Chapter 20
Angel
Leffman
I ran from Sofia's apartment like the devil was chasing me. If I stayed there for another minute, I knew I'd be doomed. I knew the moment I tasted her lips that I wouldn't be able to stop myself.
I've lasted five years without kissing her or touching her with the thought of her evil doings in my mind. I ignored her, treated her badly, and did everything else just to keep my hatred. But all of them are forgotten. The moment I saw her wrapped in a towel with her hair still waiting in the shower, the scent of her body invading my nostrils, I couldn't take it anymore. "Why can't I resist her? She made my life a living hell. How could I I**t after her? How could I feel an ounce of care towards her?"
I remember the kiss, how warm her body was, and how it perfectly melted against mine. Her hands on me, her smell, and... damn it! You are an idiot, Angel!
"Maybe she's right, and I need to get my mind checked because she's driving me crazy," I muttered to myself.
I tried to calm myself down when I reached Autos-Let. I drenched my face with water and thought about everything. I need to clear my mind. I know that Sofia is right. It's time for us to sit down and talk, but I can't do that when all I can picture is her below me, and another part of me still hates her.
"I saw you came, and we need to talk," Harry said when he arrived, but he probably saw the state I was in. "What happened?"
"Sofia. That's what happened. What do you want?"
"Is it that serious that you're like that?"
"Harry..." I growled out his name in warning.
"My friend, you need to take whatever's bothering you out or you'll explode. Didn't you have lunch with Elisa?"
I sighed and palmed my face. "I took her out for ice cream and drove her home."
He blinked his eyes at me. "That's it? Okay, I won't say anything because you don't listen anyway."
"Don't listen? I listen so much that it's driving me insane. I listen to Elisa and how she repeatedly blames Sofia or how she reminds me of my baby. I listen to my mom complain about Sofia and how she treats them or how she forced my dad to marry me. I listen to my sister's constant whine about how Sofa is so mean to her. I listened to my pops and how he was disappointed with what I did. And now I'm starting to listen to Sofia, and it's messing with my f*****g head because it seems like she's not someone who will do what everyone's complaining about. So don't tell me that I don't f*****g listen!"
"Okay, okay, I was wrong. Let me rephrase it: you don't listen to what you need to hear. Angel, you know that you've loved Sofia since college, and if you're with Elisa, it's because of the guilt you're feeling, but..."
"But you know what she did. You know the whole truth, so don't tell me that I don't have the right to hate her."
"What I know is what you've told me, but unlike you, I can see things that you don't, and you are letting yourself be consumed by anger, and I understand that."
"Let's see; enlighten me; what am I not seeing?"
"Where do you want me to start? I told you before you got married that you should talk to Sofia first, but you refused."
"Because there is nothing to talk about. You heard what my dad said after he met with her dad."
"I know, but her dad is one thing and Sofia is another. She didn't seem to be like that. Yes, she's a bit snobbish and too proud at times, but aren't you like that as well? And you're not a bad guy. She shows no mercy to her enemies, but you're the same, Angel." "You just don't like Elisa."
"Well then, let's start from that. You liked Sofia first, and there's no question about that; everyone knows."
"Yes, I played the role of an idiot while she was with Kevin, the idiot who used all of her; she was no exception."
"That's the point, man. We never even saw them together. They were just rumors, and we only saw them together at that party. In fact, I never saw them dating."
"Harry, I saw when she went to that room with my own eyes, and Elisa confirmed it. Later that night, you heard it yourself how that motherfucker proudly told everyone how he took her virginity."
Now that I remember it, the anger and pain I felt come back to me like they were just yesterday.
"Yes, but we are talking about the fraternity here, Angel. Parties are all the same. Women come in and out of it, but that doesn't necessarily mean that they slept with someone. You yourself did not sleep with anyone there." "So you're telling me that Elisa lied?"
"I don't know. You just believed a girl who told you that the girl you liked was with Kevin."
"I saw them enter that room together!" I snapped at him. I will never forget that night. People said that love isn't suffering, but they lied because Sofia broke me that night. "And you saw how Kevin acted after that." "Yes, because he's an airhead who thought every girl's obsessed with him. Did you even bother asking Sofia? No. You just listened to him and everyone, but her."
