||Finalllllly.  Read the previous chapters so you know what went down. Ily buttercups. ||

Sophia walked down the almost occupied hallway, her hair cascading down her back in soft loose ringlets. With her purse draped around her left shoulder her slender arms wrapped around the compact files keeping them in place.
"Sophia! Sophia!" Her ears picked up at a distant voice calling out for her amidst the crowded place.
Turning around, her hazel eyes wandered around the place before settling down on Matt who almost jogged over to her with an apprehensive look on his face.
Once he reached a few feet away, she looked back at him with an amused smile. "Slow down, Matt. Is everything alright?" She inquired in a somewhat identical tone to his expressions.

"I'm sweating like a glazed donut. My man-boobs were all over the place with that marathon running and I-I can't breath. Am I fine?" He rolled her eyes, inclining forward and placing both his hands flat against his knees, his chest heaving up and down trying to catch his breath.

"I can see that very well." Sophia chuckled, hoisting her arm and placing it on his back, patting it comfortingly. "Is everything alright?" She inquired.

"Well for starters, the presentation that was supposed to take place this Friday, is canceled and will be held this afternoon itself. That too with some different clients and their unknown associates."

"What! Why happened the William and Company?" She asked, appalled with the sudden change.

"They bailed out on us at the last minute because some other large firm offered a bigger amount and better security. We're doomed if Conner finds out about this!"

"Wait-Conner doesn't know? How do you plan on explaining this to him? He'll go ballistic!" She asked, lifting her arm and wrapping her hand around the door to her cabin. Twirling the handle to a side, she pushed the door open and entered with hurried steps, aiming at the table to get rid of the large files in her arms.

"I haven't thought about it I'm fucked Soph. I was supposed to take care of the meeting and because of those bastards I'm going to fucking pay for it. Conner isn't here and how are we going to explain this to out clients? Even if he flies from Dubai he'd never make it on time. That's it-he's going to fire me." Matt closed his eyes shut, drops of sweat covering her forehead.

Sophia looked at the man, her supposed friend who looked so timid and horrified in that moment. "I have a plan."

———————————————————

"Are you sure?"

"No. But we have no other option. Conner isn't here."

"No-Are you really sure of this?"

"No. But we're doing this."

"I have a bad feeling about this."

"I don't care. We're doing this."

"No."

"Yes! Now go!"
Sophia would firmly haul him forward causing Matt to bang against the door to their conference room. Gyrating his neck to over his shoulder he gave Sophia a pleading look which was let down by a harsh glare. "Move Matt!"

Matt took a deep sigh, before standing up straight and pulling down on his suit to get rid of all the creases. Placing his hand flat against the door he pushed it open and entered, with Sophia following behind him.

"Good afternoon, sorry to keep you waiting." She apologised as the duo made it's way up to the head of the table.

Matt nervously walked over to the the chair And settled down, little sweat drops forming over his forehead.
"Hello, I am Conner Manhattan, delighted to have you all present at such short notice."

The three men present there stood up, shaking hands with whom they assumed to be the notorious businessman. Once the exchange was done she stood beside Matt as the duo continued with their deal on the Eastbound Company. One of the man, named Andrew Simona chimed in right before the meeting would begin. "One of our member is running late, because of the short notice. He will be here shortly."

"Reasonable." Replied Mark, looking at him and offering a small yet form smile, making sure to look as professional as possible. How was the company's playboy goofball to portray Conner Manhattan?

After almost Forty seven minutes of constantly checking her watch, Sophia began to calm down. While Matt took care of the clients, her head was storming through ideas to put forth. Conner wasn't going to take too kindly to this little circus act of theirs.

Not even a minute passed when suddenly, the door was held open by another woman, Brenda. "I apologise for the disturbance-" She quickly mumbled right before a tall, muscular figure dressed in Armani walked through, a smiled plastered against the two folds.

"I apologise for the delay, I had to take the long route-"

That voice.

Both Matt and Sophia looked at one another, their eyes showing the similar horror swirling back and forth. "Salvador." Sophia whispered under her breath, petrified.

Salvador strolled through the entrance, big confident strides as he didn't bother to look at the man that was seated in front of him, on Connors chair. Walking straight to who he knew, he smiled and greeted his own colleagues Andrew. The two exchanged quick handshake before ...the dreadful moment finally came.

"This is Connor Manhattan, not like he needs an introduction." Like a puppy in love Andrew pointed towards Matt, who looked as pale as the moon.

Casually so, Salvador lazily glanced over at 'Connor' only to horror wash over his face, his eyes widened with surprise and his brow arched. This wasn't Conner-

Stepping in quickly, Sophia stood in front of Salvador and looked at him pleadingly, without having to say much. Her eyes clearly conveyed the helplessness, and Salvador understood.

'Bingo' He thought.

"Oh yes! Mister Connor, a pleasure to meet you after so long." Lifting her arm he gladly held it out for Matt to shake, which he did but with a tad bit of surprise.

Salvador was happy, after so long did he finally get Sophia under his wings and he was sure to use it to his full advantage.
The three men sat down and continued with their said meeting for another hour.
Sophia, on the other hand was ready to worship Salvador. Even though he knew who Connor was he chose to stay quiet and not say anything. He was a saviour, so perhaps what Connor had fed her were nothing but lies.

After another hour or so, the meeting ended with Manhattan business successfully scooping up a large portion of raw material with the Diaz industries. That meant a big deal for the business world, two thriving companies coming together.

Also meaning two big rivals coming together.

As Sophia walked out the conference room behind every one, she only had two questions running through her mind, how would Conner react to all of this. And if he would kill her.

"Uh-Miss Dixon?" Sophia paused hearing a familiar voice come from behind her making her stop and turn around.
"Mr. Diaz!" She smiled, the delight of his helpful nature made her instantly like the man irrespective of what Connor said.

