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3. Warrior

August 2026,

Scars Bay, USA

Katerina

"Mr. Leadfield is here, Ms. Van Acker," my secretary said through the telephone.

"Let him in, Penny," I told her and braced myself for the worst. Leadfield walked into my office and I looked at him expectantly.

"Please tell me you have good news."

"I'm afraid not, Ms. Van Acker," he informed me and placed the file on my desk. "My team and I went through the contract several times. It is airtight."

I had expected it. I had gone through it several times myself and couldn't find any loopholes. I thought that an experienced team of professional lawyers might find something I missed. Apparently not.

"I don't understand how this happened, Ms. Van Acker. We couldn't have missed it while we vetted the contract," he said. "I daresay that they somehow tricked us."

"I know. But we have no proof." I knew we were tricked. I just couldn't figure out how. "Thank you for your services, Mr. Leadfield. I will call for you if I need you."

He nodded. "Of course. It was my pleasure, Ms. Van Acker," he said and then took his leave.

I stood up from my seat and walked over to the floor-to-ceiling glass window. My office had one of the best views of the city. On one side, I could see the ocean and on the other side, I could faintly see the hills that bordered the edge of the city. And when I looked down, I could see the bustling city streets. I usually felt like I was at the top of the world every time I stood here.

But right now, I couldn't help but feel lonely. No one knew what kind of position I was stuck in and I couldn't even tell anybody. For a moment, I fancied myself as Rapunzel. Stuck in a tall tower and fated to watch the world pass by from the little window of her bedroom. Except, I didn't have a kidnapper-turned-mother to keep me locked up. The villain of my life was a blasted contract. And the only way out was to get shackled.

"Katerina." I heard Mother's voice.

I prepared myself for battle, put on a brave face and turned around. It was not just Mother. It was Pepper, the wedding planner, and a man holding two briefcases. She made sure that I would have no choice but to entertain her. "What are you doing here?"

"Well, I know that you have told me and Pepper to take care of all the wedding preparations. But we thought that a bride should at least choose her own wedding ring!" She snapped her fingers and a man placed two briefcases on my desk and opened them. In it, lay dozens and dozens of rings with diamonds the size of my tooth.

"I'm sure that whatever you pick would be perfect." And blinding.

"These are all the rings I have shortlisted, darling. I simply could not pick one. I thought I should give you the opportunity to take part in your wedding preparation," she said with her signature 'I'm such an angel' smile.

I had no interest in choosing the handcuff that I would have to wear for at least the next three years.

"I appreciate your thoughtfulness but I am busy." It was important to be polite to her when we had company. Pepper was a famous wedding planner who was infamous for gossiping and spilling family secrets. The only reason he was so sought-after was that no one planned a party better than he did. If I happened to talk back to her in front of him, I would immediately be attacked by Mother's crocodile tears.

"Surely, you are not too busy for your mother. And weren't you just looking out of the window when I came in? You seem quite free this afternoon." This time, her smile was marinated with condescension.