Sofia is seated down in the luxurious living room of Charles estate, feeling the noise of the media frenzy coming down upon
them. The elegant chandelier above barely threw a warm glow over her growing anxiety. The headlines had been mind blowing,
transforming every part of her love story into scandalous accusations.
A week had passed since the hospital incident, and while Charles had done his best to protect her from the worst of it, she could feel the tension getting into her head. The walls around them seemed to close in, pressuring her with unknown happenings and hidden threats.
Charles stood by the fireplace, his hands was resting on a mantle. "They're not going to quit, are they?" His voice was calm, but Sofia could hear the frustration within him.
She rose from her seat and walked over to him, sliding her hands into his. "Pamela won't stop until she's ruined everything we have in common, our love, our connection and friendship."
A knock on the door interrupted them. Nathan entered, his expression spiked up tension. "Sir, there's something you need to see."
He handed Charles a tablet to listen to even though he could not see. The screen flickered on, displaying a security footage clip. Sofia leaned in, her breath hitching as she recognized the woman on the screen.
Pamela.
She was in the lobby of Royal Apparel L.L.C Company, talking to someone, a man whose face was obscured by the camera angle. Then, as if sensing she was being watched, she turned her head slightly, flashing a smirk at the camera before disappearing into the elevator.
Sofia's heart pounded in fear. "Who is she meeting?"
Nathan grimaced. "That's what we need to find out. But if she's been meeting people inside the company... it means she's trying to plant something against you, Charles."
Charles had a deep breath inward. "We need to be ahead of her."
Sofia nodded in agreement. "Then we start digging."
The Hidden Betrayal
That night, Charles made a call to one of his most trusted advisors, Marcus Holloway. A former detective turned private investigator, Marcus had been Charles undercover eyes for years.
Within a couple of hours, Marcus had gathered enough information to make Charles get relaxed on the matter.
"I don't think it's just Pamela," Marcus said over the phone. "There's someone inside your company working with her. And they've been feeding her information for months."
Sofia's stomach twisted. "Who?"
Marcus hesitated. "I don't have a name yet, but I found something else. Pamela has been making discreet transactions with an offshore account. Big money is moving out, someone is funding her war against you."
Charles clenched his fists. "She's not just trying to ruin me. She wants to destroy everything I've built."
Sofia placed a hand on his arm. "We'll stop her. Together."
Marcus sighed. "Be careful. Whoever is inside Royal Apparel L.L.C Company, they're close. Closer than you think."
The Public Ambush
The next morning, Charles and Sofia arrived at an exclusive gala, a charity event that Charles had been planning for months. He refused to let Pamela's games dictate his life.
But the moment they stepped onto the red carpet, chaos erupted.
Reporters pushed forward, their microphones like daggers in Sofia's direction.
"Miss. Scott, how does it feel to know Pamela Andrew is exposing the truth?"
"Mr. Charles, is it true that you bribed officials to cover your past?"
"What do you say about the leaked footage of Sofia meeting with another man?"
Sofia froze. "What?"
Before she could process the question, a giant screen outside the venue went on view, displaying a grainy video. It showed Sofia standing in a dimly lit cafe, talking to a man in a suit. He leaned in close, as if whispering something to her. Charles grip on her hand tightened as he heard the conversations of people. "What is going on?"
Sofia shook her head in shock as she stammered. "I don't know. I don't even remember this happening."
Pamela's laughter rang out from the crowd. She stepped forward, microphone in hand. "My dear, sweet Sofia. So innocent. Or is she?"
Charles was amazed and got frozen, his expression was not straight. "Enough, Pamela."
Pamela smirked. "You should ask her who the man is. Or better
yet, why she was meeting him in secret."
The whispers around them grew louder. Doubt hung came in the air like poison.
Sofia's got troubled and really devastated. Who was that man? Was the video real? Nothing made sense.
Pamela leaned in, whispering only loud enough for them to hear, "I told you this was just the beginning."
Then she walked away, leaving a scene in her wake.
The Crack in the Foundation
The drive back to the estate was silent. Charles hadn't let go of Sofia's hand, but she could feel his tension.
"Charles, you don't believe her, do you?"
He breathed in, rubbing his temple. "I don't want to. But I need to know the truth, Sofia."
She felt her heart was broken. "You think I'd betray you?"
He turned toward her, his expression conflicted.
"No. But someone is trying to make it look like you did. And that means they have access to moments in your life even you
don't remember."
Tears welled in her eyes. "I swear, I don't know who that man is."
Charles closed his eyes briefly, then pulled her into his arms. "I believe you."
But as much as he wanted to trust her, one thought haunted him.
What if Pamela wasn't lying?
And what if this betrayal went deeper than either of them realized? To be continued...