Loose Ends

CHAPTER TWO- IT'S NOT A DREAM

SOFIA’S POV

I slowly opened my eyes, groaning in pain. My head felt like there was an axe right in the middle that was sharing it into two unequal halves.

The partly ruined decorations, the food all set on the table. My dress soaked in tears, sweat and saliva–all of it were right before me.

“It wasn't a dream,” as I stated, it felt like a knife had been thrown straight to my chest.

This was real and I was still trying to take it in when the door opened.

“Mason?” I excitedly jumped on my feet. A very small fraction of me wanted to hold on to the minute possibility that this was all a lie.

“I didn't think that you'll still be here,” Mason said, walking in with his mistress behind him.

“What do you mean? I own the house.” I responded, trying so hard so he didn't see my broken heart, even though the dark circles around my eyes said it all.

“Not anymore, you don't!” He replied, holding up an envelope.

“Thank you so much for the gift, Sofia.” Claire, his mistress and secretary said with a smirk on his face.

“We did have a swell celebration too with the wine and cake you delivered.” Mason laughed.

“Give that back!” I tried to grab the envelope, but Mason quickly adjusted. I was still dizzy from the crying and starvation, I fell straight to the ground.

“You must be out of your mind if you think you're getting the company back” Mason walked up the stairs.

“Mason, you can't do this! I worked hard on that company, building it from the very ground. It's all my father left to me.” I sobbed.

“And now, you're leaving it to him, because you love him.” Claire was very loud mouthed and with every word that came out of her mouth, I wanted to scratch her face out, “let's not forget that I also worked on that company with you, Sofia,” she added.

I stared at her quietly. I could feel my insides boiling. I wanted to react, wanted to hurt her so badly, but it was like all my nerves had frozen. I couldn't move.

Claire and Mason were my most favorite people in the world. In fact, they were all that I had.

Mason was my college sweetheart and Claire was the girl I watch struggle to feed by being my father's secretary while she was in college.

The company was still on the ground then and after my father's passing, I kept her, because we both shared the same plight–having to work to see ourselves through school.

I ran the company with Claire until it was now where it was–a fast rising financial establishment.

“Please don't tell me you're still talking to her,” Mason descended the stairs with a small bag.

“What would I possibly say to this low life,” Claire gave me a death stare, and then walked to Mason.

She gave him a kiss right before me and they both headed for the door.

“We're on our way to the courthouse, where we'll initiate full transfer of everything into my name.” Mason said,

“I'll send someone to bring the papers so you can sign. We wouldn't be home in time today, and I expect you to be out of here by the time we get back,”

I couldn't believe it.

‘Where was the sweet man I had known for ten years and married to for five?’

We had a perfect life. Everyone who saw us could testify that we did. How could all of that change just in the blink if an eye?

I watched him walk out the door with her and listened to their vehicle drive out of the premises.

“Mason, I'm pregnant!” I said, but after the vehicle was nowhere within ear shot. Medicine after death.

“I hate him! I don't want him anywhere near my child!” I yelled into the empty house, wailing as I squeezed my breast.

In the midst of that chaos, my phone came buzzing. I paid no attention to it the first time, but it did not stop.

Rage ran through me when I picked the phone and did not recognize the caller I.D.

“Who are you? Leave me be!” I yelled at the phone, reluctantly picking it up. No one could understand my pain.

“Hello, is this Sofia Owen?”

“This is she,” I responded calmly to the man's soothing voice.

“Mr. Ryan will be in the state this afternoon and would be available to see you at 11am,” the man reported.

“Uhm…who?”

There was a sharp break in the conversation following my response.

“This is Sofia Mae Owen, right?” The caller probed, “C.E.O. Carter finances?”

It had been a while since I heard anyone address me as the C.E.O of Carter Finances. It had been a year since I stepped down for Mason to take over.

Mason thought that the stress of running a company jeopardized my chances of conceiving a child and ever since, he had been at the company's helm of affairs.

“Yes, I am,” I responded with a stutter.

“Dr. Ryan of LR group of companies will be available to see you at 11am,” the caller was emphatic, just before he hung up.

I took one look at my phone and the next at myself. I barely felt like a person. I shouldn't be seen by anyone in this state. I hated that Mason had seen me this way, I found it unthinkable that a stranger should.

“Sofia Mae Owen, C.E.O of Carter Finances,” the caller's words echoed one more time in my ear, but this time, it reminded me of who I was–exactly who I was before Mason.

I picked myself up, dusted up and hit the showers. I was taking my destiny into my own hands, like I should have years ago. I was going to make Mason pay.