CHAPTER 54
SOPHIA
I strolled into the school courtyard, Jannette was there, looking like the epitome of curiosity. Her eyes practically sparkled with questions, and I couldn't help but smile at her inquisitive expression.
Jannette nudged me playfully, "Spill the beans, Sophia! How did your grand plan to win Henry's forgiveness unfold?"
I chuckled, "Oh, it was both nerve-wracking and exhilarating. Picture this – a dimly lit room, candles flickering, soft music in the background."
Jannette's eyes widened, "Wait, you set up a whole romantic scene? Sophia, you're turning into a regular romance novel protagonist!"
I rolled my eyes, "Well, Henry deserves a little drama now and then. Anyway, he walks in, sees the setup, and his expression... priceless. For a moment, I thought I'd accidentally transported us into a cheesy romance movie."
Jannette laughed, "And then what happened?"
I grinned, "He kissed me – not a cliché movie kiss, mind you, but a genuine, 'I forgive you' kind of kiss. It was sweet and unexpected."
She wiggled her eyebrows, "Spicy! I bet that made up for any lingering awkwardness."
I nodded, "It did, and we talked. About us, about work, about how some guys in the office can't understand the meaning of 'professionalism.'"
Jannette leaned in, intrigued, "Spill the office tea, Sophia! Who's causing a stir now?"
I sighed, "It's Jake, that intern. He thought it was a good idea to harass me, and Henry ended up throwing punches to defend my honor."
Jannette's eyes widened, "Punches? Sophia, your life is turning into a soap opera."
I chuckled, "Tell me about it. Anyway, it all got sorted, but I never expected office drama to escalate like this."
Jannette shook her head, "Well, you always manage to keep things interesting. Now, spill more about this romantic setup. Did Henry appreciate the effort?"
I grinned, "He did. Henry's not one for over-the-top romantic gestures, but he appreciated the sentiment. We talked about how some men make the office space toxic for women, and he was genuinely angry about it."
Jannette nodded in agreement, "Good on him for standing up against workplace harassment. And good on you for planning a romantic intervention!"
I laughed, "It was a wild ride, but hey, it worked. Henry and I are back to being our usual goofy selves."
Jannette raised an eyebrow, "Goofy, huh? I want to witness this 'goofy' side of Henry sometime."
I winked, "You might just get the chance. Speaking of which, he suggested we take a short trip during Thanksgiving instead of having guests over. I might have coerced him into it with a well-timed kiss."
Jannette grinned, "Well played, Sophia. You're turning into a master negotiator."
As Jannette and I continued our laughter-filled banter, the atmosphere shifted abruptly. I felt a presence, a shadow casting a chill over our light-hearted moment. Turning around, there he was – Jason.
I narrowed my eyes, "What do you want, Jason?"
He approached tentatively, almost as if he expected me to explode at any moment. Well, he wasn't wrong about that part.
"Look, Sophia, I know I messed up," he began, his tone carrying an unfamiliar sincerity. "I shouldn't have sent that photo to Henry, and I'm sorry."
I scoffed, "Sorry doesn't undo the damage, Jason. You hurt me, and you hurt my relationship."
He sighed, "Can't we just talk about it? I miss being your friend."
I crossed my arms, "Miss being my friend? You've got a funny way of showing it. Friends don't sabotage each other's relationships."
Jason shifted uncomfortably, "I was just confused. I thought maybe if Henry knew, he'd back off, and we could go back to being friends."
I shook my head, "You thought wrong. You meddled in something you had no business in, and now there's no going back."
He hesitated before asking, "Is it because of Henry? Are you choosing him over our friendship?"
I laughed bitterly, "Choosing him? Jason, you made that choice for me when you decided to play games with my personal life. We can't be friends again, not after this."
His expression darkened, "You're letting that old man control everything. Sophia, you're smarter than that."
I felt anger boiling within me, "Don't you dare disrespect Henry like that. He's not just 'some old man.' He's the person I love, and he's been more of a friend to me than you ever were."
Jason's eyes flashed with frustration, "You're blinded by this whole age thing. People will talk, Sophia. You'll be the gossip of the town."
I leaned in, my voice low and fierce, "Let them talk. I don't care. What I care about is the person I'm with, not what people think."
He scoffed, "You're making a mistake, Sophia. You'll regret choosing him over everything else."
I shook my head, "I won't. And you know what, Jason? I forgive you, but that doesn't mean we can ever be friends again. Not after this betrayal."
He took a step back, defeated, "I never thought you'd be so stubborn about this."
I shot back, "It's not about stubbornness; it's about respect and trust, something you clearly don't understand."
