“No you need to go. I have to sleep there.” I backed away to my bathroom door, and grabbed my robe.
“No no. I’m good.” He rolled onto his side watching me through his hazy eyes.
“No, you’re not.” I pulled my pillow away from him. “You need to leave.”
“You can sleep here too.” He grabbed my wrist, and pulled me down next to him, causing me to drop the pillow. He leaned up, still keeping hold of my wrist.
“Please, let me go.” I whimpered, trying to jerk my arm as panic ran through my entire body. He tried to kiss me, but I turned my head quick enough. I tried to scoot away, but he was so much stronger than me. He let out an eerie laugh. It was as if I turned to jello, and I lost all strength. Every horrifying thought ran through my mind. “Leave me alone!” I screamed. His grip wouldn’t release.
“What the hell are you doing?!” Stefan’s booming voice came from the doorway. Sam was yanked up by the collar, and thrown against the wall.
“Nothing!” Sam tried to break Stefan’s grip, but it only made his fists clench harder.
“Does it look like she's having fun?!” He banged Sam’s back up against the wall again. “Actually don’t you dare look at her. You don’t have a right too.”
“What’s your problem, Stef?!” He yelled and grabbed hold of Stefan’s wrists.
“If I hadn’t known you since we were in school, I would have beat your face in by now.” Stefan said through his teeth.
Sam jerked around, trying to break free from Stefan. “She’s just some girl. I don’t know why you care so much.”
“First off she’s not just some girl, and second you need to get the hell out of my house.” Stefan shoved Sam toward the door to my room, letting him go. Sam ran straight into my door causing a loud bang.
“I didn’t even do anything.” Sam growled as he steadied himself.
“You’re so drunk; you don’t even know what you would have done. So, don’t try to justify yourself. At this point you need to leave, or I'm going to throw you out myself! I don’t care where you go. Just get the hell out!” Stefan grabbed him by his shirt again, and dragged him out of my room.
I could hear them fumbling down the stairs, then a loud bang as the front door was slammed shut. “What are you all looking at? Party is over!” Stefan yelled, and I heard him stomp back upstairs. I could only assume he was yelling at our friends.
My body was still in shock, I felt as if I was out of my own skin, watching from the outside. I leaned against the corner of my room, and slid down into a ball. I can wake up from this nightmare now. Wake up, Soph. Wake up.
Stefan walked back into my room, and kneeled down in front of me. “Did he hurt you?”
“No.” I winced from his touch, and leaned back against the wall.
“Sorry I didn’t mean...” He stopped before finishing his sentence, and pulled back. I looked up into his eyes. I could feel the rage from his anger, but his eyes...his eyes studied my face. I could see him searching. For what, I don’t know.
“It’s ok.” I finally replied.
“It’s not ok. Did he do anything?”
“No, it never got that far. I was just afraid. He was drunk. I don’t think he would have done anything.” I could hear the lie I was telling. I have no clue what would have happened.
“That’s not an excuse.” He said lowly.
Suddenly tears started to fall, I couldn’t hold them in anymore, as the shock started to wear off. Stefan pulled me toward him, taking me in his arms, as I sat there crying on the floor.
“I don’t want to be here. I want to go home.” I mumbled through my tears.
Stefan’s arms wrapped under me, picking me up. My head rested into his chest, and my hand gripped his shirt. He carried me up to his room, lying me down on his bed. “You can sleep here.”
He started to walk away, but I grabbed his hand. “Don’t leave.”
“I’m not, I’ll sleep on the sofa.” He squeezed my hand, and walked over to his dresser. “Do you want to change?” He held a sweatshirt and shorts out for me.
I forgot that I was still half dressed in my costume and robe. I sat up on his bed, and took the clothes from him, making my way to his bathroom. My reflection was rough, I looked at my tear stained face in the mirror, I felt sick from the thoughts of tonight. My body leapt toward the toilet, but nothing came; just a bunch of dry coughing and tears.
A knock on the door made me jump, then I heard Stefan’s voice, “Soph, are you ok?”
“No.” I curled up on the bathroom floor, and I wasn’t. Harassment, no matter how small, will make you not feel like yourself.
“I’m going to come in ok?” His voice was tender. I heard the door slowly open. I could feel his eyes on the pathetic sight that I was. He slid down next to me against the wall. “I got you. You’re safe here. I won’t leave.” He whispered. He just let me cry. I don’t even know why I was crying so much. Probably the alcohol, but even the smallest incident isn’t unworthy of tears. I could feel his hands pulling me closer to him, and resting my head on his lap. I’m ok here. This is ok. I'll be ok.
Chapter Fifteen
Sophia
My eyes were puffy from the amount of crying I did last night. My fingers were gripping the white comforter. It was one of those comforters that looked like clouds. The sun was coming through the windows, causing this calm feeling. I stretched my arms above my head, and sat up. I looked down at my clothes to find that I was still in my robe from last night. I must have fallen asleep. I looked over at the sofa that Stefan said he was going to sleep on. A blanket and pillow were there, but no Stefan.
