CHAPTER TWO

SOPHIA’S POV

I am supposed to take the threat of my bully serious, right? Well, I do, but I refuse to let him get the last laugh. 

His hands cross over his chest as he towers behind me, my neck crawling with an uncomfortable itch. The three boys are standing before me, still in their jerseys.

“Finally, a pretty assistant,” Ethan says, and Nolan pushes him in the stomach playfully.

“I’m sure she is dating, so stay off and don’t make her run off like the last.” Owen chirps in. 

Nolan and Ethan rustle like kids, laughing loudly, and I can’t help but smile a little, wishing I had siblings. Maybe I wouldn’t return to a cold place that is slowly losing its homey touch.

“Don’t mind those two. They are like this half of the time. You will get used to it.” Owen adds, stepping forward to take my hand in a shake. “It’s nice to meet you. This isn’t all of us. Logan and Shane should be somewhere.” His eyes roam around before they land back on me, and he smiles. 

His hand still firm on mine. 

“I didn’t take you to be so friendly.” Rhett appears beside me, his eyes on Ethan who slowly steps back and disappears through one of the corners. 

The others are busy fake fighting too.

“Be careful around him.” I hear Rhett say causing me to tear away from Ethan and Logan to him. 

“Wh..y?” 

He squirts his eyes, opens his mouth to say something when his phone’s ringtone blasts through the air. 

“Y..ou…should…umm…take that.”

I can’t breath fine with him close. He contemplates on answering and finally he pulls it out and grunts.

“Stay right where you are.” He orders without looking up then walks away.

I exhale and scurry down the hallway, wanting to be anywhere but around him, while also looking for Victor. I need to know if I am to start now, and if they are things to note. I throw glances over my shoulder to be sure he isn’t following behind, and luckily he isn’t.

Finally around a corner, I sigh and let my back rest against the wall. With the level of effect he has on me, I need to figure out a way to get through these three weeks without cracking under his eagle like eyes.

Something crashes and I pause then I hear shuffling, or is it struggling. I take slow strides towards the direction of it, my heart thumping in my chest.

A soft gasp slips past my lips the second my eyes land on them. Logan’s back against the wall, legs wrap around Shane, their tongues sticking in each other’s mouth as their moans fill the air.

My eyes widen.

Logan? Shane? How? Why? 

Logan is set to marry soon to be childhood sweetheart according to the news, and Shane is…will be a priest someday.

My body trembles. Logan’s fingers are dug deep in Shane’s hair, rummaging through them while Shane palms are grabbing his butts. They seem oblivious of my presence as they move things out of the way, each dropping with a smashing sound. 

My breathing shakes. If this can get out, it will bring them down. I can use this against them to find out the truth. This could be the ticket I need.

I reach for my phone that lies in the bag I hang over my left shoulder. 

Something slips over my face, blocking my vision before strong fingers wrap around my arm and turn me around, and I freeze. My face hits something solid and I slowly raise my eyes to see Rhett. His lips pin together with a frown etch on his face. 

He pulls me away, dragging me while pain explodes through my arm. When we are far off, he lets me go and starts to pace up and down. His thumb pressing against his forehead.

“Do you have a death wish?” His tone is harsh.

I blink. My heart is pounding fast.

He stops pacing, makes his way forward, and leans in.

“I told you to be careful, Little Birdie. What the hell were you doing there?” 

I bit on my lower lip.

“I was….Victor…” I stammer.

He raises his brow so high that I wonder if it aches. His hands are in his pocket, his arm slightly brushing mine when he closes in fully.

“I have my eyes on you, Sop…hia. If this slips out…” He stops. My breath holds in my throat. “I will make your life bittersweet all—over—again.” 

The stretch on the last three words made my heart drop to the bottom of my stomach. His eyes glint with pride. I swallow, my palms sweaty.

His glare moves over my face then he steps back.

“I have a dinner to attend tonight, you are coming with me.”

His sentence pulls me out of the haze I am stuck in.

“No, I’m not.” I manage to say.

“I wasn’t asking for your opinion, Little Birdie. It’s one of your duties as our assistant or should I..tell Victor how..uninterested you are in being here.” 

I chew on the inside of my mouth till the metallic taste of blood mixes with my saliva.

This bastard. 

I squeeze my eyes shut. The voice in my head echos that I say no but I can’t.

“Fine.” I sigh. “What time is it? And I need the address too.” 

He sends me a death stare. 

“In thirty minutes. I expect you to be in my car by then.” He answers and I watch his retreating back as he exit.

Only then do I let out a sigh again.

Because somehow this is starting to feel like a bad idea.

****

I can’t walk out through the main entrance, they are paparazzi there and I am in zero mood to have them throw questions my way especially since the team hasn’t officially put out a statement of me working with them. 

So I wait until they all leave, close to an hour passes and then head towards the parking lot. There is a black car there, all the windows wind up. Knocking on the one by the driver’s seat, and it lowers and I see him sitting there with the biggest frown on. 

If it could kill. I would be breathing my last right now.

He is in a black suit, white inner, with a black and silver tie hanging around his neck. His left hand gripping the wheel tight.

“What part of thirty minutes do you find hard to assimilate?” 

My heart skips. 

“The paparazzi….”

“Get in!” He thunders. His voice sends a chill down my spine then the window winds up.

The annoying piece of shitty shit.

I sigh and make my way to the other side. Pulling the door open, I dragged in air before settling down.

“I will let you off the hook this once. The next time you make me wait a second for you, I will make you wish…” He pins his lips. “you never lived long enough to meet me again.” He turns his head to look at me. 

His eyes is scary. I gulp. 

I watch him step out of the car then the back door closes.

“Drive.” He snares. 

I sigh, and slide into the driver’s seat.

The voice returns, the one that tells me to ditch everything and return to Dave’s side at the hospital.

But I can’t. Not now that I am in it.

I see his reflection in the overhead rearview mirror, his jaw clenchs so hard that his veins pop. His phone lies beside him, the screen keeps coming on. Someone is calling but he doesn't pick.

He notices me looking and arches his brow. I look away in a swift and twist the key. The engine lets out a grunt.  

But I can't help but wonder what exactly he is running from.