Alex . . I trudged inside my room, my legs too heavy to take me to my bed, so I collapsed on the sofa. Its softness eased the tension in my joints caused by my office swivel chair—maybe I do need to get a better-cushioned one. I shut my eyes, enjoying the comfort the silence offered, and began to unbutton my shirt. “Alex!” My mother charged through the door, her voice sharp, cutting through the calmness, grating my ears. Can’t a man have peace in his home? Another sigh escaped me. I opened my eyes, and they landed on her. Her eyes gleamed with fury, her brows furrowed, and I could only wonder what I had done wrong this time. “What did I do again?” I questioned, wiggling my brows. Tiredness drained the life out of my voice. “How would you embarrass Mia like that?” My mother questioned, tapping her feet against the floor. “Oh God,” I groaned as another headache shot through my head. I’ve had a stressful day, and all I needed was rest, not some old woman nagging at me—especia
Sophie ..My legs trembled as I descended the stairs; cramps held them captive. I had thrown up multiple times just this early morning. The nausea relentlessly churned in my stomach, and my eyes felt heavy like I hadn’t experienced sleep in my entire life.Entering the kitchen, my weary eyes fell on Luca. His athletic frame was clad in a well-ironed white dress shirt. The sleeves were short, exposing his toned arms. As he lifted the mug to his lips, his biceps flexed subtly, hinting at a strength that was impossible to ignore. Despite my physical discomfort, a spark flickered in me.“Good morning.” Luca greeted me, his eyes darkening in a sultry manner as they lingered on me, tracing my frame.My heart palpitated as I ran my hands across the black skirt that hugged my curves like it was the last day on Earth. “Is something wrong with my outfit?” I questioned I hesitated to put it on, but I loved body-hugging clothes. For someone as petite as me with hips as my only prominent featur
Sophie . . Walls do have ears. The air suddenly became cold, each breath sending fearful shivers through every nerve in my body. A ragged chuckle escaped my constricted throat. My fingers clutched my skirt. “Fred,” I called his name out as soon as I remembered it. “No, I’m sure you didn’t hear us properly.” I blink rapidly. Romi chipped in. “We were arguing if pregnant women can get horny,” she said with a forced smile. “Sophie isn’t pregnant.” Fred straightened his position, taking his back off the frame. His hands were back in his pocket, and he began approaching us. “You know, among the five senses, one tends to stand out more than the others,” he said, pausing as if searching for the next words. “And for me, it’s my ears.” A sinister smile tugged at the corner of his lips. The chill in the room intensified. With each step he took forward, the thud echoed in my ears like he was walking inside of my head. “With my pregnancy, I’m not getting laid anytime soon.” Fred
Alex . . My desk was cluttered with paperwork and business proposals, some with the most ridiculous idea that wouldn’t amount to anything. I have a meeting where I’ll have to sit and listen to people who have no clue what they are doing. Yet my biggest irritation was the two tiny torturers in my palm. I stared at the pills in my hand as though they were challenging me. I haven’t even swallowed it yet and my stomach had already begun protesting. Not only was it a drug, but it also had to be green and white—I had no issues with the white, but the green was an eyesore. I wanted to toss it into the bin, but I hadn’t taken it for some days. Even when I took it home two days ago, they remained untouched With a frown, I swallowed the pills, feeling my throat tightened as it journeyed down. Without a knock, the door opened, and Benjamin strolled in. He flopped onto the sofa and prodded his legs on my table. I picked up my pen and tossed it at his legs. “I leave my office to atte
Sophie..The clicks of my heels against the floor mingled with the buzzing sound that seemed to come from all corners of the hotel. It was a week to the fashion show, the tension was palpable, the air was tight. Everyone was expected to work twice as hard.“Good morning, morning, Ms. Sophie,” A worker greeted as she passed by. Her harsh pineapple-flavored perfume hit my nose aggressively, churning at my stomach and stirring nausea.I nodded and diverted to the bathroom. My stomach contracted as I retched, but nothing came out. I attempted multiple times to get rid of the queasy feeling tormenting my stomach, but all to no avail. Staring at my pale face in the mirror, I sighed and rinsed my mouth. I reached out for my lipstick and reapplied it.“Good morning, Ms. Sophie,” Fred greeted, his menacing voice filling the bathroom, sucking all the air out of the room. My eyes widened; this was the last place I had expected him to meet me. “What are you doing here?” I questioned, staring
The Sophie ..“How can I help you, Ms. Sophie?” Mr. Beckham questioned, his voice cold, squeezing every warmth out of me.“I..I. I have something to say,” I stuttered, my fingers erratically pinched at each other.Mr. Beckham dropped his pen on top the file on his desk. He leaned back, his eyes still burning.With every second that passed, the air kept thickening, suffocating me. I searched for the determination that I had before entering here—it was nowhere to be found. I had thought I could convince him not to fire me, but he wasn’t in a good mood—my apologies would likely fall on deaf ears. This was my first job; losing it could jeopardize other prospects. I didn’t have enough money to support myself and my baby, and I couldn’t keep burdening Luca like a leech. But then there was Fred. For the same reasons I wanted to keep this job, which is the same reason why I can’t keep up with his demands.My heart palpitated. The walls began to cave in on me, but there was no place to hid