I picked up the sweatshirt and shorts he had laid out for me and made my way to the bathroom. I stared at the mascara smudge face looking back at me. A hot mess is what I was. I turned the faucet on, and washed the remaining makeup down the drain. I heard a door close. I grabbed a towel to dry my face off with.
I peeked out of the bathroom, but no one was in the room. I walked over to make the bed, and noticed a small coffee and lemon scone; from the coffee shop that Stefan and I went to. A small smile appeared on my face, as I picked up the coffee. Coffee in hand, throw blanket wrapped around my shoulders I sat on the window seat, staring out at the street. Last night was long, and I still felt a little off.
“Good Morning.” Stefan’s voice came from the doorway.
I situated my body around to where my back was facing the window. “Where did you go?”
“I wanted to give you space.”
“And this?” I held the coffee up.
“It’s nothing. I just wanted to make you smile.”
“It might have worked.” I smiled, and pressed the warm cup to my lips.
He moved toward me, and sat down on the other end of the window seat. “How are you?”
“I’m better.”
“He won’t come near you again.” He looked forward, leaning against the window.
“What does that mean?”
“Don’t worry about that.”
I sighed, and pulled my legs up under me. “I don’t get you, or your family.”
“Why do you say that?”
“Don’t worry about it.” I said sarcastically.
“Not fair. That’s different.”
“I met your Dad and Brother.”
“I know.” He stood up, and walked over to the other window next to the piano.
“How did you know? Is that why you’ve been so weird?”
“My family thinks they are the only ones who can find things out. They’re buying the company right? That’s what they do. They think they can control anything and everyone. Including their own family.” He kept staring out the window, as if his mind was elsewhere.
“What would buying VAS have to do with you?”
“It’s not what would the company have to do with me, it’s who works there that does.”
“Me?”
“They see you as an opportunity. They want you to help me see the l
ight.”
“And what light is that?”
“To take my place in our family company. Be a conniving asshole. I can’t be that kind of leader; I won’t be that kind of boss. My father has done things his way for forever, and I just don’t agree with him.”
“What about your mom?”
“She’s worse. She does whatever my father says, as long as she gets her weekly spa visits and shopping trips. The funny thing is, the business was her father’s, my grandfather’s. Thomas and I were just too young to take over when he passed.”
I sat quietly for a few seconds, and then finally spoke, “You can’t change something if you’re not involved. I mean if you want it to be different, you have to be involved to do anything about it.”
A side smile appeared on his face. “Why are you so smart?”
“I try.” I smiled, taking another sip of my coffee.
“There's that smile.” His gaze lingered on me, as if he were soaking me in.
“I think maybe it’s time for me to emerge from your room.” I un-wrapped the throw blanket off of my shoulders, and set it at the foot of his bed. “Thank you for last night.”
“You don’t need to thank me.”
I stood at the entrance of my bedroom, staring into it. It was as if there was an invisible wall. My body wouldn’t enter the room, as my eyes locked in on my bed. My body jumped from the touch of Stefan’s hand on my shoulders.
“I’ll get your things. Tell me what you want, and I'll bring it up to my room.”
“Ok... Just my straightener, blue top, and jeans that are on the dresser.”
A few moments later Stefan entered his room carrying all of the items I requested. He’s been so sweet, and caring. I don’t know how to feel at this moment. Am I supposed to feel something right now?
“I’m sorry about all of this.” I told him.
“You have nothing to be sorry about.”
I picked up my blue shirt that he set on his bed. “I just don’t want to be a burden.”
He took my hand, stepping in front of me, “You are the furthest thing from a burden. Don’t ever feel like that.”
After straightening my hair and changing my clothes, I texted Keira to see where she was. I needed to get out of the house, and Keira is always so positive. She’s the perfect person to get you out of a funk.
Me: Hey
Keira: Don’t come downstairs.
Me: Why?
Keira was taking too long to reply, and my curiosity got the best of me. My first thought was Sam came home, but there would probably be a lot more shouting if that was the case. As I slowly crept down the stairs, I started to hear voices.
Stefan
I held the front door open, “Thomas, what are you doing here?”
He forced his way past me into the living room. “What? I can’t check in on my little bro?”
“No, you can’t. Because I could care less to see you.” I shut the door, and followed behind him. My eyes caught Keira’s who stopped walking, and turned back around into the kitchen when she saw Thomas.
“That’s harsh.” He said, as he walked slowly around the room. “Where’s your lady friend? What’s her name? Sophia?”
“Don’t worry about her.” My voice became deep, the moment he brought her up.
He looked at me, surprised by my reaction, “What? I need to check in on my investment.”
“She is not part of the deal you’re making.” I said firmly.
“Sure she is.” He stepped closer to me with a smirk. “Everyone can be bought.”
His eyes drifted past me. I turned to see what he was looking at and I saw Sophia standing there. Her brow was furrowed, her lips pressed together.
She stepped closer to us, arms folded across her chest. “Look, Thomas is it? I am a part of no deal. You might be the soon to be owner of my job, you might be Stefan’s brother, and you can fire me if you want, but after the past 24 hours that I have had, I can’t handle another prick thinking he can do what he wants. So, excuse me if I cut you short, but this conversation about me is over.”
