I hugged her back, absorbing her essence. “I don’t want you to get hurt,” I added. “Please, if anything goes wrong or veers off the plan, you get out. You let me know.”
Sophia nodded, the smile on her face growing wider still.
“You need to take this seriously, Sophia.” I huffed. “I can’t tell you how much is at stake here. Or how much this scares the hell out of me.”
Sophia seemed to study my eyes. Coming closer, she kissed me tenderly as she spoke. “I promise you that I will be careful. I will be able to do this.”
I wrapped my arms around her and held her tightly. She lay there without moving. I wanted to hold her forever and never let go. Her breathing, her heartbeat, just her presence was like soothing music to my being.
Chapter 24 - Sophia
I knew that I couldn’t allow anyone to see how Kolya had shaken me. Even after weeks, I still felt like I could be swallowed whole by his presence. I had to stay composed, act in control. Kolya and I had devised a plan. We even acted it out. I rehearsed my lines, planned my escape. It had to look authentic in case Melody had spies.
He had been annoyingly patient with it all. I could see a hint of amusement flickering in his eyes every time I exaggerated a struggle. Or pretended to be scared and concerned. He had helped me practice my lines and assisted with his police contact to set up the listening device.
I had to be careful, no, we needed to be careful. The story I tell her would have to be believable. We couldn’t afford to let the truth out of the bag too soon.
As I sneaked out of the mansion, the guards, who were intentionally patrolling in other areas, caused my heart to skip a beat. Kolya directed me to an abandoned factory not far out of town. He knew some of the squatters and told me who to ask for when I got there.
Once I got there, I was pleasantly surprised to find out Kolya had already made contact. The man was waiting for me. He hid me in the back room he had prepared for me. I spent the week lying low to ensure our plan would work. Every day, the man would bring me food and other items I may need.
My stay wasn’t as bad as I had expected. In fact, it was the opposite. The people were friendly and kept their distance. I spent the last night preparing my narrative. I stayed hidden to regain some form of semblance.
Every gesture, pause, and breath I took during our meeting had to sell the story. Early the next morning, I used the burner phone the man brought me to leave a message for Melody. I called her office and told the receptionist that Melody could reach me at this number.
Once the trap was set, I waited. It didn’t take long for the phone to ring. “Melody,” I breathed out softly over the phone. “I’m so glad to get hold of you. I’ve been struggling to get out.”
There was a pause on the other end of the line. It felt like it lasted forever. My chest tightened as I imagined all the ways she could respond. There could be denial, suspicion, maybe even outright hostility.
Then her voice came through cool and steady. It cut right through my anxiety. “I’ve been waiting to find you. My men have searched the entire town. Where have you been?”
“I have been hiding in an abandoned factory on the edge of town. I can’t afford for Kolya’s men to find me,” I breathed out.
Patiently, I waited for her reply. “Okay,” she finally huffed. “I’ve arranged a room at the Bellmont Café. Come alone, Sophia, and be careful. Kolya’s men have eyes everywhere.”
“Of course,” I whispered. I heard my voice catch on the last syllable. