Loving Sofia (8 page)

“I think I’m the lucky one since I was out of a job and needed a place to stay.  He’s probably one of my best friends
. I know he will always be there for me, just like I will always be there for him.” It sounds harsh, but I want to let him know that the Mark topic is off limits.  I feel overprotective when it comes to him and not just because he always helped me, but also because he’s just too nice of a guy to allow anyone to talk smack behind his back.

“Ok
, so we won’t talk about Mark,” he says with a smile. 

We compromise and pick topics like my last job, his work,
and places he’s visited that I’ve always wanted to go to while we eat the most amazing meal I’ve had in my life.  The steak is done to perfection and the vegetables delectable.  Once I let myself relax a little, I realize that Bradley is not so bad.  He’s just your typical rich kid who never heard the word NO and always got his way.  Too bad he wasn’t getting his way tonight, though. 

He pays for our dinner and helps me with my coat, his arm lingering on my back longer than I would’ve liked.  I was not ready for any kind of physical attention, from him
, or anyone else for that matter.  We don’t really talk on our way back and I have to say, he’s the perfect gentleman, helping me with my door and walking me the few steps from the car to the house.

“I had a lovely time tonight
, Bradley.”

“Liar,” he says and I can’t tell if he’s joking or not.

“What?”

“I’m kidding.  You just seemed so tense the entire time that I wondered if you really enjoyed yourself.”

“Oh my, I’m really sorry if I gave you that impression.  I really enjoyed everything, from the company, to the wine, to the delicious meal.  But mostly the company.”

“In that case maybe we can do it again sometime?”

As he’s waiting for my response I suddenly wonder: would it be so bad to end up with someone like him?  I mean he’s obviously interested in me, for whatever the reason, so before I can stop myself, I agree to a second date.   He gives me a kiss on the cheek and walks away with the promise to call me the next day.

SOFIA

The house is dark and I’m not sure if Mark is out or just hiding in his room.  Lately I never know what mood I am going to find him in. I’ve been mostly trying to just stay out of his way.  At least with Mona you could tell right off the bat if she was pissed or happy.  There were times when I still missed living with her. I couldn’t wait until the honeymoon was over so we could catch up on things.  Tonight was one of those nights when I needed some girl talk. 

Just as I’m about to go up to my room, the light turns on in the kitchen.  For a moment I thin
k about joining him but decide it’s best not to.  For whatever reason, he doesn’t like Bradley and I’m sure the last thing he wants is to hear me talk about the date.

I take two steps at a time trying not to make any noise, happy he didn’t hear me. Once inside my room, I turn on the computer to resume my job search.  I have this weird feeling that working for Bradley, if that was ever going to happen, is not going to be any different than my last job.   He’s whole “I’m the boss” and “I-take-what-I-want” attitude just doesn’t work with me.

Pushing Bradley out of my mind, I start reading my email.  I already have over thirty job matches so that makes me feel a little better, even though I know that just because I see them on the screen is not a guarantee that I’ll get any offers.  It is almost two in the morning when I finally turn off the computer.  I look over my list of addresses and smile
, pleased with the progress.  Tomorrow, well today actually, is going to be a great, but busy, day and I can’t wait to start.

MARK

I didn’t know what time she got back and it was killing me.  I tried to watch TV but got sick of all the reality shows.  None of the guys were available to go out for a beer and I really didn’t feel like being alone at Frank’s.  I just wanted Birdie home safe
, but knew I had no right to tell her what to do.  Of all the guys, she had to go and pick that asshole. 

If she only knew who he really was, I know for a fact she wouldn’t give him the time of day.  She
is too good and too innocent to see behind his fake persona. I know if I try to tell her anything about him, I will end up the bad guy.  So I just have to sit back and watch the train wreck and be there for her when it all falls down.  That’s what I do best.  Lame? Yes. 

I wake up to the
smell the fresh coffee, indication that she’s up and ready for the day.  When I walk in the kitchen all I can see is her.  No one has the right to look this good first thing in the morning.  I get hard just watching her and I pray she doesn’t notice. 

“Well it’s about time,” she smiles, hands on her hips ready to scold me. “I was about to go in there and make sure you’re alive.”

I just stand here like a statue, not able to make a sound.  My brain is frozen and I swear for a second there I could hear the crickets playing in the background. 

