10

Sophia Censatio

Surprisingly, he looks calm. "Good! Go to jail to being homeless rather, do that to make your brother and sister's life miserable." He said it in an emotionless voice. I'm sure he meant every word that came out of his mouth.

"what kind of guy is he?” I thought as I stared deeply into his eyes. How can someone be so heartless and emotionless. 

"whatever!" Finally, after a while, I gave up. I don't think I can take it anymore because in the end, I will lose while he wins. 

"Make me coffee first thing in the morning, Okay? Make sure you're at the office by 8:00. I hate being clumsy,” he said without bothering me with a glance. I rolled my eyes, even though I know exactly what he's talking about. The clumsiness he just mentioned ends me here.

"I have no skill when it comes to this. I don't know how to do it," I lied. An excuse was all I was looking for. I don't want to work for him. 

"I have all your files, Sophia." The way my name comes out of his mouth always makes my heart race. “You've worked as a waiter in four different restaurants, one of which is the most famous in the city. I'm not stupid, we met there, remember?'

"Yes, and you convinced my manager to fire me." I rolled my eyes annoyingly at him and said so. "I still don't know how to make coffee." I added  again. 

"You can go now, Sophia." he wave his hand to dismiss me. 

crazy man! He already acting like a boss. "I am always late."

"No, you're not. You're always on time and everyone loves the way you treat customers no matter where you've worked" he replied. 

"I'm going to put too much sugar in your coffee."

"No, you definitely won't do that."

"I'd add salt at the end. I'm a clumsy junkie... remember?"

"No. No matter how clumsy you are, you'll always pay attention."

"Maybe, I'll kill you. You know how much I hate you"

"You don't have that thought in your head or the guts to do something so despicable. All your records have been good so far, so don't bother painting yourself black." he answered with another smile. What happened to this man? he must have been mad at me by now, right?

 “Being your personal assistant, I will know a lot about you. I can steal your money and get away with it." This time, he looked into my eyes and I internally screamed with joy. Yes! He hates me at this point. There is no turning back! 

"Sophia, I have a lot of work on my desk as you can see. You can leave now. Come back to work Monday morning." He spoke in a very firm tone.

 "What?! You still want me to work for you?!"

He smiled at me. "I'm not that stupid, Sophie. I know what you're doing, pissing me off and lying to me and making me feel like you don't deserve the job. It's a shame, but I have the good sense of humor to see all your crazy games. I want you to be my new secretary and I have no intention of changing that. Now, you have to work for me, Sophie."

"Don't call me that. My name is Sophia...Sophia is fine." I glared at him saying that. 

“The love I have to talk to you, but I'm sorry honey, I can't talk to you all day. I have to make money."

what the?!!!!

I took one more look at him before leaving his office.

•

"Hi Sophia! How was your interview today? Did you get the job?" Janet asked me. "Yes i was able to get it." I answered slowly.

“Really?! You're serious?! You did get the job?! How about payment? will it reach us? Can it cover the cost? How about our school? I'm in 9th grade, you can't miss this opportunity Sophie, you know?"

"God! Of course, Janet. I paid for you and James tution fee, I've always been there so, you don't have to remind me that all the time. I know my job" I closed my eyes tightly before taking a deep breath out. "whatever!" she wave her hand in the air. "So tell me… where is this new place?" I looked at Nick before returning my gaze to her. "That place is Aaron's company." I answered honestly.

"what the?!." My brother exploded. "Why are you in his place? I thought you'd never work for him?" he added. “Nicolas, who cares if the company is right for us or not?" Nick hissed.

 Janet looked at me cheerfully and asked "Come on, Sophia, tell me... How much did he promise to give you? I hear he pays his staff well."

There won't be a way she ever shuts up until I tell her everything. "Yes, he promised me four thousand dollars in a month and I am to start next Monday."

"What?! D.. Did you say four thousand dollars? this is huge! I can't believe he gave you the job despite everything you did. He was very nice to you. I'm glad you didn't give up on him else, I would have been upset at you."

"Do I have a choice? He made sure no one offered me a job as he turned them all against me." I seethe through gritted teeth .

“What is it, Janet? Is that why Sophia lost her job and you just have to compliment him of a the things that has 🐝 happening?” He looked at her and I rolled my eyes.

"If they hadn't fired her, she wouldn't have been given this opportunity. He will pay her four thousand dollars. All she needed to do right now is to accept the job"  

"I swear you lost it. Nothing needs to be explained to you because it won't help. Either way, you won't understand anything."

"And you think you're the perfect person here?" she asked raising an eyebrow at him. " I'm sorry, but you can be smart in school. Any kid in school, even Sofia, might think you're a smart kid, but not to me. you are just stupid and difficult to understand a situation like this"

Nick tried to hit her but I stopped him. "However! I have an exam tomorrow and I have to study. Good night, congratulations on your new job Sofia… On that, it is better not to cast off this job offer and do it. I will never forgive you if you don't!" she said menacingly before running to her room. Nick and I both followed her body with our eyes on her body until she was out of sight. At times, the way she has reacted to situations in this house has made me wonder if she was my older sister or me.

 "Everything is fine with you?." he asked in a concerned tone. “You really don't have to do anything he's asked of you and it doesn't matter if he's rich or not… We can report or do something. You don't have to get worked up about things like that, just don't do it if you don't want to, Sofia."

“Nick, I'm stuck. I do not have a choice. It's problem. Everything will be alright. Also, the salary is good. I can pay for your school fees and I can pay for your mother's treatment."

“How do you want to do this? that mother's treatment is very expensive. Can't you forget the treatment for now... We can't afford so much! Did you not know how much her operation costs? thousand dollars! twenty seven thousand dollars! Don't tell me you got somewhere around where you can get that much money?"

"Nicholas!! I would never leave her in a hospital bed like that. I lost my father when I was young and I don't want to lose my mother either... You and Janet are the reason I'm here having the courage to keep pushing... It won't do us any good if we keep doing this. Discouraging me all the time, you don't help things at all"

"Look Sophie, I..."

“Believe, believe, Nicholas Censatio. You have to have that belief and be with me, I'm sure we'll be fine."

"Okay, sorry for what I said earlier... You are important to me and I don't want all of your expectations to fall apart. You really kept your hopes so high"

"You have a test, remember? Now go ahead. Go do something useful for yourself." I shooed him away.

“Sophia, I'm already 20 years old. I'm not the guy you used to order around anymore." He rolls his eyes at me. 

"Okay then. Excuse me, Your Highness? There is a lot to do from my end if you don't have any."

"Don't tell me you're still on your way to drink? Do you know how bad it is for your health?"

"Look who's complaining." I said smiling. “Don't worry, I won't drink. I have one more thing to do before I go to bed. Also, I hope we can all go to Mom's tomorrow." As I added, his face suddenly changed.

"Why are you looking at me like that?"

"I don't know why you bother me with things like this. I don't want to go and I never will."

"Excuse me? It's your mother we're talking about here!"

he sneered. "She didn't treat me well when I was a kid. You must have made past of how she treated us, especially you, when dad died? came to the conclusion that I was responsible for my father's death. If I hadn't forced him to do it, he wouldn't have died like this,” he said sadly.

 "Nicolas, I will repeat it as many times as I could...You are not responsible for my father's death."

"But mom kept accusing me for his death!!!"