Chapter 27
Sophie
“Imiss you,” Maddie sang as she entered my office.
I was grateful for the distraction because I hated that I had to be here. My mind was nowhere near the work I was supposed to be doing and I was tired of people whispering about me.
I never missed work for anything and had been gone for two weeks, so the stares and whispers were annoying.
“You don’t miss me. You’ve been under lock and key with Carlos, so I haven’t even been a second thought.”
Even though I had been with Trooper, Maddie was more or less doing the same thing with Carlos. From what I could tell, the two had gotten very cozy.
“I do miss you. I was trying to give you space, Sophie.” Maddie frowned at me before she leaned down to give me a hug, which ended with a kiss on the cheek.
“You’re happy,” I said, noticing her glow.
I motioned for her to shut my door. She did, then plopped down in the chair directly in front of my desk.
“I am. I’m happy, but so are you. I can see it all over your face,” Maddie said, returning my smile. “In love with a thug.”
We both laughed.
“Imagine that, but it doesn’t matter who they are as long as they make us smile, and boy are you smiling.”
“Oh, Sophie, you have no idea. That man…” Maddie fanned herself and grinned at me. “He is everything plus some. Who knew?”
“Knew what?” I questioned, a bit confused.
“Knew I had to go back to my roots to find the man of my dreams.”
“Explain, please?” Now I was extremely confused. It sounded as if Carlos and Maddie somehow knew each other. I wasn’t sure where Carlos was from, but Maddie had grown up right in the heart of Queens.
“We grew up blocks from each other and never once crossed paths. I used to think our lives, this life you and I have, would bring me happiness. That getting away from who I was or grew up being would somehow be a win, but all it got me was three wasted years with a man who basically purchased me as a show and tell item.”
“He didn’t purchase you, Maddie,” I said with sincerity. She wasn’t a gold digger or even the type obsessed with money. She had just married a wealthy man.
She shrugged. “He kinda did when you think about it. Richard was an arrogant asshole. He’s always been that way.
I’m not going to say I didn’t love him because that would be a lie, but I loved who I thought he was, not who he really was.
My life was good, Sophie. That’s why I stayed.
He made me miserable, but the lifestyle he offered made me happy.
So if we’re being real, he kinda purchased me. ”
I just stared at her, not sure what to say. It sounded terrible, but she was right in a sense.
“Don’t look like that. I don’t feel any type of way about it, so you shouldn’t. I mean, I did when Carlos brought it up, but it really made me take a look at myself.”
“What do you mean brought it up?” I said, cutting her off.
“Long story, but he basically asked if I had a price.”
“A price? That’s bullshit, Maddie.” I was angry about what he implied, trying to figure out why she wasn’t. Trooper’s best friend or not, he wasn’t about to disrespect Maddie.
“Relax, killer. He’s kind of blunt. You’ve been around him, so I’m sure you know that. He asked if I would go back to Richard, but the way he asked was like, ‘could he buy you back. Is there a price he could offer to make you stay?’
“As messed up as it was, he had the right to ask, and it was sorta cute because it was his way of being insecure. A man like Carlos doesn’t show any weaknesses or insecurities, but he did with me.
He didn’t want to get all cozy then I just said fuck it, the money’s good, I love my life, so I’m going back. I can’t really blame him for that.”
“Yes, you can,” I stated bluntly, rolling my eyes.
“No, I can’t. He was being honest and I respect him for that. At least we’re on the same page. I’m with him, he’s with me, and the rest we’ll figure out.”
“Have you heard from Richard?” I asked.
Lincoln had been extremely quiet. I wasn’t sure if that meant he’d gotten the message or if he was just trying to figure out how to ruin things for me.
“He’s been calling and texting every day, threatening me, but I haven’t answered.
Carlos wants to pay him a visit, but I don’t want that.
Richard knows people, and as much as Carlos says he’s protected, I don’t trust Richard.
