I lay down in bed tossing and turning because I couldn't sleep. I had this off feeling about Mr Allerton. And I worried for Sophia's safety. I picked up my phone multiple times to call her but I didn't want to seem too forward.
I didn't realize when I fell into a troubled dreamer's sleep.
****
Sophia's POV.
There's a difference between hearing a story of someone getting raped and experiencing it yourself.
Though I was lucky to get myself freed from Michael's grasp, millions of people weren't so lucky.
While reading these articles, I never really thought I'd have to go through it one day.
I could still feel his hands on my body, his disgusted lips on my skin and that evil look on his face.
I scrubbed my body for almost an hour trying to get the disgust off but it was still there, fresh as ever.
If it wasn't for Steph, I'd still be in the bathroom, scrubbing my body red.
I cried in her arms and she let me until I had no tears left in my eyes. She just held me and rubbed her hand up and down my back in a soothing manner.
She listened quietly when I ranted about everything from the time I stepped foot into the restaurant until I got home.
She didn't even stop me. She just kept on listening like a good friend.
She tucked me to bed but not before shoving food in my mouth. I didn't have any appetite to eat but just looking at her face, I couldn't bring myself to turn her down.
She slept beside me, comforting me all night as the nightmares didn't allow me to sleep.
Moments like these make you realize that you don't always need a lover to make you feel good. Sometimes your best friend is very qualified for the job.
****
The next day, I looked dead with heavy bags under my eyes and no extra makeup other than concealer and lip balm.
I went to the office with my head down and my mind flooded with last night's event. I had no control over my body as my mind replayed the scene over and over again.
I still couldn't get over the fact that Michael tried to rape me!
Just the thought of it was enough for me to lock myself in my room and not go anywhere. But I knew I had to because I desperately needed the money.
I went to the office despite Steph's objections.
****
The whole day flew by with me not being able to do one task properly.
I had mixed the finance and recruitment files, I sent the wrong email to the sales team and messed up Mr. Hayes's coffee for the fourth time in a row. After the fourth one, he thankfully didn't ask anymore.
I was sure he was going to fire me by the end of the day and I had no reason to argue. I was at that point where even if he fired me or insulted me in front of the whole staff, I wouldn't have minded because I wouldn't have heard a thing.
Cathie and Luke who were interns at the office tried to talk to me all day but all I could give them was forced smiles and even they figured that something was wrong.
I felt bad for ruining their day but even if I tried, I couldn't make myself forget last night's event which was haunting me like crazy.
Stephanie had immediately wanted to call the authorities but I didn't want to deal with that attention just yet.
“Hey Soph, what's wrong?” Luke asked for the umpteenth time today and I replied with what I have been replying to him all day.
“Nothing.”
“Sophia, I can feel the sadness around you from ten floors away,” Cathie added. “It's nothing, Cathie, trust me.” I insisted.
“Tell us when you're ready, we're not going to force you,” Luke said and I gave him a genuine smile.
“Did you see that? She smiled at me! A motherfucking smile, and she gave it to me, not you. Now, you can see where you stand.” He joked happily which made her glare at him and smack him over his head.
“Hit me as much as you can, but the facts can't be changed.” He jested and made a run for his life when he saw Cathie running after him with a heavy file in her hand.
A small smile appeared on my face. I hadn't gotten a reason to smile since the incident.
“Ms O'brien! In my office now!” The angry voice of Mr Hayes boomed across the floor and I rushed towards his office.
What have I done this time? I pondered uncontrollably.
“Yes, Sir?” I asked silently, walking into his office.
“Do you want my company to close down”? he asked angrily.
How dare he ask that after the ordeal I went through yesterday because of his company?
“Because tell me why you decided to delete the company's previous financial records from the system?”
“I did?” I asked, with a hand over my mouth in shock.
Oh my, the event last night is getting the best of me.
Just then, his eyes landed on something on my neck and his eyes darkened immediately. He pulled me closer slightly and I hissed in pain when his hands touched the bruises on my wrist.
Michael's hold was not at all gentle. It left me with bruises on my wrists and ankles.
He rubbed his thumb across the bruises on my wrist and then on the side of my neck, a little below my ear. I didn't realize I had a bruise there or I would've applied concealer there too.
“Who did this to you?” He asked furiously.
His hold on my wrist tightened when I tried to pull away but not tight enough to make me feel pain.
“Who did this Sophia?” He asked again, his voice deadly. “And don't even think about lying to me.”
His tone had a sense of finalization and I knew that if I didn't tell him, he was going to get his answers from someone else.
“Mi—Mr Allerton”
And then, all hell broke loose.