He turned to leave, muttering under his breath, "You're making a mistake, Sophia."
I didn't bother responding. Some mistakes were worth making, and choosing Henry over a friendship tainted by betrayal was one of them. As Jason disappeared from sight, Jannette put a comforting hand on my shoulder.
"You did the right thing, Sophia," she said, her eyes reflecting a mix of empathy and pride.
I nodded, "I know. It just hurts, you know? Losing a friend like that."
She squeezed my shoulder, "Sometimes, the people we thought were friends turn out to be toxic. You're better off without that drama."
****
I walked into the office, I felt a prickling sense of discomfort. And there he was—Jake, the source of my recent turmoil.
"You think you're untouchable because of Henry, huh?" Jake sneered, his tone dripping with arrogance.
I squared my shoulders, meeting his gaze head-on. "I don't fear you, Jake. Henry or no Henry, you can't intimidate me."
He chuckled, a condescending smirk on his face. "You're just a pretty face who got lucky. Daddy's little girl, right?"
I took a deep breath, refusing to let his words get under my skin. "I earned my place here based on merit, not because of who my father is. Can you say the same?"
Jake leaned in, invading my personal space. "You may have everyone fooled, but I see through you, Sophia. You're not as strong as you pretend to be."
I shot back, "You have no idea what strength is if you think harassing women is a display of power."
He laughed, a sound that sent shivers down my spine. "You're in over your head, sweetheart. This is how the real world works."
I scoffed, "No, Jake, this is how toxic people like you think the world should work. But I won't let you get away with it."
He raised an eyebrow, a smirk playing on his lips. "And what are you going to do? Run to Henry again? Cry on his shoulder?"
I took a step closer, my voice firm. "No, Jake. I'm going to make sure you understand that your behavior is unacceptable. Harassing women will have consequences."
He leaned back, crossing his arms. "You can't touch me, Sophia. You're just a girl with a famous last name."
I shot back, "Famous or not, I have the right to work without being harassed. And I'm not alone in this. There are laws and policies in place to protect employees from people like you."
He scoffed, "Laws? Policies? You're naive if you think those things matter."
I raised an eyebrow, a sly smile forming. "We'll see about that. I've already documented your harassment, Jake. And when I'm done, you won't dare harass another woman again in your life."
His laughter echoed as he walked away, but I stood my ground. I wasn't about to let him intimidate me or any other woman in the office. I had Henry's support, but more importantly, I had the strength to face toxic people like Jake head-on.
****
I juggled the demands of my work, a familiar face appeared in the office—Gwen. I mustered a smile, trying to keep things pleasant despite the mounting stress.
"Oh, look who it is. Daddy's favorite employee," Gwen sneered, her tone laced with sarcasm.
I took a deep breath, not letting her attitude get to me. "Hi, Gwen. What brings you here?"
She rolled her eyes, as if my mere presence offended her. "Just passing through. Though I'd see how the boss's daughter is doing, getting all those special privileges."
I raised an eyebrow. "I work hard for what I achieve here, just like everyone else. And for the record, Henry has nothing to do with my success."
Gwen chuckled, a bitter sound that grated on my nerves. "Please, Sophia. We all know you're just another one of Henry's distractions. He's using you, and you're too blind to see it."
I felt a surge of frustration but kept my cool. "Using me? Gwen, you couldn't be more wrong. Henry and I have a genuine relationship, and it has nothing to do with the workplace."
She scoffed, "Sure, keep telling yourself that. You're just a pawn in his game."
I clenched my fists, struggling to maintain composure. "Gwen, your bitterness is your problem, not mine. If you have an issue with your own career, don't take it out on me."
She leaned in, a sly grin on her face. "You know, Sophia, you're not the first pretty face he's brought into the office. But you'll be the first one he discards when he's done."
I shot back, "You're delusional. Our relationship is based on love and respect, something you clearly don't understand."
Gwen laughed, a harsh sound that echoed in the office. "Love? Please. You're just the flavor of the month. Henry will get tired of you soon enough."
I couldn't let her false accusations slide. "Gwen, I won't let you belittle my relationship. If you have a problem with me, keep it to yourself."
She smirked, clearly reveling in my discomfort. "I'm just warning you, Sophia. Henry doesn't stick around for long. You're not special."
I took a deep breath, determined not to let her get under my skin. "I don't need your warnings or approval. My relationship with Henry is between us, and it's none of your business."
Gwen scoffed, "We'll see how long it lasts."
I shook my head, realizing that arguing with her was futile. I turned back to my work, leaving Gwen behind. Some battles aren't worth fighting, and dealing with her bitterness was one of them.