Sophie . . The fluorescent light melded with a silent breeze, creating a serene environment. The office was empty; there was no Lucy to chew on her pen, no Timmy to aggressively punch his laptop keyboards, and, best of all, no Mrs. Moore's piercing gaze—just me and my laptop. This was probably the hundredth time I had yawned. Fatigue had made a home out of my bones, muscles—every cell I was made of. For the past few days, my symptoms had vanished. It was as though I had no baby in me; unknown to me, it was gathering its force to strike harder. After sipping my beverage, I placed it on the desk. Its soft thud gnawed at my ears. Although the environment was perfect, something still felt missing. A shuffled footstep swallowed the silence. I didn’t need to take my eyes off the laptop to know it was Timmy. “Good morning, Sophie.” He settled into the seat next to me, placing his bag and laptop on the desk. “Good morning,” I greeted without taking my eyes off my laptop. T
Sophie . . My eyes were fixed on the door as though I were walking into the cage of a lion—one that would pounce and feast on me to stave his starvation. Swallowing hard, I drew a long breath and knocked on the door before opening it. Alex's head was buried in his palms; his elbows leaned on the desk. “Good morning.” I settled in the seat across from him, my eyes landing on a bottle of pill on the table. I squinted my eyes in an attempt to discern what was written on it, and aside from the black ink, I couldn’t make out anything, so I shoved the thought off. Alex snatched the bottle. The pills rattled in the container as he tossed them into the drawer of his desk. “Good morning. What can I do for you?” In his voice, there was no coldness or warmth, just emptiness. Although there was no coldness in his voice, his words chilled my nerves, and an icy sensation tightened my chest. I cleared my throat quietly . “Mrs. Moore told me to show you the design for the rooms on the f
48 ALEX . . Sophie slammed the door so hard the windows trembled in their frames. An exasperated sigh escaped my throat as I craned my neck, casting my gaze on the ceiling. I dropped to the vinyl chair, one leg bent while the other stretched out beneath the desk. A throb shot through my head, but I didn’t massage it. There was no use; it only soothes it for some time, but as long as the cause was still there, it would never go away—so I felt the pain. As long as there was Mia in my life, this pain wasn’t going away. A knock came before the door opened. My P.A. walked in, holding the file requested. “Sir,” he handed it. It was the compilation of the company’s business transactions, management reports, and other business analysis documents during Damien’s father's tenure to my father’s. If I were to have the seat of the chairman of the board of directors, there were mistakes I had to avoid and strategies I needed to apply. Flipping through the pages, it felt thinner than
Sophie..My laptop was nestled in my left hand and a cup of mocha coffee in my right hand as I waddled to the office. The roasted beans and cocoa lingered in the steam of coffee that warmed my face. It was soothing. Yet, a thought—thoughts hindered me from completely relishing in the aromatic relief the coffee offered. Yesterday memories still hung over me, a shadow that followed me, even in darkness. ‘My Alex.’ my words echoed in my head. Although it stung, there was still a pleasurable warmth that came anytime the word popped into my head.“Good morning everyone,” I greeted absentmindedly as I settled into a seat. I dropped my laptop and coffee on the table. My eyes fell on Mrs. Moore, in a seat opposite the projection screen, the long table occupying the space between her and the screen. Her gaze was as vibrant as the red shirt she wore.“Good morning, Mrs. Moore.” I didn’t know why I had to greet her again, maybe because of how her eyes burned with memories of yesterday. Igno
Sophie . . The archery range was tucked away in the serene corner of Manhattan. American elm trees encircled the area. Their leaves rustled in the cool breeze that eased off the warmth of the sun. The wooden targets stood on the ground carpeted with striking green grasses. “Is this tight enough?” Luca adjusted the straps of the black guard before tightening the fasteners. I nodded. My heart thudded in my chest as I rocked on my feet. The excitement slowly burning off the anger. I haven’t seen a bow or arrow, let alone shot one. Alex was always busy with work, so we barely did stuff like this. Luca chuckled at my excitement as he handed me a black metallic bow. My fingers ran across its smooth surface before I gripped it. “Let’s start with your stance.” His voice was airy and soothing as he moved behind me. “Stand with your feet shoulder-apart.” He used his legs to guide mine as they glided on the grass. “Your toes should be pointing outward.” “Mmhmm.” I did exactly as I
Alex . . Every movement, every turn, shot pain through me. My body was still sore from yesterday’s exercise. It would have been justified if I actually did much—but I didn't. The black ink on the paper before me faded into a blur. I shook my head, shaking off the tiredness that blindfolded me, and the writings became vivid. I trailed the paper with my pen, reading word for word, yet it was hard to focus. A minute had passed by, and I was still stuck on a sentence. I dropped the pen and rubbed my face with a palm. My phone buzzed, and I picked it up. “Have you asked your secretary?” Benjamin asked “About the file, Been busy. I even forgot about it.” I spun the pen between my fingers. “You forgot, that’s new,” Benjamin remarked. For some reason, his words pricked at me, and a frown formed on my face. “What do you mean? I’m not allowed to forget things,” I said with a clipped tone. “Someone woke up on the wrong side of the bed this morning.” Benjamin chuckled, and
Alex..52..I didn't want to be here. I could be anywhere but not in his office, staring at his cunny smile, devious intents painting his eyes. But curiosity had pulled me; the quest for answers had lured me. So here I was, drumming my fingers against my crossed leg, my back against the black office visitor chair.“This is the first time in years you are stepping into my office.” The cunny smile still dominated Mr. Watson’s lips as he leaned in, his hands crossed on the desk.“I have never had a reason to be here.” I wiggled a brow as I leaned further into the chair, shifting and adjusting, yet it offered no comfort.He chuckled longer than one should last. “You and I know you have had plenty of reasons to be here; you just rather send people.” His tone conveyed there was a hidden meaning in his words.My mind couldn’t help but race to search for that meaning. “What did you have that was so important that you had to pull me here?” Drawing a long breath, he rose to his feet. He st
Sophie ..The morning was cold, but it couldn’t compete with the chillness in Alex’s tone. “So let me get this straight. You are saying Sophie is accusing Timmy of stealing her design.” Alex’s eyes jumped between Mrs. Moore and Timmy. He turned to me. “Why didn’t you tell me about this?” Warmth broke into his tone.I sat without uttering a word, leaving silence to swallow the meeting room, not because I was terrified but because I was struggling with my pregnancy symptoms. Each time I opened my mouth, the nausea threatened to escape. Each inhale infused me with more fatigue. Mrs. Moore scoffed and leaned back into the chair. “I don’t care whether you get it straight or not, but it is what it is. I was disappointed too. Since you spoke so highly of her. Like she was special.”Alex cut her off. “Let Sophie speak first.” He glared at Mrs. Moore. He turned back to me. “Explain what happened to me.” His tone was like a chameleon—cold to Mrs. Moore and warm to me.Mrs. Moore glowered, an
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