Sofia & Drama - Chapter 5

Ella - POV

The message from an unknown number startled me, urging me to step outside and check my mailbox, which I did, but it turned out to be empty. Ignoring the text, I placed my phone on the table, wondering who could be telling me such a cruel joke. With only a few close friends, imagining who would attempt such a trick was hard. But amidst my confusion, one person stood out as someone I could always rely on in tough times: my best buddy, Hana. I felt a presence behind me while washing a cup in the kitchen sink. I turned around to find Hana holding the mug.

"I'll take care of that cup while you get some rest," I said in a low tone.

"Ella, it's impossible for me to sleep when everything in my life has turned upside down. I was completely unaware that Luke would do something like this to me. I accepted his illogical explanation and placed my total confidence in him. And you know what, Ella? I am pregnant with his kid. When I went to tell Luke, I saw him making out with a female coworker. What am I supposed to do now? I'm at a loss," Hana confided, tears welling in her eyes. I wrapped my arms around her, trying to calm her down.

"I'm here to help you, Hana. Know that you're not alone in this," I reassured her, my eyes filling with tears.

Seeing my friend suffer because of that despicable Luke made me determined to make him pay. As Hana wept nonstop, exhaustion overcame her, and she eventually fell asleep on my shoulder. I carefully lifted her feet onto the couch and covered her with a warm blanket.

It was already 5 a.m. when my father emerged from his room dressed and ready for his early morning walk. He glanced at Hana, still slumbering, before turning his attention to me.

"How is she doing?" Dad whispered as we entered the kitchen.

"Hana discovered Luke's affair when she went to share the wonderful news about her pregnancy," I replied, keeping my response brief. My father nodded. His care for Hana is evident in his eyes. He considered her to be like a second daughter.

"After I return from my walk, I'll make some pancakes to cheer her up. She always enjoyed them during her college days. I hope she still does," Dad suggested.

"Hana still has a soft spot for pancakes. When I arrived in New York from California, she invited me to meet her at a pancake shop," I recalled, a smile forming on my face at the memory of Hana's excitement upon my airport arrival.

"I completely forgot to ask how your first day of work went. I hope it wasn't too stressful," Dad commented, quickly brewing a cup of coffee for both of us.

"It went well, Dad. Stress is just a normal part of the job," I reassured him, although I kept to myself that seeing my ex's face and working closely with him made the day particularly challenging.

"It's time for my walk. Don't worry about Hana; I'll cheer her up. She's like a daughter to me, and I know you don't like seeing the people close to you upset," Dad said, prompting a warm smile to spread across my face, mirrored by my father.

As I finished my morning routine, I checked my phone and found a good morning message from James, accompanied by a photo of his sweaty post-workout body and tempting abs. The image made me feel like a giddy teenager.

"Missing you a lot, and that sexy, illegal picture of yours is making my heart race, James. I might just sue you for it," I playfully texted back.

"Do I get a reward or not, babe? I'm ready to be sued anytime you want," he responded, eliciting a grin from me.

"Of course, darling. You'll have your sweet rewards once you're back in New York," I replied.

"That's not fair, darling. I'm counting down the days until I can see you again," James replied.

"Babe, I just wanted to let you know that Hana is staying at my place and going through a tough time after discovering Luke's cheating," I informed James.

"Fuck that bastard, Luke. I hope Hana can hold herself together through this disaster," James expressed frustration.

"She's not doing so well, but she has me as a support system. I'll assist her, just as she has done a lot for me. But babe, I have to get going now. Love you," I replied, preparing to start my day.

Glancing at the clock, I realized how behind schedule I was. I hurriedly opened my closet and selected a black dress shirt and a formal cream skirt. I tied my hair up in a bun and applied concealer to hide my freckles before setting off to tackle the day ahead.

In my hand, I held my black heels as I carefully made my way out of the hallway, passing by Hana, who was still asleep. Stepping outside in my stilettos, a cab was waiting for me at the front entrance of the building. My nervousness about seeing Darcus again intensified during the cab ride to my new job. I couldn't figure out why I was experiencing this peculiar feeling, and thoughts of concealing things from James consumed my mind.

"Madam, we have arrived at our destination," the cab driver informed me. As I stepped onto the pavement and surveyed the surroundings, I saw Sofia leaving her vehicle and handing over the keys to the security personnel at the car park.

"I thought you wouldn't show up for work, but here you are, with that ugly mug of yours," Sofia sneered.

"I have chosen to ignore your absurd barking," I retorted as I made my way to the elevator, accompanied by Sofia.

Sofia's demeanor suddenly shifted, and her eyes took on a different hue as she stared at me. The air in the elevator became oppressive as she lunged at me, her hands wrapping around my neck, a wicked grin spreading across her face. Fortunately, I had acquired self-defense skills, so I swiftly hurled my handbag at her, causing her to stagger backwards. Amid it all, I delivered a firm slap to Sofia's face just as the elevator doors opened, revealing Mr. Darcus Miller observing the scene, with Avery standing nearby.

"Ella, I only wanted to assist you with the file and point out the errors you made. Please do not physically harm me for this. I will do my best as you instruct," Sofia's voice trembled, her cheeks flushed with the handprint from my slap.

"I'm sorry you had to witness this, Mr. Miller," Sofia said, surprising me with her words.

"Sofia, stop lying. You were the one who started hurling insults at me first, and then you attacked me by choking my neck just now," I asserted firmly.

"Enough of Miss Hart's ridiculous antics. I saw you slap Miss Collins right before my eyes, and I need to discuss this with you immediately in the office," Avery interjected with authority.

"No, Avery, I will handle this. Please proceed with our meeting, and I will join you shortly," Mr. Miller interjected crisply.

Sofia concealed her devilish smirk behind false tears as we followed Mr. Miller to his office, where he cast me a disapproving glare. Our coworkers watched with wide eyes, eager for some drama.

"It would be an honor if you could explain, Miss Hart," Mr. Miller said in a chilly tone, his displeasure evident in his eyes.

"Mr. Miller, as someone in a position of power, this woman launched a verbal assault on me first. Miss Collins overstepped her bounds by almost strangling my neck," I explained, Did I imagine it, or did Mr. Miller's eyes twitch in response?

"Now, Miss Collins, I would like to hear your side of the story as well," Mr. Miller shifted his gaze towards Sofia, who maintained her composure.

"Miss Hart's allegations are baseless. I would never bully someone. I am the victim of Miss Hart's bullying. You witnessed how she forcefully slapped me," Sofia claimed. Mr. Miller paused, taking a moment to reflect.

"Miss Hart, consider this your first and final warning. Miss Collins may take a half-day to recuperate while you cover her work for the next five days, which means additional responsibilities for you," Mr. Miller announced, leaving me dumbfounded. What the hell is going on here? I am not the one at fault.

"That won't be necessary, Mr. Miller. I want to fulfill my duties. Nevertheless, I appreciate your honest conclusion and for addressing Miss Hart's bullying behavior towards me," Sofia said, smiling at Mr. Miller, who seemed preoccupied with checking his phone, which emitted an unfamiliar sound.

"You may both go now," Mr. Miller declared. Sofia nodded and exited the room, and I locked the door behind her. Mr. Miller noticed the sound of the door closing and raised an eyebrow at me, questioning my actions.