#34 “I had a Better Alternative.”
Sophia sat in her office, surrounded by a mountain of documents, her thoughts immersed in the intricacies of the investigation. The door to her office slammed open, and her assistant Trevor burst in, an urgency radiating from him. Without giving her a chance to speak, he launched into his news.
“Turn on the news on your TV,” Trevor demanded, his tone urgent and his face flushed. Baffled by his abrupt entrance, she questioned, “What’s going on?”
Trevor grabbed the remote without answering, the TV screen flashing to life and revealing a news segment featuring Michael.
Reporters swarmed around him in front of the hotel they had met at just two days prior. The reporters’ barrage of questions filled the air.
“So, you’re asserting that Sophia had no involvement in the bribery?” they questioned, their voices eager for his response.
A smug smile curved Michael’s lips as he responded confidently. “Absolutely. I’ve obtained the footage from the lobby cameras that show me and Miss Johnson engaged in a conversation with me at the exact time she’s accused of arranging the bribe.”
As if on cue, the video played on the screen, capturing their interaction in the hotel lobby, effectively providing an alibi for the time in question.
“As this evidence will be presented in court,” Michael continued, his tone resolute, “I’m committed to seeing this through until the case is clarified. The truth will be established under the scrutiny of the judge.”
With those words, he reentered the hotel, the reporters trailing after him with a flurry of additional questions.
The news segment continued, a reporter’s voice questioning him about the bouquet of flowers he was holding during their encounter, and whether he and Sophia had a romantic connection.
Sophia turned off the TV relieved. Michael had managed to find concrete evidence to support her innocence and was willing to go to court to ensure her name was cleared. Despite her reservations about deepening her relationship with him, gratitude welled up within her.
“I’ll call him,” she decided. Trevor’s response was swift, a knowing smile on his lips as he handed her his phone. “I was already dialing.”
With a faint smile of her own, Sophia accepted the phone and prepared to express her gratitude to the unexpected ally who had stepped up to defend her reputation “Hello, Michael,” she greeted him.
זיי guess you’re watching the news,” he responded. “Thank you. I know you shouldn’t have bothered, and yet you supported me.” Her gratitude was evident, her words sincere.
“It was nothing. I just couldn’t help but notice in yesterday’s reports that it couldn’t have been you when we were together. I thought I’d give fate a little nudge,” he admitted.
“Would you like to have lunch together? I have to thank you,” Sophia proposed.
“On principle, I don’t do things for gratitude, but I wouldn’t miss the chance to have lunch with you for anything in the world,” he responded, his flirtatious undertone unmistakable. Sophia’s laughter danced through the line. “You do have a way with words, Michael.”
“See you in an hour,” he confirmed, his anticipation clear. “Don’t make a reservation; I have one place in mind,” she directed.
“Okay, then I’ll wait for you,” he agreed. Sophia had arranged for a car to pick up Michael from his office. She had chosen The Sartorial Bistro, a fabulous new restaurant in the heart of the city that had caught her eye. It was a place she had been meaning to visit for the past month, known for its fusion cuisine combining American flavors with global influences.
The restaurant boasted a breathtaking view of the entire city, and its walls were adorned with lush hedges, creating an ambiance that felt like an escape from the urban hustle.
When Michael arrived, a broad smile graced his face as he took in the setting. Sophia stood, her smile matching his as she greeted him.
“I have to admit, Sophia, the place is superb,” Michael remarked.
“I’m glad you like it. I wanted to do something special to express my gratitude for the help you provided,” she replied. Michael waved his hand dismissively. ” That’s enough, it’s nothing.”
With a playful glint in his eye, he reached into his pocket. “This is for you.” He handed her a small box, curiosity dancing between them.
Sophia blinked in surprise as she accepted the box, her tone intrigued. What’s this?”
“Open it and see,” he encouraged. As the lid opened, it revealed a pair of earrings, strikingly similar to the ones she had lost. Her surprise was followed by her laughter.
“God, there was no need,” she protested.
“I saw them in a shop window and couldn’t resist,” he confessed. They were about to settle into their seats when a folder suddenly fell before Sophia, disrupting the moment. The familiarity of the voice that followed made her heart skip a beat.
“Here’s your evidence,” the voice declared, leaving her stunned. Sophia turned to find Alexander standing there, holding a collection of documents.
“Hello to you too. To what do I owe this appearance?” Sophia’s tone held a hint of nagging curiosity as she addressed Alexander’s sudden presence.
“I have a detailed report from the hotel by minutes and seconds of where you were. Backed up with videos of the corridors you passed through. Proving that you had nothing to do with the bribe,” Alexander’s voice held a matter -of-fact tone as he delivered the news.
“I already took care of that,” Michael responded smugly.
“I saw your little appearance. If you think you’re proving something with just this video, it’s a good thing you didn’t become a lawyer. Your vision only shows a small amount of time that Sophia was out of the room. She could have bribed the lawyer ten minutes later.”
