Chapter 3

Sofia's POV

I gave in because I was trapped in his arms, feeling his hot breath on my skin and surrounded by his alluring aroma.

I was not a saint, and no one was interested in my happiness. If I got a chance to be completely selfish, I took it.

Enough said; I pulled him closer and placed a chaste kiss on his lips while unbuckling his pants. I could feel his lips pulled up in a smirk against my skin.

“Turn around,” he commanded in a husky voice.

“Why?” I asked.

“I fantasized about having you this way.” His lips lashed onto the skin below my ear.

“You fantasized about me? What an honor.” I chuckled. His grip tightened around me, and I gasped as his palm fell on my ass.

“Don’t get too cocky on me now, princess.”

No other words were said as the sounds of our groans and grunts reverberated throughout the elevator. He turned me around, preparing me for another, when my phone started acting up. I sighed as I saw Carlito’s name on the screen.

“Yeah?” I answered once I managed to control my rapid breathing.

“Where are you?” he asked impatiently.

I had to cover Sterling’s mouth with my palm so he wouldn’t say anything, but instead, he buried his face in my neck, giving me another hickey.

“I was just wrapping up,” I tried to keep my voice calm.

“Pete can’t see you.”

“Tell Pete to mind his damn business. I can handle myself,” I gritted out.

“Yeah, whatever. I am waiting for you over here, so hurry.”

I ended the call and finally released the groan I had been holding back.

“I have to go now,” I said, untangling myself from him and pressing the start button of the elevator while I straightened my clothing.

“It was nice seeing you again, Miss Sofia.” He continued to stare at me with lust.

I winked at him as I stepped out of the elevator. I went to my car and drove back to the mansion with a smile.

“Wow, you look like you had fun,” Carlito spoke up as soon as I entered the room.

“What are you doing in my room?” I asked, ignoring his statement.

“I told you that I was waiting for you.”

“What did you want to say?” I asked impatiently while removing my heels.

“You do know that Father will announce your engagement at your so-called birthday celebration next week, right?”

“Yeah. So?”

“So? You need to stop these random hookups. You won’t like the outcome if your father and future spouse find out.”

“Oh, fuck off, Carlito. I get one night for myself, one freaking night, so I’m going to do whatever I please.”

“Yesterday was your birthday, so I said nothing. But today? What is your excuse?”

“Might as well enjoy a little before I get tied down to that bastard Santiago.”

Carlito sighed. “I hope you know what you’re doing.” He stood up, exiting the room.

“And tell your guard dog he doesn’t need to keep watch over me all the damn time,” I said just as he reached the door.

“Pete is only doing his job.”

“He’s your bodyguard, not mine. I can handle myself just fine. Tell him to back off!” I snapped.

Carlito shook his head and walked out of my room. Their behavior was pissing me off.

I went into the bathroom and showered, calming my body and mind. I was still getting flashbacks from the elevator. Feeling frustrated, I exited the bathroom and crawled under my blanket.

For hours, I tossed and turned on my bed but was unable to fall asleep. I decided I had enough and went to the cabinet, fishing out a vodka bottle in the hope of putting myself to sleep.

The last thing I remembered was dancing on my bed to loud music from my headphones. I didn’t turn on the speakers in my room since I didn’t need questions thrown at me right now.

Despite everything I tried, I was unable to erase those images from my memory. They were my private, forbidden desires that I had to keep to myself.

***

I had barely noticed that the week had passed in the blink of an eye. I prepared for the party that my father had organized. I sighed while admiring the lovely dress in front of me.

From this day, I will now be formally attached to Miguel Santiago. I sighed as I walked into the bathroom to begin getting ready.

I walked around with a fake smile plastered on my face.

After the celebration had been going on for an hour, my father announced that this party was also to celebrate my engagement with Miguel.

The entire time, I had to walk around with my fiancé while people kept congratulating us. I wished I could snap his neck off.

I excused myself and went to the restroom because I had finally had enough of everything.

A couple of hours afterward, I left. Lurking around to see if anyone would see me, I sneaked off to the balcony. I needed some quiet time right now.

I heard someone walking towards me, but I didn’t even bother to look up.

“Sofia, why are you agreeing to this marriage? You can’t even stand the guy!”

“When does my agreement ever matter to you?” I turned to face him. “If you care that much, you should say something. You know very well that they would just ignore me. And anyways, since when do you care?”

“You’re my older sister.”

I laughed when I heard that. Despite our three-year age difference, I always felt smaller than him since my parents had always had more influence over my life than his.

“I’ve never seen you sit back and accept orders from Dad. In addition, since marriage is a lifelong commitment, the choice you make now will follow you forever. Sofia, you always fight, so why don’t you this time?” he said.

“Where is all this brotherly concern coming from, Carlos? You were never genuinely bothered by my decisions before.”

“Since you always stood up for yourself, I never needed to interfere in your life.”

“What are the two of you doing here? Your father is looking for you, Sofia,” another voice interrupted us.

“Mom, we’ll be right there,” Carlos said.

“Now!” Mother exclaimed before leaving the balcony and walking back inside.

“Think about your future, Sofia. Is this really what you want?”

“Don’t you want to take over the business from Padre?”

Carlito fell silent after that question as I looked at him.

“We don’t always get what we want. I guess that’s life.”

I walked past him and returned to the party. Grabbing a wine glass from one of the waiters, I quickly drank it in one go and placed the empty glass back as I took another one.

I made my way towards my padre, hoping this night would end soon. But my prayer was unanswered. I was forced to endure walking around for four more hours.

By the end of the night, I needed a hot, long shower and a foot rub. My back also started aching, but not more than my cheeks from all the fake smiling.

My fiancé wanted to take me out for a drive, but I made up an excuse to get out of it. I had enough of the evening, and I did not want it to continue any longer.

I felt relieved when they finally left me alone in my room. I was so mentally drained that I didn’t even have a problem falling asleep.

The next morning, I jumped out of bed and rushed to empty my stomach’s contents into the sink. I tried to go back to sleep, but I couldn’t. I sighed as I slowly made my way to the bathroom. For the second time that morning, I ended up throwing up again.