Chapter 26: Chapter 26

Sophia rushed out of the elevator and bumped into Bianca who was waiting at the front of it.

"Watch where you're freaking going" she yelled, reaching out to steady Sophia to stop them both from tumbling to the floor. They both stood staring at each other before Bianca rolled her eyes and gave an exasperated sigh.

"Let's go have steak and vodka, you look like a train ran over you".

Sophia wiped her tears stained face. "Stop exaggerating, I know I look fine".

"Save that for the mirror, now move your ass before I remember that we aren't friends anymore".

"You're so mean" she muttered, following her.

*****

Bianca trudged into the room, holding a bottle of wine.

"After that steak, I think we need more alcohol".

Sophia narrowed her eyes. "You're not trying to get me drunk and kill me in my sleep right?".

Bianca scoffed, plunking onto the couch. "Pfft, don't flatter yourself. I've got better things to do than plan your murder... And what's with the quitting, I thought you said the gods above couldn't stop you from finishing your contract".

Sophia pursed her lips. "I didn't say it like that" she muttered petulantly.

"It was close enough. What happened, do I need to go cut his dick off".

Sophia's eyes widened. "Of course not... Why will you even think of that, and please can we not talk about Lennox's dick please".

"Why? You sound fishy" Bianca accused, leaning closer. Sophia shoved her away, huffing.

"Are we going to drink that or what".

Bianca sighed, dropping the bottle. "We might not with that attitude".

"Ugh, I forgot I hate you".

"Feelings are freaking mutual," she said, smiling as she took the bottle and filled up the glasses on the table.

"It looks so good" Sophia murmured, picking up one of the glasses, Bianca did the same. "A toast to being friends again".

"I didn't agree to be friends".

"You invited me for steak and vodka, that's the same as you begging for me to take you back".

"No, that's me taking pity on you since you were going to embarrass yourself by snorting all over the place".

Sophia cringed. "Ewww, stop being disgusting".

"Fine. Friends" she said clicking glasses with Sophia who just shook her head in exasperation.

"You've just got to drag everything don't you".

"What's the fun in being pliable. I love to make people beg" she said with a wink and Sophia rolled her eyes.

"Are you hitting on me right now" she suggested leaning closer. Bianca smacked her head making her Yelp.

"That's what you get for assuming shit. I won't go out with you, even if we were both the last humans on earth".

"Ouch! That hurts deep right here" Sophia got out, placing her hand on the right side of her chest. Bianca chuckled, shaking her head.

"Your hearts on the left, or is it your boobs that hurt".

Sophia glared, hissing. "You're no fun," she said sipping her wine, feeling glad that Bianca hadn't chosen to ignore her when she was at her down low.

Sophia didn't understand why it hurt worse just thinking about what had happened earlier and why it was always like she was taking two steps back when she thought she was moving forward with Lennox. Her head throbbed the more she thought about it, something had been wrong with him, but she couldn't figure out what it was. Tzuyu was right, the storm had hit unexpectedly and she hadn't been prepared for it. It was as if she'd drawn a line in her head and Lennox just had to cross it, destroying everything she'd managed to accomplish in just a matter of minutes but why couldn't she stop obsessing over it.

"You're not going to break that glass if you frown harder at it, and that's not how it works," Bianca said, her voice cutting through Sophia's thought, making her jerk. "Please tell me you're not thinking about your boss who ruined our friendship and might fire one of us at the end of the month".

"Is it that obvious... It's just that I can't understand him at all, we were fine just yesterday and today, he seemed like his old self, all grumpy, cold and angry, I didn't even do anything, well my mom did and for the life of me I can not begin to imagine what went through her head that pushed her to go off like that".

Bianca sat straighter, eyes narrowing. "Hold up, you didn't tell me anything about your mom being involved in this incident".

Sophia winced. "She suddenly just showed up cause she found out we're all not friends anymore and I almost blurted that I went drinking, and you know how she gets about alcoholics so I might have badmouthed Lennox to throw her off. Turns out it was a very bad idea".

Bianca gaped. "Wow, I did not see that coming at all, but damn, your mom is a badass. Did she scream the wall down on him, because Lennox deserves a little talking to?" Bianca asked, enthusiastic.

Sophia sobbed, burying her face Into the pillow. "This is just the worst thing ever".

*********

Lennox sat in his office, watching the clock as it ticked, he glanced in the direction of Sophia's desk, the empty spot rubbing him in all the wrong way.

He picked up the cactus, staring at it and feeling horrible. "Why are you such a prickly jerk huh? You prick at everything that tries to take care of you right, you think you're some awesome plant don't you" he said, dropping the plant and covering his face with his palms. "Fucking talking to a plant now" he muttered, then looked up at his laptop, his mail increasing in number but he couldn't bring himself to check it.

The door opened making him jerk up. He couldn't hide his disappointment fast enough as Kyle stepped into his office.

"Um," Kyle said, scratching behind his ear. "Sir Lennox, should I proceed with finding you a new assistant since Miss Sophia won't be working with you anymore".

"No!" He answered, his voice sharper than he wanted it to sound but something about someone else taking Sophia's place felt wrong and for Kyle to suggest it, he didn't like it at all.

Kyle nodded, his lips shut tight.

"Miss Sophia will be here tomorrow, she's just taking a day off".

"Oh, I'm sorry, I didn't... I thought... I'll just go back now sir" he said, rushing out of his office.

Lennox sighed, of course, even the male workers were afraid of him, not that he made it easy for them to warm up to him.

Sophia had been right about what she'd said, he was selfish, ever since Melissa died, he'd been hating himself, pouring out his anger on people who didn't deserve it and taking everyone for granted. Who in their right mind would ever put up with someone like him, he asked himself as he stood up. Lennox picked up his suit, walked out of his office, and stepped into the elevator that suddenly felt too empty without a certain bright-eyed woman talking his ears off. His lips twitched. After the break-in into his apartment, he'd pored over the video over and over again until he could tell exactly who the woman had been.

He had been curious about what it was she'd been up to, but he'd chosen to let go. There was something about her that made it easy to trust her, it was the same thing that made him want to get closer despite all the alarm bells going off in his head, which was insane but he couldn't just allow her to leave him, not after the promise she'd made to him.

He was going to bring her back, come hell or high water.