"What do you want me to do? Tell her that she treated me like a fool and that she lost her innocence to that idiot, while I was foolishly waiting for the chance to ask her out because I thought she liked me too." "Not like that, but maybe asking her if they were really dating."
"I tried, but you know what happened next."
"That you got drunk because of Sofia, and you laid with Elisa, taking her virginity in the process, and you felt guilty for it, yes. But, Angel, you can't even remember how you got in that room."
"You don't have to guess what happened in that room, Harry. We were lying naked together, so what else should I think?"
"I'm just saying that you should have talked to Sofia. You didn't talk to her when it happened, and that's fine because it's done, but before you got married, you should have done it."
"I was angry, disappointed, and hurt, and I just wanted to kill her, or at least make her suffer."
"And you both did it to each other. But we know the truth. That you didn't marry her because of anyone else or any shitty reason, Angel. You married her because you love her. If not, you wouldn't have asked for equal rights in the contract. You wouldn't ask for her to be the vice president of the company and leave her to manage her own company."
"That is business and nothing else." I defended myself.
"Bullshit, Angel. I know that ever since Elisa's miscarriage, you beat yourself for it, but it isn't your fault, and neither is Sofia." I sent him a deadly glare, and he raised his hands. "Don't look at me like that. Let's say that Sofia really did all that shit about the pictures, but have you asked yourself how did she know that Elisa is pregnant? Because according to what you told me, no one else did because Elisa didn't want anyone knowing until you were married."
"But that doesn't justify what she did. Her lies and their argument are what caused Elisa to lose the child." I gritted my teeth and shut my eyes. "What I hate is that she's acting all innocent after what she did, and she even swore she had nothing to do with it."Exclusive content © by Nô(v)el/Dr/ama.Org.
"Wait, so you talked to her about the baby?"
"No. We fought, and she called me naive for letting Elisa manipulate me, that she had nothing to do with whatever she did, and that she just wanted to help me that night. And now she had the guts to say that she has nothing to do with Elisa losing the baby, and if she were pregnant, it couldn't have been mine."
Harry made a sound of approval, and I frowned. "What?"
"I am not going to say anything, but I believe Sofia. Angel, tell me why you can't remember anything that night that, according to you, Sofia drugged you."
"I already told you that I woke up naked without any memory of what happened, and Elisa came to my apartment and told me what happened."
"My job is to observe things, Angel. What did Sofia tell you about that night?"
"She didn't want to go to that party, but Amelia forced her to. She went to the room to be alone, and I suddenly showed up. According to her, she can barely help me to the bed because of my weight and state. She also said that my shirt had a stain, so she took it off, and that I mistook her for Elisa."
"Enough of that. What do you remember from that night?" Harry asked, emphasizing the word 'you'.
"Why are we even talking about this?"
"Don't you want to think about everything that happened? I'm an expert at that."
I took a deep breath before raking my brain. "It was the night after graduation, and I didn't want to come as I was figuring out what to do with Elisa and the baby. She got mad at me because I decided to leave my family and be independent, but I didn't consult her."
"Well, you have a pregnant girlfriend, and you gave up your family's support, but either way, they wouldn't let anything happen to you because you are still a Leffman."
"I just got angry because Dad wanted to do business with Brian Andrew, and that man gave me the condition of marrying Sofia."
"But you already refused because you impregnated Elisa, right?"
"Of course, and I assured Elisa that I would never abandon her and our child, that I would work hard to provide for them. I even forgot about that because even Sofia rejected the proposal, so I didn't worry."
"Sofia never looked for you. Did she say anything, or has she shown interest?" I shook my head in answer because Sofia never showed an interest. "How did you get to the party?"
"Elisa came to the apartment and told me that she was bored, and she wanted to be part of the party, and so I took her."
I started to remember the party. The large number of visitors consisted of idiots, cheerleaders, jocks, nerds, and varsity players. Sofia sits in the garden while drinking beer and watching the stars as the others drink themselves to death. I remember asking myself why she didn't want to marry me. Is it because she loved that idiot?"
"Uh-huh. And what happened at the party? What do you remember?" I sent him another glare because we had been talking about it earlier. "Don't look at me like that and try to remember."
"There are too many people who want the same thing. I was with Elisa, and she looked so happy."
