A Wife for the Billionaire
Chapter 59: SOFIA

Chapter 59: SOFIA

Home.

I stood before the Blake Mansion. Dreading to mount the stairs. This wasn’t home. In fact I don’t even think I have a home anymore. The one I knew had been lost and since then, one could practically say, I’m homeless.

Home, a place where we can unapologetically be ourselves. A space where we know safety.

But there have been arguments, some say a home is not a place, that it’s the people making up the place. Others say it’s just one person, one person that we truly feel safe with. That one person who accepts us and we are not afraid of being ourselves around. And there are those who believe it’s truly a place. A place where memories are made, a space where love and happiness are the walls.

For me, home could be any of these things, and to be honest I don’t really care. Why should I when the place I live now is none of these things. The Blake Mansion wasn’t a home in any way.

Our house at Pade Avenue had been a home in terms of it being a place. My parents had been my home in terms of people and my mom had been my home if it was on one person terms.

And now... now I’ve lost every piece of home I have left.

The Blake Mansion loomed before me like a haunting shadow, with its gargoyles, spires and gothic facade.

Like the fearful monster, it was. I dreaded confronting it. What lay beyond those doors were just as terrifying.

It’s been minutes since the cab dropped me at Leek Park and I trekked to this place, every step - heavy with the weight of what I was to confront.

I had tried my best in stalling, but this was inevitable. I had walked slowly from the elevator out of the Wellington Empire. Thankfully I didn’t see Emily on her desk, another lady occupied it and I was relieved because I didn’t need to talk about how much of a failure today was.

But I knew, no matter how slow I walked from Leek Park to the mansion, that not talking about it wasn’t a luxury behind those doors. I couldn’t be as lucky.

With how crazy my anger charts had been going, the last thing I needed was making a snappy retort or saying something that would make it all worse. So, I worked on my breaths, taking in deep breaths, holding it for a while and then exhaling slowly.

I was on my third breath when my phone started ringing. Startled, I almost dropped my bag.

"Shit. Shit. Shit. Not now. Not now please"

I kept saying as I scrambled to silence the phone so those inside won’t hear, but as I finally held the phone in my palm after digging it out of my bag, I had no choice but to accept the call.

It was Alicia and I dared not decline even if I stood in front of the house.

"Hello Ma, I’m right in front of the house, Ma. I’m home" I said, hating each word.

"You had better be, I expect to see you in the next_"

I pushed the doors open, startling her to silence.

"And where have you been, young lady?" She asked, ending the call.

Leave it to her to get right to business without sparing you a second to catch your breath.

The twins lunged by the TV, watching their favorite soaps, the servants were nowhere in sight and in the middle of the living room stood a glowering Alicia, the fur beast, Frisk at her feet.

"I would have been back earlier, but there had been a tour hosted in compensation to those of us who didn’t get the job, so I stayed." My face fell to my feet, but not before I saw her tug on the gray coat she donned in effort to further conceal what she wore underneath.

She did that at times. Conceal what she’s

wearing from my reading eyes, and each time she did it, I usually paid for it.

People like Alicia hated it when people like me had something better than them. They abhor the thought of having to do something they normally wouldn’t do, especially if it’s on account of someone as significant as me. It vexed them greatly.

"Let me get this straight," she began, pacing, "you stayed for the tour when you are well aware of the duties that waited for you here, am I correct?"

My eyes still fixed on my sneaks, I answered,

"It wasn’t really by choice, Ma. We were mandated to wait_"

"Are you trying to tell me that you were mandated to tour the grounds of Wellington Fashion Headquarters?, because I could make inquiries and heavens help you if you are wrong" she interjected, already scrolling through her contacts at the last word.

"Yes Ma," I added quickly, "you can ask anyone, they said it had something to do with ensuring better publicity in light of preparations for launching their new collection, I swear."

"Huh" was all she said. And just as I anticipated, she dropped her phone, falling for my lies.

"But you lost the job right?" She asked after a stretch of silence.

"Of course, she did Mama, look at her face. I wager she had been crying. Cry cry Sofy" Annabel sang.

"Oh poor Sofy, do you need a hanky or a

shoulder to cry upon, oh poor, poor unfortunate Sofy" Mirabel added.

They laughed at that, miming crying faces.

"Let me guess, you were not the right fit for the job or did they take one look at your appearance and ask you to use the door?" Their mother asked.

The girls laughed more, shaking their legs in emphasis.

"What do you think, mother? With the way she’s dressed I doubt she even sat down before being told to leave" Mirabel said, between chuckles.

"Oh Mira, you are good," her twin commented, linking her fingers to her sister’s as they burst into another wail of annoying laughter.

"I always tell you dear child, stop this

pathetic attempts at trying to make something of yourself. Let’s face it, you literally have the blood of a criminal and a conspirator flowing in your veins, how could you ever amount to anything?" Alicia minced.

She reveled at this, making me feel worthless. Wrecking me with her words. It wasn’t the first time nor was it going to be the last, but no matter how many times I’ve heard it, it doesn’t hurt any less.

It comes like a battering ram slamming at me, splintering and shattering my heart.

Before I could help myself, I felt the tears brimming. I had taught myself to be strong, I’ve barricaded my heart to withstand the boulders of her words, but each time... every single time, her words always manage to break through my defenses.

Or maybe, my encounter with Richard had left my defenses in shambles.

Whatever was the case, I couldn’t bear to allow them the satisfaction of seeing my tears, so I sniffed and almost snapped,

"Well, that same blood runs in the veins of your daughters, so I wonder what that makes them?"

But I could never tell Alicia that, not with what she had on me. Not with the collar she had leashed to my neck.

Resolved to the dutiful act that had kept me alive these 14 years, I remained mute, my eyes fixed on the lines of the marble floors.

"Perhaps now," she continued, making her way towards where I stood by the door, "you would learn your lesson and reach for things you can attain, perhaps that cleaner job offer at Charlie’s Vet or you could check around for restaurants or establishments where you could wait tables. That’s more like your reach."

She was beside me now, leaning towards me she whispered in addition,

"Thank your lucky stars for that college scholarship, if not, what’s someone like you doing in college when your future has nothing to do with degrees and certificates? Just your name has already decided your future. You are meant to work somewhere where you would keep your head low, not somewhere like Wellington’s where they could sniff out your atrocious origins with a few phone calls."

"I understand, ma" I nodded in submission.

"For your sake, I really hope you do.

Now go change from that trash, and

resume your duties. Felix!"

The stout man showed up from beside the stairs.

"I’m here, ma" he prompted.

"Tell the other helps that they can retire for the night, you as well. Sofia here will take care of the rest. I best be going, can’t afford to be late again. Goodnight girls"

"Nighty night Mama!" Mirabel and Annabel thrilled as one.

Felix held the door open for her, and before she crossed the threshold, she said to him, making sure I hear, "Help her and you will have me to contend with"

With final glare at me, the door boomed shut.