Sophia’s POV
“A mistake.” Mr Prescott said, his tone carefully blank, his gaze opaque and unreadable.
“I’m not interested in pursuing a sexual relationship with you,” I said, meeting his steel gaze. “We will remain partners and maintain our boundaries. That’s it.”
I was pushing him away even though I needed his help to pay off Father.
I couldn’t lie to myself anymore. I refused to.
I cared for Reid but he was only attracted to me and that wasn’t enough. Not barely.
But what if he turned out to be the father of my children?
My chest grew tighter at the thought. No, it couldn’t be, surely life wouldn’t be so cruel to me.
Mr Prescott stared at me for a moment. Just one. Then he shrugged his usual professional countenance back.
“If that is what you want.” He said dispassionately.
Irrational anger bloomed bright and furious in my chest at Mr Prescott’s easy acceptance.
I wanted him to react. Wanted him to beg me to change my mind. I wanted him to kiss me and take away my choice in this damn matter.
Goodness, I was so done for.
Hours passed and Father’s deadline loomed closer and closer with no solution in view.
I had called up banks trying to figure out how to get quick loans without involving Mr Prescott but hanging up on the last bank I was beginning to realize it was going to be next to impossible.
“Is there any reason in particular you want one hundred million in cash?” Mr Prescott’s voice suddenly came from behind me making me almost jump.
When did he return from his meeting? How much did he overhear?
“Nevermind. It is not your concern.” I said avoiding his gaze as I tried to move around him.
Mr Prescott easily blocked my way with his ridiculously large frame.
“You are my wife, Sophia. My money is our money,” He said softly. “You can spend as much of it as you want. I just want to know what the urgency is.”
Tears gathered involuntarily in my eyes and it took all of my strength not to fall into his arms and sob.
Why did Mr Prescott always do this? Why did he act so concerned if he was only ‘attracted’ to me?
“Like I said, it’s not important.” I said tightly before trying to move away again.
“Alright,” Mr Prescott said, grabbing my wrist and holding me in place as he placed a call with his phone in his other hand.
I had no idea what he was saying with his swift Mandarin but when he was done with his call, he looked at me with those heartbreakingly beautiful grey eyes and spoke.
“The bank will have the money ready within two hours.”
He was going to give me a hundred million dollars, just like that without even knowing what I needed it for.
I should have refused. I should have stood my ground and said no but instead the lump in my throat grew heavier and a lone tear escaped my eye.
“Thank you.” I said before hurrying away and this time he let me go.
Father was on time, arriving at the beach which was a little more crowded during the daytime than it had been last night with a greedy smile.
“I knew you could be reasonable.” He smirked, his eyes on the large bag next to me.
I shifted, blocking his view of it and forcing him to look at me.
“This is the only payment I’ll give you.”
I had no intention of becoming Father’s personal credit card.
Father sneered derisively.
“You will do whatever the heck I want you to do, girl.”
He reached out to grab the bag but it was already in my hand as I took a step out of his reach.
Father’s eye twitched in annoyance and I knew he wanted nothing more than to yank the bag out of my hands and only the presence of so many people around stopped him.
I held out a document.
“Sign it and you get your money.” I started firmly.
Father snatched the paper out of my hands, his expression even more outraged than before as he read the contents. Once he signed it, it would make me Mom’s sole guardian.
“Is this a joke?” Father cackled roughly. “You think you are so smart, no?”
Father held the paper up and ripped it to shreds, his pretense at normality gone.
“I’m not signing a damn thing and you and I aren’t done until I say so.” He said roughly, grabbing my chin painfully tight. “Got it?”
“Take your hands off my wife.”
I went completely still at the sound of Mr Prescott’s voice from right behind me. Where did he come from?
Father’s hand dropped from my chin and he took a step back, a fake smile plastered across his face.
“Reid, my boy, I’m afraid you misunderstood. I was just wiping some dirt off her-”
“You are the one misunderstanding something,” Mr Prescott said, cutting off Father midspeech, his voice so cold and threatening that I could barely recognize it. “No one threatens my wife.”
Mr Prescott’s arm slid around my waist tucking me securely to his side, sending an unhealthy jolt of electricity straight to my heart.
“Threaten?” Father laughed almost nervously, his beady eyes darting between Mr Prescott and me. “She is my daughter, I could never-”
“Let’s cut to the chase,” Mr Prescott said smoothly. “I’ll let you keep the money and your pathetic excuse of a life but in exchange, you will never come near my wife or mother in law ever again.”
Mr Prescott knew about Father threatening Mom? How?
Realizing the gig was up, Father dropped all semblance of pretense squaring up to Mr Prescott with a dangerous gleam in his eyes.
“You might be rich but you can’t stop me from seeing my daughter, isn’t that right, Sophia?” Father said, an unvoiced threat hidden in his sickly sweet voice.
This was the part where I told Mr Prescott he was mistaken and to not butt into my family affairs.
Yes, I knew my role very well. I had lied for Father a lot. Mom and I had always covered for him, hidden our bruises and suffering. But I wasn’t that girl anymore.
“I don’t want to see you ever again, Father.” I said softly but my voice carried and I could see shock blooming on Father’s face that I had dared oppose him openly.
Mr Prescott didn’t miss a beat.
“Ferryman, twenty grams. Ring a bell?” He said with a quirked brow.
What was he talking about?
I didn’t know what Mr Prescott was talking about but Father seemed to and whatever it was made him two shades paler.
“H… How do you know… about?” Father stuttered.
“Bother my wife one more time and you’ll find out how far my reach is.”
Father took the bag from me silently before stalking off but I knew him and from that look in his eyes, I knew this was far from over.
The moment Father was out of sight, I stepped out of Mr Prescott’s hold and turned to face him.
“Why did you do that?”