The Kidnapped Heiress

Sophia’s POV 

Ding!

My phone chimed with the familiar sound of an incoming message. Sighing, I moved to my dresser where my phone lay. I glanced at the screen to see it was from Father. 

Yay!

Yep, that was sarcasm. I unlocked the screen with a swipe of my thumb to read the text.

Dad: Saturday the 13th. Moscow. 7 pm. Be there. No excuses.

It is for the benefit of the office branch over there, do not embarrass me. 

Well, hello to you too Daddy dearest. I don’t say that to him though, I wouldn’t dare. Instead, I give him what he wants.

Me: Alright, father. I’ll book my flight tonight. 

I'll never be the perfect heir to him. I'm not a son, I'll get married one day and be owned by my husband. As Dad always say. Probably why he wants me to get married to his friend’s son, so he can “help” me control the business. As if we are in the 19th century. 

“Ryan keeps messing with my head, it's so unfair” The shaky, choked-up sound of Daisy’s voice pulls me out of my gloomy thoughts.

Daisy, my best friend, has been in my house since yesterday. She had just had a big fight with her “best buddy/ hookup buddy/ boyfriend” I don’t even know what they are anymore. I do know she’s been in love with Ryan for years. 

And Ryan, well he keeps giving her mixed signals. 

 I walk to the bluish-grey loveseat in my bedroom where she's seated, kneeling, I wrap her in my arms to comfort her. “Darling, I need you to please calm down, okay? I know you're hurting, but I want you to know that everything will be fine. I promise he will come around, I'm sure of that.” 

She sighed, looking disheartened. “Sophy, it's just so complicated. I don't even know where we stand anymore”

“I understand how hard this is for you, but I don't want you crying yourself to death, please.” Then an idea popped up in my head.

 "How about we escape from it all? Take a breather. Will you come with me to Moscow?” 

Her eyes widened, "Moscow? That's so random, but I'm in." 

Her eyes narrowed with suspicion, “Wait, why are you going to Moscow? Don't tell me he's sending you off on one of those events where you have to be eye candy for perverted old men and act as ‘daddy’s little princess’?”

God. I don't need a reminder.

“No, we aren't going into that right now. You coming or not?” I asked firmly.

She rolls her eyes at me, “You know I want the best for you, You hate these events and they dampen your self-esteem. When will you stand up to your father?”

“Daisy… I'm fine, trust me.”

“Fine, whatever you say. So… when do we leave? I could really use that distraction like right now” 

A sly smile played on my lips. "Exactly. We need an adventure, a distraction. Five days in Moscow, away from everything. We leave by Friday, I'll get our tickets tomorrow.”

“Alright,” she gives me a small smile. We quickly forgot about everything else as we put on our favorite show, getting lost in it.

✬✬✬✬✬

Moscow, Friday 1:35 pm

We took a taxi from the airport to the hotel we’ll be staying at. The chilly air embraces my skin as we step into the city’s bustling streets. 

“Okay, I'm so glad I came along,” Daisy exclaimed, spinning around to take in the beautiful view of the city, her excitement evident in every word. 

“Come on, I bet our suite looks even better,” I pulled her along with me.