, her voice at my ear.
“Then I’m rooting for you, Sophia. If you need anything or you want to talk about anything, I’ll be right here.”
I felt bad for not telling her this was a contract marriage but even if I wanted to, which I didn’t, the contract had a nondisclosure agreement added to it. I couldn’t.
So instead, I returned her hug.
“I don’t deserve you, Tina.”
She smacked my back playfully.
“Say that one more time and I’ll throttle you.”