"And Sofia? When did you talk to her?"
I frowned in concentration and tried to remember, but she was far from me, and we didn't exchange words.
"I don't remember. I barely saw her near me."
"Good. So do you think it's one of her friends who drugged you?"
"Sofia isn't friendly, so she really doesn't have friends. She's only ever been with Amelia and Diether. Amelia was with her boyfriend, and Diether wasn't at the party because I don't remember seeing him."
"That's it, Angel. Try to remember what you haven't told me."
I think I did my best to bring myself back to that night. "The kitchen. I went there to look for Elisa because I hadn't seen her for long, and there was Kevin who asked me to drink, but I refused, but he insisted, and after that glass... I can't remember anything after that." "Try to, Angel. You drank what he gave you, and what did you do after that?" Harry urged me, using his lawyer voice.
"I got dizzy, everything was moving, and..."
And I saw Sofia going up the stairs.
"Angel, what else?"
"... Elisa's voice. I think I heard Elisa, and she asked if I was okay, but I am not sure it was her. Someone carried me... and I can't remember anymore."
I drank the drink I was holding in my own fridge.
"Okay, that's a good thing. Now I want to ask, is it Kevin who drugged you? But for what reason?"
"Probably because Sofia asked her to."
Harry gave me a flat look. "Really? He left her after taking her virginity, and you think Sofia will ask him for a favor?"
"Well, I don't know. I'm talking for the sake of talking. I didn't even remember he was there."
"Are you sure you didn't see Sofia anywhere? Why were you there?"
"I saw her from afar, but we didn't talk. Not before they drugged me."
"I need to work with her in order to..."
I cut him off. "Work? What are you going to do?"
"My word is to find the culprit of this mess, but I need to talk to Sofia as well. There is an answer, and only she can give that."
He was about to leave, but I called him. "Harry, why did you come here? I'm sure it's not because of the past."
"Oh, right. Let-tech confirmed the appointment for tomorrow, so I wanted to talk to you about the pointers, even though you don't need them, but..."
"You do it. You know I don't want anyone to know that I'm the owner. You are my representative."
"But I told them that they were meeting with the owner and not the representative."
"Have they seen you?" He shook his head. "Therefore, they have no idea you are not the owner, so represent me. I have other things to do than negotiate with them, Harry." "I'll do that, and you think about what I said."
He left my office, and I did just that. I tried to remember everything until I lost track of time. And I eventually did; my mind went back to that night where everything started. "Angel, are you okay?" Someone asked at the party.
"Sofia?" You're here. Why did you do that?
"You don't look so well; what did you drink? Why are you like this?" You are the reason. You made me like this.
"Let's go. I'll help you to the bed before you hurt yourself." I know what you'll do to me.
"You're so beautiful. I like your smile."
"And you're handsome, but you have no idea what you're saying."
"I love you." I love you, Sofia. "You are the most beautiful thing I laid my eyes on."
"Rest, Angel. You are not well."
"You smell so good. Stay here with me. On top of me."
"Let's go, big guy. Let me go so I can help you."
"Why don't you want to marry me?"
"Because you don't want to. You don't love me." No, that's not true. I love you..
.
"Okay. Let's take this off you."
"Do you want to see me naked? I dreamed of seeing you naked every day."
"Really? Okay. But let's talk about that when you're sober."
"Hey!"
"Ouch, Angel. Let go of me."
"Marry me, and I swear to make you the happiest. No one will love you like I do."
"Yes. I want to marry you."
"I knew you'd say yes because you love me."
"Always."
What is this?
"Mr. Leffman? Mr. Leffman?"
I woke up with a start and was breathing heavily. I realized I was in my office, and my secretary was in front of me.
I composed myself and groaned. "I must have fallen asleep. What time is it?"
"It's already dark outside, sir. I was about to close everything when I saw you."
I remember my dream, but was it really a dream or... a memory? But it's as if I really tasted the sweetness of her lips and her warmth. What if it wasn't a dream and it really happened? "Sir?" My secretary called me, pulling me out of my thoughts.
"I'm fine, don't worry. You may go now." I dismissed her.
I looked at the time and decided to visit my parents' house for dinner. Because that is what I need right now. A distraction.