Chapter 7 Lucian's office
Sonia's POV:
“Are you still in there?” the voice repeated, sharper this time, and before I could respond, the door creaked open.
My heart stopped, and my eyes widened.
“Michael?” I breathed out, barely believing my eyes. “What the fuck do you want?” I murmured under my breath.
He stood by the door, hands shoved into his pockets like he owned the place, his tie loosened, his expression somewhere between guilt and arrogance. That same face I once wanted to marry, now made my stomach turn.
“Sonia,” he said softly, like he had practiced his tone. “We need to talk.” He slowly moved towards me.
I stared at him, my hands still trembling from Lucian’s visit. “What the hell do you need to say? You don’t work in this department, so why are you bothering me? Was yesterday not a success for you?”
Michael frowned, but his face quickly softened. “I need to talk to you, Sonia.” He stepped closer. “I’ve been trying to call you. You ignored me.”
“Obviously. Was I supposed to answer the call of the man who cheated on me?” I replied with a grimace.
Michael sighed, running a hand through his hair. “You didn’t give me a chance to properly explain yesterday, that's why I've been calling you.”
“Explain?” I laughed dryly. “You were ‘inside’ my best friend, Michael. What exactly needs explaining? The position or the betrayal?”
His jaw clenched, and he hit his hand on my desk. “You think it was easy for me? It's your fault! Everything happened because of your negligence!”
“Oh, please.” I crossed my arms, trying to act unfazed, though my body was shaking. “Don’t you dare make yourself the victim.”
Michael glanced around the office, lowering his voice. “Can we not do this here? I came because I’m worried about you. You didn’t show up at your house last night. I…”
“Stop.” I cut him off sharply. “Don’t pretend to care. You were busy screwing Georgia while I was drinking myself to a stupor.”
Michael’s eyes darkened. “You were drinking? Since when did you start that bad habit? I clearly warned you not to take alcohol, as it can affect our unborn babies.”
I laughed hysterically at his words. “I drank because I was heartbroken, Michael. Because you ruined me. And now…” I trailed off, swallowing hard as flashes of last night burned behind my eyelids: Lucian’s face, his touch, his voice. “Now my life is worse. Also, Michael, not everything is about you.”
Michael stepped closer, closing the gap between us. “What do you mean by worse? What happened?”
“None of your business,” I replied with a stern voice, and cleaned my tear drop. “We aren't having a baby together, Michael. Not anymore. You made your choice when you decided to fuck my best friend, so stop being childish.”
“Sonia.” Michael's voice softened. “You know I still-”
“You said all that I needed to hear yesterday! So don't,” I snapped, stepping back. “Don’t you dare say you still love me. You don’t get to love me after what you did.”
He flinched but quickly masked it with a bitter smirk. “You know what? Maybe you’re right. Maybe I don’t love you anymore. But I don’t like seeing you throwing your life away.”
“What’s that supposed to mean?”
“I heard the rumors,” he said, his voice dripping with accusation. “About you and the acting CEO, Lucian Smithfield. The way he looked at you earlier today. You think I didn’t know? You think people aren’t talking?”
I froze, wondering what he knew.
Michael took another step forward. “Be careful, Sonia. Men like him don’t save women like you. They use them. And when they’re done, they destroy them. Also, you're clearly not his type.”
Anger shot through me like lightning. “Funny. That’s exactly what you did to me. Maybe I was never your type to begin with.”
For a moment, we just stood there, staring at each other, two ghosts of what used to be love, now only breathing bitterness.
Finally, I walked past him toward the door. “Get out, Michael. Before I forget that I’m at work and slap you.”
He grabbed my wrist, his grip tight. “You’ve changed. The way you talk, your behavior, and your dress. I don't like this new you.” He looked at me with an envious smirk.
I yanked my hand free. “No. I just stopped being stupid. You don't deserve me, never have, never will.”
I turned to leave the room, but the next word that Michael said made me freeze momentarily.
“If I don't marry you, who will? If you like, go out naked, no man will give you his time. That's how insignificant you are. Just because I pitied you, you now think you're worth something.” He said with a bitter voice, and silence descended in the room. “I don't mind keeping what we shared. If you want we can meet in secret, or you can agree to be my second wife!” He said with a solemn tone, as if he was doing me a favor.
I didn't reply, I just left. I could feel his gaze burning into my back. The moment I stepped into the hallway, my chest loosened. My knees trembled, but I forced myself to keep walking. Tears poured out of my eyes, and I realized that no matter how I tried to hide it, I was still an emotional woman.
Because for the first time in years, I wasn’t just broken, I was angry. And that anger felt almost like strength. But I was scared, frightened that maybe, just maybe he was right about me.
All my life, I had just one goal, to raise a good family. But now…..it feels like I was cursed to never be happy.
When I got to the company's balcony, I sat down on the floor, trying to catch my breath and think of a way forward. I couldn't go back to the office out of fear. Being alone in a room with Michael was terrifying, and I didn't trust him with my safety. My bag was still in the office, I had rushed out and forgotten to bring it. I needed to call someone, Angela, maybe. Staying alone was risky, and anything could happen.
I heard retreating footsteps, and I saw the figure of a man leaving. He must have listened to my conversation with Michael. I quickly cleaned my tears and attempted to follow him. But before I could get to him, he vanished into the CEO's office.
“Fuck! It's Lucian’s.”