I was staring at her blankly; I didn’t know what had just come over her.
“She’s feisty, Stefan. I like it. I wonder what Mum will think of this one.” He waited for a reaction from her, but she stood there silently glaring at him. “I guess that’s my que.” He looked her in the eyes as he walked past her.
“Please, don’t come back.” Sophia said curtly, as she shut the door behind him.
“Damn, babe. What was that?” I walked up to her as she turned around.
She looked at me puzzled, “Babe?”
I mirrored her confusion, until I realized what I had just called her.
“Well, as cute as this is, we should get going.” Keira walked in between us, opening the door, looking out. “Thomas already left. So it’s ok to leave.”
“Yeah...we should um go.” Sophia pointed toward the open door, grabbing her coat. She ran straight into the corner of the wall with her shoulder on the way out. “You didn’t see that.” She laughed, and reached for the door handle.
“I saw nothing.” I pressed my lips together trying not to laugh.
She peered her eyes at me with a small smile, and shut the door.
As she left, my anger toward my brother returned. I couldn’t believe he had the audacity to show up here not once, but twice unannounced. I’m not going to play his games again. I won’t fucking do it. My right hand had balled into a fist, my other wrapped around it as I was pacing back and forth. If he even thinks about coming close to her, I don’t know what I would do.
Before I knew it, I was in a car on my way to my father’s penthouse. The only way I could think about preventing anything from happening was going straight to the source of all my problems. My fucking father. A woman opened the door to the penthouse that wasn’t my Mum. I stared at her waiting for her to speak, but she just kept staring back.
“Can I help you?” I finally asked.
She stepped back holding the door open. “You must be Stefan; your father said you might stop by.”
“Guilty.” I stepped through the doors. “Is he here?”
“Yes, right this way.” She smiled, and held her hand out in the direction I needed to walk.
“Might I ask who you might be?”
“I’m Anne, your father’s new assistant.” She opened the door to my father’s study.
He was sitting behind his giant desk that he had imported from Spain. He was yelling at someone on the phone, he paused when he saw me, then went back to his conversation. I walked around the room waiting on him to get off the phone. I picked up a picture of our family on a table by the window. An annoyed laugh under my breath escaped me. The irony. I heard my father end his call, and turned to face him.
“Always keeping up the image aren’t you?” I set the picture down, and walked over to one of the chairs in front of his desk.
He ignored my question and waved for Anne to come back into the room. “How are you, Son?”
“Fine.”
“Anne, can you get us two drinks? Bourbon neat.”
I held my hand up. “I’ll pass. Thank you, Anne.”
She nodded, and walked out of the room.
“Don’t you think it’s a little early?” I asked him.
“That only applies to the common man, we make our own rules.” He leaned back in his leather chair.
“And alcoholics.” I said dryly.
“What are you really here to talk about? We both know it’s not just to check in.” My father opened a drawer, and pulled a vanilla folder out.
“For once you’re right about something. I need you to leave Sophia alone.”
His fingers ran along the edge of the file. “I don’t know who you are talking about.”
“Don’t play dumb with me. I know how you like to handle things.” I snapped.
He leaned to the side of his chair, staring at me. “Say I do know who you are talking about, why does sh
e matter so much?”
“She’s none of yours or Thomas’ business.”
Anne walked back in carrying my father’s drink on a small tray. He took it from her, and waved her off. “You’re my son; everything you do is my business.”
“Maybe ten years ago, but not anymore.” I leaned forward in the chair; he was starting to piss me off.
“She lives with you?”
“That doesn’t matter.”
“It matters enough for you to set your pride aside to come see me about her.” He sipped his whiskey, turning his chair to face the window.
“Maybe I'm just tired of your shit.” I stood up, debating on leaving. This might have been a useless visit. He finally pushed me too far.
He turned, and looked at me, as if he were carefully picking his words, “You will learn, with time. She will show her true colors.”
“What is that supposed to mean?”
“She comes from nothing. Small town. Her father is gone, and her mother is dating an alcoholic.” He picked up the file, and tossed it in front of me.
I picked it up, and slowly opened it. When I saw its contents I instantly threw it back on the table “You’re stalking her now?” My voice had risen.
“I’m just a concerned father.” He said as if he didn’t see anything wrong with his actions.
“The only thing you’re concerned with is yourself and this stupid company.” I snapped, and walked out of the room.
He set his drink down, and followed me into the living room. “You need to calm down.”
I turned around to face him, “Stop sending Thomas to my house to make me come see you.”
“I’d say it worked. Didn’t it?”
“Clearly.” I waved my hands around at my surroundings. “It won’t happen again.”
“Stefan, listen...”
“No, I’m done listening.” I cut him off. “Whatever this is, is crazy. You can’t control me anymore, and I damn sure won’t let you do anything to Sophia.” I turned and made my way toward the door.
My father walked up and placed his hand on the door. “Stefan, I’m trying to change. I need you to understand that.”
Until Then : Book 1 - Until Then Series Page 11