Sophie . . Luca took the juice from Paula and placed it on the desk before me. There were files in the left corner of the desks. He drew the chair next to me and settled in, his body leaned towards me. His gaze was soft. “Do you want to talk about what’s making you like this?” Luca questioned, his voice as soft as his gaze. Reaching out for the juice, I took a sip—the citric tang was vibrant and the chillness was refreshing. I placed it back on the desk, and my hands flew to the hem of my skirt. “I was fired,” I stated; my voice had lost its usual vibrant edge. Luca jerked back lightly before leaning in again. I recounted everything—excluding the blackmail; I just couldn’t bring myself to tell him. Another wave of tears poured down my eyes. “I’m so sorry, my tears won’t just... I mean. I shouldn’t,” I apologized, unable to find the right words. “My emotions are just everywhere, and I can’t stop crying.” My pains had me at a chokehold. "Oh, stop coming out, you stupid tears,”
Sophie . . I wove my way through the bustling city, holding a cup of mocha coffee. The beautiful warmth of the sun bathed the streets as the horns of passing cars and murmurs of strangers I’d never see again—all brought the city to life. I rummaged through my bag and brought out my keys. Inserting into the lock, I opened the door. I dropped my back on the large burly wood in my studio. The studio hasn’t known fresh air since I haven’t been here for a while. I opened the windows to let the stale smell that inhabited the studio out. I picked up the duster brush and removed the dust on the craftwork that settled on the shelf in the east corner of the studio. After a while, fresh air circulated the space, bringing in the liveliness of the streets. I settled on the seat. Shutting my eyes, I sipped from my coffee; its chocolatey flavor pleasured my taste buds. His cologne—a musky with a thick cedar undertone—flooded the studio. My eyes flew open, and it fell on Alex. He was d
Sophie..The sun hung in the sky as the trees and canopy filtered its sun rays. The chatter of the guests finally ceased as the orchestra began to play, and I walked down the aisle. My pristine white gown glowed as much as the smile on my face. My eyes were fixed on Alex, who stood beneath the arbour decorated with white and yellow lilies.My steps were in harmony with the music, and a flower was caught between my hands. It was a small wedding, as I didn’t want anything big. Since we never divorced, I didn’t really need anything big. Previously Alex and I had only done a secret court wedding, but now he said he wanted the world to know I was his and he was mine. The warmth in my chest intensified as I drew closer to the arbor. The eyes of the guest were staring at me in awe. Getting to the Arbour, Alex turned, and we both faced the officiant. Our gazes were locked on each other, and a smile teased our lips as those beautiful vows rolled off our tongues. Each beautiful word stir
Sophie ..Alex and I sauntered through the hallways of the museum, checking out the artwork. From the little time I had spent with him, he wasn’t really into paintings, but he was into craftwork. “Do you want to see something more beautiful?” Alex turned to me. Curiosity arched my brows. A beautiful smile burnt on his lips as he stretched out his hand. “Trust me.” Without hesitating, I slid my fingers into his, and he led me out of the museum into a beautiful garden. The scent of flowers traced the air. The cool breeze wrapped us as we moved deeper into the garden.“I never expected a garden to be here,” I said, my hand still caught in his. His teasing warmth sank through my palm. Without turning back, he said, “I found out the third time we came here.”I swung my gaze to him, and it fell on his broad back that looked alluring beneath the suit. “We’ve been here before?” I questioned. “Yes.” I resisted the urge to smack my head. All those beautiful memories are lost in the ab
Sophie..Two weeks had slipped by after Liam’s surgery, but he was still at the hospital for monitoring. I had returned to my hotel room.Locking the door, I sank to the floor. My muscles were weak from all the nights I had pulled. My heart was heavy as the doctor said Liam was healing slowly—much slower than usual.I couldn’t wait for my boy to be well, so he ran around and asked for ice cream. To return to school and play with his friends. An ache shot through me anytime I remembered his voice and how lively they were. After a while of consoling myself, I rose to my feet and headed towards the shower. Turning the shower on, the hot water poured down. The heat enveloped my skin, offering a sense of relief as it loosened my muscles. The vanilla scent of my shampoo filled the bathroom and steam fogged the glass partitions of the bathroom.After the shower, I wrapped my towel around my body and strode out of the bathroom. Alex’s words echoed in my head, haunting my mind. My lips pre