I know what he’s capable of. I just want my divorce so I can move on and be happy.
If they keep crossing paths, it will end badly. ”
“Trooper threatened to kill William.”
“Seriously?”
“Yes, but he won’t because of me. I’m so mad at him, Maddie, but I don’t want him to die and I know Trooper will do it.”
“Are you going to go see him?”
“See who?”
“Your father?”
My head snapped up quickly as I peered at her.
“No, why would I do that? We don’t have anything to discuss. I just hope he will let me do my job and leave me alone.”
“Not William. Your real father.”
I paused for a minute to think about my answer. A part of me wanted to, but another part of me didn’t. I had no idea what to expect. I felt bad that he was in prison because of me, but also hurt that he hadn’t found a way to fight for me either. Everything was so messed up.
“I thought about it.”
“I think you should. You need to know him, or at least get his side of the story. Your mother loved him, Sophie. There has to be a reason for that. And Trooper loves him too. He can’t be all bad.”
“I don’t think he’s bad. I just don’t know him.”
“I think you should try. Talk to Trooper about it.”
“I will.”
She and I talked for a bit longer before she had to get her things from her house.
Carlos had an apartment in the city he was letting Maddie stay in.
She and her husband still shared a place.
Although he was never there, Carlos wasn’t trying to hear that.
It was cute to me how protective he was over Maddie already.
Carlos was good for her, the same way Trooper was good for me.
As I walked Maddie to the elevator, then headed back to my office, I noticed a few people in the boardroom, our VP and CFO with my father. I found it strange that they were there without mentioning anything to me.
“Hey, what’s going on in there?” I asked my father’s assistant after Maddie was gone.
“Board meeting. Why aren’t you in there?” Pauleen asked, looking confused.
Instead of answering, I marched over and pushed the glass door open. William glared at me and the others turned to see why.
“What’s going on?”
“None of your business. Get out, Sophie!”
“She needs to be here, William. If you’re trying to vote her out, she needs to be here,” Calvin said, looking at me sympathetically.
“Vote me out? What are you talking about?”
“This is my company. I don’t have to explain anything to you. Leave!” William said.
“This is your company that I basically turned around and revamped, and I’m CEO, so if this is company business I need to be here.”
“Fine, have a seat. Just don’t get upset when you hear something you can’t handle.” He glared at me again.
“No, I’ll stand. What do you mean by voting me out? Are you trying to take my position from me?”
“It’s not rightfully yours, is it, Sophie? You made that very clear.”
I laughed sarcastically. “So I’m no longer a Prescott?”
“I don’t know, are you?”
“I can’t believe you. You stole me, made my mother give up the love of her life so you could maintain your pristine reputation, and now you want to say everything I worked for doesn’t belong to me.
You know what, good luck trying. My name is Prescott.
I wish it wasn’t, but it is, and you’re not my father by blood, but on paper apparently, you are.
You want to fight that? Take me to court.
If you assholes want to vote me out of my position because he’s in his feelings and throwing a tantrum, then just try it, but I will sue the shit out of you and this company. ”
“Sue us or have your boyfriend send his people down here to handle us?” my father said with a snide grin.
“Who knows? Maybe both.”
I walked out and headed to my office. I grabbed my purse, shut off everything, and left. Everyone in the office was looking at me. I was sure they had heard everything.
Our dirty laundry was now public record and I didn’t care, but I meant what I said. That company was my life. I’d worked hard to get where I was and I’d be damned if he forced me out.
Before I knew it, I was in my car driving.
I had no idea where I was going, but I ended up at Trooper’s place.
I called him several times and he didn’t answer, so I just let myself in, kicked off my shoes, and climbed into his bed.
My head was spinning out of control and I just wanted to shut everything out.
My head sank into one pillow while I balled another and hugged it against my chest.
It smelled like Trooper, which calmed me. I closed my eyes and tried to relieve my tension. Before long, I was drifting. Sleep was all I could do to shut the world off.