Sitting in Benjamin’s office, my foot bounced on the floor, and my fingers tightened around my phone. Heat crept up my neck; my chest hardened. Without a second thought, I hurl my phone across the room. It crashed into the rounded curvature, dark vase on Benjamin's desk, shattering it. Its shards skittered across the floor, and the high-pitched clatter devoured the peace in the office.The door swung open, and Benjamin walked in, his eyes wide and twitching at the mess.Benjamin glanced between the broken vase and my face. “What did my vase ever do to you?” His tone was low as he crouched to pick up the broken pieces.“I’ll get you another one.” my tone stiff, my gaze fixed on the broken shards. If Sophie didn't reply, my heart was about to be like that.Benjamin tilted his head back, holding a shard in his hand. “It’s one of a kind, dude,” his tone soft and teasing.“I’ll meet the artisan and get him to make the exact one,” I grunted, my voice high, unable to hide my disinterest in w
Sophie . . Finally, we moved into our new home. For over a week, Luca and I had been looking for a nice house in San Francisco. We had seen many, but Luca was quite picky. He wanted one that had the same pattern as the house in New York. According to him, it might help with my memories; he even got similar furniture. “Do you need help with anything?” Luca’s voice filtered into my ears. I turned, and my eyes fell on him, leaning on the doorframe. His biceps bulged out of his black long sleeve like they were trying to abscond from his arm. My eyes traced his body frame, the way the shirt hugged him desperately, and the trousers that hung on his waist, underscoring its narrowness. A warmth—without warning—snatched me, and my face responded—a pink flush creeping up my cheeks. I snapped my head away; my eyes fell on my two luggages on the floor close to the bed and the two large paintings that lay on my bed. “No, I think I can handle it.” I smiled and faced him, hoping the emb
Alex . . The night air at home was supposed to be thin and fresh. Mia was out for good; Uncle Niall had returned. Yet here it was thick and burdened. How could it be?With the depressing aura oozing out of me. The house should be silent; no dinner chatters from Uncle Niall and my mother. But my thoughts—ones that dug pits in my stomach—were loud. Alma or Tony, Who could it be? Tony had been working for me for two years, and Alma had been working for me for four years, so why now? I wished every thought drew me closer to answers as my steps drew me closer to my room. Opening the door of my room, I turned on the light. The darkness fled, but the depressing aura still clung onto me like a parasite fixed to its host. I dropped on the sofa, my hands hanging aimlessly by the side. “Sir, I have brought your drink.” Alma’s voice came from the other side of the door. “Bring it in,” I responded, loosening my tie and tossing it. The red tie lay casually on the sofa. It
Alex . . I stepped into my company, escaping from the harsh morning sun that was as intense as the afternoon. The air was filled with thuds and clinks of shoes. Intertwining with the mutters of workers. Striding to my office, I nodded my head as I acknowledged the greetings coming from all directions. With a swoosh, I opened my office door and stepped into the office. I shrugged off my suit and hung behind my swivel chair. I took out the bug Mr. Watson had hidden. I tossed it to the floor and smashed it with my feet. Finally, I could have freedom in my office. I reached out for my new phone from the back pocket and called Benjamin. “Did you find anything?” I knew the time between last night and now was too short to find any useful information, but I couldn’t resist asking. “I’m behind you,” Benjamin responded. I turned back, fixing my eyes on the door. My brows knitted together, and a crease formed where they met. “Stop joking with me. I can’t see you.” “I a
Alex . . The office was on the last floor of the Dawson’s corporation. There were other tall buildings around, but the new Dawson cooperation building towered above them all. Arms behind my back, I stood before the wall-to-floor windows that allowed you to view the city below, like a god looking down at its worshippers. My eyes swept across, and I wondered where the hell Sophie could be. It’s been four years—four years of searching every nook and cranny of this city—yet nothing. There was no record of her leaving the state, let alone leaving the country. It was as though she had vanished into thin air. A faint click rubbed against the silence as the door opened, followed by a harsher sound—a heavy clinking of heels against the brown marble-tiled floor. She was always charging in like she was carrying the world on her shoulders. A soft smile snuck onto my lips as I turned around. “Did you come to praise your son?” I strutted to the seat—the throne and settled in it
Sophie .. The restaurant was almost empty. Aside from the sales rep who stood behind the brown wooden counter and the group—two boys and four girls that sat in the far left corner, there was no one else. A frown formed on the small face of Liam as his ice cream fell from his spoon onto the table for the fourth time. Taking the small white plastic spoon from him, a warm grin stretched my lips. “Hold your spoon like that, and your ice cream will keep falling out,” I teased as I dug the spoon into the vanilla mound, its smooth surface allowing the chocolate syrup to trickle down. It was his favorite, he’d always make me stop here after picking him up from his school. “Ahh.” I urged him to open his mouth. And when he did, I slipped the spoonful into his mouth, the ice cream disappearing as I pulled out the spoon. Liam’s hazel eyes sparkled, and his legs which were in no way close to reaching the ground swung with excitement. “Give me,” he reached out for the spoon. “W
Sophie..The aroma of food filled the dining area before Palma walked in. The soft thuds bounced off the white walls of the dining area as she placed them on the rectangular-shaped table. Liam was settled beside me, his chin a mere inches from the white marble tiles. Caught between his hands was a transformer toy—one so big for his small fingers to properly hold.My eyes obsessively fixed on her son, my left hand stroking his hair.“Would Liam be eating with us?” Palma wiped her wet hands on her casual black A-line gown. “He has had dinner though?” “Liam.” My eyes glided to Liam, whose attention had been soaked up by the toy in his hand. “Are you hungry?” With little pressure, I pressed Liam’s stomach. She craned her neck, my eyes meeting with Palma. “He won’t be eating again.” Palma nodded and headed towards the kitchen. Luca strolled into the kitchen clad in a white shirt that hugged his chest but was a bit loose on his abdomen. His physique looked more appealing than the dish
Alex.. The rolled-up car window muffled the bustling city’s noise. But, the announcement from the car stereo didn’t let me relish the little quietness I could afford. “Turn off that noise.” A scowl traced my face, the leather squeaking as I adjusted on the chair. The driver obliged and in no time silence stretched across every corner of the car. I tilted my head, my gaze cutting through the tinted window. With all the many thoughts cramming my head, it was hard to take in the view of the city. My phone rang devouring the calmness of the car. My head snapped to my phone lying on the car seat. My stomach ought to twist in guilt as I saw the caller’s name, but here I was—empty. Reaching out for the phone, I picked up. “I’m very sorry, I should have let you know….” I massaged my forehead, my fingers ran through the crease crested on it. My mother cut me off. “You forgot…” her voice, dull and as though something had sucked everything out of her—my predicament did suck o