Uncontrollable Tempration

She went on and on about him, giving Lily details of our history together. I was getting bored so I checked my phone only to see I had three messages from an unknown number. I opened them and saw that they were pictures.

I opened the first picture to see Adam locked in a tight embrace with another woman. My heart nearly stopped. The picture was taken in one of his apartments I recognised and it looked very real. The other picture was of them holding each other and the lady was kissing him! I couldn’t tell but it looked like she was kissing him on the lips!

Beneath the picture was a message.

You’re not the only one.

Oh my gosh!

I quickly went to the bathroom and dialled the number with shaky hands.

After a few rings, the person picked up.

“Hello.” She said.

“Hi. Um, I know I’m the one calling but who are you? And why did you send me those pictures?”

“I’m sorry to tell you this but you’re not the only one who Adam has lied to. He played me and he’s trying to play you too.”

“How do you know that?” I asked. My heart was beating so fast.

“Because those pictures I sent were taken today. If you check properly, you would still see the blood stain on his shirt.”

I ended the call immediately.

This had to be a lie. There was no way that Adam would play me. He hasn’t been with anyone since or else I would know about it. He has been in the hospital for the past week, there’s no way he’ll get involved with someone the same day he got discharged.

Well, apart from me.

I checked the pictures once again and in fact there was a blood stain on his shirt!

I sunk to the floor and cried my eyes out. I’ve been a fool to think that Adam actually fell for me. Of course I wasn’t the only one! I didn’t know he was only trying to get me so he can use me!

I cried silently so Lily and Phoebe don’t hear me. My phone vibrated and I checked it. It was a phone call from my mum. I picked it up immediately.

“Hey mum.” I tried to sound as normal as possible.

“Darling how are you?”

“I’m great. How’s everything?” I lied.

“Oh Sophia honey, something terrible just happened. You’re dad had a stroke and he’s currently in the hospital.” My mum said with a shaky voice.

“Oh my! Is he okay?” I panicked.

“Im not sure, but the doctors said they’ll need to undergo surgery if he gets better.”

“Oh mum, I’ll be there as soon as I can I promise. Tomorrow I’ll take the next flight home.”

“Honey, please come here as quickly as you can. We need you.”

“Ok mum. I’ll book my flight right now.”

“See you soon honey. I love you so much”

“I love you too.”

I cut the phone and rushed to meet Phoebe and Lily.

“Sophia where have you been? Have you been crying?” Lily asked.

“Yes Lily. It’s my dad. He had a stroke.”

“Oh my! you need to go and see him. Make sure everything’s okay.”

“I know but I can’t just leave work without telling anybody. I have to hand in a leave request letter.”

“Don’t worry. I’ll hand in the letter for you. You need to take the next flight to Virginia. That’s where your parents live right?” Phoebe asked.

“Yes, they live in Richmond.”

“Come over Sophia, let’s book a flight.”

*****

Adam Wilson

I walked into my building and took the elevator to the 9th floor. With a huge smile plastered on my face, a big bouquet of red roses and some chocolates in my hand, I just knew today would be a good day.

I came out of the elevator and walked straight to Sophia’s office only for me to open the door and find that she wasn’t there.

That’s unusual.

I checked my watch to see it was 8:10am. Sophia normally comes into the office before 8.

Probably she was stuck in traffic because I also found it a bit difficult getting to work on time today. I placed the roses and chocolates on her desk and waited for her arrival in my office.

Any moment from now, she should be bringing my coffee in. I tried to relax and not get too excited about seeing her but who was I kidding? I was seriously anticipating seeing her beautiful face.

I switched on my PC only for it to be flooded with 50 new emails. I already had so many emails to respond to and so many invoices to create. Those 10 days of being in the hospital really left me with a pile of work. I had worked late until 2:00am this morning but still didn’t finish half of my work. Now more has been added this morning.

I began to work to pass time and before I knew, the time was 9:30am.

I rang my secretary immediately to report to my office and she came in moments after.

“Good morning Mr Wilson.” She came in with letters in her hands.

“Good morning Alice. What are you holding?”

“Two letters of request for leave of absence.”

“Grant them.”

I woke up on the right side of the bed today. Usually, I would have checked the letters and most of the time I always decline. Those two employees can thank Sophia for my good mood.

“Notify me the second Sophia gets to the office.” I waved her off and she left.

