Page 108 of Beautifully Broken
Trevor: I did. You get your peace and quiet?
Sophia: After my mom tried to tell me about what I deserve in life…
Trevor: Again?
Sophia: Yup. I told her I got it so she wouldn't go on.
Trevor: I’m sorry, Soph. Not to sound like your mom but you deserve better than that.
Sophia: Lol. You don’t sound like her. You actually listen to me.
Trevor: You know I’m always here for you.
Sophia: I appreciate you.
Sophia: I think I’m headed to bed. I’ll see you Monday?
Trevor: See you Monday. Call me if you need to talk.
Sophia: Night
Placing my phone on the charger, I feel slightly better. Trevor gets it with my mom. He sees how she is at work and with me. It’s nice to have someone to talk to about my life and know he won’t gossip about anything I tell him. He’s loyal, trustworthy and so damn kind. It’s no wonder my feelings for him are developing into something more than friendship. But my mom would never approve, doing whatever she could to keep us apart. And I just don’t know what to do about that.
Chapter 3
Walking into the conference room at work, I remember why Mondays are my least favorite day of the week.
Staff meetings.
I take my seat next to mom as we wait for everyone else to shuffle in. It doesn’t take long before the entire office joins us around the large table.
Mom sits up straighter. “Good morning.”
Echoes of “good morning” greet her from around the table.
“Thank you all for coming to our annual summer barbecue. It was a tremendous success, per usual. Now, let’s get down to what we have coming up.”
Mom goes around the table to each staff member confirming details or asking follow-up questions for events that are scheduled until she gets to me.
She turns in her chair to look at me. “Sophia, how about you? Are you ready for the sweet sixteen this upcoming Friday?”
I plaster on a smile. “Yes. Venue has confirmed the menus. We booked the limousine for the correct time, and the family is taking care of hair and make-up. Oh. And our very own Trevor Hill will photograph the party,” I say, feeling proud that I completed my to-do list for this event well ahead of time.
Mom lifts an eyebrow at me. “And what about the cake? Is that taken care of too?”
I tilt my head in confusion. “The venue is handling the cake. They have an in-house baker. It’s included on the menu. Which is all taken care of. Like I mentioned.”
She scoffs. “There’s no reason to sass me, Sophia. If you had included that initially, I wouldn’t have asked for clarification.” She purses her lips beforecontinuing. Her tone dripping with condescension. “You must remember to tell the details. You really should know this by now.”
Did she really just chastise me in front of the entire staff?
I glance around the room and see that everyone is trying to avoid my gaze. Embarrassment creeps onto my face.
“Well, let’s—” I push back from the table and feel my mother’s eyes track me.
“Excuse me.” Walking briskly to the door, I exit the conference room and make a beeline for my office.
I make it to my office just in time for the tears to fall down my face.
