Alex's POV.
I was woken up by a phone call from none other than Emily.
Even after explaining to her that I wanted nothing to do with her, and was only interested in the baby she was carrying, she was hell-bent on keeping tabs on me.
She wanted me to give her another chance because of the baby.
Making it clear to her that I wanted to be in the baby's life and not hers seems to be falling on deaf ears.
“What is it?” I snapped immediately I put the phone to my ear.
“Oh..come on baby. Is that the way you talk to the mother of your unborn child?” she purred.
“Look, Emily, if there's no point to this call, I'll have to hang up now. I gotta go to work—”
“Baby, what about the money I asked for?” She said, cutting me off. “I'll need to start getting the stuff I'll need for the baby.”
“How much?” I just wanted to be rid of her for this morning at least.
Why did I fucking go to Athens!?
She let out a little nervous laugh. “Half a million dollars.”
For what!? Shopping for an unborn baby?
I was going to confront her with this but decided against it.
The quicker I agree with her never-ending demands, the faster she's gone.
“Alright. I'll have my accountant write you a check. You can come by the office to pick it up.” I said and hung up abruptly.
***
Sophia's POV.
I was at my office at Hayes Industries as I had resumed fully that morning, to the happiness of everyone around. I felt welcome and wondered why I left in the first place.
After a few minutes of settling in, I heard heels clicking in my direction and I looked up to see Emily Johansen purposely walking toward me.
She had on a black mini-dress, high heels, and deep red lipstick.
“Hi, Sophia. It's nice to finally meet you.” Her voice sounded super evil.
I just stared at her, not saying a word.
“You know, you don't get it.” She continued, pacing up and down my office. “What do I have to do to teach you your place? I don't know what sweet words he must've told you to get you back here but I'm the one carrying his child! I'm the one pregnant for him!” She was yelling at this point.
“I have no intention of starting anything with Mr Hayes. I'm just here to do my job.”
“I think you need a little evidence that he's still in love with me, no matter what he's told you.” She smirked and took her cell phone out of her bag.
“See my call logs, Alex and I have been in touch even while you were busy parading yourself as his girlfriend.”
I stood up just then.
I would love to think she's lying but the evidence was staring me in the face. “This is a recent photo from one of the dates we went on.”
There was a picture of him and Emily in a restaurant.
“Now do you see what I'm trying to tell you? He still loves me, Sophia. He doesn't love you and he never did. I mean how can he love a local tramp like you compared to me? No matter how many times he must've claimed to love you, he'll always come back to me. You're not what he wants. I'm what he wants and needs.”
Alex never actually told me that he loved me. I felt used.
My eyes brimmed with tears. Dear God, why? “Please Shut up and leave,” I said in a low voice.
“Sure will darling, but first, I need to go collect my check from the accountant.” She said in a singsong voice, winked, and left my office.
I sat down and burst out crying. I was so hurt by Alex's betrayal and just when I thought I had gotten over it, now this!
Why did he have to do that? He is my boss. We would have kept our relationship strictly professional if he was still in love with his ex. Instead, he chose to break my heart.
“Sophia?”
I sat up, furiously wiping my eyes as I heard that familiar deep voice call my name.
“Sophia, why were you crying?” He was now very close to me. He was about to touch my cheek when I turned my face away.
“You tell me. I agreed to continue working for you on a strictly professional basis not to be humiliated by your fiance because I was so foolish to believe there was ever something between us.”
“Sophia, listen I......” I stopped him right there.
“First of all, it's Ms O'Brien from now on. Secondly, I don't want to listen to any explanation you might have because I've had enough of you and your fiance.” I spat.
He looked purely shocked. He must not have expected Emily to come here and talk to me. He massaged his temple and proceeded towards me.
“Don't come near me Mr Hayes, this is a strictly professional relationship we now have,” I said, going back to my duties.
I watched in silence as he walked off.
***
Alex's POV.
I had completely forgotten that Sophia was supposed to resume today, I wouldn't have asked Emily to come by the office for her check otherwise.
It hurt me to know that the tears she was shedding were because of me and the choices I made. And now, I have no choice but to live with them.
“Ms O'Brien, coffee please,” I said through the intercom in my office. “Right on it.” She answered.
Within a few minutes, she knocked at my door. “Come in.”
“Your coffee sir.” She said, handing it to me.
“Thank you.”
Just as she was about to leave, someone knocked at the door. “Come in,” I said.
“Good morning Mr Hayes, Sophia,” said Trent as he walked into the office. “Good morning, what do we have Trent?”
“Sir, this is the file with every financial aspect of the deal with Mr Shein. Pros and cons if we invest in his company with the percentage you have quoted in the meeting.” He handed me the file.
“Alright. I'll have it checked. I would like to do that myself but right now, I'm quite busy. Ms O'Brien, please go through this file with minute attention. Read it very carefully and revert to me by 4:00 pm.”
“On it, Mr Hayes.” Sophia and Trent both left the office together and my jealous gaze followed them.
****
“Mr Hayes, I've gone through everything on this file. I think it's alright. Of course, you should also give this a quick read but if you ask me, it's a green signal.”
“Alright, I'll go through it and send the copy by late evening today to Mr Shein's PA.
***
It was 7 pm already and I was still in the office as I had a very busy schedule for that day. Just then, someone knocked on my door.
“Come in.”
“Good evening Mr Hayes, I came to check if you have signed the paperwork.”
“Ahh, actually not, but it's okay. I will do it right away. Sophia has already checked it and assured me that it was a green signal. And whatever talk I had with Mr Shein was beneficial so let's go ahead with it.”
I signed the deal for Mr Shein's company. I hope this deal will give us a competitive advantage in the market.
“Thank you, Mr Hayes.” Trent left my office.
There was nothing else I had on my agenda for today, so I decided to call it a day.