Driven To You

Chapter 3 : Unwanted Realization

*Sophia's POV*

By the time we left the event, I knew I was already boiling with rage. The evening had been just as I had anticipated in every single detail, drawn out, dull and full of utterly tiresome individuals that I had encountered previously. However, there was something I could not exactly place,…but…had changed. Michael, of all people. I despised it.

His gaze and that gaze of his made me sick. How dare this fool look down on me as if he had a place in my life with his craziness? I was already irritated to an extent, but I could not quite understand why it was hard to let go of the image of him staring—like, truly staring—as if he cared.

I was extremely vexed, but I was not going to ask him to like me. He was a driver. A person who drove me around, even opened the car doors for me. Nothing else. He knew his limits and if he did not, I would see to it that he did. I didn’t even think about him for a nanosecond.

As the limo started taking a turn around the venue, I looked outside the window trying to rid my thoughts of that annoying man. It didn’t help. More infuriating was the fact that I could not help recollecting how he had stood still without an ounce of tension in him. Not a wisp of fear or shame crept unto him. There was nothing this time. Just that stale, deadpan grin of the robotic attendant he was meant to be.

I smacked the stick of my hand against the window forcefully that shook the glass panes frame. What was wrong with me? Why should he even cross my mind? There were way more important things to concern myself with —such as Alexander, who fitted my parents’ picture of a son-in-law. Well bred, affable and of dignified bearing. Unlike that thug.

Out of habit, I glanced at the rearview mirror and saw him standing watching us as the limo drove away. Oh God, he was still present. What kind of person loiters about a vehicle and extends their gaze past the driver at someone, as if they are significant? I clenched my jaw and looked away, feeling the heat of annoyance bubbling in my throat.

"Sophia, are you fine?" The voice of the driver of the limo broke into my reverie. I gave him no real notice.

“I’m fine,” I replied curtly.

What do I care about anyone’s opinion? No one can touch me. Or at least, they shouldn’t be. So why does Michael seem to be around all the time, like an annoying mosquito?

When we finally arrived at the mansion, I was not in the mood for anything. My stomach twisted in knots from the anger combined with some other darker feeling that I refused to identify. I jumped out of the vehicle without waiting for the driver to open the door for me. I wanted to be left alone. Away from the charade called society. Away from everything.

The house looked the same as I remembered it to be. The cold elegance, the immaculate design that didn’t seem to have an ending, was just a mess I was trapped in called life. I stormed up the stairs to my room while fuming.

She didn’t care about anyone. Not her parents nor Alexander and most definetly not Michael. No, that was a lie. She cared for no one, with the exception of herself.

After closing the door, I tossed my bag onto the bed. The all too familiar feeling of rage took over me as I lay down on the bed, my thoughts going haywire. I really hated this. Hated that I put Michael’s dumb face out of my mind. Hated how he clearly thinks of me as a delicate little princess when I’m practically the opposite. But most of all, I hated how he didn’t lore sqwaisi to the side when I barked at him. He did not seem scared of me. He did not seem to be cowed by me. That irked me deeply more than I would like to admit.

Still, it was alright. I was not going to dedicate my thoughts to him ever again. I was not going to allow a pathetic little man who spent his time driving me around spoil my evening. There were lie consequences to deal with that were more pressing- my future. My engagement. Alexander.

He was the one my parents had arranged for me to marry. The one who checked all the right boxes.He was all things that a lady like me had any right to ask for.

So then why was there so much rage within me?

I was distracted from my thoughts by a knock at the door.

“Sophia?” My mother’s voice was soft. However, the concern in it was undeniable. “Are you Managing Okay?”

With a groan, I rolled my eyes and whipped the covers off of myself and got out of bed.

“I’m fine, Mother,” I said sharply as I opened the door ready to storm out.

My mother walked into the room and looked around, her eyes fixing on me as if I were some situation in need of a resolution. Uncanny.

“You don’t seem fine,” she said, her voice too controlled and rather patronizing. “What is wrong?”

"I said, I don't need your stupid concern," I replied, slamming the door behind her. "I just want to be left alone that's all."

"Space," she repeated, almost in disbelief. "Sophia, darling, avoidance is not going to help you get through this. Alexander-"

"Ugh," I muttered and cut her off feeling the frustration fast building inside me again. “Not a good time, Mother. Please. I don’t want a talk about Alexander.”

She lifted an eyebrow at me. "A talk? There is no lecture. I just want you to be aware that he is good for you. He is asking about you, he cares and he wants to make this work."

Those words made my blood boil. “Who cares? I don’t want to know Alexander ,” I snapped, the words escaping my mouth before I could curb them.

My mother looked taken aback. "What? Sophia, he is the one for you! He is the man every girl like you should marry."

"Why?" I practically screamed, losing it. “So I can suffer like you do? So that I can act like when I get married to some stupid Prince charming, everything will be okay? Alexander is not the one for me! This is not For me!”

I thought my mother would flare up, scream back, cuss me out for my impertinence, but she did not. She merely remained where she was, quietly, the same bitter disappointment evident in her eyes, the same look that she used to get whenever I failed to please her.

“Wait long enough,” she spoke with an icy detachment that came wrapped with an assurance. “In due time, you will get it. But as always, don’t be rash as you were the last time.”

I looked at her, astonished. For the most part, she was correct. The last time, however, I had been foolish. It is a habit I ditched long ago when I attempted to follow my wishes rather than listening to those who would know better. But now, that is one mistake I was never going to make again.

I can do without him just fine. I do not want anybody telling me what to do, not my mother, not Alexander, and sure as hell, not my father.

I pivoted, unwilling to pursue this line of conversation any further.

My mom rolled her eyes, however, she did not pursue the matter any further. "Just think carefully", she said and exited the room quietly, pulling the door behind her.

Once again, I found myself alone and the rage I had tried to suppress was only intensifying. I let myself drop on the bed, chewing my gums in anger and my hands balled into fists.

I did not Depend on People. I did not Depend on Michael. I did not Depend on Alexander.

I just needed things to be in their rightful order.

I was Sophia—impenetrable, irresistible, and invincible. No one will, most definitely not him.

And yet, the ire building in my chest was not going away.

I was deluding myself and it was infuriating.