Chapter 4 : Trouble in Paradise

 "Hey Hun. Guess what just happened right now? I just got a job as an office assistant to a CEO.” Sophia rushed home immediately and disclosed the news to Shawn. 

 "You didn't tell me you were going shopping. What's with the groceries you are holding?” he wasn't fascinated a bit by her new job. He shunned and focused all attention on the groceries packs in her possession.

 "I just told you I secured a job, and you're not even bothered. I expected more,” she reminded him, dropping the packs on the couch.

 "A while ago, you stepped out to cool off, and now you're here with packs of groceries? Come on, it's not adding up. What's this job all about and who connected you?”

 "So, there's this old friend of mine I met at the lounge. Remember I said I was going to cool off, right? I told her everything that's been happening lately, and she offered to help. Right in my presence, she called her Dad and told him everything. Without hesitation, he gave me the company's address and asked me to show up tomorrow morning. That's not all, she also took me shopping and bought all of these. I'm so excited! This calls for a celebration!” she screamed in excitement, feeling on top of the world. 

 "This friend of yours has got a name, right? You could have invited her over to have dinner with us. That would allow us to formally appreciate her. Don't you think?” he initiated, displaying no form of excitement toward the news. Somehow, he believes Sophia fabricated the lie about securing a job. He doesn't believe one can just step out for a moment and return with a new job, let alone full packs of Groceries.

 "That won't be necessary. I already expressed my heartfelt gratitude to her. Why all these irrelevant questions? You should be happy, I just got us a job to keep body and soul together. You always wanted this to happen, didn't you? Last time I checked, you asked me to go find a job, now we have one. Be happy!”

 "Of course, I'm happy, but it's just…"

 "Oh, please. Save me the explanation. I don't know where all these are coming from. If you care about the groceries, meet me in the room.” She yelled and walked out on him. It took Shawn a few minutes to realize himself as he hurried to the room, breathing heavily. “You're gonna call your friend this minute and decline that job. I'm not in support of it. How can you work as an assistant to a man? What if something goes wrong?” Shawn talked endlessly and tirelessly, while Sophia ignored him, focusing all her attention on her phone.

  "I'm talking to you. Have you suddenly gone deaf?” Frustrated by her silence, Shawn lost his cool and grabbed her by the arm. 

 "Ouch, you're hurting me.

 Let go of me.” she cried. 

 “You can request another position, but certainly not an assistant to a man. I don't trust these billionaires,”

 "Why do I discern an atom of jealousy? You were the one who wanted me to get a job, now I got one. Deal with it, Shawn. You should be worried about your dismissal from the office, but no, here you're worried about some harmless billionaire who wiped away shame from your sorry self.” she fired back and insulted him for the very first time in their relationship. She has suddenly lost all respect for Shawn and disregarded him.  

 "How dare you raise your voice at me?” Shawn attempted to land a punch on her face, but somehow stopped and stormed the living room in anger. This attitude of his shocked Sophia. This was their first-ever fight in the relationship. The altercation was so loud that it disrupted Joana's slumber and conveyed her to the living room.

 "Go ask your cousin who got her the job.!” Shawn vacated the living room and slammed the door.

 "Wow! Incredible!” Joanna exclaimed in shock and went upstairs to Sophia's room, only to meet her cousin weeping uncontrollably. Leaning forward, she embraced her little cousin, “Hey, what's wrong? I heard you two screaming and Shawn wouldn't tell what happened. He said you just got a job, why didn't you tell me?”

 “I was gonna tell you before the burst up. Would you believe Shawn nearly hit me in the face? The dude is gradually losing it. He was upset when I told him I would be working as an office assistant to a billionaire.” 

 "He tried to hit you? I doubt that. I mean, Shawn would never hurt a fly, let alone hit you, and you know that," 

 "Oh, so you think I faked this up? Whose side are you on anyway?” Sophia took a few steps away from Joana and looked away. She was extremely disappointed that Joana would choose to take sides with Shawn.  Edging closer, Joana said.

 “It's just hard to believe that Shawn would wanna hit you. But he wanted you to go get a job, now you've got one. Why is he pissed off?” 

 "My point exactly! He's just pained seeing me working for another man. It's beginning to make sense to me now. Now I know why he asked me to resign from my previous job,” Sophia explained, tossing herself in Joana’s hands.

“ So what are you gonna do now, Sopy?” Joana’s voice was soft. Sophia at this point remembers Matthew Callaghan. Shawn’s single mistake was enough for her to hit the target. 

“ I am going to make my decision” Sophia stormed at Joana who knew nothing about her so-called decision making.