“Are you ok?” she waves both hands in front of my eyes, trying to get my attention. 

“I’m sorry. What did you say?”

“I said are you ok?  What’s wrong?  You’re all weird and you look really pale.”

“Sorry, I just haven’t been sleeping too well lately. I have too much on my mind.  The coffee smells good.”  I walk around her, avoiding her gaze. 

“Well if you’re sure you’re ok, I’m going to take off.  I found a bunch of jobs
online. I already called a few places and have interviews all day.  Keep your fingers crossed for me.  I’m so ready to go back to work, you don’t even know.” 

She gives me a quick hug and rushes out of the room.  I really hope she finds a job
. That would keep her busy and away from any more dates with that creep.  Also a job meant she was not going to have to work for him.  I sip my coffee, smiling into my cup like an idiot.  Who am I kidding? Finding a job will not change anything.  Nothing will change unless I do something about it.  I just have to find the right moment to tell her how I feel.  Yeah, easier said than done.

“Ok, I’m off like a prom dress.”  She looks all professional in her dark pencil skirt and crisp white blouse. 

“Good luck, babe.  I know you’ll find the perfect job today.  I can feel it.” 

She hugs me quickly then walks out the door. I don’t know how long I sat there looking at the door, trying to get the dirty thoughts out of my head. 

SOFIA

Today was going to be great.  I had a tank full of gas, a few bucks to my name, ready to face the day. You would think that would be enough.  Yeah right.  In spite of my positive attitude, every single appointment sucks.  I’m being asked stupid questions like, “Where do you see yourself in five years from now?”, “Did you enjoy your last job?”, oh and my ultimate favorite, “What are you weakness”.

Seriously? If it was up to me
, I would say in five years I hope to be able to have a stable job so I can pay my bills, I enjoyed my job but not working with a bunch of back stabbing bitches, and as far as weaknesses, none that would affect my job performance.  Of course, that’s not what I say because that’s not what they want to hear.

My last appointment is about twenty minutes from the house and I thank
God for the light traffic.  I’m tired and deflated and ready to call it a day. As I walk into the massive building, I am immediately greeted by a very cheery receptionist. 

“Good afternoon.  How may I help you?”

“Hi, my name is Sofia Bianchi and I have an appointment with Mrs. Jordan.”

“Ah yes. Please fill out these forms and she will be right with you.”

I take what looks like a small novel and sit on one of the pretty, but uncomfortable, chairs.  Seriously, how do they expect you to fill out all this crap without a table?  I try to balance everything on top of my bag and smile at the silly questionnaires.  Do they really care what your hobbies are?  If you believe that my hobbies are going to make me a better candidate for the job, then you must be crazy.  What if you’re a dom by night?  Do you list that on the resume or just in the application? Do you go into details or leave that for the actual interview? I am still smiling when I hear my name being called. 

“Miss Bianchi?”

I look up, and in front of me stands the most intimidating woman I’ve ever met, from her serious face to her severe pant suit, not to mention the sharp haircut. 
Please don’t let her be the one to interview me
, I prayed.

“Yes, hello.” I
don’t recognize my voice.  What am I doing being scared by this woman? I’m an adult damn it. I can do this.

“Hello. I’m Mrs. Jordan but you may call me Amanda.” Her handshake could crack walnuts
, and I pray that my fingers are still intact when she releases my hand. “Please follow me.” 

I follow the small sound of her heels and I hope I won’t pass out during the interview.  I couldn’t remember the last time I felt so nervous.  Maybe this was a sign and I should just turn around and walk out.  Before I could decide
, we stop in front of a glass door that she opens for us. 

The boardroom, I assume, is beautifully decorated in cherry colors, a flat wall-mounted TV on one side and a full bar on the other.  Large windows fill the entire wall
, providing an amazing view. But what catches my eye is the immense table that could easily sit thirty people; at least that’s how big it looks to me.

“Please have a s
eat Miss Bianchi. Would you like something to drink?  Coffee perhaps?”

“Sofia, please. And I would love some water if it’s not too much
trouble.”  I sit down and place my hands in my lap, keeping them from shaking.

