Chapter 8
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” Hello,” the air around Chris sparked with electricity as he heard that voice. His entire mind went numb with that tone. With what he already heard from Liam, he just hoped she is really fine.
” When someone gives you their number, you are supposed to call them Soph,” Chris said trying to ignore the obvious tension between them. He doesn’t want her to know he knew everything about her in order not to look like a total creep.
” I’m… Hmmm.. the day has been busy for me. I’m sorry” Sophie replied trying to control her nerves. She tried to work out the entire conversation in her head. How she was going to go about it without sounding stupid and desperate but she doesn’t have any plans right now. She wished she had learned about men earlier and had an idea of how they think or what they want but she just doesn’t know what to do about it.
” No, it’s okay Soph. I’m just glad you called. How has your day been? Oh, I forgot you said you had a long one. Can you tell me about it?” now he was rambling. It baffles him how this semi-stranger is making him a rambling mess. His employees don’t even dare look at him the wrong way because they fear him but he is nervous about the opinion of someone he just met yesterday.
” Nothing much happened. I’m fine, I just wanted to give you a call. I …. Hmm okay bye” she stammered before ending the call. She let out a full breath.
” It’s either you do it or you die” her inner voice whispered to her.
“Well, I can’t. What would he think of me?” she said out loud.
” What do you think about dying?” the snarky voice replied again and she groaned out, she pressed her fingers to her temple to ease the growing headache. She has seen enough today only, from waking up with a stupid hangover and seeing what her friend’s ex did to their room then coming to her house to find her brother getting beaten up and her father tied. She didn’t even know when she started sobbing. Her head hurts and the worst part of the entire situation is that she can’t even share the situation with her close friends. She places her face into her palm trying to drown out her tears.
Her phone rang again and she quickly wipe her tears so she can see the caller.
Chris was calling her back and she had to have a mental war with herself before she picked up again.
“Hello. I’m sorry for hanging up on you” she said. Her voice was void of any proof she had been crying earlier.
” no, it’s okay. I know I probably bombard you with all those questions. I’m sorry” he said and she let out a breath again.
” so are you kind of busy right now?” he asked.
” No, I’m not. I’m free” She shook her head as if she was in front of him.
” I just texted you an address. Can you come and meet me there?” Chris sounded serious and right about the time her phone rang notifying her of an incoming message. She clicked her inbox while still on call with him. The place is not far just a street away from hers.
” But I thought you are working right now?” she said but he let out a soft laugh.
” There are some perks to being the CEO don’t you know?” He joked and she blushed a little. She wondered why he suddenly wants to see her when she was the one that needs his presence right now.
” Alright I’ll be there in thirty minutes”
“Okay then. I can’t wait to see that pretty of yours soon” The words flew out of his mouth before he could stop himself. He wasn’t planning to flirt with her but his brain and mind weren’t working together.
Sophie could feel herself blushing, many men have called her pretty in the past but none have had this effect on her. The simple comment manages to calm her nerves down. She hung up on him and rushed inside she heard Noah groan in pain.
She kicked the door open trying not to panic, he father is asleep already and she fears what might be wrong to get brother at the moment.
” Noah, what is wrong? Are you okay?”
She found him panting and sweating still on his bed, he was running a very high temperature.
” Oh my God, you are having a fever.” she cried out, her heartbeat speeding up again. She feel herself getting teary but she wiped her tears with the back of her hand. Running through the cabinet she found a pack of paracetamol and she rushed to the kitchen to get a glass of water.
Noah closed his eyes in disgust at the drug. He had always hated swallowing pills and everything that has to do with sickness and drugs.
” I’m fine Fifi” he croaked out.
” No, you have are not. Can you sit up? Or do we need to go to the hospital?” she asked with worry evident on her face. But inside her question is a threat. If there’s anything Noah gated more than taking drugs or swallowing a pill, it is hospitals. He hated hospitals so much that he will never visit anyone there. He believed the hospital took his mom from him so he has always been bitter towards that particular building ever since their mother died.
Sophie watched her brother take the pills while making a face as if he was about to face a firing squad. He swallowed it and stare at his sister with an expression that reads. “Happy now?”
Sophie smiled, at least nothing is threatening his life for now. She removed the covers from his body and stare at the bruises on his arms, back, and neck. She removed the Band-Aids she applied earlier and replaced them with new ones.
“It’s all Dad’s fault. If he was responsible we wouldn’t be in this position right now” Noah blurted out while his sister was tendering to his wounds. She brushed his Auburn hair aside so she apply an ointment on a finger mark on his neck. He likes his hair longer than most boys his age.
” You don’t have to blame him, it was his way of mourning his dead wife,” Sophie said gently.
” And thanks to his style of mourning, people are going to be mourning us soon. Very cool don’t you think?” He said sarcastically earning a light smile from Sophie. She grabbed his arm and turned him around to face her.
” I’ll fix this Noah. I promise. Nobody will mourn anybody I promise” she assured him with a smile.
” I may be an adolescent but I’m not as dumb as most of them. How will you get Ten thousand dollars by working a few hours in a coffee shop? Or babysitting? Or your other job at the supermarket? In just one week? Even with those three jobs. We barely manage basic things and with a debt? Are you a magician?” Noah said with an angry stare. He is both scared and hurt on his sister’s behalf.
” I hmm”
” No Fifi, I have always pitied you. You have been working and taking care of us ever since Mama died even though you don’t need to. You did everything selflessly just to provide for us, you wore faded clothes so I could have new ones, you starve so I could. You’ve been a wonderful sister anyone could have asked for. And all this? Is going down the drain because father decided to be the irresponsible idiot he is” He struggled to keep his pained expression in check.
” don’t talk about your father like that Noah” Sophie warned.
” Life is so unfair to you!” he cried out.
” you deserve good things too. To have the company of friends, probably a boyfriend too, get married to the love of your life, or follow your dreams. You don’t have to sacrifice everything for the family that kept on bringing you down. Breathe Fifi” He added.
” you are part of this family, you idiot,” she said punching his arm lightly. They both laughed and she thought about everything he said, her brother is too smart to be a fifteen-year-old.
” I may probably not survive this loan shark brouhaha I think. But if I do, I’ll start working once I’m sixteen,” he said puffing out his chest proudly.
” We will all survive this. I promise you baby” she said softly ruffling his hair.
” How?” he cried out.
” Don’t worry. I’ll find a way out. Oh my God! I have to go now. I’ll be back soon” she said finally remembering she has an appointment with Chris.
” if you notice any strange movement, don’t hesitate to call the police. Or dial my number okay?” grabbing her jacket she told him.
” Where are you even going?” he called after her.
” I’ll be back soon. Hopefully with good news”