Page 22 of Chasing Sophia

“Then you played a losing game, because all you showed me is that every prejudice, every wariness I have for the rich, is well placed. You deceived me, lied to me, and played with my feelings.”

I don’t know if what I’m feeling right now is the onset of a heart attack or a case of extreme heartburn, but I know this feeling will stay with me long after Sophia has slammed the door in my face.

12

SOPHIA

Five days have passedsince the gala night and also since the time I’ve stepped out of my house. As I open the door, I don’t miss the shiny black McLaren parked across the street.

The first two days, Asher knocked and rang my bell every thirty minutes, but when I confronted him with a burning fever and a sore throat, begging him to stop, he relented. But I soon realized he hadn’t agreed to leave, instead, just not to bother me. Now, he shows up every morning with warm breakfast, soup for lunch, and a home-cooked dinner. Even though I haven’t spoken to him, I know it’d be stupid of me to not accept the warm and healthy food.

My hands shake as I lock the door. I can’t stop wondering if everyone now thinks I got to perform because of Asher. The Best Performer trophy, which has become the bane of my existence, sits on my dining table. I hate him for turning my best achievement into my worst nightmare.

“Soph, let me take you.” Asher catches up to me as I march toward my car, which has been sitting in the garage unused for a few weeks, as I like to take the bus during Christmas season. The hassle of finding a parking spot while I visit main street for shopping isn’t worth the few minutes I save with my own ride.

I get inside the car, ignoring Asher like he’s nothing but an irritating fly buzzing around me, and it effing feels good.

Crap! I should have wiped the glass. Even though the garage was closed, I see dust on the windshield and side mirrors.

I hate getting out with Asher still around. It’s an ordeal to ignore that man. For five days, my brain has thought of nothing but him, asking numerous questions and answering them as my mood saw fit, ranging from Asher being a self-centered asshole to him loving me so much that he lied to me. Of course my traitorous heart wants to believe the later.

I unbuckle my seat belt, but before I can step out, Asher picks up a microfiber cloth from the rag basket and starts wiping the windshield. I hate the hitch in my breath at the way his powder blue shirt stretches under his navy blue striped suit. He’s sporting a blue tie with white polka dots today, which I’d missed until now.

Am I stupid for believing this man, who exudes such power and command at everything he does, was a common man?

No! Don’t you dare go down that rabbit hole, Sophia.

Asher lied to me. There’s no excuse for that. Even after knowing how I feel about the rich, he lied.

With renewed determination, I tug my head high, and once he goes to put the rag back into the basket, I crank the car. The grinding sound of the engine dies as soon as it starts, and my determination sinks with it. I try again with similar results.

God! Please don’t let the battery act up again. I promise I’ll take it to the workshop in the evening.

Beads of sweat collect on my forehead and above my lips as I try to start the car multiple times. Asher’s tall and broad frame as he stands by the side, arms crossed above his chest, doesn’t help.

My effort to hold my self-composure lasts for a few more seconds before I hit my head against the steering wheel. I don’t look up, even when the driver’s-side door is ripped open.

“Go away, Ash. I don’t want to see you, especially now.”

He doesn’t say anything for several seconds, but I still keep my face hidden. While I’m waiting for him to leave, at the same time calculating how fast I need to run to the bus stop to catch the next bus and make sure I’m still on time, the back door opens. I turn around to see Asher grabbing my bag, which I’d thrown into the backseat earlier.

“Hey! What are you doing?”

“I’m going to drop you off at school.”

“Listen, Mr. Miller, you might think the sun, the wind, and all the people in this town bow down at your commands, but news flash, I’m not your servant or your staff.”

With the way his molars grind, I think a few will fall out. “No, you are not. Because if you were, we would already be halfway to your school. I know you’re upset with me—”

Upset, my foot. I’m downright livid, but he doesn’t let me express my feelings out loud.

“—and I deserve it. But this…” He sweeps his hands around. “This is stupidity. You know you’re late for school. Get in my car and let me drop you. You can sulk in the passenger seat.”

“I don’t want to talk to you.”

“Then don’t.”

I look down at my wristwatch before storming out, not even bothering to close the garage. He can do that.

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