I Want You Back

didn't realize that I dozed off, and when I woke up, Sofia was still asleep. I stood up and prepared for the day before going to the kitchen to check on her breakfast. "Good morning, Angel; your breakfast is ready."

Thanks, Carmen. What is Sofia's breakfast?"

"Fruit salad with her usual coffee and cookies, because if not, she won't be awake and energized for the day."

"Hm, she shouldn't really drink coffee, though."

"Angel, the idea is for her to eat, but every three to four hours so her sugar level won't drop, not to lessen her food or coffee intake."

"I know. Just don't let her abuse it. I'll go to the office to review some papers."

As soon as I was in my office, I checked some documents from the company, and the others were from Autos-Let. I need to finalize the business with Let-Tech. They are making a mistake if they don't want to negotiate with us.

I called Harry and told him to personally visit the company to make an appointment and not accept any more excuses. Then after that, I came back to the dining room to have my breakfast, and the table was ready when Sofia finally came down. "Good morning."

"Good morning, Sofia. How's your sleep?"

"It was fine, Carmen. Thank you."

I kept my eyes on the newspaper I was holding and did not pay attention to their conversation.

"I made you a healthy breakfast and coffee; come eat."

"Thanks, Carmen. Can you pack them for me so I can take them to the company? I need to verify some documents, and I'm running late."

"But Sofia..."

"Carmen, don't push it."

This woman is irresponsible, and she does not take care of herself. Carmen was about to do as Sofia asked, but I stopped her.

"Leave the plate where it is, Carmen," I ordered, and she immediately stopped. I could feel Sofia's eyes on me, but I didn't look at her. "Sofia, sit down and eat if you want me to make you."

Carmen left, and Sofia remained standing where she was. I finally turned to her, and I saw her annoyed face.

"Sit down, Sofia. The doctor was clear that you should take better care of yourself. The company can wait. You are the boss for a reason."

"I need to be an example by coming early," she pointed out.

"Sofia, don't make me feed you like a spoiled child having a tantrum."

"I am not spoiled," she spat, and she strode to the table before sitting. "Don't tell me what to do, especially in that tone, if you don't want coffee stain on your perfect suit."

In my silence, she turned to me with a half-smile. "What? Why have you gone silent?"

Is she crazy?

"Let Carmen take care of you until you regain your strength and health."

"You don't have to worry. It's just an attack, so don't exaggerate." Don't exaggerate?! I stared at her with deadly eyes. "By the way, what happened to Alexis? After what you did to him, I don't think he will recognize himself." "You should be thankful I didn't kill him. Why are you even asking about him?" I asked in annoyance.

"He could sue you and get you in trouble. That wouldn't be good for your image," she commented while eating. "Why are you looking at me like that?"

"That a*****e tried to hurt you and intended to do worse, and now you're worried about him?"

"I am not worried about him. If it were up to me, I would have stabbed his eye with my heels, but my shoes are worth more than his eyes."

"A heel to an eye," I repeated with an amusing laugh because I could imagine it.

"Why are you laughing?"

"I just imagined it. You will probably be affected to see your shoe drenched in his blood, and you won't be able to use it again."

"Of course, I'll be angry. My shoes are much more expensive than his."

We both laughed, and I forgot just how goofy she can get sometimes. Carmen interrupted us when she brought us juice and bread.

"If you knew his intention, why did you accept that dinner? You were smiling and flirting with him."

"For appearance and connection, Angel, sometimes you need to be cunning to get what you want."

And that just proved how manipulative she can be to get what she wants.

"You are the best in that field," I angrily said, and she looked at me for a few seconds before looking back at her plate.

How can she change from being an angel to a demon in a matter of minutes?

"Why didn't you take me to my apartment? Who picked me up and took me to my room? Who brought me my clothes?"

"You fell asleep on the way, so it was easier to bring you here. Chad dropped you off, and Carmen helped you. I am not sure about the clothes." "Mm., I guess you left to solve your issue." I stared at her and saw annoyance in her face, even though she tried to mask it. "Did you have fun?" "Sofia, what is that question about?"ConTEent bel0ngs to Nôv(e)lD/rama(.)Org .

"I just wanted to say it," she said with a shrug.

"I will go to the company, and I will handle things while you are resting."

"I am fine, Angel. Why are you worrying? There is no press here or people who can see your act."

"I am not worrying; don't get it wrong. I just don't like people to think that I am letting you work even when you're sick."

"You don't have to show you care because it's cringey. Our neighbor from two blocks away would have shown his care and not you."

"Where did that comment come from? Were you close with them?"

"It is called being kind, Angel. You should try it sometimes. When did you become such a snobbish? You were friendly before, but now you are just... an arrogant man."

"Do I really have to tell you when and why I became like this?" I asked her with challenging eyes.

"You're unbearable, you know? You could have said no when the priest asked the question. If you didn't want to marry me, why did you change your mind? You are the one who said later on that you want to marry."

"As if I had any other choice. You made sure that I wouldn't be able to refuse."

"I was also left with no choice but to accept this fake marriage!" "Sofia!"

"Sofia, nothing!" She leaned back and stood up abruptly, making her chair almost fall back. "I am tired of you blaming me for this marriage when I didn't even point a gun at you or push you inside the civil registry! You married me with a purpose, so don't blame me!" After saying that, she ran back to her room, and I could feel how heavy her every step was, but this time, I wouldn't let her act as the victim. I followed her to her room, my chest heaving with my own anger, and I saw her by the window, wiping away her tears. "Get out of here! Or better yet, I should leave because I don't live here anymore."

