Chapter 2 Surprise Visit 2

" I don't know, mom. I have to protect my family's reputation and especially mine. Besides, Hugo is cheating on me with another woman. Harris has given me several photos that confirm it, but " I said, hugging my mother because she knew I wasn't okay with her confession. " I'm so sorry, daughter. You know I'll help you in whatever you need. Do you want me to talk to this Mark guy?" " I don't think it's a good idea. He blames you for his mother leaving them " I replied. After lunch, I left my parents' house, got into my car to go back to the office. As I drove, I thought about what response I would give to Mark Harris, wondering why my mother never told me anything about her affairs, since we were always very close. I also wondered where she got the information about the baby I had, as I had given my baby up for adoption without anyone knowing when she was born. I arrived at the building where the office was located, parked my car, took the elevator to the floor I was headed to, and as soon as I stepped out, my secretary Lina approached me. " Sofia, you have a visitor in your office, I couldn't stop him, I'm sorry " she said. " Don't worry, who is it? " I asked. " Mr. Harris " she said, surprising me. I entered my office to find Mark Harris standing by the windows. I hung my bag on the rack, and as he turned to face me upon hearing me enter, we locked eyes, noticing the sparkle in his beautiful green eyes. " This morning he told me I should call him Mr. Harris, doesn't he have any patience? " I said. " I need an urgent answer from you, have you thought about it, Miss Lopez? " he asked. " To be honest, you haven't given me much time to decide " I replied, sitting in my chair with my arms on the table, fingers crossed. " And I don't have much time either, Sofia. I assume that after two years, you would want to meet your daughter " he said, placing his hands on my desk and leaning in closer to me. " If I accept your proposal, I suppose there will be a contract with conditions " I responded. " The contract is right here, you can read it and if you agree, sign it. My lawyer has stipulated all the conditions, I have an appointment with him in his office so he can go over all the clauses with you and we can sign it " he said. " Excuse me, Mr. Harris, but I don't need a lawyer to explain the clauses of a contract to me, or have you forgotten that I am a lawyer myself? " I said. " Your mother didn't think the same when she was sleeping with my father, did she? " he retorted. " My mother is a respectable lady and what she did or didn't do in her life is none of my business " I replied. " Those are the conditions, Miss Lopez. Take it or this afternoon your photo will be in the gossip magazines. What do you decide? " he asked, getting closer to me, our mouths just inches apart. " Leave my office right now, Mr. Harris. Nobody coerces me " I whispered. " You have until the printing press starts working, one hour, Miss Lopez. And I've left the documents for you to read at your leisure " he whispered back, leaving my office afterwards. I sat in my office chair, watching my secretary enter. " Sofia, are you okay?" " No, Lina, I'm not feeling very well " I replied. " You know I can help you with anything." " I know, thank you. You can go now." I kept checking the clock in my office every five minutes, although I was grateful that he didn't call me or come back to my office again. Seeing that I couldn't concentrate on anything I was doing and time was running out, I decided to call him and meet Mark at the club where I was a member, to talk to him and try to dissuade him from his intentions. I got up from my chair, grabbed my bag from the hanger, and left my office, locking the door. "Lina, when you finish what you're doing, you can leave. We'll see each other tomorrow," I said. I took the elevator down to the parking lot, got out of the cubicle, and got into my car, heading to the club I used to frequent. When I arrived, I parked, got out of the car, and entered the club, walking up to the bar. "Hello Sofia, darling, you're early today. I haven't seen your fiancé yet," said Aron the bartender. "I have a meeting with a client here. Give me the usual," I said. I turned to see the people there and spotted Mark at a table away from the entrance. I grabbed my drink and headed towards my enemy. "I thought you weren't going to call me," he said. "I didn't come here for sweet talk. I want you to reconsider your proposal," I replied. "Miss Lopez, don't waste my time. With just one call, the printing press will start running," he said. "Please, Mr. Harris, I'm not to blame for..." I didn't get to finish my sentence. "My mother committed suicide because of my father's lover, who happened to be her mother, leaving us alone with my father, my brother, and me when we were still very young. Tell me, yes or no," he said firmly. "I accept your proposal, Mr. Harris. I have to protect my family's name," I responded. "Do you have the documentation I left in your office, signed?" he asked. "Not signed, I have it in my briefcase, but I'll sign it right away," I replied, seeing a sly smile on his face. "Tell me something, if you hate my family so much, why did you choose me?"