Chapter 8 Eight

• "Why is he so fucking agitated". Sophia murmured as she stood by Lennox's door, listening as Len paced around the office. Sophia clutched her schedule pad tighter as she waited. The door pushed open, causing her to back away. Lennox stepped out of his office, startled as he took notice of her, but then he was striding off towards the elevator. She rushed after him, almost shouting his schedule at him in a rush.
• "... By noon, you have a business meeting with the men from the LC branch to plan the new strategy for producing the new batch of fabrics that would be used for the summer collection, you have your free hour by two pm for lunch and doctors appointment... " She almost stumbled into him as he halted abruptly in front of the elevator, Sophia quickly got it for him before he could, his finger coming to rest on her. He jerked away from the contact, his full glare directed at her. Lennox entered the elevator, not speaking a word to her. The door closed making Sophia swear. She ran out of the office, trudging down the stair-like her pants were on fire. She knew she wouldn't get there in time, so she jumped on the smooth rails of the stairs and then pushed forward. She slipped down the rail, almost dizzy at the speed. She reached the end, tumbling off and almost hitting her head on the wall. After steadying herself, she rushed towards the elevator, passing some of the workers and security, everyone minded their business, not sparing her a glance. The elevator pinged open. Lennox's eye widened just a fraction as he saw her standing before him. He stepped out.
• "At four o'clock, you have a dinner scheduled with Mr. Vince, a friend of yours from high school... That would be all sir" she heaved a breath, her chest burning from the exertion. He stared past her without saying a word or acknowledging that she was there. Lennox walked away, leaving her to stare after him. Sophia swore, almost clawing at her face with her nails.
• "Oh my God, he is such a jerk". Sophia sighed, she felt like pulling out his hair or something. She stepped into the elevator, pressing for the first floor. Her gaze darted as she took notice of Andria and her boss, walking out of the company, looking cozy as they conversed, stealing secret glances at each other before the elevator cut off her visual. "Wish he was my boss, this is so frustrating ugh".
• ********
• CLUB
• The neon lightning flashed making Andria wince as she poured drinks for her boss and his associates, she served each, forcing herself to smile. She watched her boss as he laughed, head thrown back. A real smile replaced the forced one Andria had been forcing.
• Peter, one of the associates, cleared his throat, raising his glass. "A toast for more deals to come".
• They all nodded, clicking glasses against the other. Markus turned to face Andria.
• "Pretty Andria, how long have you been working with this awful guy," he asked, pointing at Jonathan, her boss.
• Andria smiled, refilling his glass. "Two years sir, but Mr. Jonathan is not awful. He's the best".
• Marcus smirked. "That's just for show", he said, then looked her over. "You're really beautiful Andria".
• Andria felt Jonathan get tense beside her. "Thank you, sir, Markus, you're also really good-looking". Markus leaned towards her, but before he could say anything, Jonathan slapped his back, laughing nervously.
• "Hey, back off. Don't compliment my assistant, go get yours".
• Markus ignored him with a mischievous gaze directed at Andria. "Why don't you come work for me, Andria, how about a triple paycheck of whatever he pays you".
• "Come work for me, I'll pay four times what Markus here wants to offer you" Peter interjected, staring intensely at Andria.
• Andria cut glances at Jonathan who had his fist clenched, watching both men as if he wanted to murder them. Andria looked back at the two men who were expectantly waiting for her reply.
• "I quite like my job and the amount I'm being paid, so I'm sorry, but I'll have to decline both your offers". She answered and felt Jonathan relax beside her.
• "Nice try, but my assistant is faithful to her boss". His gaze fell on Andria, she smiled at him. Markus watched both of them skeptically.
• "You two look like you're in a relationship, is that a good thing?" He asked, forcing Andria's gaze to snap in his direction nervously, but it was Jonathan who spoke first.
• "Don't be ridiculous, I can never date an ordinary assistant, what sort of nonsense is it, I don't need any baseless rumors spreading about me Markus, besides I have my fiance waiting for me, she's studying right now, so fucking drop it ok".
• "So defensive. Andria, see I told you your boss was awful. You should consider my offer" he said but Andria just kept her head bowed, as Jonathan's words sank home. Jonathan drank more wine, laughing too hard even when the joke wasn't all that funny.
• *******
• I will not cry, not here, or anywhere, Andria told herself, as she inhaled and exhaled deeply to get rid of the prominent pain in her chest. Andria forced herself to chin up as she drove towards the company parking lot, she didn't want the others to see her and start to ask questions. Andria found an empty spot and parked.
• "That's all for today sir, should I call your driver to take you home, or do you prefer to drive yourself".
• "I didn't mean what I said earlier, I'm sorry, you know that right". His voice cut through the silence, making Andria jerk to face him. Jonathan leaned towards her, reaching for her hand, but she slapped his hand off. Her eyes snapped to his, her anger getting the best of her.
• "Don't touch me, I am just the ordinary assistant you can't stand to be with anyway".
• His face twisted in pain. "I'm sorry Andria, but you can't say this is all my fault, you don't want the world to find out about us right, they'll gossip behind our back, say shit about us that you don't want to hear".
• "Well if you truly love me, you won't be ashamed or get so defensive, or make up an imaginary fiance just to explain why you can't ever be with me" she accused, her eyes burning.
• "I'm not ashamed of you".
• "Of course, you'll say that, but we've been dating for a year now, and no one knows about us, not even my best friends, do you think that's healthy, how long are we going to keep this up, huh".
• He took her hand soothingly, his grip tightened when she made to pull away. "Not for long, Andria, just give me a little more time".
• She wrenched her hands away. "No Nathan, you've been saying that forever, at least Peter and Markus are not ashamed of me, maybe I might just consider their offer." She threatened, watching as Jonathan's gaze darkened, a muscle jerking at his temple.
• "You don't mean that Andria. You love me".
• "Yeah I do, but do you love me?" She asked, he was quick to reply, but she shushed him before he could speak. "Think it over before you answer that Jonathan because I don't feel that you love me at all". She pushed open the door, walking out before the broken look on his face crumbled her resolve.