Entangled with misery

Sophia's POV

I stood at the sink while staring down at the glossy red shell of the lobster in my hands. I ran the tap water, allowing it to splash against my skin as I permitted my thoughts to wander on the reason behind our manager's sudden excitement. It was unusual for him to compliment the Chefs and he had done it more than twice today.

Although, this restaurant has been my saviour in many of my financial crises, especially for my sick father who is receiving treatment in the United States of America. Still, the way the management treats their employees is nothing to applaud.

I felt a negative occurrence coming along with our manager's advice on people not investing in their salary in case of an urgent situation.

Immediately he mentioned that statement this morning, I couldn't wrap my mind around gloomy thoughts that they might be willing to fire some of the Chefs and employ more experienced ones just like they do once in five years according to my seniors. From my notice, I am the only one who doesn't have a long time experience in the world of cooking among us all even though this was my fifth year in the restaurant.

It saddens me to be sacked because no one will want to employ an undergraduate, and besides, cooking is the only thing I am good at doing.

My greatest worry is not being able to pay for my father's medical bills as he is my only tangible relative together with my five years old nephew. My mother, according to him, died during my birth due to heavy bleeding, and there was no money to transfer her to a better clinic. My father was a gardener who worked his ass off to make my sister, Riley, who was four years older than me graduate from a prestigious college. With Riley's determination to change our lives, she graduated with distinction throughout her High School and college years. It was even announced on national TV that she was among the best students in her department.

If I want to look back on healthy days with my Father, I can only say that the day my late Sister graduated from college was the happiest day of his life. Life was good as my sister got a job authorization as a manager in one of Theodore Andrews' companies; the owner of B&G, a thriving oil and gas industry and that was where our life became entangled with sorrow.

Of course, we first upgraded to a luxurious standard, and Riley was able to get my father a job as a gardener for the Andrews since he insisted on still working.

That day, I felt something fishy about my father getting a job for people who are considered a conglomerate in the country, but nevertheless, I had let it slip off my thoughts and resolved to live on happily while bragging to my classmates about the luxurious items my sister brought home almost every day.

Riley became more of a fashion Icon than an actual manager.

I was able to graduate with a good certificate from a prestigious High school also, and I was confident that I would be able to attend my dream institute of Culinary Excellence. It was a school for aspiring Chefs located in New York. Riley had promised to assist with furthering my education there after receiving her seventh salary as she had to save up because of how expensive the fees were.

I was extremely delighted as I couldn't stop myself from praying day and night for nothing to cause any hindrance, but unfortunately, everything like a flash began to seem like all efforts in vain one evening when my sister walked in dejectedly after disappearing for two days. Her physical appearance was like someone who was beaten up with her clothes barely covering her lap.

Riley continuously lamented about how difficult and mentally disturbing it was to continue working at B&G and it made my father extremely furious as he suddenly dashed out of the house with an intention I had no idea about.

Instead, I had helped Riley into her room, massaged her shoulders, and murmured comforting words in a soothing voice. Suddenly, her phone rang. She demanded I check who might be calling. I was surprised to see the name saved as "Heartbeat" with love emojis. I was stunned because my father had severally wanted to introduce her to suitors, but she had declined by grumbling about not being ready to be in a relationship.

I couldn't stop blushing as I was too timid to call out the name. Instead, I moved the screen to her face. A dangerous yank was bestowed on me the moment her eyes widened to see the name. I was shoved away from her side with her yelling for me to get out of her room. I knew Riley would be startled if I caught her in the act, but I never envisioned her to react that way. I strolled out of the room in disappointment, and the moment I was about to lock the door, I heard her whine about her pregnancy.

At that moment, I felt my knees weaken. My knuckles turned white, and my instinct couldn't deny the urge to eavesdrop.

My hand was trembling terribly, but I managed to stabilize myself to eavesdrop to make sure I heard her wrong earlier. False thoughts turned into reality the moment she let out in a voice that sounded like someone in excruciating pain "Theodore Andrews…! You can't get married to another woman after knowing that I am four months pregnant with your child. There is no way I have to wait nine months for you to testify to a DNA test! The last thing I would do is use a baby to tie you down. We had sex after you promised me the whole world, Theo. I would rather get you to kill me with your bare hands than for you to get married to my best friend of all ladies!" She wailed uncontrollably.

Like a hen watching a hawk carry his offspring away without having an idea of what to do, I watch my naive sister cry herself over a man. She was impregnated by Theodore Andrews, her boss. The man famously known as the man of wealth and the man for women. W²