Chapter 83 Unexpected Encounter
Blake: POV
I checked the address on my phone again as I pulled into the parking lot of The Jade Lounge.
The place was upscale—all dark wood, ambient lighting, and the kind of music that was just loud enough to cover private conversations without drowning them out.
Alex's text said he'd reserved a private room upstairs—207. I made my way toward the entrance, checking my watch. 15 minutes left.
Just as I reached for the door, raised voices from the side alley caught my attention. Two men were crowding a woman against the wall. Her face was partly hidden, but something about her posture—the way she held herself despite being cornered—seemed vaguely familiar.
"Come on, you know why we're here," one of the guys said, his tone menacing. "Stop playing games."
"I told you, I'm not interested," the woman replied, her voice steady despite the obvious tension.
I hesitated. Not my business. I was here for Alex, not to play hero for some stranger. But as I turned back toward the door, the woman shifted slightly, and the streetlight caught her profile.
My stomach dropped. I knew her.
Without thinking, I changed direction and strode toward the alley. "Hey!" I called out, making my voice as authoritative as possible. "Everything okay here?"
The two men turned, clearly annoyed at the interruption. One was tall and lanky with a patchy beard, the other shorter but muscular with a shaved head.
Neither looked particularly intimidating to me, but to a woman alone, they'd be trouble.
"Mind your own business, man," Shaved Head said. "This doesn't concern you."
The woman used their distraction to step away from the wall, and I got a clear look at her face. Sophia. My stomach twisted with a complicated mix of emotions I hadn't felt in years.
"Blake?" she said, recognition and relief washing over her features.
Patchy Beard snorted. "You know this guy? Of course you do." He turned to me with a sneer. "Look, buddy, she's just playing hard to get. That's her whole thing, right? Pretend she's not interested, then jack up the price."
My jaw clenched as his implication sank in. "I think you've misunderstood the situation," I said coldly. "The lady said she's not interested. That's the end of the conversation."
"She's just a hooker, man," Shaved Head said with a dismissive wave. "She came out with us last week. Now she's acting all innocent."
Sophia flinched at his words, and I saw real fear flash across her face. Whatever was happening here, she was clearly not a willing participant.
I stepped between her and the men. "This woman is with me now," I said, my voice dropping dangerously low. "Do we have a problem?"
Patchy Beard looked me up and down, probably assessing whether I was worth the trouble.
"Whatever," he finally muttered. "She's not worth it anyway."
He started to turn away, but then paused with a smirk. "Hey, aren't you that Westwood guy? The one who just got married?"
I kept my face impassive, though inwardly I tensed.
"Yeah, that's him," Shaved Head chimed in, recognition dawning. "Saw you in the society pages with that Parker chick." He looked between Sophia and me with a knowing leer. "Like that kind of thing, huh? Wife at home, fun on the side?"
"I understand," Patchy Beard added with a wink. "Some guys need variety. No judgment here."
My hands curled into fists at my sides, but I kept my voice even. "This woman is an old friend. Nothing more. And even if she wasn't, I wouldn't let two assholes harass her in an alley."
"Sure, sure," Shaved Head said, backing away with his hands up in mock surrender. "We get it. Your 'old friend.' Have fun with your 'friend,' Westwood."
They walked away laughing, and I waited until they disappeared around the corner before turning to Sophia.
She looked smaller than I remembered—thinner, with dark circles under her eyes that makeup couldn't quite hide. Her clothes were expensive but flashy in a way that seemed calculated rather than stylish. Nothing like the confident, ambitious girl I'd known in middle school.
"Are you okay?" I asked, keeping my distance.
Sophia nodded, then suddenly burst into tears. She lurched forward, clearly intending to throw herself into my arms. I sidestepped awkwardly, offering a supportive hand on her shoulder instead.
"Thank you," she sobbed, wiping at her mascara-streaked cheeks. "I didn't—I wasn't sure what they might do."
"What happened?" I asked, keeping my voice gentle but firm. "How did you end up here with those guys?"
She looked away, shame evident in her posture. "It's... complicated."
"Sophia," I said, trying to keep the judgment out of my voice, "those men seemed to think you're... working."
"I'm not a prostitute," she said quickly, then hesitated. "Not exactly. I just... sometimes I go out with men for money. Just dinner or drinks. It's supposed to be just companionship."
I ran a hand through my hair, unsure what to say. This wasn't at all how I'd expected my evening to go.
"But sometimes they expect more," she continued, her voice small. "And when I say no, they get angry. They think because they bought me dinner or drinks, they're entitled to... more."
"Jesus, Sophia," I muttered. "That's dangerous. You know that, right?"
She nodded miserably. "I don't have a choice, Blake. My mom got sick last year—cancer. The medical bills..." She trailed off, fresh tears spilling down her cheeks. "I lost my job, then my apartment. This was supposed to be temporary, just until I could get back on my feet."
I felt a wave of sympathy wash over me. The Sophia I remembered had been bright, ambitious—destined for success. Seeing her reduced to this was jarring.
"There are other ways," I said gently. "Jobs that don't put you in danger."
"You think I haven't tried?" There was a flash of the old Sophia in her eyes—defiant, proud. "I've applied everywhere. But there's a gap on my resume now, and no one wants to take a chance on me."
I sighed, checking my watch. Alex would be waiting, but I couldn't just leave Sophia here.
"Listen," I said, pulling out my phone, "I know someone who runs a women's employment assistance program. Sarah Miller—she helps women in difficult situations find legitimate work and housing. Let me give you her number."
Sophia's eyes widened in disbelief. "You'd do that for me? After... everything?"
I shrugged, uncomfortable with her gratitude. "It's just a referral, Sophia. She's the expert, not me."
I quickly found Sarah's contact information and texted it to Sophia's phone. "Tell her I referred you. She'll know what to do."
To my horror, she dropped to her knees on the dirty pavement, grasping at my hands. "Thank you, Blake. Thank you so much. I promise I won't let you down."
"Jesus, get up," I said, pulling her to her feet. "It's not that big a deal."
"It is to me," she insisted, her eyes shining with tears. "You have no idea what this means."
I stepped back, creating some distance between us. "Look, just call Sarah tomorrow. She'll help you figure out next steps."
She nodded eagerly, wiping away tears. "I will. First thing."
"And Sophia?" I added, my voice turning serious. "No more of this... whatever this is. It's not safe, and it's not worth it. There are always other options."
"I know," she said quietly. "I just couldn't see them anymore."
My phone buzzed in my pocket—Alex, no doubt wondering where I was.
"I have to go," I said, gesturing toward the club. "Meeting a friend upstairs."
"Of course," Sophia nodded, composed now. "Thank you again, Blake. For everything."
I turned to leave, but her voice stopped me.
"Blake? I heard you and Olivia got married. Is it... are you happy?"
The question caught me off guard. I thought of Olivia—her stubbornness, her intelligence, the way she looked in the morning light. The baby we'd created together.
"Yes," I said simply. "I am."
Something I couldn't quite read crossed her face, and then she said, "I hope things work out for both of you."
With a final nod, I headed into the club and made my way toward the stairs. Just as I reached them, my phone rang. Alex's face flashed on the screen.
"Dude, where are you?" he demanded when I answered. "I've been waiting for like twenty minutes. You didn't get sidetracked by something, did you?"