Chapter 3

Sophia buried her face into her pillow, her sobs muffled by the soft fabric. Emma sat at the edge of the bed, a comforting presence beside her friend. She reached out and gently stroked Sophia's hair, offering silent support as tears streamed down Sophia's cheeks.

"It's just... I've finally started to get my life together, you know?" Sophia's voice wavered as she spoke, her eyes red and puffy from crying. 

"With the promotion at my job and everything..."Emma listened quietly, her heart aching for her friend. She had seen the hateful comments online, the cruel words cutting 

deep into Sophia's already wounded spirit.

"You don't deserve any of this," Emma reassured her, her voice filled with sincerity. "Everything will be fine, I promise."

As the night wore on, the darkness outside slowly gave way to the soft light of dawn, casting a gentle glow into the room. Sophia's sobs gradually subsided into quiet sniffles, her exhaustion finally catching up to her. She leaned into Emma's comforting touch, finding solace in the warmth of her presence.

Suddenly, the shrill sound of the doorbell pierced the heavy silence, causing Sophia to tense with apprehension. She shot a wary glance at Emma, her heart racing with unease. "Don't answer it," she whispered, her voice barely above a hoarse whisper.

Emma nodded in understanding, her own anxiety mirrored in her expression. "I'll go check through the fisheye," she offered, rising from the bed with cautious steps. As she made her way to the door, her heart pounded with trepidation, unsure of what awaited on the other side.

Peering through the fisheye lens, Emma scanned the hallway outside, her breath catching in her throat as she caught sight of a figure standing on the doorstep. It was Jake, Emma's boyfriend.

"Who is it?" Sophia whispered, her voice tinged with anxiety.

"It's... it's Jake," Emma replied, her tone filled with relief. "He's... he's here."

Sophia's eyes widened in surprise at the mention of Jake's name. What could he possibly want at this hour? And why now, of all times?

“Did you tell him?” Sophia asked Emma

“He heard and he was very worried” Emma responded moving towards the to open

“He came all the way? That is very nice of him” Sophia said.

As Emma opened the door, Jake entered the room with a concerned expression on his face. He gave Emma a peck on the lips.

"Hey, what's going on?" he asked, his voice gentle as he approached Sophia's side. 

"Emma told me what happened. Are you okay?"

Sophia nodded, her throat tight with emotion. "I'm just... I'm just overwhelmed," she admitted, her voice trembling with exhaustion.

Jake pulled her into a comforting embrace, wrapping his arms around her in a gesture of solidarity. 

"It's okay to feel that way, You're not alone, Sophia. We are here for you.” He said and Emma joined in on the hug.

Jake stayed the night, offering both Sophia and Emma a sense of security and support as they navigated the aftermath of the tumultuous evening.

                                

                                  ****************

The morning sunlight filtered through the curtains, casting a warm glow across the room as Sophia stirred awake. Groaning softly, she shifted in bed, her head throbbing with a relentless ache. The events of the previous night flooded back into her mind, and she couldn't help but feel a sense of heaviness settle over her.

With a sigh, Sophia pushed herself upright, her limbs feeling heavy and sluggish. She rubbed at her temples, hoping to alleviate some of the pounding in her head, but to no avail. It felt as though she had been hit by a truck, her body protesting against the weight of her emotions.

As she swung her legs over the side of the bed, Sophia winced as dizziness washed over her. She closed her eyes, taking slow, deep breaths in an attempt to steady herself. After a moment, she opened her eyes again, steeling herself for the day ahead.

With a shaky hand, Sophia reached for the drawer beside her bed, fumbling through its contents until she found what she was looking for: a bottle of aspirin. She popped two pills into her mouth and swallowed them dry, grimacing at the bitter taste as they went down.

Feeling marginally better, Sophia pushed herself to her feet, her head still swimming with dizziness. She stumbled slightly as she made her way out of her room and down the hallway, her footsteps echoing softly against the wooden floors.

As she approached the kitchen, the sound of laughter reached her ears, and Sophia couldn't help but smile despite her pounding headache. Jake and Emma were seated at the kitchen island, their heads bent together in animated conversation.

"Good morning, lovebirds," Sophia chimed as she entered the room, her voice slightly hoarse from crying.

Emma's eyes immediately flicked up to meet Sophia's, a look of concern crossing her face. "Headache?" she asked, her voice soft with worry.

Sophia nodded, a tired smile playing at her lips. "I cried way too much last night," she admitted, her voice tinged with exhaustion.

Jake reached out a hand to gently squeeze Sophia's shoulder, his expression filled with sympathy. "Thank goodness today is one of your free Saturdays. You don't have to go to work; you can stay in and rest," he suggested, his tone gentle and reassuring.

Saturdays were typically busy for Sophia, especially since her recent promotion to Front Desk Concierge. Her dedication had earned her the title of Best Employee of the Year, and her exemplary service had won her the trust of many VIP guests at the hotel. With her personal contact information readily available to them, they could reach out to her directly for any assistance they needed during their stay. Today, however, was one of her rare free weekends, a welcome reprieve from her usual bustling schedule.

Sophia went to the refrigerator to grab a bottle of water and took the Aspirin. She sank into a chair at the kitchen island, she allowed herself to relax, if only for a moment, knowing that she was surrounded by friends who cared for her deeply.

"I made Avocado toast with Poached eggs," Emma announced proudly as she set the plates down on the kitchen island.

Sophia raised an eyebrow skeptically. "Really? And the kitchen isn't burnt down?" she quipped, a playful smile tugging at the corners of her lips.

Jake chuckled, joining in on the banter. "Well, let's just say I did most of the work, although she helped out with preparing the toppings," he admitted, a mischievous smirk dancing across his features.

Sophia surveyed the breakfast spread before her, her stomach rumbling in anticipation. The sight of the perfectly poached eggs topped with crumbled feta cheese was enough to make her mouth water.

"Thank you very much, Jake. This looks amazing," she said gratefully, shooting him a warm smile.

Emma, ever the drama queen, let out an exaggerated gasp, clutching her heart dramatically. "I wish my friend would appreciate me more," she lamented, feigning tears.

The room erupted into laughter as the trio shared a moment of camaraderie. Despite the lingering sting of the hateful comments Sophia read the night before, the warmth of her friends helped to lift her spirits.

           

                                  ****************

Around late afternoon, Sophia decided to join Jake and Emma to watch the movie they had asked her to watch with them earlier.

As they settled to start the movie, the doorbell rang. Jake stood up to answer the door.

“It's Alexander” Jake said.

Sophia's eyes widened in shock.

Jake glanced at Sophia, his brow furrowing with concern

"I'll handle this," he murmured, his voice low but determined.

Jake opened the door to reveal Alexander standing on the threshold.

Alexander's expression shifted, his eyes narrowing as he took in Jake's presence. "I'm here to see Sophia," he stated, his voice cold and clipped.

“Oh my goodness” Sophia said within herself her heart rate rising.