"Thank you, but I don't need your help, Mr. Anderson. It's only out of compassion that I'm helping you, so you don't have to repay me with a marriage," Sofia replied confidently.
Nicolas could not understand why he had come up with such an odd idea. It is not usual for him to ask an unknown woman to marry him, even if it is only a fake marriage because it will affect his reputation. It's just that he believes in his intuition. He wants Sofia to be his wife.
"You're strange, Sofia. Other women would accept when I proposed, but you are different."
"Then you just ask these women. It's easy, isn't it?"
"Nope, somehow my heart tells me that you are the right person. There's no need to rush, you can think about it first. Thanks for your help, I'm going."
Nicolas removed the blanket that covered his body. Then he left Sofia's house.
"Wait, here's some money for a taxi fare, you lost your wallet, right?"
"You are so kind, Sofia. Thank you, I'll replace it when we meet again." Nicholas said goodbye by taking Sofia's hand and blowing on it, Sofia was surprised and pulled her hand away, but Nicholas smiled at her.
"Interesting!" Nicolas whispered in the taxi and looked at the money that Sofia gave him.
In the morning, Sofia ran over with a panicked face. The hospital informed her that her father was in serious condition. She hoped that her father would be okay.
When she arrived in front of her father's hospital room, Sofia took a deep breath and pretended that everything was all right. When she opened the door, she saw the doctor and several nurses surrounding her father's bed.
"Dad?" Sofia called softly.
When they heard Sofia's voice, they turned their heads. One of them came up to Sofia and invited her to talk outside.
"Did you get the money, Sofia? Your father won't be able to hold on much longer, he has to be operated on immediately. Otherwise, be prepared for the worst."
"I have three hundred thousand; use it first; I'll pay it back soon; please save my father!" Sofia was crying and begging for mercy from one of the nurses who was standing next to her.
"You can't, Sofia. This is a hospital, not a charity. Even though I'm your friend, I can't make decisions. The doctor will do the surgery on your father when you have the money."
Sofia took a deep breath. How could she get the money? Whatever she would do for her father's cure, even if it had to be at the cost of her future.
"Okay, prepare the operation. I'll pay as soon as the operation is done. I'll get the money now."
"Are you sure, Sofia?" Her nurse friend asked. Sofia replied with a nod.
"Then I'll get the paperwork for you to sign."
The nurse reported to the doctor and soon returned with some papers in her hand.
"Sign here, Sofia. The doctor will let you know when the operation is. You still don't have a cell phone?"
Sofia nodded sadly again. It had been more than six months since her father had been in the hospital, and since then, Sofia had sold valuables in the house to pay for the hospital fees.
"No problem, I'll just contact your aunt. You just need to prepare the money."
****
Sofia stares at a piece of paper with Nicolas' phone number on it. Her heart is still in doubt, but no one can help her now except Nicolas. A handsome, wealthy man. After Nicolas leaves, Sofia immediately borrows her aunt's cell phone. She finds out who Nicolas Anderson is. Imagine Sofia's surprise when she discovers the man she helped yesterday is a billionaire.
Whether this is luck or disaster for her, it's clear that she must call this number immediately.
Meanwhile, Nicolas is in his office checking some files he has to sign. Suddenly, his cell phone rings; a strange number calls him, but instead of rejecting the call, he smiles contentedly.
"See? You finally called me," Nicolas muttered. He already knew that it was Sofia calling him.
The woman didn't know at all that Nicolas was the mastermind behind everything. Through Andy, he had asked the hospital to ask Sofia to pay for the operation right away. This is easy for a billionaire like Nicolas. He gave the hospital lots of money, so they easily complied.
"Hello, Mr. Anderson? This is Sofia, is yesterday's offer still valid?" Sofia asked matter-of-factly.
"Just call me Nick. Just to make it more familiar. We are going to be husband and wife soon, right?"
"Okay, Nick. Please just answer my question," Sofia pleaded.
"Of course, I'll answer your questions, but not over the phone like this. Come to my office! I'll send a driver to pick you up. Get ready and don't forget to dress nicely!"
