Thorn on my side

KARL'S POV

" Sir, she refused a meeting with you again." my secretary informed me, I had been asking for a meeting be set up for us to discuss, since she assumed the role of the CEO of her dad's company but Sophie had bluntly refused to see me. She was becoming unnecessarily difficult and unrealistic and it was annoying.

" Who did she think she was?" I wondered.

Frustration boiled inside me as I paced back and forth in my luxurious office. " What was I supposed to do now?" We had a deal to seal and she was refusing to see me.

"How dare she refuse to meet with me again? Sophie had become more than just a thorn in my side; she was challenging my authority and questioning my power. But I couldn't let her get away with it. Determination settled in, fueling the fire within me to prove her wrong.

I called my secretary into the office and demanded that he find a way to make Sophie agree to meet with me. " Find a way, i don't care what it takes," I said firmly, my voice laced with authority.

"We need to resolve this matter once and for all." I told her, my secretary nodded, understanding the gravity of the situation. She assured me that she would do whatever it took to arrange a meeting between Sophie and myself. " Just do that and you would be handsomely rewarded." I told her as I dismissed her from my office.

I sat down at my desk, my mind racing with thoughts of how to handle Sophie. She may think she can challenge me, but little did she know that I always found a way to get what I wanted. As the minutes ticked by, I tried to come up with a plan that would not only force her to meet with me but also teach her a lesson she would never forget.

" To think she has all of this because her family found her." I muttered, I was already trying to reconcile with her but she was determined to not make it easy for me. I was growing tired of Sophie's stubbornness and this was because of her new found status that seemed to have gone to her head and now she was acting as if she were above every one else, " I wish they never found her." I mumbled, Sophie had refused me audience for no reason.

" Should I confront her myself?" I thought to myself determined to put an end to this nonsense once and for all. I smiled mischeviously as an idea struck me.

I was going to use the same method I had used to get through to her before now, her daughter. " Why didn't I think of this before now? I chuckled, the smile wiped off my face as a thought came to mind.

"Where was Selene now?" I thought, Davis had told me she had left the school they both attended together, I picked up the phone and called my secretary, " Get every information about Selene, Sophie's daughter." I told her and she reassured me that she would get to it as soon as possible. " Please do." I said, frustration evident on my voice.

Moments afterwards, she got me the address of Selene's new school and Sophie's residence.

" I was going to go see her my self, I pick my keys and left for Selene new school, I arrived at the school and inquired about Selene and was able to see her,

" Uncle Karl, you came. I have missed you so much." She rushed to hug me as soon as she sighted me, it was about closing hour when I arrived so I knew Sophie would come up any minute to pick her up.

" I have missed you too, how is your new school?" I asked her and she chattered along about the adjustment she had to make because of change of school, " Why did you have to change your school, Selene. Davis has been asking about you.

" Mummy said I had to do it. I don't know why though." She replied, her face downcast. "How is Davis?" She asked me and I told her he was fine and wished she came to see him.

" Get away from my daughter." Sophie screamed as soon as she sighted us, with surprise flickering in her eyes before being replaced by defiance. I was surprised as to why she would yell the way she did.

Selene unaware of what was happening rushed to hug her, " Mummy, Uncle Karl is here, he came back." She told her mother, " Go to the car Selene," Sophie told her daughter, but what about Uncle Karl, we are going back to his house right?" She asked, concern evident in her voice.

" Please go, let the grown ups talk." She told her and Selene returned to the car playfully, she seemed really excited seeing me.

" Where are you here? She asked me as soon as Selene left, I don't want you anywhere near my child." She added.

"Sophie," I said firmly, crossing my arms over my chest. "We need to talk

She stared at me fury in her eyes, "What do you want?"

"I want an explanation," I replied sharply. "You've been avoiding me for weeks now without any valid justification."

Her lips curled into a mocking smile as she stared at me "And what makes you think you deserve an explanation? You're just like everyone else who thinks they can control me."

Her words stung, but I refused to let it show. Instead, I took a deep breath and composed myself before responding calmly yet assertively.

"I don't seek to control you," I stated firmly. "But we are now partners in this business venture, and communication is essential for its success."

Sophie scoffed dismissively as if the notion of us being partners was laughable. "Partners? More like someone trying desperately to hold onto power while their grip slips away."

I felt anger boiling within me at her audacity but managed to keep it contained behind a mask of composure.

"You may be riding high on your newfound success right now," I said evenly, matching the intensity in her gaze with mine own determined stare. "But remember that true power lies not in wealth or status alone but also in maintaining meaningful connections with others and you should maintain a good relationship with me.

" You need me, you know right?"

With those final words hanging heavily between us like an invisible wall dividing our perspectives on life itself, the air thickened with tension.

I could see the fire in Sophie's eyes, and her defiance only fueled my determination. She may have thought that she was above everyone else now, but I wasn't about to let her arrogance go unchecked. There was too much at stake for our business venture, and we needed to find a way to work together.

" I don't need you or anyone else." She blurted and left angrily.