I Want You Back

Angel Leffman

When I thought that everything was starting to go well and that I was going to discover Elisa, she surprised me with dinner with my family and hers. As if that wasn't enough, Sofia appeared out of nowhere, and everything got complicated. She had me looking for her all over the city; she didn't open the apartment to me. I just wanted her to clarify this whole mess and explain to me what Elisa said, but instead of doing so, she ignored me.

"Damn it!" I threw a glass at the door just as Harry opened it.

"Wow, what a mood. I imagine we owe it to Elisa or Sofia."

"Both. I swear I'm losing my mind, and Sofia is not helping it. She's ignoring my existence."

"And why is she treating you so? Tell me so I can understand."

"Elisa came to see me yesterday. She started talking about how I had forgotten her, that I was letting myself get carried away by my child's murderer. Then she convinced me to take her to eat, so I was about to take the opportunity to ask her questions about things and catch her, and to my surprise, her family and mine were there."

Harry snorted a laugh. "She surely doesn't waste time. What did you do next?"

"I stayed eating dinner as if nothing had happened while talking to them. I just wanted to get out of there and then go ask her questions, but Elisa just had to kiss me in front of everyone, and Sofia saw it. I told her to wait for me in the apartment and that I was going to explain, but Elisa interrupted us and told me that Sofia had bought her friend to tell me several lies, and Sofia did not deny it; she said yes."

"Did Sofia confirm that she bought someone to lie to you?"

"No! She told me that she did pay her, but not for that." "Then what was the reason?"

"I don't know! She asked me if I believed her or Elisa, and I told her that I didn't believe either, that she lied to me while Elisa told me the truth, that we should talk. She told me that we should leave the club together to talk about all that she said, and I suggested that she wait for me in her apartment because I can't just leave our families."

"Okay, so you're telling me that Sofia saw you kissing Elisa in front of everyone, and you did nothing. Instead, you told her that you didn't believe what she was telling you, and you turned around to go back to dinner with Elisa and her family?"

"I told her to talk in the apartment, but now she doesn't even want to listen to me. She told me that she didn't care what I believed and that I just left her alone," I said miserably while running my fingers through my hair.

"She is upset, and I understand her. Angel, she is absolutely right. I told you, you have to decide who to believe, Elisa or Sofia? Because Sofia is not easy, and now she is going to make you pay."

"The truth is, I don't even know what to think anymore. Sofia didn't tell me anything about this Patricia. She didn't tell me about her consultation at the clinic either. She hides things from me, and she doesn't trust me."

"It's your fault. You are responsible for everything that happened in these five years; even if you have had your reasons, you cannot expect her to forget everything just because you decided to give yourselves a chance. It is normal that she is confused and that she does not believe you. And now, you just have to screw up by giving her every reason to doubt you, genius."

"I don't know what to do now that she has me cornered."

"You have to clarify what you feel for them because you are hurting her. I'm talking about Sofia here; I don't care about Elisa in the least."

"I don't have to clarify anything. I love Sofia. I have loved her since the day I saw her, but I still have Elisa in my head telling me that Sofia killed my baby. I have too many unanswered questions, and we still haven't found anything concrete."

"The only thing I know is that you, Angel Leffman, have to work hard so that Sofia forgives you for this."

"I'm going to talk to her. I will resolve this whole matter. I am going to leave everything I have on the table even if I have to start from scratch. By the way, did you ask the lawyer about what I told you about the marriage contract?"

"Yes, and let me tell you that your father was the one who came up with the idea of the marriage contract. According to him, most of the guidelines were imposed by your father, and the only thing that Mr. Andrew did not agree to is that you were the one who would run the company and leave Sofia with nothing. Then, you offered to be the president of the company, and he accepted with the condition that Sofia also had the same duties and rights as you in the company."

"And my dad made me believe that that decision was made for me? Now I understand his insistence that Sofia must be the vice president of the company so I won't come out as someone so cruel."

"In addition, I also reviewed the account statements that you had asked me for, and your family's company has never been bankrupt, not even close, Angel. The times it has been at risk, your grandfather was able to defend himself with the help of your father-in-law."

My jaws clenched in an attempt to hold back my anger. "I have been deceived for all these years; how can someone lie so well as to achieve something regardless of the pain it causes?

"That's how people are, but in your case, it came from your family, so it hurts more."

"But if my father made the contract, it means that Sofi had nothing to do with everything he told me to force me to get married. In that case, it could also mean that Elisa also lied to me about the photos."

I stood up abruptly, and Harry attempted to stop me. "Where are you going, Angel? Try to calm down first before doing something crazy!"

"Calm down?! I have been despising the woman I love for five years because of other people's lies! I have been suffering because of them, and I made her suffer in the process! Now I feel like the biggest a*****e, and you want me to calm down?!"

"I understand you, but you're not going to achieve anything if your mind is clouded with anger."

I took a deep breath in an attempt to calm myself. "My dad is going to listen to me, and he is going to have to give me a lot of explanations."

