Chapter 6

I moved towards the door as the middle-aged man from the shop earlier alighted and opened the back seat for me to enter.

“ Good evening “, I greeted

“ Good evening ma’am“ he stated with a light smile as I entered.

“ Thanks“ I whispered with an awkward smile.

No one had opened a door for me consciously, and I wasn’t expecting my first experience to be with someone old enough to be my uncle.

“ That wasn’t so hard, now was it”, Leo stated, as I rolled my eyes.

The ride was awfully silent. For someone who pressured me to get into the car, he was weirdly quiet.

“ Are you going to talk or was this another one of your schemes?” I asked with annoyance as he kept on tapping on his tablet.

“ My apologies. I’m a busy man” he responded as he closed the tablet.

“ I waited for you, you know“ he stated as I looked at him in confusion.

“ The morning you left, I waited. Hoping you’d come back “ he continued, as I squeezed my palms together awkwardly

“ I had the morning shift“ I said.

“ We both know that’s not why you left without at least saying goodbye” he said.

“ Well, that was one of the reasons“ I swiftly answered.

“ Care to share the rest? “ he asked with a brow raised.

I huffed and looked away.

“ Well, lucky for you, it doesn’t matter anymore“ he said.

“ Why is that? “ I asked suspiciously.

“ Because I found you. Didn’t take too much work.” he replied.

“ Now what?” I asked

“ Now I keep you” he stated.

“ Keep me?” I asked in confusion.

“ I want you, so now I’ve found you, and I’ll keep you” he replied calmly as he began to continue his tapping on his tablet.

“ Keep me, like some property?” I questioned.

“ Not some property, my property“ he stated as I let out a laugh.

“ What do you think I am?” I asked.

“ You mean who?” He said as he looked at me with those piercing eyes of his

“ That’s not the point “, I stated in annoyance.

“To your question, you’re mine now” he stated as he focused on his tablet once more.

“It doesn’t work that way, Leonard” I snapped. .

My reaction must have surprised him because he dropped his tablet and turned to focus on me.

“ Okay, tell me. How does it work?” he calmly asked.

“ You want someone, you respectfully pursue and not claim like I’m some building on sale” I responded.

“ That’s just a waste of time. I know what I want and I’m getting it”, he said.

“ Let me guess, this is your way of getting it” I stated with an annoyed chuckle as he frowned at my response.

I had noticed the car had stopped moving. I peered through the glass and recognized the familiar neighborhood.

I proceeded to pack my stuff to leave.

“ You’re leaving ?” he asked.

“ Obviously “I stated with an eye roll.

“ I don’t like that tone“ he stated as he held my hand to stop me from leaving.

“ Deal with it” I responded.

I didn’t know where the confidence came from, but I was too annoyed to care.

“ I’m going to make you mine“ he stated arrogantly with a frown.

“ Good luck with that” I said sarcastically as I freed my hand and headed to the front door of my home.

“ Sophia“ he said from the car as I stared at him from the doorstep.

“ We aren’t done…” he continued as I cut him off with a bang of the door as I chuckled at his sheer audacity.

I locked the door and proceeded to my room.

“ What’s wrong?” I heard Stan ask.

With no response, I entered my room and locked myself in.

Standing in the middle of my room, I stared aimlessly for two minutes before I let out a frustrated scream.

Men were the definition of annoying.

Keep?!!

After what he said at the shop, he wanted to keep me.

I reflected in annoyance.

I decided not to overthink it and just focus on other things.

I showered and headed down for dinner.

Maybe I could cook something nice.

The fridge practically lacked good food.

So baking was the next best thing and I might as well keep myself busy.

“Your famous banana bread” mother said as she walked into the kitchen.

“ Hi mom" I said with a smile.

“ How was your day darling?” She asked as she poured the orange juice into her glass.

“ Exhausting“ I stated with a sigh,

“ You should rest“ she stated with concern written all over her face.

“ I will” I replied.

“ But first, let this heat up and when we all eat I’ll go to bed” I said, as, I pecked her cheek and proceeded to peel the avocados.

“ I’m fine mummy “I said to her.

“ I hope so” she said with a light smile.

She still looked worried, but I knew sleep was just what I needed and maybe eight months' vacation to an unknown island.

The bread was finally ready.

I prepared the plates and began to cut slices for all of us with the peeled avocados at the side and the orange juice and yogurt I refrigerated earlier.

“ Ohhh. It’s been long” Stan said as he walked into the kitchen,

I laughed at his statement while I passed him a plate of the food

“ What’s the occasion ?” He asked, as he took a bite out of the bread.

“ Nothing, just felt like it” I said while I served mom.

“ Are you okay?” He asked quietly.

“ Yes why?”

“ Cause you usually bake to get your mind off things” he stated.

I really couldn’t hide anything from Stan. I put on a smile

“ I’m okay Stan, now eat, how does it taste?” I asked as he looked at me with concern.

“It tastes good like usual “ he said in approval.

“ Thanks!” I replied as I kissed mom goodnight and cleared the counter.

“ I’ll do the dishes, you can go up” Stan stated.

“ Thank you . Good night“ I said.

“Night, Soph!” I heard him shout as I ran up the stairs.

The fatigue was strong enough to make me sleep a few minutes into my phone call with Paris.