Chapter 33: Chapter 33

Something was terribly wrong with Lennox, Sophia concluded after her hundredth attempt to get him to speak up met with a dark hard wall. He wasn't even looking at her and Sophia wondered if he had been so repulsed by her kiss that he was now shutting her out.

Sophia stared at Lennox's office, her heart squeezing. Stupid, stupid emotions. Sophia had berated herself all through the day about the impulsive kiss, and she thought she was finally over it but nothing prepared her for the cold brush-off she was getting from Lennox.

Was he going to fire her, did he hate her or was he going to file charges against her for sexual harassment? It had been just an itty-bitty kiss, which hadn't even deepened or lasted because he'd shoved her off her bed like a demon-possessed freak.

The more Sophia thought about it, the more annoying the whole thing became. Why the hell was he ignoring her. She hadn't even been fully awake and then he was just there, looking like a temptation so her brain must have been in a sluggish state hence why she kissed him without thinking about the consequences.

She groaned tugging at her hair when her phone pinged. She glanced at it and groaned louder as she saw it was from her Mom.

Sophia picked up the phone, reading the message that could be summed up in one word furiously. "Bring a man home... You're not getting younger". Sophia cursed, glancing at Lennox's office. "How can I bring a man home when they ghost me because of just one little kiss, imagine if there were tongues involved. Ugh. I hate him so much," she said, not even bothered by the fact that in her head, she'd already concluded that it'd be him she'd take home to her mother in a heartbeat.

Tzuyu cleared her throat. "Now what are you spacing off about".

"Nothing" Sophia muttered sullenly, but the look on Tzuyu face told her that she wasn't buying her bullshit. "It's complicated".

Tzuyu shook her head, reaching out a hand to silence her. "Say no more... I know it's a guy that's got you acting like this. They're just so annoying, but we're stuck with them aren't we"

Sophia opened her mouth, then thought better of it and shut it. Tzuyu was intuitive, so if she had any hint that she was crushing on sir Lennox, she was never going to drop it. Crushing on Sir Lennox, ugh, when had sexual attraction turned into a crush. Slipping down the hill further. Sophia shook her head to wade away the thought.

Tzuyu sighed, crossing her arms. "Since you're choosing to keep your problems to yourself, I guess I'll just let it go. But it's strange tho, You and sir Lennox always decide to be moody together. Everyone is freaking out again but that Ivan guy is throwing us a party and you were invited" she delivered, dropping a nicely decorated invite on the table.

Sophia picked it up. "What's he celebrating?"

"Beats me... I mean we're in a critical moment right now and he's still throwing a party. You should go, that guy is head over heels for you, or maybe he's the guy trouble you're having" she asked, waggling her eyebrows.

Sophia rolled her eyes. "No he's not, and Ivan is not my type, he's too young than I am and I like my type to be older".

"Like Mr hot freaking Lennox" she teased and Sophia fought to appear unbothered.

"He's not my type. He's a jerk, and yes, I'll be going for this party, because I think there are too many screws on my shoulders that need to be loosened" she said determinedly.

"That's my girl" Tzuyu grinned in encouragement. "I'll get back to work so I don't wake up the beast," she said, and subtly tilted her chin in the direction of Lennox's office with a pointed look.

"I got it at the beast part, jeez," she said, earning Tzuyu's infamous glare.

"Fine!" She said and trudged off.

Sophia stared at the invite. "Ivan could work. He is good looking and maybe Mom will finally back off if I introduce him to her" she said then smacked her head against the desk. "Why couldn't you just keep your lips to yourself, Sophia. Where is your pride for the love of God" she wailed, then proceeded to mess up her hair.

**********

Tzuyu frowned as the phone on her desk rang for the fiftieth time, she answered, only to be instructed to pass another order to Sophia who was seating right at her desk, and the worst thing was when she passed the messages, Sophia also had one to send back and Tzuyu felt drained.

Kyle looked up from his desk as Tzuyu fought from slamming her phone on her desk.

"Mr. Lennox?"

"You are correct. I'm so drained at this point. I don't understand why they're avoiding each other. They're literally just there and yet I have to serve as a middle man-woman, Fuck my life".

Kyle pursed his lips thinking it over. "You're right it is weird, and let's not forget other weird things that have been happening, like Mr. Lennox asking Sophia to come back after Sophia made a fuss about quitting, then a dinner party... When has that ever happened".

"Not in a million years" Jake suddenly added, catching everyone's attention since she'd always been quite that she ceased to exist in their world.

"Exactly, even Jake can attest to the fact".

"And I don't think y'all noticed" Jake continued, glancing at Tzuyu and Kyle. "I think something is going on between the boss and Sophia".

Tzuyu gasped. "That's the most absurd thing I'd ever heard in my life. Mr. Lennox is gay. Have you ever seen him with a girl" she said, looking at Kyle for support? He nodded quickly.

"I don't talk much but it doesn't mean I don't see things Tzuyu. I think they're secretly dating and they got into a fight."

"I don't buy that".

Jake took a suffering breath. "Fine then, don't believe me but Sophia is attending Ivan's party right, and I'm sure Sir Lennox is not aware of it, so why don't you tell him about it"

"And what would that lead to exactly," Tzuyu asked.

"It'll get a reaction out of him of course, and if he shows up at the party, all the better".

Kyle nodded, and Tzuyu just rolled her eyes. "I still think you're wrong, but I guess I could do that. Not sure if Mr. Lennox would even care cause I don't think girls like Sophia would be his type".

"You'd rather it was you right," Jake said and Tzuyu whipped to face her. Jake avoided her gaze and started typing furiously on her keyboard. Tzuyu glanced at Kyle who was also pretending to be engrossed in the book he was holding.

Tzuyu huffed out a breath, and stood up, walking over to Sophia to pass the message Lennox had sent her.

Tzuyu stayed behind after everyone had left for the party, because Lennox was still in his office, and he didn't look like he was ready to leave. Tzuyu sighed, shutting down her laptop, craning her neck, and got ready to just forget about all their bullshit. Jake had been a bit right on her assumptions that she wanted Lennox to be interested in her and it made her stomach flip. She'd always wanted Lennox's attention, and if he was going to secretly date anyone, it should be her.

"Where is everyone?" Lennox's deep voice broke Into her train of thought making her jerk as she jumped to her feet.

"Sir Lennox... I didn't know you were still around".

Lennox sighed, raising an eyebrow as he waited for an answer.

Tzuyu watched, deciding to go with what Jake had said. "They all went to Ivan's party. He's this gorgeous-looking guy who's been trying to win Sophia over. I think he might get a shot tonight, cause he said the party was in Sophia's honor" she said, forgetting herself and adding a wink as she tried to gauge his reaction. "Will you be going, sir Lennox"?

Lennox's jaw clenched. "No, I hate partying".

Tzuyu pouted. "Too bad. Ivan said he had a surprise for Sophia tho and I'm dying to know what it is" she said, her legs shaking even as she tried to appear all cool and reserved. "It's an all-night party, so if you change your mind..." She said with a pinched smile.

Lennox turned, his shoulders coiled tight as he stepped into the elevator.

Tzuyu watched him go. "Does him getting angry count or not." She asked herself, then exhaled tiredly. "I guess if he shows up at the party, then Jake might just be right, or not because I just literally begged him to go just now. Anyways, the conclusion would be the same. Lennox does not, cannot, and will never love Sophia".