010

SOPHIE

The door wasn’t fully open when hands slid through the available space and pressed against my neck, forcing me back.

I stumbled backwards.

It took a gasp and a few steps before I was stable again. I looked up to see Olivia with an amused expression. She had a wide smile on her face.

I could sense a bit of disappointment from her.

She’d prefer it if I had hit the ground. Maybe she’d let out a few laughs.

“Oh, come on, Miss Sophie, don’t look at me like that,” she chuckled.

She took a few steps forward. I was tempted to take a few steps back. I wanted to create a large gap between us, but my body wouldn't budge.

My feet were glued to the ground like I had concrete spewed on them. She cocked her head to the side as she scanned me from head to toe.

She let out a short laugh before meeting my gaze again.

"Miss Sophie, are you okay? I think i came to the wrong room, i was looking for Hayes.”

I furrowed my eyebrows, bewildered. I tried to open my mouth to speak but no words came out.

It felt like something was pressed against my lungs.

“I promise, i just needed to get some documents to him as soon as possible but i must say, you look disgustingly pale, Sophie,” she commented.

She reached forward.

I had no idea what she was trying to do, but I pulled myself back. Her fingers still grazed my chin a bit before she dropped them.

“I’m only worried about you. You need to take care of yourself,” She added.

I looked away.

I knew she was being sarcastic.

After taking a few breaths, I returned my gaze to hers.

I know green tea when i saw one and this one? She wasn't even trying to hide it.

If my phone was nearby, i would have hit record. It would have helped out in the divorce.

Olivia sighed.

“Suit yourself”.

I rolled my eyes.

“Don’t you just love how Hayes is all over me?” She questioned, and her lips spread wider.

“He’s such a caring man. If I’m hurt, he wouldn’t hesitate to look my way, especially if someone in this room intentionally did anything to get his attention,” she swooned.

She searched my face.

I kept a plain expression. She wanted to know how her words made me feel, but I wasn’t going to give her that.

Caring?

“I know you’re sad that he does not seem to believe you, right? But you can’t blame him because you lied. Which normal person—No”. She shook her head and pressed her lips together as she thought about what to say next.

“Olivia, you're doing this because you feel a bit insecure that i didn't die from the poisoning right?” I bit back, smirk forming at the corner of my lips.

“You…i have no idea what you're talking about.”

Her eyes lit up, and her lips parted.

“But, who in their right senses would lie about such a serious illness? What did you call it again? Aplastic Anemia”.

I scoffed.

What did she mean by this?

She too believed I lied, not like she was important but really?

My chest tightened.

My hand crept to my chest, pressing against it tightly. It went on. I dragged my hand in and forth, the abrasiveness of my shirt making my skin burn. It calmed the pain a bit, and I slowed the motion, but I didn’t stop.

I held her gaze and refused to attempt to look at my chest. Not giving it the chance of validity by my mind would make it hurt less.

“Oh, you poor baby.” Her expression wore pity.

“Oli—”

“I’ll try and talk to him, but I can’t make him believe you. Lying about something this big is terrible. He may calm down, but I don’t work magic”.

I parted my lips to speak, but the words didn’t slip.

Maybe it was the constant trying to prove myself that made my voice too weak. I clamped it shut, not willing to try again.

My emotions swelled against my chest.

I took in a breath, then dropped my mind.

I couldn’t show her how hurt I was by her words.

I dropped my shoulders and wore a straight face; lips pressed into a thin line and eyebrows unexpressive.

“Just in case you’ve forgotten, the divorce case is tomorrow,” she pointed out, with the widest smile she could muster.

The joy was practically reeking out of her, and she didn’t bother to hide it. She didn’t even care. After all; whatever happened, Hayes would always take her side, like he always did.

That’s what made her confident. She would whisper his name, and he would go running.

“I’m a good person, so I came here to remind you to prepare for the courtroom”.

She repeated the word ‘court’ like I hadn’t heard her the first time. It was as though she intentionally placed emphasis on the word to remind me that I no longer had Hayes.

“Yeah, as a good person too, I'll remind you that as mistress, you shouldn't throw your weight around me, the main wife. It could make things turn ugly for your Hayes."

That she had him wrapped around her finger and that she, in the mess of it all, had won.

“So, pretty girl, Leave,” I demanded.

She blinked, shocked.

She expected this to happen, so why is she acting like I’d still want her in here?

“Olivia, leave.” I warned with a stern voice, hoping she heard the annoyance clearly in my voice. Hoping it would chase her away.

She scoffed. “Just calm down, we’re not fighting, are we?”

“Olivia,” I stepped forward. “Its just the both of us in here. I wouldn't hesistate to beat you to a pulp. Leave right now”.

She blinked. Only then did she realize that I was being serious.

She gave me once over before she forced a wide smile.

She turned slowly before walking to the door in the same manner.

I watched her.

Can she be any more aggravating?

I walked quickly to get to her. She was inches away from the door but didn’t make any effort to walk out.

I nudged her forward.

She was out of the door in seconds.

She gasped.

I didn’t wait for her to turn and throw a nasty remark at me; I just shut the door.

I sighed; thankful she was gone.

I listened for her footsteps as she left, and when they disappeared, my mind wandered again.

I had to do something.

I had to—

I sighed, unable to figure out what to do.

I walked to my bed and plopped onto it. I rested my elbow on my knees and dropped my face into my cupped hands.

I sat in silence, letting the sudden heaviness of the room surround me.

Wait.

I lifted my face from my hands and stared at nothing in particular.

An idea filled my mind and my lips spread into a wide smile.

The fear that had wrapped around me loosened.

Tomorrow is gonna be a bloody good day.