There was a knock on the door, and Teresa came in. "Sir?"

"Not now, Teresa. If it's not about Sofia, I'm not interested."

"But Mrs. Sofia went on a trip and asked me to tell you that she's leaving the company in your or Mr. Andrew's hands."

"Where did Sofia go, and when will she return?"

Most importantly, why didn't she tell me?

"I don't know, sir; she didn't say anything. She just told me she was going on a trip and that she was going to be busy."

I cursed and palmed my face. "This day couldn't be worse."

I left Harry in the company and went straight to my parent's house, where I found my sister and my mother with unpleasant expressions on their faces.

"You finally remember us?" My mother greeted me. "Do you know what Sofia did? She humiliated us when she banned us from entering the club because she canceled her extension!" My mother yelled.

"Yes, they also prohibited us from entering future events; this is an abuse of power, brother!" Angelica screeched.

My ears haven't recovered when my father comes home with a furious look on his face. "This is abuse; that bastard is going to pay for this!"

"What happened?" My mom immediately asks him while trying to calm him down.

"I went to the sports club, but when I entered, I was surprised that I was not allowed entry because my membership was canceled! I called the manager, and it turns out that Andrew Bastard canceled it!" Well, there goes my wife's revenge because of yesterday.

"They also did the same thing to us at the club, dear. I told you that family is vermin! Angel, why are you not saying anything?!" My mother exclaimed hysterically.

"Mother, just yesterday, you told her that she was my ex-wife. You have been spreading gossip that we are getting divorced, not to mention the fact that you are not friendly at all. Now you are complaining because your membership was canceled? What do you want her to do? To continue allowing you the privileges you have when you have been so ungrateful? She should have done it a long time ago."

"What the hell is wrong with you?!" Dad bellowed in disbelief, his voice echoing. "That family can't humiliate us like this, Angel, much less now that we have prestige and recognition! How will I face the people now?!"

"Dad, I'm the one who has the privileges. Me and Sofia, and you are just enjoying that. Now you're crying because they canceled their extensions? What do you want? Continue enjoying them while you continue to disrespect them?"

Mom was stunned and looked at me with wide eyes. "What has that woman done with you? After everything they've done."

"What have they done?!" I repeated, giving them a furious look. "What have they done? Ask her father to force you to sign a marriage contract so as not to lead us to ruin. Frame me for something I didn't do."

"And you're still defending her?" Mom asked incredulously.

"She was going to lead us to our end!"

"End? What end? The one that never existed because we have never been even close to bankruptcy. In fact, you proposed a contract when he only wanted to do business with me, but you took advantage of it. You are an ambitious dad, you always were. You couldn't stand it when I decided to leave, but when Gerard came looking for me to do business, you saw your opportunity and you lied to my face!" I snapped, and that made them silent.

"You lied to me that we were close to losing our business and that Gerard threatened us if I didn't marry his daughter. When I refused, you told me that Sofia tried to frame me! Dad, you accused me of being a drug addict and a rapist when you-" I stopped myself and took a deep breath. "And I foolishly believed you."

"She told you all those lies, and you believed her?" Dad asked in disappointment as if he had done nothing.

"She didn't tell me anything, so I decided to investigate, and imagine my surprise when everything you told me was a lie."

"Son," my mother interrupted.

"I have been listening to your complaints for five freaking years. I have treated her badly, thinking that she had ruined my image before you and that you thought I was a drug addict and rapist, but it turns out that it was all your lie to achieve this marriage." I told my dad, and my voice was laced with anger and disappointment.

"Son..."ConTEent bel0ngs to Nôv(e)lD/rama(.)Org .

"Silence, Mother, because you were also part of this. How could you appear before me and Sofia after those lies? But it's over; I'm done with you."

"And what does that mean?!" Dad shouts.

"It means that your privileges at my expense are also over. I am cutting ties with you. Let's see how you resolve your affairs, but don't bother me or Sofia anymore."

Dad pointed his finger at me; his eyes were red. "Don't you dare, Angel Leffman! I am your father, and if I did it, it was for your own good! I just saved you from your stupid idea! Everything you are or have today is because of what I did!" Does he really have the guts to be angry?

"No, Dad. Whatever I am or what I have is because of my own capability, not because of you. And now it is over."

I left the house, shaking in anger, and went to my apartment. How am I supposed to face Sofia after this? Where has she gone without telling me anyway?

"Sir," the security man called me when I entered.

"Good evening." I greeted him despite the mood I was in.

"Your wife left something for you."

"Sofia? She didn't tell me she would come." I thought out loud as he handed me a folder and an envelope.

"She asked me to give it to you, and she said that it was important."

"Thank you."

I went up to the apartment and left the folders in the living room. I'm not in the mood to see company things when my life is falling apart. I called Sofia again, and she still didn't answer me. "This woman is impossible! How am I supposed to apologize and explain to her if she doesn't answer me?" I asked with a groan.

"Where the hell did you go, Sofia?!"