ALEXThe cartel would be mine. So I had thought.Not until that night, not until I read that very terrible message. With the buzz of my phone and me picking it up. I could have ignored it, oh, I could just toss it aside but then I checked it. It was the strange, it was unusual, it was the most unexpected message I have ever seen and received.My heart skipped two beats, my whole body had erupted and the shock travelled from my legs up to my face, making me go all pale and shivering and I had mistakenly dropped the cup of water I was holding, letting out a loud, "What?!"That night had been the most terrible, apart from the day I lost my mother. That night, I felt all I ever looked after crumbling. It was like I had been pregnant for nine months, nursing my baby in me which was the Cartel, and then when it was time to give birth, I was told the baby died.For all my life, for all of my life, all I think of was owning the Cartel. Apart from dangerously loving hockey, the Cartel was very

SOFIAThoughts were still running wild in my head like little children in a playground and then I composed myself when I saw Alex. He seemed lost, I wondered what he was thinking about. From afar, he doesn't look this pensive, but now, going closer to him, he wasn't here anymore. His mind had travelled out of planet Earth."Alex, are you okay?" I asked him with concerned eyes. He was quick to look up, and I knew he hadn't even bothered to look up all this while, not to talk of pretending to not see me coming."Hey, Sofia." He said, standing up. He then pulled out the chair opposite to his and gestured for me to sit. "Sit."I stepped aside with a smile as he pulled the chair away. I then thanked him with a nod and sat down in the comfortable chair. The chair was thin and tight but I squeezed myself in it, doing my best to avoid meeting Alex's eyes. I could feel the weight of his gaze on me as we made small talk and greeted each other."Are you comfortable?""Yes." I answered.Alex wave

SOFIA I couldn't imagine going through that process again. And seeing that my first time ended in a horrible situation, it was hard for me to adapt. No, I was bluffing. I did not want to do it. I did not want to work in an office ever again. I couldn't process sitting down and obeying others, basically worshipping someone who may or may not be a monster again. I refused to risk it.I took another sip of my coffee. I was beginning to think asking for milk was a bad idea. My insides were beginning to argue. "Can I visit the ladies' real quick? If you don't mind?" I asked Alex before I disgraced myself in front of him again. It was already enough that he saw me struggling out of a rape. Him seeing me trying to hold my fart in was not a good look.He looked at me concerned. Oh Trust me, it's not what you think. I wanted to say that but then I'd be giving myself away before he found out. "Are you okay? Do you need a hospital?" He asked. Ugh I didn't need a goddamn hospital. I stood up slow

ALEXIn all the months I knew Sofia Griffin, I never expected her curiosity to be directed towards me. She always surprised me though, but now I was more shocked than surprised. She wanted to know about me. I was a bit nervous when she asked but hey? Anything for us to get closer. I was down for that.I desperately tried to ignore the feeling in my guts. I felt guilty for the first time. How would Mother look at me? Seeing that I put my selfish goals first before this innocent's woman peace of mind? This was another chance for me to prove myself. I could save her. But at what cost? My whole dream? The entire Cartel?Thoughts were running through my head as I looked at her. She was spiked up and for some odd reason she avoided her coffee since her visit to the toilet. Ohh. I didn't think of it in that way. Now it seemed a little funny to me. How cute. It was nature's way, she didn't have to be so shy about it.This had to be a special type of superpower. How was she so calm? How could

SOFIAI didn't want to ask him, but I had to. I took a moment to collect my thoughts, weighing my options. "No, I don't think that's it, just tell me, Alex, why?"This was too much for just a friend. In this present age, no man would help a woman to this extent. Absolutely no man I know. But Alex would and even he seemed fine about it.He just stared at me, unsure of what to say. I don't know if I had crossed the line or not. But his eyes remained calm. I don't understand how he could say something really heavy and still sit through it calmly like nothing happened. He had that calm demeanour, that nonchalant attitude. And it made my stomach churn.Alex made me feel more than I was supposed to when he said things like this. It was just like the first time we met. Prior to me drinking at that bar, what I had been thinking of was what I would do once I found those who killed my parents. Deep down in me, I knew the killers was out there, somewhere, and I was determined to find them.A tho