Without waiting for a reply from Sofia, Nicolas hung up the phone.
"How arrogant of him! Just because he's rich, he can boss people around as he pleases." Sofia grumbled, handing the phone back to her aunt, whose house was not far from where she lived.
The sun is still not too hot, Sofia immediately takes a shower and gets ready to come to Nicolas' office. Just as she finishes getting dressed, Sofia hears the sound of footsteps. It looks like two people have entered her house.
"Who is it?" Sofia shouted from her room. She felt afraid that whoever had entered her house was trying to steal, even though there was nothing to steal.
"Sorry, Miss Sofia. We were both told by Mr. Anderson to pick you up. We have also prepared a dress for you to wear later on."
"Bring it back! I don't need it. I already have my clothes." Sofia refused because she didn't think it was important.
"Mr. Anderson doesn't accept refusals. Forgive our presumption."
Finally, both of the women walked into Sofia's room. Without permission, they made Sofia sit down and dress her with their makeup.
"Wait! What's going on? Didn't I just meet him at the office? Did it have to be like this?" Sofia was confused.
"Of course it did. Please be quiet for a while and let us do our job properly."
Sofia allowed them to transform her into another person. No one would guess that she was Sofia, the florist, who usually wore shabby dresses with just this makeup and formal attire.
"Perfect! You look beautiful, Miss Sofia. Oh God, we're already late. Chop chop!"
The florist grabbed her small bag and quickly followed them. Sofia was shocked. There was already a luxury car in front of her house that she couldn't afford even if she sold flowers all her life. Until she arrived at Nicolas' office, Sofia marveled at this sophisticated car.
"Mr. Anderson is on the top floor. Please use the elevator in the corner of the room. It's a special elevator for the Anderson family."
Sofia complied and went to the only room upstairs. She knocked slowly on the thick glass door, and suddenly, the door opened automatically.
That is why the two women asked Sofia to dress up because Nicolas' office was very large and luxurious. In fact, because of the splendor of the building, it looked more like a hotel than an office.
"I've been waiting for you, Sofia."
Nicolas greeted her with a very charming smile. The man looked even more attractive because Nicolas was wearing a suit that fit his body perfectly. That smile made Sofia feel love at first sight, but a second later she bowed her head. There was no way this poor woman could love a billionaire like Nicolas.
"You're gorgeous, Sofia, I knew it. Please sit down!"
For some reason, Sofia suddenly felt nervous. In her whole life, this was the first time she was so close to a man other than her father and Josh, her best friend.
"So you decided to accept my offer, right?" Nicolas opened the conversation after he was in the seat next to Sofia.
"Only to pay for my dad's surgery. Otherwise, I wouldn't have wanted to marry you, Nick."
"Yes, I know that too. That's why I'm going to give you some conditions, and they're already here."
Nicolas handed over a file with their contract. Sofia read it carefully and then smiled sadly.
"How about it, Sofia, have you agreed to the terms I've offered, or do you have something you'd like to ask for?"
Sofia read the points again, one by one. There are five points written by Nicolas, the first point is that both partners have to look intimate at all times in front of everyone, but they are not allowed to fall in love with each other. This was a difficult point, especially for Sofia, who already had a crush on Nick, but she promised never to tell Nicolas about it.
"No, Nick. I agree." Sofia forced a smile.
"Good! I remind you again, this marriage is only for one year. Even though we are husband and wife, there are still limits, especially in personal matters. Only in front of people, we show that we are a happy couple because my reputation is very important. If you understand, then sign the paper. I'll give you the money right away.
Sofia took a deep breath before putting her signature on the paper. All this for the sake of her father, instead of selling herself in a nightclub, Nicolas' offer seemed much better. Yes, everything would be fine. She just had to pretend for a year with this fake marriage.
Sofia has finally signed the piece of paper that will be the beginning of a change in her life. She doesn't know what's next, because their lives are opposite. Poor Sofia is married to a rich man like Nicolas. She is sure that there will be a lot of people around Nicolas who won't like her. Not to mention explaining to her aunt later.
"Okay. Now that you've signed it, let's go."
"Where are we going?"
"To meet my parents, of course."