Chapter 17: Chapter 17
Sophia gasped tumbling back on her ass as Lennox's eyes blinked open. In a moment of sheer panic, she crawled towards the side of the bed, lying low and wishing that the floor would swallow her, or at the least merge with her.
Lennox squinted drowsily, his eyes drifting around the room before he flopped back on the bed in exhaustion.
"You won't let me have even a peaceful sleep, will you" he muttered, messing up his hair as he got comfortable.
Sophia held her breath, staying still even when it felt like her heart was about to burst out of her chest. She berated herself for keeping the camera flash on without even realizing it. What if he decided to use the restroom, he'd have to put his feet over the side of the bed, the same side she was on. Sophia shook her head, as she started crawling towards the door, she was almost there when her leg hit the table where an array of beautiful vases was displayed, she stared wide-eyed as one of the vases tethered, then fell over with a loud crash as it shattered into a million pieces. Sophia didn't look back as she rushed out of the room, and tripped down the stair before finding herself outside. Sophia didn't stop running until she Hailed a taxi, she rushed inside, shouting at the driver to drive. Sophia whirled around to look behind her as they drove away from Lennox's house, she sighed, wiping off the sweat from her forehead, before splaying her hand on her face at the close call.
"I am never, ever going to do that again," she said then her eyes widened as she searched frantically for her phone, her heart literally stopping in her chest. Sophia stooped low, searching the floor of the car, while the driver gave her the looks from the mirror.
"Are you ok ma'am, you seem like you're having a bad night"?
"My phone, where's my bloody phone? Oh my gosh, I'm so screwed, what if I left it behind".
The driver coughed. "Ma'am... Ma'am"
Sophia's gaze snapped to his. "What is it? Can't you see I'm looking for something, can you just drive...".
"The phones right beside you, and you're going to crush it if you don't pick it up," he said in a bored tone, forcing Sophia to pay attention to her surrounding, her gaze slipped to her phone the air rushing out of her lungs.
Sophia picked it up kissing it, before sitting and looking at the driver. "I'm so sorry for snapping, thank you so much, you just saved my life, sir, you have no idea" she rushed out, clutching the phone to her chest.
****
Lennox had thought it was a vivid dream, except it wasn't as he stared at the broken vase, not to mention that the intruder's footsteps had been loud as he or she made their escape, making his head throb.
He rushed into his security room, feeling like his privacy had been trespassed as he yanked open the door. He looked through the video footage, rewinding it to a few hours early. A woman had followed him home, disappearing and reappearing in different sections of the house, but there was no footage for his bedroom because he hadn't installed any cameras there, and even the other footage failed to capture her face, even while she ran down the stair. It was unnerving since he'd never encountered a break-in before, maybe he needed to increase his security.
Lennox trailed his hands through his hair in frustration, cursing as he rushed back into the room. He looked around, noticing that everything was intact except for the broken vase. Lennox rubbed his face sighing.
"Damn it, who the hell are you and what were you looking for".
***********
"This was the worst night ever, I should've just waited for the private investigator because I didn't even find out half of this shit I'm reading" Sophia sighed, dropping the files between herself, Andria, and Bianca who all wore grim expressions on their faces. Sana was seated on the couch.
"He's so messed up tho, he's literally the reason Melissa died, then just because he's rich, they wiped the news from the face of the earth without letting her get the justice she deserved" Bianka fired hotly.
Andria rolled her eyes. "You seemed to miss out on the part which said that it was an accident, Lennox probably didn't know such a thing could happen, I'm sure he feels guilty..."
"But it doesn't change the fact that they hushed everything off so that it wouldn't get into the news, that's pretty shady if you ask me".
Sophia frowned. "Lennox isn't like that, I don't think he had anything to do with that, plus he didn't push her to the moving truck".
"We know he didn't, but If he hadn't been arguing with her, the accident would never have happened in the first place" Bianca pointed out indignantly.
Sophia pressed her lips together, knowing that arguing with Bianca was a battle in futility.
Bianca pressed on, not taking a hint of the thick tension permeating the atmosphere. "Anyways, you need to stay away from him, maybe quit your job, it's obvious he has anger issues".
Sana scoffed, earning Bianca's glare. "You know that's too extreme right, you say it like Mr. Lennox is an ax murderer or something".
Sophia cleared her throat, getting their attention as she motioned them closer. "Guys, Mr. Lennox is not a bad guy, he might be tough to work with, but I'm sure he's just lashing out to conceal his hurt I think he truly misses her, he hasn't even dated anyone for six years you know, and don't forget about the portrait in the closet.".
Andria nodded. "Sophia's right, I'm sure the reason the accident didn't get into the news was that both families wanted it that way, I'm certain that it was not Lennox's decision alone, maybe he didn't even have anything to do with it. He's been grieving Melissa for years, and if he's that dedicated to his dead girlfriend, then what more evidence do we need of his soft-heartedness".
Bianca rolled her eyes. "Stop being sappy Andria, we all know you'd think that but that's just because you're in a relationship, so of course, you'll romanticize Mr. Lennox".
"Can you be fucking sensitive for once, not everyone is like you you know" Andria snapped, clearly hurt by Bianca's nonchalant attitude.
Sana laughed nervously, getting up from the sofa she was relaxed against. "How about some wine, I think we're all a bit paranoid tonight".
They all stared at her, Andria's neck almost snapping from how fast she'd whirled to face Sana.
"This is not the time ok, we have to let Bianca know that it's wrong to assume things about people, or make speculations that aren't even though, I'm not siding with Lennox became I'm in love with Jonathan..."
Bianca shrugged, cutting her off. "I didn't phrase it like that... Look, I'm just saying to be careful, you never really know a person".
"Or maybe you're just a paranoid freak" Andria muttered under her breath, but it was either Bianca didn't hear or she deliberately chose to ignore her jab.
Sophia stood up, stomping her foot. "Can we not fight over this please, Mr. Lennox is my boss, I'll take care of him".
Sana scoffed. "That is, if he allows and finding out about his past, yeah, I don't think that's going to change anything, if you bring it up, he might connect the dots and know that it was you who broke into his apartment, that is if he doesn't know already".
Sophia's stomach churned, she'd been dreading that from the moment she made her escape, what if a camera had caught her face, how could she explain herself, what if a cop just barged in for her arrest. Sophia shuddered. "I shouldn't have been so careless, gahhh, this is the worst thing I've ever done in my life" she wailed, smacking herself on the face.
Bianca took hold of her hand, dragging her back on the bed. "Relax, you worry too much, I'm sure he won't be able to figure out who it was".
Sophia nodded, while Sana and Andria stared at her, adjusting their hair awkwardly while looking worried.
"I hope so, because if he finds out, then I'm doomed for jail," she said as she flopped back on the bed, exhaling. "Let's chunk up the night, and pray for a better tomorrow guys" she rushed out, grabbing at Bianca and Sana's wrist.
"You're right and if your boss's mood lightens up a bit, you can put in a word for us, you know, just beg him not reconsider firing us if we don't meet up with his stipulated profit margin" Sana got out, and Sophia nodded, but she couldn't concentrate. She played the night over and over again, knowing that she had slipped up somewhere, she just hoped the god-damned cameras didn't pick up her face.