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.