Salvador smiled, a sheepish grin spread across his hard expression with his hand ribbing the back of his neck, she would be lying if she said it didn't remind her of a clichè teenage boy confessing to his crush. "I was wondering if you'd like to have coffee sometime? I really hope this time you won't stand me up."
_______________________________

Two days passed and it was finally time for Connor to return. For this very purpose, Sophia had decided to pick him up from the airport so on their way home, before any of the paparazzi caught him off guard, she could.
She could've told him over the phone yes, but god the single thought had her knees weakened and got her shaking.

Yes, she was a strong woman. But she had committed a crime, fraud even. For that, she could be sentenced for years to come and if she wanted help, she needed to tell Connor everything.

"This way Ma'am." One of the receptionists, a rather hot one held his hand out as a gesture for her to follow. "Since mister Manhattan prefers to fly in his private jet, he will be be escorted by the security through Gate-3. We suggest you wait outside the security check post so it's a less hassle, follow me please."

Sophia gave him a curt nod and followed the man behind him. Jake. She had learned his name from the badge that sat majestically upon his chest pocket.

As the two walked towards the gate, only god could explain the fear that woman felt. With every step she felt like someone was fisting her bum with no lube.

"Please wait here. He's going through the security check at the runaway and then our security men will guide him and you to the entrance where your car is waiting Ma'am."
Sophia nodded her head, not really in the right sense of mind to reply to them.

As she waited for another five minutes, a perfect plan had fabricated through her mind. She will place the losses over profits, make him understand why that share was important and perhaps he will not chuck her down into the prison.

"Sophia?" She heard a very familiar voice call out from behind her, the same voice that had her knees go weak. Turning around she looked at Connor, and oh god that was a big mistake.
A gasp escaped her pink folds and Connor walked over to her with a surprised expression, wearing his usual tuxedo that fit his muscular body like a second skin. The way that fabric fell on his shoulders, his soft strands combed perfectly to the right side with few falling over his forehead, it made him appear godlike.
"C-Conner.." She whispered, her hand involuntarily moving forward to hold his in a weak handshake.

"Why are you here?"

That one sentence was enough to crash her entire swooning time and bring her back to reality. There goes nothing.

__________________________________

As the two sat on the backseat of his car, Sophia had already told him what went down. Now the only thing sound in the car was this silent atmosphere. Once she had explained to him what went down and why, he hadn't answered or even asked anything for now. She included every little detail, from the sudden meeting to the coffee offer because Salvador had helped her knowing the truth.

"Conner—" The woman whispered softly, her eyes fixated on the man that sat straight looking forward, not even blinking.
""Say something. Please."

Conner took a deep breath, his heavy chest heaving up and down with the movement. He didn't bother to look her way, didn't even bother to acknowledge her, until now.
"Ms. Dixon, so what you are telling me is you committed fraud for the sake of the company's welfare?"

Pushing her tongue forward, she glides it along her bottom lips and gave him a slow nod swallowing the lump that threatened her voice. "Y-yes." She would say, "It was important for our company. We tried reaching you but couldn't. I'm so sorry, but this isn't that big of a problem! Considering Mr. Salvador knows about the truth and still continued with the-AH!"

Before she could comprehend what had happened, she found her small frame being pushed down the leather seat with two hands pinning her down forcefully against it. Her horrified optics glanced back at Conner who now hovered over her structure with a sinister look spreading across his otherwise emotionless face.
"CONN-"

"Shhh, Ms. Dixon." He whispered. Pushing his face against the crook of her neck he inhaled the familiar scent that he had been missing for the entire week. The same scent that calmed the beast within, made him sane. The same scent that now drove him crazy. "What you're telling me is behind my back, you met with that prick?"

Appalled by his question, Sophia shut her eyes confused. What does he mean by that? She told him about the entire fraud and he's concerned with Salvador?

"What made you think that you have a right to meet him. How many times do I have to remind you, he's not to come near you. He's not to breathe the same air as you. How many FUCKING TIMES!" Moving his head back and now inches away from her face he screamed, his blue orbs appearing deadly under the lack of light and the fury that swirled within. "Why do you not listen to me Sophia? What is so hard about understanding that one simple sentence huh?"
Helpless, Sophia started at the man appalled and terrified. She had never witnessed him lose his composure before, this was purely agonising. "I-I wanted to help.." She whispered.

A deep, devious cackle escaped his throat while his chest rumbled, "Help huh? Oh my dear little Sophia wanted to to help? Too bad for her because this just got her into one big trouble. Now imagine Serenity playing in her house when suddenly large men with guns barge in, taking her lovely mother hostage and snatching her away in big cars with coloured siren on top. Imagine the pain the child would have to go through, to have lost her mother for her entire life."

Knowing he was talking about the police that would take her away once they found out about the felony, her blood ran cold. She would be forced to stay away from her daughter even if she avoided a life sentence.

"N-no, please! I beg you Connor don't do this, please don't. I did it for the company to help Matt and others including myself. I-I would never commit a crime again, please! D-Don't call the cops!"

Conner tsked, looking down at the strong woman sprawled on his backseat helpless under him. God how much he loved to see that fear in her eyes, how he wished to vandalise her mind with his selfish agendas. "Oh? Are you really sorry?"

She nodded her head vigorously, what else was she to do?

A dark emotion spread across his sinister face, he wanted to ravish her. To even force her if needed only to keep this woman all to himself. She was an obsession he couldn't overcome and that was the reason she would suffer. "Then maybe we can come up with another deal. You are to become mine, and mine alone. We will discuss this further, but for now call your helper and tell her you'll be moving to my room for as long as I wish. This is going to be a long journey, Miss Dixon. Better buckle up."