Billionaire's Redemption

Marcus Vale turned his attention to the contract positioned on his glossy glass desk, his grey eyes scrutinizing the details on the document. His office had wall-to-wall windows that overlooked the city landscape, a clear manifestation of power and prestige. Everything about Marcus spoke to that – from his customized suit, his silver wristwatch, and the perfect posture he maintained as if every movement was a mathematic equation that required calculation before execution.

For those who knew him, Marcus was not going to be the type of man who would be easy when it came to the subject of reserved decision – he was always going to fight for the upper hand. And the upper hand today secured the last bullet in the coffin of Bennett Company, a small yet a promising new design company.

“Mr. Vale, the papers are ready for you to place a signature,” It was Lucas again, his personal assistant who called him from across the room.

There was no answer at first, and this was expected as there was none to give. Marcus effortlessly clutched the pen sitting aimlessly on the desk and turned it with a single click. He stared at the signature area for a short while before aggressively scribbling his name on it.

This brought all transactions to a conclusion. The deal was done.

The next minute, there was knock on the doorway.

“Come in,” Marcus ordered confidently and without any emotion.

Sophia Bennett entered as the door opened. She looked pale, her eyes almost tearful, as she gripped the documents in her hand, the documents that had summarized the merger. The buyout. The annihilation of every single thing she had built throughout her career. Her breath hitched deep in her chest as she stared at the man she had once trusted, the man who she previously held in such high regard. Why was he doing this?

“Marcus,” a bit of uncertainty edged in Sophia’s voice but she willed herself to stand firmly. “Is this true? Did you… did you buy my company…out?”

Marcus didn’t even feel the need to get up. He tilted himself in his chair with his hands crossed on the table and looked at her in a way that did not give anything away.

“It's business,” he stated plainly, his voice as icy as the air in the room. “This company was weak. When there was a chance, I took it.”

Sophia couldn't believe her ears. Her fingers began to grip the folder in her hands, irritation bubbling inside her. She knew that business could get merciless in dealings with Marcus, but not once did she ever think that he would be merciless with her.

“Weak?” she echoed with a question, her voice slightly elevated. “You’re aware of the effort I put in to see Bennett Company. You were the first to help me with the basic of it and encourage me to start it. And then … it was just too easy for you to take it away?”

Marcus did not show any sentiments upon hearing her accusations. He rose to his feet slowly and with deliberate movement, he began to fasten the buttons on his suit jacket. His stare remained steady.

"You were always so naive. I only assisted you back then because it was beneficial to my ends. But not anymore. Things change," he stated, without any emotions in his tone.

Sophia caught her breath. It felt like she was standing on the borders of a volcano with the rocks falling down at an alarming rate. She gave everything for her company, worked late hours, on weekends she was always working, she sacrificed her social life and even her relationship with Marcus. But now, all that was gone with just a stroke of his pen?

“Of course, you don’t care, do you?” she inquired, her throat barely managing to articulate the words. “You have no remorse towards what you've done to me.”

Finally, Marcus looked at her, his dark eyes locking onto hers. There was a flicker of something - something almost like regret - but it disappeared as fast as it had come. He stepped around the desk and stood in front of her, close enough that she could smell the faint scent of his cologne, but still keeping a calculated distance.

"You are crossing boundaries now, Sophia," he said. "This is not personal. This is just business. The Bennett company had high chances of failing. It’s just how it is in my world."

Sophia’s anger intensified and she felt her chest tighten. “Your world?” she yelled moving closer towards him. “This was ‘my’ company, Marcus. A company I've put so much into, basically my life's work. And you stand here and act like it’s just… a business deal?!”

A nerve underneath the surface of Marcus’s skin twitched, suggesting that what she had just said had made an impact. But he shrugged it off almost immediately.

“I gave you an opportunity,” was the ice-cold reply he gave her. “But you could not keep up.”

“Keep up?” Sophia's voice broke, frustration and sadness evident in her voice. "I was your personal assistant for five good years. You were my mentor. But unlike you, I didn't use people, I didn't step on anyone to get to the top. I built something good and honest. And now you have ruined all of it.”

“You had quite a bit of potential." for the first time, there was a note of sympathy in his voice but he quickly regained his composure. “But potential and success do not go hand-in-hand sometimes.”

Sophia glared at him, searching for some sign of sympathy in his emotionless features but all she could see was the cold, indifferent and untouchable figure that he had become.

“What’s the point of all this? Why do this to me?” The question hung heavy in the air as she uttered it.

He waited for a brief moment before replying, "Because I can."

Sophia’s heart sank. Those words — so plain, so final — pierced worse than she thought they could. Because I can. That was all it was to him. A game. A demonstration of power.

Her her vision blurred with unshed tears but she could not cry before him. Not again. She wouldn’t provide him with that satisfaction.

“I hope it was worth it, then, ” she said, her voice cracking. “Ruining everything we used to have. I hope it was worth it to you.”

Marcus didn’t respond. All he did was look at her for a second, face impossible to read, then he turned away.

“Goodbye, Sophia.”

Sophia was frozen in place, as if the world had folded itself around her. There was nothing left. No business. No relationship. No hope.

Without another word, she turned on her heel and walked out of the office, her head high, even as her heart shattered into pieces.

The cab's tires crushed the gravel and swung up to the curb outside the apartment building. Sophia's gaze was fixated out the window, her expression unwavering as her eyes darted towards the once so common silhouette of her place. The city’s skyline that loomed in the background only contributed to the finality that Sophia already felt all too well.

After paying the cab driver, Sophia grabbed her handbag and walked up to the apartment which she shared with her younger sister, Claire. Each step she took was heavier than the last. By the time, she reached the door, she could already feel her heart racing against her diaphragm, not because she was tired but because of the weight of everything she had lost.

The door opened to reveal Claire - a twenty-two-year old with chestnut brown hair and full of life - scrolling through her phone. She glanced up as Sophia stepped in, and almost immediately she sensed that everything was not okay with her sister.

“Hey, I wasn't