Sophie’s POV
Everyone was already sitting on their chairs, talking to each other when I finally arrived with my hair all over my face because of running my way just to make it on time. ”S-Sorry I’m late.” I said as I sat next to Sebastian. He smiled as soon as he saw me.
“It’s alright, Sophie. At least you came.” Said dad.
“Can you see yourself right now, Sophie? We’re having dinner with a very important person and you’re there wearing a white t-shirt and a pair of black jeans with your hair looking like you just woke up?” my stepmother suddenly said to me.
I lowered my head, “I’m sorry, I just came from school so I wasn’t able to change my clothes.”
“It’s alright, Sophie. Even if you wear rags, you’d still stand out.” Sebastian suddenly said so I nudged him when I saw Sera and Samantha glaring at him.
“Are you a fool? You just look like us so if you say that we’re ugly, it’s like you’re saying that you’re ugly too.” Samantha retorted.
Dad suddenly cleared his throat. “Stop that childish argument, okay? Our visitor will finally arrive soon so fix yourselves.”
“I’m still wondering who that visitor is.” Aunt Natalie said.
“You’ll meet him later.” Dad just replied.
I fixed my shirt and combed my hair using my fingers. Me too, I’ve been thinking about that visitor. I wonder who that is because he seems to be so important to my father. Although I can also see him drinking some water every minute, he looks so nervous and I don’t even know why. “Sophie, I have composed a new song again, you should hear it!” Seb whispered to me.
“Really? Can I hear it now?”
“Sure!”
Seb then took out his phone and was about to put his earphone in my right ear when we suddenly heard loud footsteps coming in our direction. Every one of us turned our heads towards the entrance of the restaurant. Dad suddenly stood up and so we all followed him.
Men wearing black suits were walking towards us. They all look familiar to me, I just can’t remember where I saw them. “They look like a gang, or maybe agents,” Seb whispered.
Then they form a line and made away in the middle. A tall man started walking in the middle, only his footsteps could be heard. He was wearing a black tuxedo vest that perfectly fitted his bulky and masculine body. His black hair was slicked back, and it was shining as if it has been waxed. He was holding a cigarette in his right hand while he was puffing a cloud of smoke.
I stared at his face, and that’s only the time I knew who he was. My eyes widened as I pointed a finger at him. “Y-YOU?!”
Everyone looked at me, including the man. He looked surprised upon seeing me too, he threw his smoke to the ground and smiled cockily. “We meet again.”
“D-Do you know him, Sophie?” dad asked me.
“Yes daddy, he was that man who—” I wasn’t able to continue what I was saying after realizing that it was so embarrassing. “I mean… yes, we already met yesterday…”
“Daddy? You mean, that woman is your daughter too?” The man asked daddy.
Dad nodded, “Y-Yes, she’s my youngest daughter.”
“Your daughter, huh? She doesn’t look like you.” Said the bastard while looking at me. I glared at him and looked at my dad who just nodded to me and smiled.
“Why don’t we have a seat first? This restaurant serves delicious food, I’m sure you’ll like it, err….”
“Vincent. You can just call me Vincent.” Said he.
Aunt Natalie nodded with a smile, “Vincent, what a handsome name. My name’s Natalie, I’m Albert’s wife. And these two girls here are my daughters.”
“H-Hi Vincent, I’m Stephanie.”
“And I’m Sera.”
The two of them were looking at Vincent, smiling, but the bastard just ignored them and shifted his gaze to me instead. “Why don’t you introduce yourself too?”
“I’m Sophie.” I said without looking at him.
“Sophie, beautiful name.” he said.
Dad cleared his throat again, “Should we order some food already?”
“T-That’s right, let’s call the server.” Aunt Natalie agreed.
Minutes have passed and we already started eating. I couldn’t focus on my food because I can feel Vincent staring at me from his seat. That mere fact already makes my blood boil in anger. “He looks like a Mafia Boss, don’t you think?” Seb whispered again to me.
“You’re right, he looks like a nymphomaniac.” I said then we both laughed.
“By the way, Albert, have you told them already the reason why we’re here?” Vincent spoke again. Why does he talk like that to my father? He doesn’t really have manners and respect.
Dad almost choked so I handed him a glass of water. “Thanks, Sophie.”
“Just eat slowly, dad.”
“Oh, so you haven’t said it yet?”
“Said what?” Aunt Natalie asked.
Vincent crossed his arms. “Your husband owes me a huge amount of money. He couldn’t give me his company so we came into a different agreement instead.”
“D-Dad owes you money?” I asked as I looked at my dad to confirm it. “Is that true, dad?”
Daddy looked at us especially to me before nodding, “T-That’s true.”
“But that’s impossible dad, we don’t have debts. Why don’t you just pay him? We have lots of money anyway.” Said Seb.
“So sorry to say but even if you pay me with all of the money that you have, it wouldn’t lessen even fifty percent of his debt.”
My eyes widened. “D-Dad, is that---
“Yes, that is true. I owe him everything, V-Vincent was the one who helped me build our company. We got to build that because of him…”
“Dad…”
“But what agreement did you have if we can’t pay you that huge amount of money?” Aunt Natalie asked.
Vincent leaned on his chair with his arms crossed, “He said he’s willing to give one of his daughters to me.”
All of us were shocked. We all looked at daddy and he just lowered his head, confirming it. “Albert, how can you do that to our daughters?!”
“Daddy! Why did you do that?! You agreed to this man?!” Seb yelled.
“I’m so sorry… I had no choice… I’m so sorry…” Dad kept on mumbling.
Vincent suddenly stood up, “So, can I have the payment now?”
“Vincent… can we just talk about this? I-I already changed my mind, I-I’ll just pay you. I don’t care if you take my company from me… just don’t…don’t take any of my daughters away from me…” Dad pleaded.
“You should have said that earlier. I changed my mind now; I don’t want money because I have that already. I want your daughter.” Vincent said.
“V-Vincent…”
“I’ll get that woman beside you.” Vincent said while looking at me.