A Wife for the Billionaire
Chapter 25: SOFIA

Chapter 25: SOFIA

After Cole came back, I simply lost that serenity to keep talking to him.

Thankfully he took the hint after his "But we are cool though?" question was answered with a nod.

I didn’t trust myself to say that we were, for fear that my tone might suggest otherwise. Because in truth, we weren’t.

I know I shouldn’t feel this way. I know I should be happy for him, but I couldn’t. How do I really rejoice with him when he just took the job I hinged the actualization of my dreams on? How do I smile when it feels like even before the battle, I’ve lost? How? How?

The ’H’ question rippled through my turbulent mind, leaving waves of panic in its wake. I had told him that I was happy it was him, but it wasn’t until seconds later that the magnitude of what just happened settled on me like fever after dancing in the rain.

To be honest, a small part of me was happy he got the job. Cole was kind and such a rare person deserves the very best things in life. But the greater part of me, just wished it had been me.

My feet resumed their taps of anxiety. My heart pounded.

"I warned you from the start, as if I knew this would happen" that petulant voice I would love nothing more than to strangle to silence, echoed.

"It’s not over yet" I returned.

"Keep kidding yourself, you know you’ve lost. You’re just too stubborn to accept the fact" it rippled.

"Just shut up!" I yelled out loud.

"Hey, are you alright?" Cole asked, his voice heavy with concern I know I don’t deserve.

"Great!" I exasperated to no one in particular, "now you’ve turned me into a lunatic"

A lady, the last among the applicants, stared. Her expression saying,

"What a psycho"

As I mentioned earlier, I revel in attention, but not this kind. Not when it’s sneers and glares or murmurs and whispers.

"Who are you talking to? Who has turned you into a lunatic?" Cole queried, not taking the hint that I rather be left alone.

"No one!" I snapped, "you know what, as much as I appreciate your kindness and concerns, but you don’t know me Cole. For fuck’s sake, we just met like what? An hour ago. So please just let me be" I finished, standing up to leave.

"Sofia, where are you going? Did I say something wrong? I’m sorry if I offended you in any way, I truly am!" he called as I kept walking away.

I felt my heart break by his words. Even when he had done nothing wrong, he apologized. Cole was truly one of a kind.

"And I’m also very sorry", I returned, not trusting myself to look back else he saw the tears that brimmed in my eyes.

"God! I’m a monster" I scorned, as I leaned on the glass wall, fighting back my tears.

How could I be so cruel? Cole didn’t deserve any of that. In fact, after today I don’t think I would be able to call or text him. He’s just too good for me and someone like me doesn’t deserve that.

"Yes, you don’t deserve him" the same nosy-ass voice shivered through me.

I didn’t bother replying or offering a retort, I knew I didn’t deserve him so why waste my time and energy accepting a fact, I’m duly aware of.

Unfortunately, he had been right to be scared of losing this... this whatever it is we had going. But he just didn’t guess this particular scenario where one out of the two people involved would have to ghost the other. Perhaps it’s for the best, I was never going to give it my 100, so I might as well end things before they get out of hand.

My tears fell then, warm streaks cascading my cheeks in crooked lines. I knew I wasn’t just crying for what I’m about to do to Cole. I wept for the defeat already incurred. The battle - lost. And the stalemate of my dreams.

I wiped at them swiftly as Vera approached. She didn’t even offer me a second glance as she walked by to the board room.

"Jenny Foil" I heard her call, her voice muffled by the glass.

The lady in question, the same one who had looked at me like I was nuts. Dressed impeccably in a black glittery jumpsuit, her dark hair loose behind her - submerging into the blackness of her attire, her eyes as they glanced at me before darting elsewhere was green like dewed blades of grass. Her matching black stilettos clicked rhythmically as she walked beside Vera.

She was beautiful no doubt and her taste in fashion was ideal, but I saw beneath all that.

I’m yet to ascertain what I’m to quantify the ability as, but I’ve always been able to judge a person by taking in his/her dressing. I could easily summarize who someone is by what he is wearing, especially through folds and creases he usually tries to hide.

I have never been wrong about my predictions or assumptions, if not for anything, I’ve been said to be too right at times. Someone had even called me a fashion witch once after I read her through what she was wearing and what she was covering up.

She had been wearing a cropped flared pink blouse, denim blue faded ripped jeans, over white kicks. Her wavy brown hair was loosely tied into a bun, some strands hanging loosely around her face.

Her age was roughly around 35 and her attire hinged on one effect - to make her look younger and man! did it work. It took three glances for me to realize that she was a mother. The way she tugged at her cropped shirt to hide her exposed stomach. The intricate manner on which her lace was knotted, the awkwardness of her stance as if she rather be elsewhere, her uneven folded jeans, all hinted that she was a mother, a single one, out to get some after a long time of inaction.

These intuitions of mine sometimes feel like a superpower, something extraordinary. I just had to focus on someone, his gestures and bam! like a handwriting on the walls of my mind, I see what I’m supposed to know.

So looking at the lady in black shiny jumpsuit, I saw it. She may have an ideal fashion sense, but beneath all that, she was a sex worker.

"What about me? I thought this interview was done in pairs? Am I to follow her in order to complete our set?" I asked, halting Vera as she made to walk past me.

"Oh there’s no need for that. You’re to come singular" she said, eager to reach her company who was almost by the door of Richard’s office.

"Sorry, Boss’ orders" she quickly added, trotting to catch up and dismissing my ’why’ question even before I asked.

"You see what I’m saying? What do you think he plans to do to you when you go in there by yourself? Humiliate you, of course! and have you leave with a tail between your legs. Let’s just leave already before that happens." that same voice opinionated.

"Singularity offers a better chance," I said, more to assure myself than silence that voice.

"especially," I continued, "if my plan of apologizing to him or groveling, just whatever it will take to secure the job"

"What about Cole? What begets of him?" The voice enquired.

"He will understand. Of course, he will. He knows how badly I need this job" I assured, aiming to dull away that feeling of guilt spreading through me.

I stayed in the hallway as minutes stretched. My legs - ached and my waist begged to take a seat, but with Cole in there I would rather stand for eternity than face his concerns, or worse see the hurt my words left.

I had recovered from the Cole situation, or at least I had gained control over my raging nerves and a modicum of calmness seemed to have washed over me... until.

Aaa-hhh uuuhh aaa-hhh

Faintly I heard those moans. I looked towards the other end of the hallway, no one was there and at my left, Vera still sat by her desk going through some files, completely ignorant to the sounds I heard... or maybe just indifferent.

Could my senses be messing with me? I was certain I heard moans.

And I heard them again, more passionate this time.

Following the sound, it seemed to be coming from Richard’s office.

"Hey, where are you going? It’s not your turn yet? Go back to the boardroom and wait your turn." Vera shooed as I approached.

"I’m well aware, but I heard something. Did you not hear anything?" I asked straining to peer into the office.

"It’s Sofia right? Well, I didn’t hear anything and whatever it is you think you heard, I will advise you to keep it to yourself" she said, standing and blocking my path.

"Fine!"

"So the board room is that way" she was pulling me now towards the direction of the board room.

"Does he plan on seeing me or does he intend to keep me waiting forever? Is he even aware that I’m still here?" I asked, refusing to bulge.

"Go and wait to be called, my Boss will be with you shortly, he’s still with the other applicant_"

"Is he?" I asked, cutting her off, "Well, I don’t see anybody sitting there?"

That was when I glimpsed the raven hair of the lady who was supposed to be sitting on one of the leather chairs. What was she doing squatting before Richard?

Like a stinging slap across my cheeks, the reality of what was happening struck me and that was when all hell broke loose.