Chapter 24: Chapter 24

Sophia smiled as she stared at her bank statement, counting the figures even after the deduction of the lavish team dinner she had invited all her members to, bottom line was that they all had a great time. Working for Lennox Ray was definitely a blessing in disguise.

A knock on her door startled her and she frowned, she wasn't expecting anyone so who could it be? She stood up, dropped her tab on the table, and shuffled her feet as she walked towards the door. Sophia yanked it open with a bored expression which morphed into a wide-eyed shocked look once she saw who it was at the door.

Vivienne her Mom, gave her a knowing look as she pushed past her inside. Getting rid of her shock, Sophia followed after her.

"Mom, what are you doing here, I thought you were on vacation?".

Her mother turned to face her, crossing her arms. "You sound disappointed" she stated, her lips tight.

"I'm not disappointed, I'm happy you are here... I mean, a little heads-up might have been nice".

Vivienne sighed, her gaze slipping to Sophia's tab on the table, her bank statement on display. Sophia rushed for it, snatching it up but she knew it was already late.

"How did you spend all that money, Sophia, why are you being so wasteful".

Sophia sighed. "I didn't waste it, I paid my bills and spent the rest on food".

Her mother looked her over. "You spent all that on food, you're going to be twenty-five next year, do you think eating a lot of food will delay your aging process, you're going to wind up a diabetic at this rate".

"Mom!" She gasped unbelievably.

"Don't mom me, Sophia. I told you to find someone and get married, but no, you've been spending money on fattening yourself up like that's going to help you find a potential other, and you've broken up your friendship with those friends of yours that were supposed to find you a man, when did you plan on telling me, do you know I almost had a heart attack when I learned of it".

Sophia rubbed at her head. "Mom please..."

"Please what Sophia, you've been lying to me all this while".

"Mom enough!" She snapped, then regretted immediately as her mother recoiled, her face pale with shock. "I didn't mean to yell but this is suffocating. I'm trying to talk to you but you'll never let me get a word out. Work has been so hectic mom, I'm always stressed, working all day and my boss can be difficult sometimes so I don't even have the time to go out and meet people. Can you just try to understand what I'm going through for once... My heart hurts so much because you keep pressuring me" Sophia got out, her voice thickening at the end and that was when she realized the tears slipping down her cheeks.

Vivienne's face softened as she approached her. "Sophia, I'm sorry, I'm just desperate for you to settle down. I didn't mean to pressure you so much, I was just concerned, I am just trying to be a good mother".

"You are a good mother, I'm Just the bad daughter who keeps on stressing you out because I keep making you worry, and I also never visit... I'm sorry Mom".

"Enough of that" she chided. "We both know that this is all on me," she said hugging her. "I'll try to get off your back once in a while, I promise".

"Once in a while" Sophia muttered sullenly.

"Take what you get girl, or maybe you love me hounding your every breathing hour".

Sophia shook her head, smiling. "Nah, I'm good with the whole once in a while stuff".

Vivienne pulled back, taking in the room decor. "I'm starving, is there any food in the house or do you now live on junk food," she asked, her eyes widening in horror.

Sophia sighed. "I do not, I make my Meal. Come have a seat, I'll make you something to eat" she said, then turned towards the kitchen.

"No meat, I became a vegetarian".

Sophia whipped her head, staring at her mother in surprise. "All of a sudden".

"Hey, it's been five long years that you visited, so and that isn't a small-time, not that I'm trying to make you feel guilty".

"You just did" Sophia deadpan, and Vivienne smiled.

"Don't get mad when you know it's true".

Sophia sighed, before getting serious. "But why the sudden change? You used to love meat, and bear".

Vivienne raised a hand to silence her, her face screwed as if she was remembering something painful. "Enough, don't remind me of the time when I committed barbaric acts... I have repented of my evil ways, and right now, I'm finally in peace with nature".

Sophia rolled her eyes. This was her mother in all her theatrical nature. "It's a good life choice. I'm rooting for you".

"You had better. Now tell me, why you and your friends split up. You four were inseparable and now, you've thorn yourself apart... It's unbelievable".

"Believe me it's not. Andria started everything, can you believe she accused me of trying to steal her boyfriend, I'm still shocked every time I think about it"

Vivienne gasped, covering her mouth. "That little she-devil, you're not that desperate to go for her man, the audacity... "

Sophia nodded in agreement, the rage she'd been repressing finally getting an outlet. "Exactly, I don't know what was going through her head, and there's also the competition going on, of course, I'm not participating, so I guess they hate it that I don't have to worry about getting fired, they believe I have it so easy when in reality I don't".

Vivienne grabbed her arm. "My poor child, it must have been hard".

"It was, I even went drinking" she blurted then gasped, her eyes widening, at the same time her mother did. "I mean I went drinking at the cafe, they had this nasty brew that made me feel more shitty than I did before I walked in" she amended quickly, but her mother's gaze was still suspicious. "And my boss, he's so annoying, always breathing down my neck," she said, trying to drag her attention off the drinking she'd mentioned earlier. Forgive me, Lennox, for using you this way but you've been a jerk, so no hard feeling, Sophia told herself.

"Your boss sound like a jerk, I can't believe you're working for someone like that... Why don't you just quit and stay with me, you can manage my business".

Sophia stared at her with her jaw slacked. "I don't want to work for you, that's a disaster in the making".

"But your boss is making you miserable, you sound like he's about to drive you insane".

"I can handle it... This week has been better" she said, regretting her decision to use Lennox being an evil boss as a way to distract her mother.

"I don't care what you say, I'm going to have to do something about your boss".

"Like what, come to the company and warn him off, don't even think about it. Can I make you something to eat now, I'm starving".

Vivienne nodded, but she looked lost in thought, it was as if she was contemplating a life-changing decision.

Sophia felt uneasy, she hoped whatever it was she was plotting was something good, and not doomsday worthy. Vivienne had always done things in extremities, but what could she do to her boss in the situation. Zilch. So there was nothing to worry about.