“Stop it, Alexander,” Sophia’s irritation seeped into her words as she intervened on Michael’s behalf. She appreciated his help, and Alexander’s dismissive tone was getting under her skin.
“A reporter was also admitted to the hotel at the time. Made him testify. Which are described here and prove your innocence, Alexander continued unbothered.
Sophia blinked in surprise, taken aback by the extent of his actions. “I told you not to worry, I was going to be fine on my own.”
“I did it anyway. Which means I don’t always take orders from you,” Alexander’s voice held a hint of smug satisfaction as he spoke, a touch of a smile playing on his lips.
“And how did you find us here?”
Michael’s curiosity was evident in his question. “I don’t have all day to wait for Sophia to return to the office, so I spoke to her secretary,” Alexander’s response was simple, leaving both Sophia and Michael slightly surprised.
Sophia regarded Alexander with a hint of suspicion. Her assumption that her assistant wouldn’t divulge such information for any reason made her wonder about the extent of Alexander’s connections.
Without invitation, Alexander took a seat nearby and ordered lunch for himself. Michael couldn’t help but comment, “Isn’t it a bit impudent to come uninvited?”
Alexander’s gaze fixed on Michael. His presence stirred an internal annoyance, as he was well aware of Michael’s motives for spending time with Sophia. It was only to make him angry.
I guess you’re not on a romantic date, I don’t see why I shouldn’t join,” Alexander’s response carried a touch of assertiveness.
“No, we’re not,” Sophia quickly clarified, her voice firm. “Which doesn’t automatically make you invited. But since we’ve gathered to say thank you for Michael’s help, I don’t see why I shouldn’t treat you too. After all, you helped me too.”
Lunch continued with an undercurrent of tension, as Alexander and Michael exchanged biting comments, making the atmosphere palpably awkward. Despite their verbal sparring, Sophia chose to focus on the food, determined not to get caught up in their drama.
She didn’t want their past conflicts to overshadow the present. As the meal concluded, she thanked Michael once more for his help, a genuine smile gracing her lips. Outside the restaurant, Alexander offered to drive Sophia to her office, a gesture that she had come to expect despite her protests.
“You know, Alexander, I was doing great before I met you. I don’t know what this obsession is with driving me everywhere,” Sophia says.
Instead of taking offense, Alexander chuckled at her comment. “Sophia, I have work in the same direction, and I prefer to spare you the trouble. I don’t understand your obsession with forever denying me. She shot him a mockingly incredulous look. As they settled into the car, his driver took over.
“What is it with Michael?” Alexander’s question cut through the silence, addressing the topic that had been hovering inside his head since lunch. Sophia hesitated for a moment, weighing her words. “I wanted to thank him for his help. And he bought me earrings.”
Alexander raised an eyebrow. “You don’t strike me as a woman easily impressed by trinkets.” Sophia laughs. “Not that you deserve an explanation, but I had lost similar earrings, and he said he bought them for me because they reminded him of the ones I lost.”
“And you believed him?”
Sophia bristled at his implication. ” What does that mean?” “Don’t be fooled by his facade, he’s rotten to the core,” Alexander’s words carried a note of warning.
As the car navigated the city’s central streets, Alexander ordered the driver to make an unexpected stop. Sophia’s curiosity was piqued as she questioned his actions.
“You will see,” he replied cryptically, stepping out of the car and disappearing into a nearby store. Sophia sighed audibly, feeling mildly irritated by Alexander’s unpredictable behavior. Waiting for him felt like an imposition.
After a while, Alexander returned to the car, retrieving the box of earrings Michael had gifted her and promptly tossing it into the trunk.
“Hey…” Sophia scolded him, her protest trailing off when she realized he wasn’t done. “These will suit you much better,” he commented, his tone strangely sincere as he handed her another box.
Sophia was on the verge of voicing her discontent when she opened the box he had given her. A gasp escaped her lips as she took in the sight of the exquisite jewelry inside. The craftsmanship was impeccable, and at the end of each earring was a sparkling ruby. She looked up at Alexander, speechless for a moment. He met her gaze with a faint smile.
“I think red is your color,” he commented softly.
Sophia quickly composed herself. “What’s wrong with you, Alexander? You can’t just throw someone’s gift away like that,” she scolded him, her frustration clear in her voice.
He raised an eyebrow in response, not showing any remorse for his actions. They didn’t suit you, and I had a better alternative.”
She frowned. “You don’t get to decide what suits me or not. But thank you, this pair is very beautiful.”
Alexander looked at her confused. Her response was unexpected – he was used to her declining his offers or acting cold toward him, even when he did something good for her.
He contemplated asking her about the reasons behind her apparent dislike for him but quickly thought better of it. This type of conversation never seemed to lead anywhere positive.
As they continued their drive, Sophia’s thoughts turned to more serious matters. As she went through the documents he had provided, something caught her attention – Emily’s presence at the hotel during the time the alleged bribery took place.
