Sophia's POV.
I was sitting in my office, still shaken up by the events of the previous week.
I couldn't believe that Trent would do something like that for a company he enjoys working for. Or even do something like that to me, since it was obvious that I was going to be the number one suspect.
We've managed to file a suit against Mr Shein but Trent was still nowhere to be found, making everyone to be on edge.
A tap on the door made me jump out of my thoughts.
A lady, probably in her early fifties, walked up to me. She looked oddly familiar like I'd met her before.
“Hi, you must be Sophia. I'm Mrs Hayes, Alex's mom.”
No wonder she seemed familiar. I must've come across her pictures in magazines and newspapers.
“Mrs Hayes.” I muttered in confusion. “How can I help you ma? I'm sure you're here to see Mr Hayes. I'll just ring him up to say you're around.”
She stepped forward with a smile.
“Oh, I'm here to see you. I hope I'm not disturbing you.” To see me? Strange.
“Of course not.” I smiled nervously. “Please have a seat.”
Once she was settled, she motioned for me to sit and I took a seat beside her.
“I need your suggestions.” She said, a sudden spark of excitement in her eyes. “Hawaii or Florida?”
“Um... what?”
“You know how Alex's birthday is next week?”
I blinked for a moment. “Of course.”
I remembered him taking me for his birthday cake tasting.
But why is she asking my suggestion?
Well, maybe because I'm his secretary.
“Now, he was just planning a simple and boring party here in New York because of his work, but his father and I came up with this vacation idea.”
“Oh, that's great,” I muttered. “He should take a break.”
“I know,” she nodded. “So we've narrowed it down to two options. Hawaii and Florida. Which do you suggest?”
“Um,” I shrugged uncomfortably. “I've heard both of them are amazing. So whichever you like.”
“But where would you like to go?”
“Me?” I raised my brow in confusion.
“Yes, you Sophia. You'll be going with us.”
“What?” My eyes grew wide.
Why on earth would she want me there?
What about pregnant Emily?
I know I'm a secretary but my secretarial duties are only limited to affairs of the company and not to some family birthday vacation. Or so I thought.
“Of course.” She chuckled. “We wouldn't leave you out of Alex's grand thirtieth birthday celebration.”
I blinked at her. “I–I thank you for considering this, Mrs Hayes. It means a lot, but I can't.”
Her face fell. “Why not?”
“Um... work.” I blurted out. “I've got a workload of things to attend to here in the office.”
“Oh... don't worry about that. Do you think I've not heard the rumors about you two in the media? I might be old but I still have an eye for these things and since Andrea wouldn't shut up about you, I'm intrigued and I'd love to get to know you better.”
How do I explain to her that I'm in a strictly professional relationship with her son?
I bit my lip nervously and stared down at my feet in embarrassment.
Damn media!
Damn, Andrea and her big mouth!
What excuse do I come up with next?
“So,” she said with a glimmer of hope in her eyes. “What do you say?”
Oh God! Help me!
“Since you've planned it all,” I let out a nervous laugh, “sure. I'd love to join.” “Great.” She clapped her hands in excitement. “So which one? Hawaii or Florida?” Why do I have to make the final decision?
“Florida, I guess.”
On second thought, I added.
“Can I bring a friend along?” I thought about Steph.
“Dear! The more the merrier! Also, me and Andrea were rooting for Florida. I have a good feeling about this.” She winked.
I chuckled nervously.
“Mom?”
Our heads turned to the voice. Alex was standing at the door with a look of confusion plastered on his face.
“Is everything alright?” He eyed me.
“Alex,” Mrs Hayes said. “You're right on time. Since we cannot keep a thing like this secret, let me tell you that we're all going to Florida next week to celebrate your birthday.”
“Oh?” He raised a brow.
“You could show a little more enthusiasm, you know,” she said as she got up. “I probably should get going.” She hugged me surprisingly and went on to hug her son.
“Oh, and did I mention that Sophia will be joining us?” she smiled. Alex's eyes grew wide.
“Aw, you're welcome.” She pinched his cheeks and with a final chuckle, she left. I held back a laugh at the mama's boy moment.
His gaze averted to me.
“You agreed to that?” He scowled.
I was taken aback. I gave him a slight nod.
“Why?” He demanded.
“She thinks we still have a thing for each other and I couldn't just tell her that what we have is strictly professional because you got your ex-fiance pregnant, a fact I'm sure you haven't told her. So, trust me, I tried to say no.”
