Chapter 21: Chapter 21

Waking up with a righteous headache, and feeling nauseated was bad but not so much as waking up in a room that wasn't yours. Sophia cringed, her head feeling as if someone was pounding on it as she glanced around blearily at the familiar, yet unfamiliar luxurious room.

Sophia facepalm, seething internally while telling herself not to freak out, or do something to piss whoever brought her home, Incase he was a serial killer.

"Oh my gosh Sophia, how could you get drunk and let some stranger you don't even know to take you home" she wailed, tugging at her hair. Nothing felt off with her body so she knew nothing had happened the night before. "Ugh, what if I got kidnapped, how will anyone find me... I don't even have friends to worry about me anymore". Sophia gasped as she heard footsteps approaching the room where she was. Running on pure adrenaline for survival, she jumped to her feet, picking up the table lamp. Sophia rushed towards the door, hoisting the weapon over her head, as she waited with bated breath, her leg shaking even as she willed them to stop. The door opened all of a sudden and she screamed, ramming the lamp unto the man that walked in, her eyes were clenched shut as she raised it for a second hit, but a strong grip on her arm had her eyes flying open as she struggled against the guy that was trying to pin her down. The tug of war had both of them crashing to the floor, the guy landing on top of her and knocking the breath out of her.

"Sophia" Lennox yelled, and Sophia's eyes snapped to his, widening as she finally saw who it was she had almost killed with a lamp, damn! The news would not have gone down well if she had to be referred to as the table lamp murderer, who killed her boss for kidnapping her, or not... A serial killer should have a doper name. Sophia did a double-take, frowning at how weird her thinking faculty was. Sophia stared at Lennox, then noticed the blood dripping on the side of Lennox's face, unto her face.

Sophia gasped. "Oh my goodness, I'm so sorry, I didn't mean to hit you, I thought you had me abducted or something, I mean I didn't know it was you, I thought it was some crazy guy who..."

"Had you abducted, yeah I heard you the first time" he grunted. Sophia reached to clean the red stain, her breath hitching in her throat when she realized that he was holding her down, lying on top of her and he was all-male, her gaze involuntarily slipped to his lips, what would it feel like to kiss him? taste him? would he demand she surrendered to his domination, or would he allow her to take the lead, it didn't matter to her, she just wanted a taste. Sophia drew in a sharp breath, shoving him off as she got to her feet, staring at everywhere but him, her cheeks flushing. Lennox cleared his throat, drawing Sophia's attention, and she wondered if he felt the damned pull she had felt a while back... Was she crazy, or still drunk because there was no way she'd have any attraction to Lennox fucking Ray, he was a jerk that didn't know how to say sorry for being wrong.

"Quit it" he snapped, making her flinch.

"What?".

"Quit frowning, it shows that you're thinking too hard, and you're getting me worried, so just stop," he said walking toward the cabinet and pulling out a first aid kit. Lennox opened the kit, bringing out what it was he needed when Sophia's snatched it from him.

"Let me help you. I hurt you, so I should be the one to make the pain go away... I'm really sorry about smashing you in the head, but it was all self-defense, I was drunk..."

"Yes you were, maybe you should think twice before drinking that much, the things that come out of your mouth," he said, shaking his head in pity while Sophia stared mortified. She racked her brain, thinking hard to figure out what it was she had said, and how dire, or embarrassing it was. Sophia wailed internally, hoping that she hadn't said anything that was too horrible.

"I don't have all day" he got out, but he didn't sound mad, just amused.

Sophia chuckled nervously. "I'll get to work on your cut... I'm sure I wasn't that bad as a drunk".

Lennox frowned, his eyes darkening to slit. "You weren't but please, if you have no one looking after you, don't ever drink, ok" he started off pleading, then ended up ordering her around.

Sophia nodded, feeling chastised. She worked on his wound, feeling bad for attacking him when he was just trying to help her, but why wasn't he even tempted to do anything to her? Was she Unattractive, or he was suddenly batting for the other team? Ugh, Sophia groaned, hating the direction of her thoughts.

Lennox flinched slightly as she applied iodine and bandaged the little cut on his head. Sophia tried to ignore his mop of dark curl but was unable to stop herself from running her hand through it. Lennox grabbed hold of her hand, stopping her stroke as he got up, and he only let go once he'd given enough between the both of them.

Sophia's chest felt tight, wondering why he had stopped her. Sophia also couldn't wrap her head around the context of what was happening to her, her heart, and her body, because it all felt like she was suddenly hyperactive.