Alex ..My eyes fluttered open, and a sharp throb coursed through my head, inciting a wince from my throat. A deep ache swathed my lower back and pelvis region. “Alex.” My mother leaned in and cradled my face. “How are you feeling? Can you tell your legs?” Her hands hovered around me as she checked me.“I’m fine. How’s Liam? My voice came out coarse. I attempted to lift my body up, but it was unresponsive, like my nerves had been disconnected from my brain.My mother sprang up and placed her hands on my shoulders; she pushed me back into the bed. “You need to rest. I doubt your legs are working.”“What?” My eyes bulged at our as I craned my neck, her hands still pinning me down by my shoulders. My mother’s lips curled upward. “Because of the anaesthesia and soreness. It might be hard for you to walk for some time.” letting me go, she dropped back into her seat. “Liam and Sophie?” I pressed “Liam is fine. The surgery was successful, and Sophie is by her son’s side.”A soft smile
Sophie . . The drive from his office to his hospital was heavy with silence, and awkward glances. It was very obvious Alex was having a hard time digesting the news. Shock was boldly written on his face like a billboard. I still remember how his eyes widened and his mouth gaped. My cheeks turned red as embarrassment crept in. Alex parked the car in the car park of the hospital. We both stepped out and scurried towards the Doctor’s office. After He explained everything to Alex, Alex was led to the laboratory to run the compatibility test. I sank onto the long seat in the hallways outside the laboratory room. I buried my head into my bed palms and another wave of tears began to well up again. I was so confused and I had no idea what to do. Should I return to Liam or should I wait here till the result comes out? Sitting here wouldn’t change the outcome of the result. I rose to my feet and trudged down the hallway. With three turns to the left and a turn to the right, I a
Sophie ..My eyes widened, and I inched back, like I was trying to create space between me and the news. “What do you mean you’re not his father?” My voice quivered before darkening. “It’s Liam, we are talking about. Our son, not some random kid.” My heart thundered against my chest, shooting panic into me and filling my veins with dread. What the hell was he saying?”“This is not the time for pranks, Luca,” I said, my brain refusing to accept those words he just spat out. “Our son’s life is at stake here.” My voice rose.Luca sagged deeper into the wall, and his hands tightened by his side. But no word left his lips; not even a breath left his lips.My eyes fell to the floor as his words started to sink in. This wasn't a game. This was real. Luca wasn’t the father of Liam. My gaze swung to him. “If you are not the father, then who is?” The words burnt my tongue, and a raw shot through my chest.Luca’s lips tightened and his eyes rounded. But he stood still. Silence stretched betwe
Sophie..I drew a little breath as I placed the thermometer on his forehead. It beeped as it read forty degrees Celsius. “His temperature hasn’t dropped." Luca questioned, leaning on the doorframe of Liam’s room. I shook my head. “I have given him his medications, and I have done everything the doctor said. He doesn’t seem to get anything better.” I turned back on the wooden chair to face Luca. My brows lowered and my lips curled downward. “Or is it because of the big bowl of ice cream?” Luca chuckled lightly and he moved closer. He placed his left hand on the backrest of the chair, while his right hand tucked my hair behind my ears. “It’s been over a month. There’s no way an ice cream can make someone sick for that long.” I returned my gaze to Liam. “The doctor said if his fever doesn’t get better by tomorrow, We would have to take him for more checkups.” I exhaled. Luca’s eyes hovered over my features—my puffy eyes and droopy eyelids, the black circles. “Try and get some rest
Alex . . The darkness wrapped its blanket across the sky, and the lights of the city were glowing. The breeze whispered its cool tune into the atmosphere. Stepping into the five-star restaurant, one of the waiters led me to the private dining room. Soon I stood before the door. I arranged the collars of my black dress shirt. I adjusted the bouquet of red roses. My chest tightened as it had been a long while since I went on a date with a lady. Heaving in a puff, I stepped into the private dining room. My gaze settled on the dining setup positioned beneath the geometric chandelier. The yellow light bouncing off the white walls adorned with some art pictures, I didn't appreciate. “Should I get you a bottle of red wine as you await your date?” The waiter asked. “Yes, thank you,” I responded. The waiter turned around and closed the door behind him while I strode and settled in the beige upholstered seat close to the expansive windows that gave a view of the city from a h
Alex . . It’s been a week, and I was back in Manhattan. Back in the house that crumpled my happiness and made my future so bleak. Despite the quietness that filled every corner of the house except the kitchen, the aroma of my favourite dish that lined the air, and the nagging of Uncle Niall from the other end of the phone, the only thing I could think of was not getting a chance to hang out with Sophie again. Myles had returned to Manhattan three days earlier, and there went my perfect excuse for hanging out thrown into the mud. “You need to spend more time with your mother. She isn’t getting any younger.” Uncle Niall’s chide continued as I ascended the stairs. I didn’t know what all the yapping was about, but his nagging about spending time with my mother had started getting on my nerves. Running the company wasn’t a child’s play. Mr. Watson’s nephew was a puppet, only good for shows. I was still running the operations in Manhattan and Amsterdam. The building in San Fra