A Wife for the Billionaire
Chapter 75: SOFIA

Chapter 75: SOFIA

Once grandeur became a sight for sore eyes as I made my way towards the elevator.

"Hey, Sofia," Emily called from her desk.

"Shit" I muttered before turning towards her with a forced smile.

I had tried to avoid running into her, not that I was in dread of our encounter, but I just wasn’t ready.

Besides, I’ve made up my mind to go through with this. I didn’t need to be slowed down or made to pause, for I fear, if I do I might convince myself not to do it anymore.

It had taken more than lists this time to get me to enter this lobby, I had built momentum for it and I couldn’t stop until I burned up that built momentum. And for precisely what I had gathered it for. Not to stand around, answering questions I didn’t have the answers.

"Hey Em," I waved, walking towards her portion of the large reception desk.

"Didn’t see you leave yesterday and that you are here now could only mean one thing, you got the job right?" She thrilled.

Like others in the reception desk, she wore a black silk shirt, with the silver brand of the Wellington Fashion, embroidered on her left pocket.

Completing the look was a silver plaid skirt. The material of the skirt seemed to shift like the ripple of a lake surface at night, under the glow of the moon.

Her face bore a hint of light makeup and her lips were made shiner by application

of lip gloss.

"I wish, but perhaps that’s why I’ve been called back. Fingers crossed." I lied.

"Girl, the job is yours already. The boss doesn’t call people back, that he extended that courtesy to you means it’s a done deal. Besides it doesn’t look like he called back any of the others, it’s just girl so go on there and claim what’s yours"

I wish I shared her optimism and enthusiasm, but even in the absence of that, her words were infectious. They were like air being pumped to my already deflected heart.

Stretching my forced smile a few more inches, I said,

"I really hope you are right, Em. I really do"

"Girl, relax, you are already an employee. Can’t wait to introduce you to the clique. Now go before you are late."

With a bob, I waved a bye as I moved to the elevator.

This time, there was no one to share the space with, it was just me and my thoughts - reminding me that this was where it all went wrong.

It was during my ride with Richard that I basically set the stones for this quagmire I find myself in. If only I had taken a moment to really look at him or left when he ordered me to.

Perhaps things wouldn’t have been this bad.

The elevator dinged to a stop and the doors chimed open. I stepped out to the same hallway I had at least walked through, four times yesterday.

Vera was at her desk, apparently she took my reading seriously because in her attire today, there was no shade of red.

She wore a purple suit gown with lapels and big black buttons sewn above the waist length. Her lips were glossed, no color, just lip gloss and her dark hair fountained her back in wavy curls.

"You again?" She noted in frustration as I approached.

"Good afternoon Vera" I greeted.

"Even if there was something good about this afternoon, it was ruined the moment you stepped out of that elevator" she pointed to the metal doors which stood open as two employees stepped out.

One of them was Cole.

"Shit" I breathed, turning away and praying he doesn’t see me.

"By God, what is wrong with you?" Vera asked, "that boy is literally mad over you and worse, on the basis of one encounter, it’s cruel to pretend you didn’t see him. If you don’t like his shy ass, just tell him already and stop leading him on. You know what, why don’t you do that now,"

"Wait what? Like now, please don’t" but it was already too late.

"Cole! Come here" she called, waving him over, "there’s someone I’d like you to meet"

"Shit. Shit. Shitty shit" I muttered as I heard him approach.

"Sofia? Is that you?" He asked from behind me.

I just wanted to strangle Vera in that moment and wipe that smug expression of hers.

Yet another forced smile, I veered to the sound of his voice.

He looked ever handsome, his blue eyes like the sky above, his dusty gold curls were slightly tousled, some falling to his eyes. He looked neat in his beige shirt with a grey-ash wool jacket and black pants.

"Hello Cole, what are you doing here? I thought you didn’t work on this level"

"Oh no I don’t, my cubicle is somewhere at the 35th or is it 40th floor. First day, I’m still trying to get the hang of things. Being lost about three times already. Sorry, I shouldn’t have said that, I don’t know why I said that,"

Vera snickered and I found myself smiling genuinely.

"Anyway, " he continued, his gaze on my handbag, "I’m just here to run a few inquiries by Harry."

Cole didn’t know it, but he was funny. In a shy way, he really was and I found it surprising that no girl has ever fallen for him, cause clearly he was so easy to like. Or perhaps, they have, and he was too shy to look them in the face or speak to them.

"Congrats again and nice outfit.You look smart"

Vera cleared her throat, loudly. I flashed her a warning glare, as Cole said, bringing his piled hands behind to the depths of her pockets and bouncing back and forth,

"Thanks, you look amazing yourself, even smarter." Crimson spots staining his cheeks he added, "You really do"

"In this?" I teased, making reference to my outfit, hoping he doesn’t talk about the unreplied text.

Still bouncing on his toes, he supplied, "I doubt there’s any piece of clothing that won’t look stunning on you"

For a moment, his eyes found the courage to meet mine and I saw in them, an intensity that made his words real and true.

I couldn’t even speak.

If he took notice of my unusual silence, he didn’t show it as he asked,

"What are you even doing here? Were you called back?"

The enthusiasm in his voice made my

heart break, he didn’t know why I came, but he was glad of it. He was glad for the person whose intention was to stab him in the back.

Cole was too good for me, he doesn’t deserve someone like me and in that moment, I felt my garnered morale disappear like a phantom in the light.

"Yes I was called back, but I don’t really know about any job" I lied.

"So why are you here then? Are you here to see me?"

Vera coughed this time.

I gave her a poisoned glare.

"Sofia, what are you not telling me? It seems you and Vera know something that I don’t, so what is it?" Cole asked, reading a different meaning from that

shared look.

"I wish I could tell you, but unfortunately I can’t" I answered, not able to meet his gaze.

"Thought as much, the same way you couldn’t respond to my text"

And here it was. The moment I have been dreading, the very words I didn’t want to hear.

"Sorry Cole, I had wanted to respond to your text, but I had been so busy at home. I’m really sorry"

It was partially true, with the chores Alicia had given me, I had been very busy until the wee hours of the morning.

And during that time, I had also been busy researching Anna and anything that would help me convince her.

"I’m sure you did, have a nice day, Sofia" he declared, turning to leave.

I didn’t think people like Cole ever got mad, but at that moment, I could tell he was.

"Cole, wait!" I called.

"Girl, you better know what you want" Vera warned, as I made to go after Cole.

I hadn’t even realized that I was doing that, and as much as I had wanted him to be angry with me, the reality of it was an outcome I didn’t take into consideration.

It hurt. It burned and though it should make what I was going to do easier, it still felt like he had a string attached to my heart, dragging and knotting it the further he went.

"You should be happy he saved you from

what I had intended to tell him. Now why are you here again?" Vera asked from behind me.

I still had my back against her, my gaze fixed on the bend Cole had disappeared to. He hadn’t even dared to look back... not once.

I guess what they say about the quiet, shy types is true, ’never pray or hope to see them angry, cause it could be nothing like you expected.’

I don’t know if I phrased that right, but how Cole, the kind, gentle Cole could display such a level of lividity at a matter that picayune, shows strong validity of that platitude.

Without turning to Vera, I declared,

"I’m here to see your boss, he should be expecting me."