A Wife for the Billionaire
Chapter 21: SOFIA

Chapter 21: SOFIA

I don’t really remember exactly when, but I decided to stay.

I don’t know if it was when Justin walked by murmuring. Or when Sonya Risk and Beatrice Piers, the third set trotted by eager to be anywhere than here.

I didn’t know what exactly Richard said or says to them, but I was going to find out. Even if it means groveling before him.

With each set called, I felt my anxiety rise and with each of them that left, I felt a mixture of dread for what’s to come and a soar of faith for there’s still a chance.

I felt a hand on my lap, and I turned to see Cole’s resting on my tapping leg. I didn’t even know that my leg had started tapping in anxiety. His touch was soft, it was a promise, a reassurance. It said,

"Hey you are fine. It’s alright"

How was it that the tables had turned? He was the nervous one and yet here he was, calming me down.

"You know what, there’s a chance we might not get to see each other after today_"

I gave him an incredulous look, because clearly we could exchange contact and follow each other on different social platforms.

"Don’t give me that look I know what I’m saying, something as rare as this doesn’t happen everyday and most times, just as it’s rare that’s the same way it disappears" he said.

"Here" I said offering him my phone, "put in your number and I will do the same, that way nobody will disappear"

Taking my phone and handing me his, he said,

"I know what I’m saying, I have seen scenarios where even after exchanging of contacts one thing or other, let’s say it weren’t saved or phones get missing or even when it falls into the sink, there by placing a wedge between these people until fate decides to bring them together again, and that’s if it decides"

"Whoa, slow down with all that. Let me guess, you read a lot of books and watch movies, don’t you?"

"Yeah, but it doesn’t excuse the possibility of these things happening, wait, is it really that obvious?" he asked, smiling.

"No, no, it isn’t. I’m a book lover myself and though I love watching movies, I rarely have time for it. So I guessed since you don’t socialize much, it must be from books and movies that you coined those scenarios. Am I wrong?"

"You are really smart, attentive and calculating, not many would have been able to arrive at such a conclusion through something I said minutes ago. And no, you are not wrong, those scenarios were mostly from movies and books." He finished, blushing.

"Well let’s take control over scenarios we can affect, I’ve saved your contact, save mine and let’s pray fate smiles upon us"

"Yeah, I like that. I’ve saved yours as well. It felt good knowing we had something in common, I mean reading books and watching movies, so tell me more about yourself"

"I assure you there isn’t much to know" I said as memories of my life flashed through my mind.

"When people say that, it usually means there’s more to know" he mused. It was either he heard that sorrowful tone and decided to ignore it or he missed it totally.

"Well?"

Resolved to tell him the bright sides while also being brief, but really isn’t that what people usually go with. Who in her right senses would decide to bore someone she just met with the dark and miserable part of her life story?

"Well," I began, "I’m an Aries, with the ying-yang as a soul symbol, jonquil as birth flower. Like I said before, I enjoy the company of books and movies, most times more than I do people. Yeah, it’s not really by choice, that’s just the one left by circumstances and so I fancy myself an ambivert. I also love music, classics and jams from the 80’s, and I love mulberry pie. I think that pretty much sums it"

I had tried not to add the dark part of my life, but somehow it still surfaced. I just hope the relief I had added about music and mulberry pie, buried it.

"I doubt that was it, but I understand not everyone would want to share everything on a first date_"

"Did you just say ’first date’?" I asked, not bothering to hide my discomfort.

"Yeah that was stupid. I’m stupid. God! What is wrong with me? I’m sorry, I tend to get ahead of myself especially when I’m animated."

I shouldn’t have felt uncomfortable with the notion of a first date. I mean, he’s cute as hell, kind, knows how to treat a woman, the kind of guy every girl would want to date, but it felt like we were moving too fast. I literally met the guy less than an hour ago. And there was my reservation about love.

