#42 “I Can’t Believe I Let Myself Trust You.”
In the brisk morning, Sophia received a message from her best friend, Evelyn, asking to meet for coffee. Despite her overflowing schedule, Sophia hadn’t seen Evelyn in a while and decided to make time for her.
Swiftly, Sophia got ready and left her apartment. The café was conveniently close, so she opted for a leisurely walk.
Upon entering the café, she glanced around but didn’t spot Evelyn. Sophia figured her friend was running late and decided to take a seat, patiently waiting.
As she settled into her chair, a man unexpectedly joined her table. Sophia furrowed her brow, ready to make a pointed remark, but then she recognized him. It was one of the journalists who had aggressively pursued her a few days ago.
Sophia had refused to engage with him then, and she had no intention of divulging any information now.
“My answer will remain the same as before: ‘No comment.’ Please go away; I’m waiting for someone,” Sophia stated firmly. The man wore a wicked smile but refused to budge from his seat.
“Ms. Johnson, I presume you’re waiting for Evelyn?” he retorted. Sophia felt something was amiss but remained composed. “That’s none of your business,” she replied curtly.
“Well, as a journalist, it’s my job to know everything about everyone. And I’ve learned some rather intriguing things about you.”
“I don’t care. Leave me alone.”
“You’re clearly not in the mood for games. Good, because I’ll be direct. I know you’re Alexander Stone’s ex-wife. Sophia remained silent, her expression one of disdain. While she had no desire for this information to go public, it wasn’t exactly a bombshell. She could handle it.
The journalist tossed a folder in her direction. Sophia caught it and perused the documents. The evidence was undeniable. He wasn’t bluffing.
“I also know that you’re the one who exposed the irregularities in Williams’ business. Impressive work, I must say, but you’re a lawyer, not a journalist, and you haven’t covered your tracks very well.”
“And I assume you were hired by Barbara to deliver this news to me?” Sophia inquired, her tone sharp.
Sophia marveled at the lengths the Williams family would go to cause her trouble. While she didn’t precisely understand their animosity toward her, it seemed to stem from Emily’s relentless desire to humiliate her at every turn.
“No, dear Sophia, I’m here to inform you that unless you comply with my request, I’ll go public with everything.”
“Are you trying to blackmail me?”
Sophia responded with an icy calm.
“Precisely.”
“And what, pray tell, do you want from me?”
“I want you to publicly admit that it was you who leaked the news about the Williams family, with the intention of damaging their reputation.”
“Interesting. If you already have the information, why don’t you release it yourself?” Sophia asked.
“My employer would be delighted to see you face the consequences of your own actions. After all, it was you who spread the news, and you should be the one to rectify it. You should also experience the bitterness of the scandal that you unleashed.”
“Nope. That’s not going to happen. I won’t let some intrusive reporter dictate my decisions. You stay out of my work, and I’ll stay out of yours, alright?”
Sophia rose to leave, but the reporter firmly gripped her arm.
“Perhaps this will persuade you,” he said ominously. He showed her a photo of her best friend, Evelyn, bound and blindfolded in the back of a van. She had been abducted.
Sophia’s heart raced, and panic surged through her. She needed to think quickly. “If you want to see your friend unharmed,” the journalist warned, “I suggest you cooperate.”
Evelyn meant the world to her, and this news sent a shiver down her spine. But Sophia knew she had to stay calm and think rationally to resolve the situation.
With unwavering determination, Sophia refused to comply with the journalist’s blackmail attempt. She gathered the evidence he had given her and made a firm decision to leave, her thoughts already racing towards securing Evelyn’s safety.
As she rose from her seat, her voice firm but laced with concern, she addressed the journalist. “I won’t play your games.”
The journalist wore a sinister grin, seemingly unfazed by her rejection. ” You’re making a big mistake, Sophia.”
Sophia shot back with unwavering resolve, “I don’t negotiate with blackmailers.”
Just as Sophia was about to make her exit, the café door swung open, and Alexander walked in. His sharp eyes immediately caught sight of Sophia and the journalist at the table, their hushed conversation, and the scattered documents.
Suspicion washed over him like a tidal wave as he picked up the papers. When he took a glimpse at the content, his heart sank. The information in these files could not be more clear that Sophia was involved in some dubious scheme.
Sophia remained outwardly composed, but internally, her emotions were in turmoil. The situation had taken an unexpected turn, and now, with Alexander’s involvement, it became even more complicated. Alexander began directly, taking the papers from her hands.
His voice heavy with accusation, demanded answers. “Sophia, is this what you’ve been up to? Working with my ex-wife behind my back, altering our divorce papers?”
Sophia, her demeanor outwardly composed but her heart racing, met Alexander’s gaze with a resolute calm. She didn’t deny the allegations; instead, she chose silence as her response, her eyes locking onto his.
“You’re also conspiring with journalists and spreading information? he continued to accuse her. The tension in the café grew palpable. Alexander, unable to contain his frustration, raised his voice. “Sophia, you owe me an explanation. Did you collude with my ex-wife to change our divorce terms?”
Sophia finally replied, “Yes, Alexander. I played my part in those changes.”
Sophia felt shaken to her core, a storm of emotions raging within her. However, a firm sense of rationality prevailed, guiding her through the tempest of emotions. Her rational side told her that she didn’t need to explain her actions to him, that her motivations were driven by a deeper purpose.
Believing it all to be true, Alexander’s voice trembled with disappointment and heartbreak as he confronted Sophia. “So, it’s all true. You deliberately manipulated the facts, played with everyone’s emotions.”
Sophia met his gaze, her eyes filled with a profound sadness. However, she remained stubbornly silent.
Alexander continued, “I can’t believe I let myself trust you. You approached me only to manipulate me and profit from it.”
As Sophia maintained her silence, Alexander’s anger and disappointment reached their boiling point. Without another word, he abruptly rose from his seat, his face etched with fury. At that moment, he made a resolute decision.
He stormed out of the café, his heart heavy with a sense of betrayal. As he walked away, he couldn’t help but feel that this was the end of the road for him and Sophia. He vowed to himself that he would never seek her out again.
Alexander couldn’t believe he had allowed himself to be manipulated and deceived in such a way. He felt a deep sense of self-directed anger, berating himself for having ever let his guard down and allowing himself to develop feelings for her.
