Chapter Five
Sophia
Sophia stormed into the dressing room mad as a hornet and slammed her palms down on her dressing table to release some of her anger.
“Whoa. What's wrong, Soph?” Rose asked.
“Lennix ‘Axel’ fucking Rivers, that's what!”
“Uh oh. What did that bonehead do?”
“He had the audacity to think he could tell me how to dress or where to work,” Sophia replied.
“Oh boy. He really was a bonehead. Don't let it get to you, girl. Guys can be idiots, especially when they're fighting their attraction.”
Sophia turned and gave Rose what she was sure was a confused look. “Attraction? Axel is not attracted to me.”
“Girl, he totally is," Rose countered. “If you don't believe me, go ask Indi. She'll agree with me.”
Sophia huffed before she got dressed in her regular clothes. “Maybe I will,” she said as she passed Rose, who was changing for her last performance.
Out in the main area of the club, she made a beeline for Indi. “Hey, Indi. Can we talk?”
“Sure. What's up? Great first night, by the way. The audience loved it.”
“Thanks. Um, well, Rose said something that…
let me back up a bit. Axel stopped me before I got to the dressing room and said some things, including basically trying to tell me where I can work or what I can wear.
It pissed me off, and when I told Rose, she said it's because he's attracted to me but fighting it.”
“I know where this is going, and he definitely is attracted to you, Sophia.”
“He can't be. He's never shown any interest in me. Beyond being Sinner's daughter, he doesn't even know I exist.”
Indi scoffed. “He wouldn't have flipped out when he saw you on the stage if that was the case.”
“Huh.” She wasn't sure what to say to that.
“If it's any consolation, I think he's fighting a losing battle,” Indi told her and walked away.
Sophia thought about what both Rose and Indi said. If it was true, that explained his reaction to seeing her outfits, even if it didn't excuse it.
Her first night off from Elysium found her at Phaedra and Bones’ house with Phaedra and Liria. They were munching on Chinese takeout while talking about books. They'd introduced her to indie authors, and she was devouring everything she could get her hands on.
“Have you two read the No Surrender series by C.M. Youngren?” Sophia asked after a bite of an egg roll.
“I don't think so. What's it about?” Liria asked.
“The series revolves around a personal security company called No Surrender run by men who are former military.
“There are eight books in the series, starting with Teal's Saviour and ending with Patience's Saviour. The covers are smoking hot, all shirtless sexy yumminess.
“There's also the Soul Sisters trilogy that is connected to the series. I haven't read them yet, but they're the books for the couples that are already together in Teal's Saviour.
“Each book is filled with sexual tension, drama, and the hilarious antics of the one character, Alley. She has an obsession with baseball bats. Seriously. You two need to read those books!”
They sound great. I'll definitely check them out,” Phaedra replied.
“Same!” Liria said.
“So, what else is new?” Phaedra questioned.
“Well… I started working at Club Elysium. As one of the dancers.”
“Get out! No you didn't,” Liria squealed.
“I did. It was exhilarating, being up on that stage. Don't get me wrong, I'm still going to get my degree in graphics design, but dancing… it's a passion, you know?”
“Yeah. I get it. That's how I am about editing. I don't have very many clients yet, but I'll get there,” Liria responded.
“That's right you will. Didn't Ronnie say she was going to hire you to edit hers?” Phaedra asked.
“She did! I can't wait! And no, I won't give you sneak peeks,” Liria teased. “Either of you,” she added.
Sophia stuck her tongue out, which made them all laugh.
They talked a bit more before Sophia sighed. “It's getting late. I should head home.”
She carried the glass she'd been drinking out of to the kitchen, rinsed it out, and set it in the dishwasher before bidding them both goodnight and heading home to get some sleep.
She knew that, eventually, her father was going to find out she was working at Elysium and flip out, but that was a problem for another day.