In books and movies, this is how it starts. Before you know it, you’ll realize it was love at first sight and I didn’t want any of that, especially not with how messed up my life is at the moment.

His words made me feel guilty. Leaving me torn between my reservation towards love and not breaking Cole’s heart. And between the two, I couldn’t live with causing another pain.

"Sorry, I shouldn’t have asked that. I mean it kinda feels like a first date except that we don’t have any food." I tried, aiming to bring back his smile.

It worked. His face brightened into a smile that made him look more handsome.

"I love your smile," I found myself saying before realizing myself.

He blushed again, and even that gesture didn’t fail to highlight his beauty.

"And I guess it’s now my turn to get ahead of myself with animation" I amended.

He laughed at that, and before long I joined, to the envy of those present.

"Sofia Blake?"

The laughter died on my lips, as I turned to face Vera.

"Sofia Blake?" she asked again.

"Yes?" I managed, standing.

"Oh there’s no need for that, I was just checking. You can seat back down until I will call you again"

Relief washed over me like a splash of cold water after hours in the sun. I felt my hammering heartbeat slowly return to normal as I sat back down.

Vera left and returned twenty seconds later.

"Sandra Gates and Donna Jones" she called.

As those who were called left with her, I realized why she had called my name. It must’ve been Richard asking about me, he must want to know if I was still here or if I had left.

It was no secret what he planned to do, and it has nothing to do with offering me a job. And yet, I couldn’t bring myself to leave. A part of me was actually eager for our confrontation while the other, the greater part was filled with dread.

"I guess it’s my turn to tell you about myself," Cole said, reeling my mind away from thoughts of the confrontation.

"I’m an Aquarius" he continued, "and I have no clue what’s my soul symbol or birth flower." I chuckled at that.

"I’m an introvert, who once enjoyed the company of books and movies more than I do people, but now I’m looking to become more like you_ an ambivert. I also adore music, not really classics or jams from the 80’s, I prefer contemporary music from artists like Alan Walker, Taylor Swift, Adele, Jon Bellion, Sia and so many others whose songs strike a chord whenever I listen to them. I’m vegetarian, a romantic or I’m trying to be and I think that pretty much sums it" he finished.

"Does it?" I played.

"Well I think it does for now" was his response.

My mind reminded me to tread with caution. "This guy believes in love and fancies himself a romantic, what are you still doing with him?" it asked.

"Pretending and urging him on when you can’t allow yourself to feel love for him, that’s cruel and you are just preparing his heart to be broken" it added.

I was spared its guilt trip when,

"Cole Trail and Felicia Rum, you are next" Vera announced from the door.

"We will continue when I get back, wish me luck" Cole said, rising.

"Goodluck" I forced myself to say, silencing the voices that said,

"That’s if you’ll make it back"

"Thanks, I promise to speak to the Boss on your behalf" and he was gone.

I didn’t doubt that he will do just that, but I doubt it will help. I fear my fate was sealed. Nothing can be done to change the man’s mind, he was as stubborn as a cow heavy with a calf.

My approach towards him will be purely to apologize, to set things straight and leave nothing unsaid. I hate a situation where I will see him outside of today and because of the sins of today, I won’t be able to approach him.

I will have to make him forgive me, even if I will have to grovel. I must put my pride aside and do the needful, even if who I’m doing it for doesn’t deserve it.

With such resolution, I bided my time.

I watched Felicia go, tugging at her bag as if she wanted to rip the damn thing apart.

"Cole has taken quite a lot of time" I realized, ten minutes later when he was yet to come out of the office.

I didn’t expect getting the job, but that didn’t stop my heart from breaking when he came back to the board room as he promised and said,

"I’m so sorry Sofia, I tried to put in good words on your behalf"

"It’s okay, you don’t have to apologize. You deserve it and I was never going to get it in the first place so it might as well be you" I said, even as it dawned on me that whatever modicum of hope I had on getting the job, was truly lost.