"I made breakfast, come" he ordered, surprising Sophia who blurted with a wide grin.

"You cook, I didn't peg you for a chef... Um, what's that word again, CEO, I hope they are edible."

Lennox smiled, causing Sophia's stomach to flip. Get a grip, get a fucking grip, he's a jerk, he's being nice just this one time does not guarantee or point to a positive change in the future, so fucking snap out of this weird drug you're on, Sophia yelled at herself internally.

"I don't cook, but you need to eat something after all that drinking and throwing up," he said, waggling his eyebrows before walking out of the room.

Sophia gaped after him, surprised that he was being playful. Sophia followed him dazedly, her mind running with questions that revolved solely around Lennox.

The dining room was beautiful, and Sophia gazed around, her attention slipping from Lennox. She took in the interior since she hadn't been able to on her first break-in... Visit.

"Sit" he ordered, making Sophia mutter under her breath.

"So darn bossy". Sophia sat down, picked up her spoon, and stared at the soup in the glass bowl dubiously. Lennox gave an exasperated sigh.

"It's for your hangover, and it's edible, you can always have the toasted bread, sausage, and other stuff I've laid out for you".

Sophia raised an eyebrow, smiling. "Other stuff... Do you even know what these are, or do you just eat".

Lennox shook his head. "Eat, you talk too much".

Sophia pouted, then scooped the soup into her mouth. She sighed contentedly. "This totally hits the spot, Sir Lennox, wahhh, you absolutely know the best hangover soup" she got out, giving him a thumbs up. Lennox's mouth twitched as he watched her eat.

"I was starving Mr. Lennox, this is delicious, how do you know that I'd totally fall in love with this, this is like..."

"Do you ever keep that mouth of yours shut Miss Sophia?" he asked, staring at her. Sophia pursed her lips.

"Um am I supposed to answer that... Because I know you said you hate noise, but I'm just making conversation here and there's a difference".

"It's all the same to me".

"Well it's not, and don't you find such a quiet life boring".

"I don't, I deserve this kind of life," Lennox said, his voice a whisper. Sophia perked up.

"So" she dragged, thinking of a way to phrase her questions. "What about your girlfriend, doesn't she complain, I mean you're fuc... I mean good-looking, so you must have girls hitting on you all the time". Sophia got out, before tentatively glancing up at him. The cold gaze in his eyes had her breath catching in her throat. Lennox's throat worked.

"None" he bit out, then continued eating.

"Really? What about... " Sophia froze, realizing who she had wanted to mention, talk about digging one's own grave before even dying.

"What about what?"

Sophia forced a laugh. "Nothing, I am just surprised that you're single that's all, I mean you're a rich good looking guy, I thought you'd have girls flocking around you in very huge numbers".

Lennox's brows furrowed. "They don't, I'm sure anyone who gets close enough will run once they find out..." He paused, then sighed tiredly as he dragged his finger through his hair.

Sophia stared, hoping that he would open up to her, but she also didn't understand why she was so obsessed with him or finding out about his past.

"They find out what" she pressed, but he refused to reply making her deflate.

"Why haven't you quit, I make your life miserable," he asked all of a sudden. Sophia's gaze snapped to his and held.

"Because I want to assist you, that's my job. I should stay with you even if you're mean to me... I shouldn't run away just because I'm facing challenges, I mean, life is not a bed of roses. I should strive to make it work, that's more fulfilling". Sophia's insides turned when Lennox's gaze became hopeful.

"Are you sure you won't ever run away"?

Sophia's stomach flipped, it almost felt as if he was asking her to make a promise to stay with him forever, which was insane. "I won't, at least not until my contract ends".

Lennox's gaze turned serious as he stood up. "Fine then. Do you need a change of clothes" he asked changing the subject. Sophia blinked then nodded.

"Yeah, I do".

"Here then," he said, dropping a credit card beside her bowl. "Get yourself some clothes, I'm going to work". Sophia gaped at him as he walked away.

"That jerk, how can he be so freaking abrupt with me, and get myself some clothes, wow, I can't believe this" she muttered to herself. "Couldn't he just take me shopping like all those romance dramas... But I guess the credit card is still something" she said, steepling her fingers under her chin and grinning. Sophia jerked, snapping back into reality. "What am I doing? Why am I grinning by myself... Oh my gosh, I must be out of my fucking mind."