Bride on a Pivot: I Wed His Rival

I've just returned from the world's biggest tech summit when my mentor, who's like a father to me, calls. He tells me he's arranged for me to marry his close friend's son, Jonathan Ford.

Jonathan is one of Javron's rising stars. A few of my patents are licensed to his company, and they form the core technology of his new product.

I work late to wrap up everything in the lab. Then, I dress up and head to the engagement ceremony. Unexpectedly, I'm stopped at the door by Jonathan's secretary, Linda Jones. She wears a lavish gown and looks more like the bride than I do.

"Turn around and scram if you know what's good for you," she says with a sneer. "You're just an orphan from the countryside—think twice about whether you're worthy of our CEO."

I ask, "Does Jonathan know you're making decisions for him like this?"

She lets out a contemptuous laugh. "You're nothing but a pretty face who needs to ride on her mentor's reputation to get married. How can you possibly understand the weight I carry in Mr. Ford's heart?"

A blush spreads across her face as she speaks.

I study her for a few seconds, then call Jonathan. "If your idea of courtesy is leaving your fiancee standing outside the venue, then here's how I'll repay the favor. I'll let you read the contract and watch as I sell my patents to your competitor. How does that sound?"

I was an orphan. Completing my education and getting into one of the country's top research labs was only possible due to the support of my mentor, Steven Lynch.

He gave me a lot of care and was like a father to me. So, since I was facing the fiance he'd chosen for me, I was willing to be more patient.

If Jonathan Ford could handle this properly and give me the explanation I deserved, I wasn't averse to giving him another chance.

"Sophia? What is it?"

Things sounded lively on Jonathan's end of the line, like guests were speaking around him. He answered them first before lifting the phone to his ear, seemingly not having heard a word I'd said.

"Come get me and bring me into the venue. Your secretary—"

Before I could finish, he clicked his tongue, impatience dripping from his voice. "What do you think you are, a princess? You can't walk in here on your own two feet? I'm busy greeting the guests. Where would I find them to fetch you? Get in here on your own."

With that, he hung up, leaving me with nothing but the dial tone.

Linda covered her mouth and laughed, her eyes filled with scorn. "I follow all of Mr. Ford's instructions. If you want to go in, then get in there on your own—if you can. I won't stop you if you can manage it."

I could stay calm through the toughest experiments, but dealing with people who threw tantrums for sport gave me