104

104


Jessica immediately looked up the moment she heard her name. Her eyes widened briefly before she quickly wiped her face with the back of her hand.

“Oh.” She tried smiling. “Good morning.”

Sophia frowned and moved closer.

“Good morning… what happened?”

Jessica looked away immediately, avoiding that situation.

“Nothing.”

Sophia pulled a chair slightly and sat beside her. Jessica laughed awkwardly at that.

“I’m fine.”

Sophia looked at her for a few seconds. Her eyes were clearly red and that definitely wasn’t fine.

“What happened?” Sophia asked again more gently.

Jessica lowered her eyes, then she shook her head.

“I don’t want to burden anyone.”

Sophia softened immediately.

“You’re not burdening anyone.”

Jessica stayed quiet, but Sophia still waited, interested in what she had to say.

After a few moments, she spoke again.

“You don’t have to tell me if you don’t want to.”

Jessica pressed her lips together. Then unexpectedly, her eyes filled again.

Sophia’s expression changed and Jessica quickly reached for tissues.

“It’s embarrassing.”

Sophia stayed quiet as Jessica laughed weakly.

“My boyfriend broke up with me.”

Sophia blinked slightly. “Oh.”

Jessica nodded and gave another broken laugh.

“It happened last night.”

Sophia felt bad immediately.

Jessica looked down at her hands.

“He said…” she stopped and swallowed.

Still, Sophia waited patiently for her to get things off her chest.

Jessica finally forced herself to continue.

“He said he’s at a different level now.”

Sophia frowned while Jessica smiled sadly.

“He said being with me would only pull him down.”

Sophia looked shocked.

“He said I don’t even know anyone important… that I don’t belong in his kind of circle.” Jessica said, her voice sounding soft.

Her eyes became red again and Jessica looked away quickly.

“He said I’m too ordinary.”

Sophia felt something tighten inside her chest.

Jessica laughed once but her voice cracked.

“He said he needs someone who understands high society and connections.”

Then she looked down again.

“And honestly… maybe he’s right.”

Sophia immediately shook her head.

“No. That doesn’t make him right.”

Jessica smiled sadly. “He said I would only hold him back.”

Sophia sighed softly.

Jessica suddenly wiped her eyes again but more tears fell.

“He kept saying I don’t know anyone high class. Like somehow that determines my worth.”

Her shoulders shook slightly.

Sophia immediately reached over and gently touched her arm.

“Hey.”

Jessica covered her face and Sophia looked around quickly. Employees would begin arriving soon.

She lowered her voice. “Stop crying first.”

Jessica laughed weakly. “That sounds harsh.”

Sophia smiled softly.

“I’m serious. People will start coming soon and then you’ll hate answering questions.”

Jessica sighed.

“One person leaving doesn’t decide your value. And honestly? Someone who talks like that doesn’t sound worth crying this much over.”

Jessica stared at her for a few moments. Then eventually, she laughed quietly through her tears.

Sophia handed her more tissues. Slowly, Jessica cleaned her face properly. By the time more employees started arriving, she looked significantly calmer.

Throughout the morning, Sophia settled into her work as usual, but her thoughts kept drifting.

Every now and then, she glanced at Jessica.

Jessica looked normal, like someone trying too hard.

Sophia looked at her again from across the office and quietly sighed.

She suddenly wondered just how broken Jessica really felt inside.

~

The rest of the workday passed more quietly than usual for Sophia.

She finished reports, replied to emails, attended a brief meeting and tried to focus properly, but every now and then her eyes drifted towards Jessica.

Jessica had gone back to acting normal actually. She smiled when people spoke to her, answered questions and even laughed at some point.

But Sophia noticed the little things. The way Jessica stared at her screen longer than necessary, the occasional quiet expression whenever she thought nobody was looking.

By the time closing hour finally arrived, most employees had already started packing their things. Sophia shut down her computer and looked towards Jessica’s desk.

After thinking for a moment, she stood up and walked over.

Jessica looked up immediately. “Oh. Leaving already?”

Sophia smiled slightly. “Yeah.”

Jessica nodded and began arranging her things too.

Then Sophia spoke. “Are you available on Saturday?”

Jessica blinked. “Saturday?”

Sophia nodded. “I was thinking… maybe you could come visit me.”

Jessica looked confused.

“Visit you?”

Sophia smiled. “At my house.”

Jessica stared at her for about a few seconds, then her eyes widened.

“Your house?”

Sophia nodded.

Jessica blinked repeatedly.

“Wait.”

Her eyes became even bigger.

“The Sterling mansion?”

Sophia laughed softly. “Yes.”

Jessica looked around dramatically before pointing at herself.

“Me?”

Sophia nodded again while Jessica stared at her suspiciously.

“Are you pulling my leg?”

Sophia laughed.

“No.”

Jessica kept staring. “The Sterling mansion?”

Sophia nodded again and Jessica covered her mouth.

“You mean… the actual Sterling mansion?”

Sophia smiled helplessly. “Yes.”

Jessica looked completely stunned.

“You’re serious?”

Sophia nodded. Jessica stared at her for another moment before suddenly becoming excited.

“Oh my God.”

Sophia laughed and Jessica sat back down dramatically.

“No way.”

Sophia folded her arms.

“So?”

Jessica looked up immediately.

“Yes.”

Then she corrected herself.

“Yes. Absolutely yes.”

Sophia smiled while Jessica shook her head in disbelief.

“I’m coming prepared.”

Sophia raised a brow. “Prepared for what?”

Jessica smiled. “I don’t know yet. But it feels important.”

Sophia laughed, then she remembered something.

“Oh! Can you draw or paint?”

Jessica immediately shook her head.

“No.”

Then she paused and her eyes brightened.

“But… I’d like to learn.”

Sophia smiled softly. “That works.”

Jessica immediately looked excited again.

“Really?”

Sophia nodded. “We’ll paint.”

Jessica looked ridiculously happy. And strangely, seeing that made Sophia feel satisfied.

Maybe having something to look forward to would help Jessica feel a little better.

~

That evening, Sophia arrived home and found Damien already back. He was seated in the living room reading something when she walked in.

He looked up when he noticed her.

“You’re home.”

Sophia smiled and walked over.

“I am.”

She sat beside him, then Damien placed the papers aside.

“How was work?”

Sophia thought for a second.

“Okay.”

Then she remembered the agreement she had with Jessica.

“Oh.”

Damien looked at her as his attention was gotten.

“I’ll be having a friend come over on Saturday.”

His expression stayed calm. “A friend?”

Sophia nodded. “Jessica.”

Damien nodded once.

“That’s fine.”

Sophia smiled. “That’s all?”

“What reaction were you expecting?”

She laughed. “I don’t know.”

Soon after, they had dinner together. She told him briefly about Jessica while Damien listened quietly.

Later, they stepped onto the balcony.

The night air felt calm and cool.

Sophia leaned against him while Damien wrapped an arm around her. Neither of them talked much. They just stayed there quietly together.

Eventually, when the night grew later, they went inside and got ready for bed.

Not long after, both of them fell asleep.