The man in charge

Moving in with Sebastian

" Sophia, you can't believe what just happened,"

Miss Cindy exclaimed as Sophia entered the cozy little cafe that had become their second home.

Sophia raised an eyebrow, her curiosity piqued.
"You look happy, tell me something I don't know," she quipped, her lips curling into a playful smile.

With a radiant beam, Miss Cindy couldn't contain her excitement.

"We're staying, Sophia! We're not losing the cafe anymore." Her eyes sparkled with joy, and Sophia couldn't help but share in her happiness. She thought to herself, "She deserves it... poor lady."

Sophia's nonchalant facade faded for a moment, and she leaned in, her eyes locking with Miss Cindy's.

"Wait... why are you not surprised? Don't tell me it's what I'm thinking?"

Miss Cindy leaned in closer, her voice barely above a whisper.
"What did you do, Sophia? I know that look ."

Sophia smirked, taking a seat.
"Well, I just did the right thing. I won't let you lose this cafe, no matter what."

A hint of curiosity danced in Miss Cindy's eyes. "And what exactly did you do?"

Sophia leaned in, her voice low and conspiratorial. "Well," she began, "you remember the two hot looking gentlemen who came to visit the other day."

Miss Cindy's eyes widened with recognition. "You mean Sebastian Knight and Bella's lover."

This revelation caught Sophia by surprise.
"Come on... don't give me that look... you know Bella blabbers."

"Okay... so Sebastian had an offer for me," Sophia continued, "to pose as his girlfriend, to convince his dad that he's in a committed relationship with me and not marry him off to his partner's daughter. I turned it down."

Miss Cindy's curiosity got the better of her. "Why? And why couldn't he choose someone else?"

"It's a long story, some other day."
With that, she began to recount the intriguing tale of how she accepted his offer.

Miss Cindy listened with rapt attention, her eyes filled with concern.
"Oh, Sophia... I know the cafe means a lot to you, but you shouldn't have sacrificed your happiness for it."

Sophia leaned in, her eyes firm and determined. "Actually, the cafe is my happiness, Cindy. I can't let it be destroyed as long as I'm breathing. Besides," she admitted, "I honestly need the money from Sebastian too."

Miss Cindy sighed, realizing the depth of Sophia's commitment.
"I'm going to miss you, you knucklehead, and i really appreciate what you did for me." she said, pulling Sophia into a warm, heartfelt hug.

Sophia returned the embrace, her voice laced with reassurance. "I'll visit, Cindy. I promise."

**************

That evening, Sophia dropped the bombshell at home.

"I'm moving out," she told her mom, bracing for the storm.

Her mom's face darkened instantly. "Moving in with who?"

"Sebastian Knight," Sophia replied, trying to keep her tone casual.

Her mom's mood flipped like a switch. "Sebastian Knight?!" she practically squealed. "My baby hit the jackpot! A billionaire! Oh, Sophia, you've done it—our family's ticket to the good life!"

Sophia groaned internally as her mom launched into a tirade about fame, fortune, and tabloid headlines. All Sophia could do was retreat to her room and start packing.

Still, one question nagged at her. Why was Sebastian Knight such a household name? Everyone seemed to know him, but she didn't recall ever seeing his face in the news. The mystery only deepened.

*******

The next morning, a sleek black car arrived to whisk Sophia away. The driver, Mathew, introduced himself politely before loading her bags and driving her to what could only be described as a palace disguised as a mansion.

As they pulled up, Sophia let out a low whistle. "This brat is seriously rich."

Inside, the house was even more extravagant than she'd imagined. Every detail screamed luxury, from the marble floors to the crystal chandeliers. It was overwhelming, and yet, somehow, it made her feel... uneasy.

A young woman greeted her at the door. "Hi, I'm Eve," she said warmly. "I'll be helping you settle in until Mr. Knight arrives."

Sophia blinked. "Helping me? I wasn't expecting someone my age here."

Eve's smile didn't falter, but there was something guarded in her tone. "Mr. Knight prefers to keep his arrangements private. Please, follow me."

Sophia felt a pang of unease but brushed it aside. Eve led her down a grand hallway to a room that could only be described as palatial.

"This is your room," Eve announced, opening the door.

Sophia frowned. "Not our room?"

Eve shook her head. "No, ma'am. Just yours."

Sophia couldn't explain why that answer left her feeling oddly disappointed.

"Is everything okay, Miss Edwards?" Eve asked, her tone polite but distant.

"It's fine. Just... call me Sophia."

Eve's smile tightened. "I'm afraid Mr. Knight has instructed me to address you formally, ma'am."

Sophia's unease grew. "Why all the secrecy? And why can't you just talk to me like a normal person? Is he... dangerous?"

Eve's expression shifted—was that fear? "I think I should go now, ma'am. If you need anything, just call me. But remember, you're not allowed to leave your room until Mr. Knight returns. And whatever you do, do not go into his room."

With that cryptic warning, Eve left, leaving Sophia alone in her lavish prison.

Sophia sat on the edge of the plush bed, staring at the ornate door. One thought echoed in her mind.

What have I gotten myself into?

End of Chapter
Hit the star and stay tuned for Chapter 2—secrets, schemes, and Sebastian's mysterious world await