She tried to leave, but I pushed her, and she landed on the bed.

"Do you know what I can't stand? You act like the innocent victim when you are the one behind all this!"

"I told you not to touch me again!" She shouted back at me, her eyes burning with fire.

"Stay there! You said you did not point a gun at me or push me in the office, but you did more than that!"

"What did you say?!"

"When I met you in college, I thought you were sweet, kind, intelligent, and not like the others. But I was wrong because you are worse than them! You fooled with your fake innocence, with your face, but you are the worst of all! A liar, a manipulating..." "Stop it! Don't talk anymore!" She pushed me and ran out of the room, but I followed her.

"Why? Don't you like hearing the truth?" I taunted her.

"You are stupid, foolish, and naive!" She started to throw me things from my room. "You are self-centered and arrogant!"

""Stop it!"

I defended myself by covering myself with my arms and dodging whatever she threw.

"You acted like you are smart and ruthless that anyone can't control, but you are letting yourself be manipulated by that fake fairy tale princess!"

""Don't drag Elisa into this!"

"Elisa, Elisa, the Holy Elisa! The one who can't break a glass, right?!" God, she'll break everything soon. "The pure, innocent victim! You're blind and stupid!"

"Okay, Sofia, you need to calm down!"

This is the first time I have seen her so out of it. So emotional. Because whenever we fight, she's always calm and calculated.

"I did not do or say whatever she said!" She continued to throw whatever her hands landed on. "She's lying to you, but you are blind, and you are not using your brain to realize that!"

I gritted my teeth, and I managed to reach her and hug her to stop her assault.

"Let me go! Don't touch me!" She continued to thrash against my hold.

"Enough with the insults!"

"And why? You can insult me and treat me badly, but I can't do the same?!"

"Stop it and shut up!"

I couldn't hold her, and we fell on top of the bed with me lying on top of her, but I was still holding her.

"I didn't do anything! She's lying to you, but why can't you see that?!"

She started to calm down, but I saw tears in her eyes.

"Don't cry," I said weakly and calmly.

To see her in that state is too much for me. It feels like my heart is being stabbed by tiny needles.

"Why can't you see that she's not like what you thought she was? I didn't do anything," she repeated, her voice breaking.

Her tears and state make me want to believe her. "Okay, okay, calm down first. Then why don't you show me who she is?"

"I don't need to show you anything. I don't care anymore about what you think of me."

"To me, it does." I stared into her eyes, filled with tears, and my heart squeezed. "Tell me what I don't know."

"You still won't believe me."

"I'll be the one to decide that," I told her softly while stroking her hair. I've always wanted to do that. "Just don't cry anymore."

My eyes dropped to her lips, and I felt the need and want to kiss her. I can now suddenly feel her body, and I want more. I gritted my teeth and lifted myself a bit to fight myself. Calm the f**k down, Angel.

I let her sit up, and she wiped her face and tried to get up, but I stopped her.

"No. You told me she lied. What lie did she say? What am I not seeing?"

"I cannot show or say what you refuse to see because, for you, I am always the villain in this story."

"Sometimes I'd like to imagine that you're still the woman I met back then, but then I remembered what you did, Sofia..."

"Prove it! Those pictures are not evidence!"

"But you know about them. You knew I was unconscious, so you planned it."

"No! I didn't plan anything. God, Angel! What's the point anyway? It's too late to talk about that."

"No!" I stood up and locked the door. "You won't leave this room, Sofia. Tell me what happened back then because I can't remember anything, but you do, so I want to hear it."

"What for? When Elisa will always be the good one for you."

"Sofia, tell me, I am giving you the chance to explain what happened that night." I insisted on a surprisingly calm demeanor.

She sat down and took a deep breath. "I want to leave the party, but Amelia doesn't want to go with me because she's with Gil, her boyfriend then. You know what happens at parties, so I went up to a room and locked myself in. A little while later, you came in drunk and could not stand straight, so I thought you were drunk. I told you that you needed to rest, so I helped you to the bed, but you were too heavy, so we ended up in the bed with me on top of you." She started with a faraway look on her face.

From what she said, it's like magic happened, and some scenes played in my mind, but they were vague.

"Your shirt was dirty, and I wanted to think that it was alcohol and not puke, so I removed it, and you laughed. I gave you a glass of water, and you fell unconscious. Despite this, I continued looking after you as you slept. Amelia finally came after a few hours, and she woke me up because she saw her boyfriend with another girl, and I left you there."

"How about the pictures? Who helped you?"

She sighed in frustration. "No one helped me, Angel. I just explained what happened to you. No pictures, nothing. I didn't even know you were coming."

"Let's say that I'll believe you, but how did you know about the pictures?"

She let out a bitter laugh. "Your girlfriend made fun of me by boasting what she did, but you didn't believe me. She's always the good one for you."

I took a deep breath and took in more doubts and unanswered questions.

"I'm going. This conversation is pointless."

"Sofia," I called her, and she looked at me. "I told you to rest, so that's what you'll do."

She glared at me. "Angel..."

"Rest and take your medicines. Let's talk when I come home."

I came out with my mind flying everywhere, torn between believing Sofia or Elisa. Who do I believe? Who is telling the truth?