110

110
Chapter 110

Sophia walked back to her office in a daze after she was done in the H.O.D’s office. The conversation with the H.O.D kept replaying in her head and every time she remembered the comments under the video, her chest tightened all over again.

She sat down slowly and looked towards Jessica’s desk and it was empty. Her eyes was fixed there for several seconds.

There was none of Jessica’s belongings except for the usual stuff that she doesn’t take away when going home. Sophia let out a bitter laugh.

She had expected that.

If Jessica had posted something like that, she probably already knew what the office atmosphere would become today. For a brief second, Sophia imagined Jessica walking through the door.

She imagined herself standing up and demanding answers right away. She wanted to ask if the friendship was fake from the beginning and if she only came close to her because of Damien, but Sophia closed her eyes.

“No. That is definitely not the next step.” She said in her head.

Even if she wanted to scream right now, fighting publicly would only make things worse, and the H.O.D’s words echoed again.

The fact that there was a possibility that she would lose the job she loved so much tomorrow, weighed badly on her. Her fingers tightened around her phone.

The H.O.D had also warned her that Damien was probably receiving even more attention than she was. Sophia immediately rose to her feet after sitting for a while and she packed her things quickly.

She couldn’t just sit here.

A few people looked at her as she left but she ignored them. Soon, she got into a cab and headed towards Damien’s company.

Halfway there, she changed her mind. Going inside his company right now, she felt that would attract more attention for Damien and could make his day worse.

She looked outside the window and noticed a restaurant not too far from his building. Then she asked the driver to stop.

After entering and sitting down, she took a breath and called Damien.

He picked up quickly.

“Sophia?”

His voice softened immediately and she swallowed.

“Are you busy?” She asked, hoping he wasn’t.

She just needed to see him and feel his emotions.

“What happened?” Damien asked her.

Sophia looked down, playing with her fingers nervously.

“Can you come to the restaurant near your company?”

“Why are you there?” He asked again, wondering why the unusual meeting place.

She hesitated to speak but realized there was no harm in telling him what she thought.

“I didn’t want to come into your company, Damien.”

His voice became calmer. “Why?”

Sophia released a breath, then spoke. “I don’t want people seeing me and making things worse for you.”

There was another pause between them before Damien finally spoke again.

“That’s all nonsense.”

Sophia eyelids fluttered. “What?”

“Come upstairs.” He said to her, his voice sounding firm.

She frowned. “Damien…”

“I’m waiting for you.” He said, then he ended the call.

He also knew how stubborn she could be if he gave her the platform to do so, so he had to be firm.

Sophia stared at the screen for a short while and sighed. A few minutes later, she entered Sterling Group.

She expected stares and she actually got them, but she kept walking until she reached Damien’s office.

His assistant let her in immediately and the moment she stepped inside, Damien stood up.

Sophia barely had time to react before he crossed the room and pulled her into his arms.

She froze, not expecting that from him. His hand then rested gently against her hair.

“We’ll be fine.” He assured her.

That was all he said, and somehow that made her eyes start burning again.

She held his shirt tightly. Damien then pulled back slightly and looked at her.

“We always deal with people like this. Leave it to me.” He said, his expression remaining calm.

Sophia stared at him, then she slowly shook her head.

Damien looked at her quietly without speaking, then Sophia lowered her eyes and sniffled a little.

“No.” She said softly.

His brows moved slightly. He didn’t understand what she meant by no, and why she had said it in the first place. He wanted to be there for her because more than anyone else in the world, he was the only one who understood how deep this hurt her.

He would rather be understanding than care about a reputation that could be easily mended once the truth gets revealed.

“What do you mean, Sophia?” He asked out of genuine care.

Sophia looked back at him and let out a breath that seemed like she had been holding forever.

“This time, I want to handle it.” She said to him with determination.

Damien watched her, unsure why she had said that all of a sudden. But he stayed calm to listen to all that she still had to say.

Sophia swallowed hard like what she had to say was in a way difficult or like she wasn’t certain about it, but she wanted to try anyways.

“I brought her into our lives, and I think…” she said and paused for a short moment like she was thinking deeply about the next words she wanted to say.

She looked up at him with innocent eyes and Damien nodded his head to tell her to go ahead with whatever she wanted to say.

Well, his intentions to make her feel safe and like he is there for her regardless of whatever would happen, was working, because Sophia gradually found her confidence.

“I’m listening, babe.” He said, giving her a go ahead.

“I might already have an idea. Something that should end all of this once and for all.” She informed him with strict determination burning in her eyes.

Just the look of her eyes was enough to let Damien know that it wasn’t his fight and she was capable enough to handle it.

“Okay, anything you need.”