Alex's POV.
It's been two fucking days and not a word from Sophia.
My mind was going into overdrive.
The apartment's still locked and I couldn't even get a hold of Stephanie too.
I thought about calling her mum or maybe getting in touch with Mia but I thought better of it at the last minute because what if something was wrong? I didn't want them to panic just yet.
I knew she sounded off the last time in the office and I should've asked questions. Goddammit! I shouldn't have let her leave just like that.
A knock on my door got me out of my reverie.
“Hey, man,” Steve said as he walked inside my office.
I wasn't in the mood to sign any more damn papers but I knew I needed to come into the office in case she shows up.
I just hope she wasn't already regretting her decision to be in a relationship with me. “Hey.” I reluctantly said. It was clear that I wasn't in the mood for company.
“Heard from her yet?” I knew he was asking about her and I shook my head.
“I just don't get it! What did I do wrong? I've not heard from her in two days and neither can I get a hold of Stephanie!”
Wait a minute!
It was like a light bulb shone in my brain at that moment.
“She knows everything about Harvey right? Do you think it's connected?” “Of course not! You know Harvey likes to take his time bef—”
“I'm going to the police.”
“C'mon man, I'm sure it hasn't gotten to that. You're not thinking with a clear head. I'm sure they're both fine.” Steve tried to assure me but I knew deep in my gut that something just wasn't right.
I started grabbing my phone and took my suit jacket from the back of my chair, completely ignoring Steve.
“I'm reporting them missing anyway,” I said as I started heading out of the office. “Well, I'm coming with you.”
“I need you here to finish signing these damn documents, man. I'll update you if anything new comes up.” I said to Steve, tapping him on the shoulder before going in for a hug.
I was out of the company, walking towards my car when my phone rang. The caller ID stopped me dead in my tracks.
***
Sophia's POV.
Tears strolled down my cheeks as I recalled Harvey's statement half an hour ago or so. He intended to use me as a stepping stone.
He intended to use me to destroy him.
He intended to use me to ruin Alex. To kill him.
The pain within me made breathing harder than anything. Glancing at Stephanie lying by my side, I grimaced.
She looked torn. You could see the pain in her eyes. Broken.
That's exactly what perfectly describes Stephanie at this point.
A broken woman. A woman whose eyes lacked their light and liveliness. She was crying silently.
She hadn't spoken a single word since Harvey left.
She seemed like she was slowly drowning in her tears. As I stared at her, Harvey's words began replaying in my head.
‘There are two types of people in this world, those who use and those who are used. I like to refer to the latter as stepping stones.’
He called us stepping stones. He bluntly told his now ex-girlfriend that he used her.
I don't think anything could be more painful. The feeling of being used is no feeling any human would want to accept, much less coming from someone you once loved. That must've been heartbreaking for Stephanie.
I came closer to her with my arms still tied to my back.
“Steph,” I said softly, pressing my lips to her cheeks.
She said nothing and her tears continued to stroll down. “Stephanie?” I repeated and she didn't answer.
I noticed she was gazing out the window into the thunderous sky. It was raining again just like it did the day Harvey called me.
I've skipped two days of work, surely Alex must be looking for me now. I'm sure he's doing everything he can to find me.
God! I don't know how long we'll be here before Harvey decides to move on with his plan.
Worse, if his plan goes through, I know I wouldn't be able to ever get out of here and neither will Stephanie.
Even worse, if his plan goes on as it should be, Alex and Steve will......
A tear escaped my eye and I quickly shook my head.
I sighed loudly and slowly closed my eyes in hopes that my daydreams would be better than my current reality.
After some hours, the guards served us what they considered to be lunch.
The rotten smelly bread didn't open my appetite and neither did the dirty-looking soup bowl make me hungry or thirsty. So we both naturally kept our hands off it.
The guards didn't force us into anything. They could care less if we die of malnourishment anyway.
The day passed so slowly and painfully. Every corner of my body ached like I'd been hit by a metallic chain. It hurts everywhere.
It was time for Harvey to come, I knew it. He was out most of the day but I'm sure he'd come to add to our misery the moment he gets back. And I was right.
Just then, I heard footsteps approaching us.
The sound of footsteps was accompanied by another weird sound. The sound of something being dragged across the ground carelessly. And it kept coming closer.
I trembled in fear as I wondered what it could be.
His body slowly emerged as his murderous features glowed with the thunder.
He threw what he was carrying inside the room before me.
My whole body shook and blood pumped through my veins. It suddenly felt like I'd been hit by a thunderbolt.
A desperate scream escaped me and 8 felt the urge to pee my pants.
My fingers went numb. It felt as if thousands of ants were walking over every inch of my skin. My teeth clicked as they trembled.
She was unconscious and her body was covered in a considerable number of bruises.
Her beautiful brown curls were in a mess, her full lips looked dry and they were blood-stained.
Gone was her cheerfulness and smile. There was only misery and suffering surrounding her. Andrea Hayes.
Another gasp escaped me as I threw my weight in her direction, trying to move my frozen body.
“Andrea!!!”