After One Night

Episode 2

~Sophie’s POV

I called out Edwards’s name again, feeling much more scared of becoming a murderer.

“I can’t go to jail not when I have a bright future ahead of me and I can’t even go to jail just because I killed the perverted bastard,” I muttered to myself as I teared up.

“Mr Edward, can you hear me?” I asked, shaking his body and thankfully I heard him groaned.

“Are you alive?” I asked, staring intently at him. I watched as he tried to opened his eyes, holding onto his head.

“How dare you hit me b***h?!” He yelled out as he winced in pain, trying to get up. Seeing that he was alive, I felt so relieved, at least I won’t be charged with murder. Just then, I remembered the monster he was and I quickly stood up, wore my slippers and ran out of the room.

“Sophie! Come back here, you ungrateful b***h!” I heard him cussing out but I would not be his prey. He was a shameless man. I ran out of his building without looking back and not even minding the shorts and shirt I was putting on.

The cool night air hit my skin, but it did nothing to calm the fire of fear burning inside me. I ran blindly, my only thought being to get as far away from that house as possible. My legs ached, but I didn’t stop. Not until my lungs screamed for air, and my surroundings blurred into a quiet street.

I collapsed onto a bench near an old convenience store, my chest heaving. Tears blurred my vision as I fumbled for my phone in my pocket. The first person that came to mind was Nathan, my best friend. He’d always been my rock when things got tough.

With trembling fingers, I dialed his number. The phone rang, and for a moment, I clung to the hope that he’d answer.

“Sophia?” Nathan’s familiar voice came through the line.

“Nathan…” My voice cracked, and I wiped at my tears. “I need your help. Please.”

“What happened? Are you okay?” he asked, sounding so worried.

“I...I had to leave. Edward…he tried…” I couldn’t even finish the sentence, the words choking me.

“Where are you?” Nathan’s voice was firm now, almost commanding.

“I don’t know,” I admitted, looking around at the dimly lit street. “Somewhere near Green Street, I think.”

There was a pause. “Sophia, I’m out of town right now. I’ll head back first thing in the morning, but I can’t get to you tonight. Can you find somewhere safe to stay?”

I swallowed hard, the weight of his words crushing me. “I’ll figure something out,” I whispered, trying to sound braver than I felt.

After hanging up, I felt a wave of despair. I had nowhere to go. No one else to call. My mind wandered back to the house I’d fled from, to the life I thought I could escape. I’d told my mother about Edward months ago, desperate for her to believe me, to protect me.

But her reaction still haunted me.

“Sophia, stop this nonsense,” she snapped, her eyes narrowing as she crossed her arms.

“Do you think men like Edward come around every day? He’s wealthy, he’s powerful, and he’s giving us a better life. Don’t ruin this for us with your silly accusations.”

“It’s not a silly accusation, Mom!” I yelled, my voice cracking with frustration.

“He touches me when you’re not around! He’s…he’s disgusting!”

But she would waved me off, dismissing my pain as if it were an inconvenience.

“You’re being dramatic. Edward is a good man, and he’s doing more for us than your father ever did. If you want to ruin this for us, fine, but don’t expect me to back you up.”

Her words had cut deeper than Edward’s actions ever could.

Caroline, my stepsister, had tried to help. She wasn’t like her father, at least not entirely. When I confided in her, she looked horrified.

“I’ll talk to him,” she’d said, determined. “He can’t do this to you.”

But the next day, she came to me pale-faced, her hands trembling.

“I...I tried,” she stammered, glancing over her shoulder as if he could appear any moment.

“He told me if I ever brought it up again, he’d cut off my allowance and throw me out of the house. And you know I can’t survive a day without my allowance,”

“I’m too expensive and I can not afford to get on my dad’s bad side and I also need to inherit the company later in the future,” she explained.

I could not believe my ears but it wasn’t her fault, was it?

That was the last time she spoke of it. She avoided me after that, guilt written all over her face.

As I sat there, lost in my thoughts, a sign caught my eye. Across the street was a bar, its bright lights blinking invitingly. It wasn’t the kind of place I’d usually go to, but right now, it felt like my only option.

I got up, wiped my face, and headed inside. Music was playing loudly and many people were inside, dancing, drinking, smoking and some were even making out on a nearby chair. I felt so disgusted but I had to walked in to take in one or two drinks to clear my mind off Edward.

I walked up to the bartender who also eyed me like a sort of prostitute.

“Why are men like this?” I wondered but then ignored his gaze and asked for a drink.

“I want a drink with about 50% alcohol,”

“Oh, guess someone is trying to get drunk tonight,” he replied. I ignored him and motioned to him rudely to get me my drink.

“Playing hard to get right?” He asked as he went in to get my order. I rolled my eyes, feeling so disgusted and after some minutes, he came back with my drink.

One drink turned to two and two turned to three. I was starting to get tipsy because I was a light drinker. Just then, a figure approached me. I squinted my eyes to see the person clearly and it was a man probably in his late twenties. But one thing that captivated me was how handsome he was. He was tall, draped in a black suit with a commanding presence. He looked damn hot and sexy.

“What the hell is wrong with me?” I muttered because I found the young man so handsome and attractive.

“Hello damsel,” the man said, staring at me seductively. His gaze was supposed to make me feel disgusted because he looked at me exactly the way Edward did but instead, I found myself smiling at him like a fool and stretching my hand forth for a shake.

I guessed alcohol is really a bastard.

“I’m Damian. Can I know your name?” He asked, his voice sounding so seductive.

“I’m…. Sophie,” I tried to replied in my drunken state.

“Wow, that’s a lovely name, you know for a pretty damsel like you. Can I take a sit beside you?” He asked and I nodded, motioning for him to take a sit. He stared at me, his gaze all over my body, and then he started talking about him meeting me for the first time here as he was a regular.

“You are right, it’s my first time here,” I replied gushing down another drink. Just then he moved closer to me and oh my gosh, I was so hot. I wasn’t sure if it was as a result of getting drunk or the closeness between Damian and me.

He placed a soft kiss on my cheek and I found myself wanting more.

“What… are you doing to me?” I muttered seductively that I almost could not believe myself.

“Why don’t we get a room?” He asked.