Sophia's POV.
“What are you doing?” He asked calmly but I could see that he was trying to keep his anger at bay.
“What?” I whispered, then looked at the other end of the table to find Steve sitting next to Emma.
“Traitor.” I mouthed at him. He laughed.
“Look at me when I'm talking to you.” Alex
snapped. Instead. I looked down at my phone and he sighed.
“Sophia.” He started in a softer tone. “Yes, Alex?” I smiled at him.
He stared at me for a second then inched his face closer to my ear. “Can you walk?”
“Hell yeah. Let me show you.” I was starting to get up but he quickly pulled me down.
“Wait. Listen to me. I need you to excuse yourself. Walk out of this room as sober as possible and wait for me near the bathroom.
I'll see the guests off in five minutes and meet you there.”
“The bathroom?” I asked. “Yes. The bathroom.”
“Why do you want to take me to the bathroom alone, Alex? What's on your mind?” I whispered huskily.
He was speechless for a second. “I'm not taking you to the bathroom. I'm telling you to wait outside.”
“Okay. Got it.” I grabbed the last drink and lifted it to my mouth.
“God! No—” Alex started but I had already swallowed its contents.
“On it.” I gave him a little salute and got up.
No one paid much attention so I excused myself, keeping my eyes on the floor. I made my way out of the room without stumbling.
I had no idea how long I waited outside the bathroom but I knew it was more than five minutes as I had already begun dozing off leaning against the wall.
“Sophia?”
My eyes flew open to find Alex standing in front of me.
“Hey.” I smiled.
“Hi. You've been here for the past twenty minutes?”
“Of course. You told me to wait here, remember? And you said five minutes.” I muttered. “Yeah, I sure did. Sorry, I took so long. Come on now, I'll drive you back to your apartment.”
“You will? Thank you.”
He nodded. “Let's go.”
“Wait. I need to go and pee first.”
“But you've been waiting here!”
“You told me to wait outside the bathroom.”
He blinked at me and then let out a loud sigh, rubbing his eyes in frustration. “Can I go?” I asked innocently.
“Please go, Sophia.”
Nodding, I quickly went inside the bathroom. After finishing my business and getting out, Alex wasn't there anymore. Just how long was I in there?
I looked around the place but couldn't find him. Did he leave me here?
With a heavy heart, I decided to make my way to the exit but came across a balcony. The cool breeze made me feel a little better so I decided to sober up a bit before leaving the place.
The wind pushed my hair back as I stepped outside, looking up at the stars.
I didn't even realize that I had been crying until a tear rolled down my cheek.
Maybe he didn't care about me anymore. Maybe he left with Emma.
“Sophia?”
I turned around at the voice, happy to see Alex walking towards me. “What the hell are you doing here?” He shouted.
“Fresh air.”
“I've got to leave for Paris tomorrow. Can you please stop wasting my time?”
And there it was. That word again. If I was wasting his time, then why was he still here?
“You can leave.” I snapped. “I'll get myself home.”
“Stop acting like a child.”
I turned away from him and looked up at the stars again. It was like he wasn't the same person he was just a week ago anymore.
Or was it because he'd found a better girl? Emma?
Wasn't that what a playboy does? Dammit! Even Emily warned me. I should've listened to her.
“Sophia.” He stepped up closer to me but I was fuming with rage. I was so mad at him.
I was mad at him for neglecting me like this when he was the one that got me so used to him again.
I thought back to all the pain I've felt because of him and with everything I had left within me, I punched him square in the jaw.
Alex was taken aback.
For about half a minute, he stood there, speechless, clearly shocked. Then, he blinked and locked his blue eyes with mine, still seeming at a loss.
“What the hell?” He snapped.
I suddenly felt the throbbing pain in my hand. Looking down, I found a slight bruise near my knuckles and wondered just how hard I must've punched him. His jaw looked fine at least.
Oh my God! What have I done? I'm not a violent person. He made me do it.
“How dare you?” I snapped back.
“Excuse me?” He scowled.
Tears blurred my vision and I blinked to clear them but ended up having them rolling down my cheeks.
The annoyance on his face was replaced by surprise. “Why are you crying? I'm the one who just got punched in the face!”
I meant to laugh at this but it came out as a sob. And soon, I was crying in front of him so pathetically that I felt like punching myself next.
“Sophia,” Alex called softly, stepping closer to me and taking my hands in his. “Are you alright? Does your hand hurt? Is that why you're crying?”
I felt a shiver run down my spine when he gently started rubbing the sore spot near my knuckles.
I had expected him to be furious at me but here he was, trying to console me, completely ignoring the fact that I had just punched him.
But wasn't that who he was? Acting sweet and considerate long enough to get under my skin, only to leave me feeling unwanted and miserable later?
I yanked my hand free from his grip, taking him by surprise once more.
“No, I'm not alright, Alex.” I snapped “But I don't see how that's any of your concern. Why don't you go see if Emma needs anything?”
Trying to keep my anger at bay, I walked past him but he was quick in blocking my way, a frown on his lips.
“What's this about?” He asked.
I let out an exasperated laugh. “Acting oblivious now, Alexander Hayes?”
After a few seconds of staring, a slight smile formed on his lips and I wanted to smack it off with another punch. He crossed his arms over his chest.
“Are you jealous, Ms O'Brien?”