Sophia's POV.
Why does it seem like he's stalking me both physically and in magazines? He's always there, everywhere I go.
Gulping, I observed the magazine in Steph's hands.
Radiating virtual waves of arrogance, the handsome face of Alexander Hayes stared back at me from the page in question.
I stared and stared and stared.
The photo was smartly taken, as the photographer had played well with the light effects in a way that emphasized every single feature of the man.
Symmetric eyebrows. Sculpted jaw. Full lips. Neck muscles extended beneath the collar of his suit. And a mesmerizingly unfazed gaze.
His eyes had looked directly into the flashlight without even flinching. And they had an unmistakable essence of sheer superiority and coldness. Those blue orbs plagued my dreams. He looked like a Greek god in action.
Of course, the page would not fit his six foot one height of masculinity, so the photo simply showed his waist.
The title on the photo said with capitalization;
“ALEXANDER HAYES, ONE OF THE HOTTEST BILLIONAIRES IN THE BUSINESS WORLD: EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW!”
It took me some minutes to register the whole idea. This guy— who hurt me in immeasurable ways, who discarded me like I was some trash bits, actually left me in my misery to respond to a series of questions in an interview?!!
I quickly snatched the magazine from Stephanie's hands, went to the reception, and bought the edition.
Soon enough, Stephanie followed me and we left the store.
“You know you don't have to read that particular magazine, Soph.” She said in a concerned way. I didn't respond.
I didn't have to but I wanted to. Maybe it's a way to punish myself.
***
We reached home that day and took our seats on the couch beside each other, the magazine in front of us as we flipped the pages till we reached the page of interest.
Then, I started reading.
‘The following section aims to give the readers of our magazine an insight into how the interview with Mr. Alexander Hayes went, as spontaneously as possible.
(Q for question, AH for Alexander Hayes).
Q: Now shall we start?
AH: Go ahead.
Q: okay! Allow me to start. What's your complete name, sir? AH: Alexander Sullivan Hayes.
Q: Alright! Now to the second question. When did you start your business journey? Truth is, it's rare to see such a known businessman at such a young age!
AH: I started at the age of twenty-two; the Hayes industries have topped the business world since it was founded, almost ten years ago by me. Part of the reason behind my easy grip on the business world goes to the already existing power my family controls.
Q: I see how modest of you. Well, moving on to the next question. Do you enjoy your work?
AH: I do not find my work necessarily unpleasant. It is simply a means to produce profit, profit which in turn expands my influence further as a business figure.
Q: Interesting indeed. Now if I may ask, who might you consider a friend of yours in the business field?
AH: I'd say Stephen Harrison, a good friend and also my business partner.
Q: That's nice, let's move on to the next question. How old are you Mr Hayes? Do you have any siblings?
AH: Thirty. I have just one sister.
Q: I see. Now we come to the most interesting question, which I bet many people, including myself, are interested in. Does Mr. Alexander Hayes have any romantic interests or maybe an ongoing relationship at the moment?
I guess he took a long time because; Q: Mr Hayes?
AH: No.
My world crumpled as I felt the magazine falling off my hands. I didn't want to go on as I suddenly stood up, grabbed my bag, and stomped out the door oblivious to Stephanie's inquisition about where I was going.
***
The world in which we live is independent. We all have the right to speak, hear, or do anything that we please.
Like making weird faces at someone's baby without them noticing or dancing while walking on the sidewalk. No one's going to judge you or are they?
This is something we have heard and believed all our lives. But as we grow up, we realize that not everyone is going to ignore us. The society in which we live is tough.
They are going to judge you, make fun of you, or make comments on you, on how you walk, talk, or even on the shoes you're wearing or the haircut you have just done.
They even have problems with your nose and belly piercing. Heck, they'll judge you even if you do an extra piercing on your ear. It is the sad truth of the society that we have to accept.
Never would I have thought that resigning from a Job would be so difficult.
Difficulty in finding a job, yes I know that firsthand. But I have difficulty quitting a job, experiencing this for the first time.
I stood in Mr Hayes' office. His cold blue eyes were staring intently at me, clouding my thoughts and making it difficult for my body and brain to process anything.
He was standing so close in front of me and my brain was screaming at me to push him back but my body was not responding how could it have responded when it was hypnotized by those eyes? Those electric blue eyes.
“Why do you want to resign?” Every time I heard him speak, I could sense anger, more than before.
“I, uh, I-” Nope, no words at all. I was right about the hypnotizing part. It was like my tongue was paralyzed.
As if it has lost all the capabilities to form a sentence.
Why was he even asking me why I wanted to resign? Like he doesn't know?!
“Do you think the pay is less?” he questioned.
Before I could shake my head ‘no’, I heard him speak,
“Twelve thousand.” My eyes widened at him.
“I'll pay you twelve thousand dollars a month, is it still less for you to work?” Just then, I pushed him back and landed a slap on his cheek.
I immediately felt the gravity of what I did, immediately I did it and I raised my hands to my mouth in shock before stomping out of the office.