“Should've tried harder.” He snapped and turned to leave.
“What's gotten into you?” I took in a shaky breath. “Did I do something?” He stopped in his tracks and as his eyes fell on me, mine met the floor.
I held my breath when he took a step closer and only looked up when he was standing just an inch away.
He trapped me on the chair by fixing his muscular arms on either side of me.
“I'm a man of my word, Sophia.” He muttered. “W–what?”
“I promised you a boss-employee relationship but you don't go around vacationing with your boss’ family now, do you?” He raised a brow.
I found myself shaking my head. “So, this one's on you.” He said.
I know I should've kept my mouth shut and let him leave after that, but I had no idea how my next words left my mouth or how they even formed in my head in the first place.
“And this is how you're going to treat me now?”
The corner of his lips lifted into a small smirk.
“You don't sound happy. Why? Do you want something more from me than what you should want from a boss, love?
My breathing faltered.
And there it was again. That familiar look in his eyes.
This is my last chance. To just say the word and he'd go back to being the person he was. But I knew I wouldn't say it. Not when I was still deeply hurt.
I gulped.
“You can't call me that.”
He did not like my answer.
“I'll stop the moment you let me.” He said in a husky voice and not a second later, he was gone. I released my breath.
Alex's POV
“What's the matter with you?” Steve's voice snapped me out of my thoughts. “What?”
“You've been staring at your drink for the past five minutes.” He raised a brow.
Frowning, I gulped down the hard liquor and leaned back in my seat, quietly accessing the people around us.
“Secretary troubles?” Steve smirked.
I rolled my eyes.
“Come on, Alex,” he chuckled. “Admit it already.” “Admit what?” My eyes narrowed.
“That you're in love with her. I know you guys dated for a little while. When were you going to tell me about that?”
I pressed my lips together. “Oh please, just shut up.”
There wasn't much of a story to tell anyway. Sophia did not want me. The end. Not that I blame her though.
My phone buzzed. Unknown number. Steve eyed it.
“Hello,” I said, as I brought the phone up to my ear.
“You asshole.” The tone was dangerously low and oddly familiar.
“Stephanie?”
I sighed.
I was about to ask how she got my number but knew instantly how stupid I'd sound. Obviously from my secretary.
“What did you do, Alex?” She snapped.
“I don't know what you're talking about, Stephanie. Try getting to the point sooner.”
“What did you do to her? Where's Sophia?” She snapped.
I scowled. “What do you mean where's she? It's 10 pm, she should be with you at the house.” “Well, she's not.”
“What?”
“Now cut the crap, Alex, and tell me where she is. She's not picking up her phone.”
“I have no fucking idea.” I quickly grabbed my blazer and keys. “I hear the music behind you. She's with you, isn't she?”
“No Stephanie, she's not. I'm out with a friend for some drinks.” “Prove it.” She snapped sighing, I handed the phone to Steve who gave me a questioning look.
“Hello?” He muttered in confusion. “Alright! Alright!” He quickly handed the phone back to me, chuckling.
“Did you check at the coffee shop?”
“Yes I did, and obviously, she wasn't there.”
“Have you been at the apartment all day? Maybe she came back.” I frowned.
“I was only gone for a brief time and I talked to her around 5 pm and she was still at work then.”
I pinched the bridge of my nose. “I'll call you once I find her.”
“What's going on? Is Sophia okay?” Steve asked after I hung up.
“She better be. I'll see you later.” With that, I stormed out of the club and drove towards the office in the hopes of finding her there.
Once I reached the building, I marched up to the office, only to find it empty. “Pick up the damn phone, Sophia,” I muttered.
The ringing of a phone coming from her desk stopped me in my tracks. Her phone was lying on her desk.
Where the hell is she?
My phone buzzed in my hand. “Stephanie,” I said.
“She just came back.”
I let out a breath of relief.
“Is she okay?”
“Yeah, it seems so.”
“Where the hell was she? And why is her phone at the office?”
“I don't know. She just stepped inside the apartment. I'll ask her.”
“Let me talk to her,” I stated.
I heard muffled voices and then Stephanie was back on the line. “Uh, she's in the bathroom. I mean, she went inside right before I could ask her.”
My eyes narrowed.
“Alex, I'm sorry for the call earlier. I shouldn't have been so—”
“Save it.” I snapped and hung up.