“Very well, Sofia.” She walks to the bar area and brings
back two bottles of water.  “I had a chance to look over your resume. Although you don’t have any marketing experience, I believe you do have the skills I’m looking for.  You don’t have to worry about the application.  We can deal with that later if I decide to give you the job.  Personally, I never understood why we waste so much money on those forms when ninety percent of the questions are irrelevant.  Did you have a chance to familiarize yourself with our company?” 

“Yes. I did look over the website yesterday.”

Amanda asks me a million questions about my last job, my education, why I decided to major in accounting, and, of course, where do I see myself in five years. After a while, she takes her glasses off and folds her hands on the table in that “we’re done here” manner.

“One more thing Sofia. Would you care to explain what the circumstances of your departure from
your last job were?” 

I hesitate for a moment then decide to be honest with her
, even if it means it will cost me the job.   There is no point in trying to fabricate some silly story. 

“I was never given a clear reason as to why
, but I guess you could say they decided I was not a good fit.”

What happened next surprised me, to say the least.  She laughed.  She actually laughed out loud.

“I think you will do just fine here, dear.  I run a very tight ship and you will have to be here on time every day.  I do not tolerate tardiness and if you’re late, you can consider yourself fired. Sounds harsh, but that’s just the way I work.  You will report directly to me, which means you will be responsible for my travel calendar as well as all my expense reports.  My last assistant decided to get married and pregnant, not sure in which order, in case you are wondering why the position is available.  I work hard and I expect no less from my employees.  Let’s go show you around.  You will start tomorrow.  Any questions?”

Sofia

And just like that, I got a job working for a woman who could probably intimidate even Miranda Priestly.  As we’re walking through the office, I can tell from the way everyone is avoiding her gaze that they are probably scared of her.  The cubicles are very large and private, making it hard to tell if anyone is working or just playing solitaire. Amanda’s office is large enough to fit about 10 cubes but just as tastefully decorated as the boardroom.

“This will be your office,” she points to the office next to hers.  “You will find everything you need to bring you up to date, including your job description.  If you would like, you can fill out all t
he paperwork right now or leave it for tomorrow.”

“Thank you.  I would like to finish the forms today and get them out of the way.” I try really hard to keep all the excitement bubbled inside.  I couldn’t wait to go home and tell Mark. 

“Very well. Come see me when you’re done.” 

With that
, she’s gone.  She walks into her office and closes the door, without another glace in my direction. Eh, who cares? 
I HAVE A JOB
, I scream in my head. The next two hours fly by as I try to fill out the forms. My new office is pretty small with a tall window covering half the wall. I instantly love everything about it.  There’s an L-shape cherry wood desk, a tall bookcase facing the desk, and a credenza under the window.  A fake plant, but very real-looking (I actually touched it to make sure it was fake,) completes the room.  One of the walls has a large whiteboard and there are several dates written on it, none of which make any sense to me.  A beautiful painting covers the wall behind the desk. Although I know nothing about art, I can tell it is an original and is probably very expensive.

The last PA had been very organized
, making it easy to get a better idea of what it was expected of me.  I already knew that every morning I had to have the coffee ready in Amanda’s office (cream, no sugar,) that I was to have lunch between one and two (not at twelve like the other employees,) and pick up her dry cleaning each Friday afternoon on my way back from lunch.

I gather all the forms and place them back in the small folder they came in, grab my handbag
, and go to say goodbye to my new boss.  She’s on the phone with her back facing the door.  I knock twice and she waves me in, without turning.  I try not to pay attention to her conversation, which is obviously personal judging by the warm tone of her voice.  This gives me a chance to look around.

The first thing I notice is the very rich burgundy rug that covers most of the office. Unlike the rest of the building which has wall-to-wall grey carpet, her office has beautiful hardwood floors.  More expensive paintings adorn the walls.

“Ah you’re done,” Amanda’s voice snaps me from my thoughts.  “Let’s see what we have here,” she says as she puts her hand out to grab the paper-filled folder. “Are you just going to stand?  Take a seat for goodness sake, Sofia.” I hand her the folder then sit on one of the available chairs. 

As she reviews the forms, I look around the room for a second time.  Everything about this space is intimidating yet it gives you
the feel of accomplishment.  I wonder what it would be like to be in her shoes for even a day; to have everyone at your beck and call. I’m not stupid and do know that the bigger the office, the bigger responsibilities.  And as my mother always said, I am too small for big dreams.  At the time she said that to me I didn’t really understand the meaning. I do now.