Spencer Hyde called and we resumed our business deal. I had been planning to install about 100 solar panels on the roof top of the office but my plans where halted because of the accident, hopefully we can pick up from where we stopped.

I wasn’t sure 100 solar panels would be enough for the office building, considering it had 10 floors. I needed to seek advice from an expert so I speculatively called one of my clients and asking about a solar panels capacity.

From the call, I concluded that I definitely needed about 50 more. I would have to attach some to the glass windows in order for it to blend with the building.

I was surprised to check the time and see that 2 hours had passed and there was no sign of Sophia.

I called my secretary on the phone.

“Sir?”

“Where is Sophia?!” I barked.

“I haven’t seen her, she hasn’t arrived at the office yet.”

I cut the phone and decided to call Sophia myself.

When I dialled her number, it was switched off. I called her house phone severally but she didn’t answer. I was getting a bit worried.

What if something happened to her? Was she in some sort of trouble?

There was no way I could know because I had no idea where she was and she wasn’t picking any of her calls.

Where could she possibly be?

I still had a meeting with two new clients to attend today and cancelling would be a very reckless thing to do, considering they were new clients and I would like to make a good impression.

I decided to go through with the meetings but all the while I was distracted, thinking about Sophia and wondering if she was okay. I rounded them up as quick as I could and left the office.

I needed to find Sophia.

I got in my car and drove by myself to Murray Hill, where Sophia lives.

I realised what I was doing was crazy but I couldn’t stop myself. I had to know what was happening to her.

I got to her apartment easily. Thankfully, there was no traffic at this time of the day.

I knocked on her door endlessly but there was no answer. Where could she possibly have gone to on a work day without notifying me or anyone?!

I was starting to get stressed out. This was not how I expected today to be at all!

I walked back into the main lobby and saw an old man behind a desk. I walked up to him hoping he could give me some information.

“Excuse me, do you know Sophia Parker? She lives just here in this building on the ground floor.” I said.

“Ah, Miss Parker!” He said with a smile on his face. “Are you looking for the young lady?”

“Yes I am.”

“I’m sure you’ll not find her here. I saw her leave very early in the morning today, around 6:00am. In her hand she had a suitcase, the one she normally uses when she travels. I suppose she went to the airport because she and her chit-chat friends said something about ‘missing a flight’.”Ccontent © exclusive by Nô/vel(D)ra/ma.Org.

WHAT?!

“You mean you saw her leave for the airport?!” I almost screamed.

“That’s what I’m thinking.”

“No! It can’t be! She can’t just leave without telling me. Especially after what happened yesterday!” The man looked at me confused.

How could she have gone to the airport. She must be far ahead from me right now. Was she trying to get away from me? I hope this had nothing to do with yesterday. There’s no way it did. Even if Sophia was trying to avoid me, she wouldn’t take a flight to another city… or continent.

“Do you have any idea where she went to?” I asked the man urgently.

“Sorry son, but I don’t.” He said pushing up his glasses that were hanging on his nose. “She left hastily and if I must tell you, she looked really sad.”

“Fuck.” She can’t possibly be sad about yesterday. Was she regretting it?

“Thank you sir. If you do find out more information about Miss Parker please contact me on any of these numbers.” I gave him my business card.

“Okay son.” He said and went in, leaving me in the corridor alone.

What was I going to do now. Sophia was gone and I don’t know where she went to. Worst of all, I don’t know when she will be back!

My heart protested at Sophia being gone for a long time because it started pounding in my chest. I couldn’t figure out why Sophia would just leave me right after she gave me one of the best moments of my life. The whole thing sounded so strange. I tried to reason but I could not figure out an answer.

Suddenly I remembered my secretary telling me about leave requests. She must have already handed it to the Human Resources department so I called the HOD immediately!

“Hello?” Paul, my HOD said.

“Paul. What are the names of the employees you granted leave to?” I asked.

“Ben Walker and Sophia Parker.”

Fuck!

“What was the reason for Sophia’s leave?!” I almost screamed.

“Her father was suddenly ill and she was needed for medical support to him and assistance to her mother.”

Shit!

I ended the call abruptly.

Her father was ill! What kind of illness? Was it one that was curable?

If Sophia lost her dad then she would be an emotional wreck. I would not want her to go through such a devastating experience but there was no way I could help. I didn’t know where her parents live.