I push the memory away and concentrate on Amanda.  She looks pleased with everything as she closes the folder. 

“Ok dear, I will give the forms to our HR department, and Silvia will give you the keys to the building and office tomorrow. Someone is always here before eight so you don’t need a key for tomorrow. Welcome aboard.”

We shake hands
as she dismisses me. Once I’m out of her office, I let myself fully bask in the awesome feeling.  I pretty much dance my way to my car, a huge smile plastered across my face.  I had the same happy feeling when I got my first job and did a happy crazy dance around our living room as Mona watched me with wondering eyes.  She never understood what the big deal was.  I guess that’s the difference between the rich and the poor.  I loved Mona with all my heart, but the girl didn’t have a clue what the real world was all about.  The world of paying bills and trying to survive from paycheck to paycheck; my kind of world. 

I drive as fast as I can without breaking the law
, singing along to Kings of Leon, worry free for the first time in a long while.  It’s amazing what job security can do to one’s mood. When I get home, Mark’s car is parked out front and excitement is rushing through my veins.  I almost skip across the driveway, already thinking about ways to celebrate my great news.  I call his name from the foyer and am greeted by a very busty blonde wearing nothing but his shirt.

“Oh sorry, I didn’t know Mark was having company.”

“Who are you?” she asks giving me one of those dirty boring looks.

The simple fact that she’s in our place has me fuming. For a second I have one of those out of body experiences where the time stands still and I’m jumping on top of this bitch
, beating the crap out of her.  And it feels awesome, even though it’s all in my head and there’s no way I would ever fight anyone; that’s just not my style.

“I’m the roommate that’s who.  I take it you’re this week’s special?” Just as I’m about to say something else
, Mark comes into view.  I can tell he’s surprised to see me and not too happy I’m home early. 

“Hey I didn’t think you would be done so early.”

“Obviously,” I reply, my voice filled with sarcasm.

“We were about to leave
, so, yeah,” he says uncomfortably, not meeting my eyes.

“You don’t have to explain yourself to me. I’m just your roommate, not your wife,” I snap.

The Barbie doll dances her way back to his room and I’m glad she is not completely naked.  I know it shouldn’t bother me she’s there, but it does.  Today was supposed to be a happy day, and I wanted nothing more than to celebrate with him.  I guess that wasn’t going to happen now.

“Birdie,” his voice is nothing but a whisper behind me.

“Don’t even think about.”

“
God, please just let me explain.”

“Drop it Mark.  I’m going out so you don’t have to leave because of me.” I walk away and thankfully he doesn’t follow. 

Mark

Shit, shit, shit.  How did this happen?  I don’t even know what made me say yes when Linda called today.  I wasn’t going to see her, but she actually begged to come over.  Linda and I went out a few times years ago, but nothing came out of it.  She was not the one for me and I told her that.  The thing about girls like Linda, is that they don’t want relationships.  They just want to have a good time. 

Today was no different.  We talked for a while and before I knew it
, her hand was grabbing my crotch hard as she kneeled in front of me.  I knew I should’ve pushed her away, but little head was more powerful than the big one. So I closed my eyes and imagined being with Sofia like the sick bastard I am. Being with Linda meant nothing, but that didn’t change the hurt I saw on Sofia’s face.  The damage was done, and I had to find a way to make it up to her.

Linda’s voice brought me back to reality.  I went back to my room to find her naked on the bed, all smiles and ready to go. 

“Come here and let’s get back to business.  No reason why you should let that little boring girl ruin it for us,” she purrs.

“Get dressed Linda.  Fun’s over.”  She starts crawling toward me and instead of a turn on
, it is actually getting on my last nerve.  I throw the clothes at her and walk out before she has a chance to protest. 

This day was turning
out to be a whole lot of crap after all.  I’ve been feeling this way ever since Birdie decided to go out with that sleazeball. If I had a pair of balls, I would put an end to it and tell her she belongs with me, but it turns out I don’t have any when it comes to her. 

Linda storms out
of my room, fuming. She gives me one last dirty look and calls me an asshole before heading out.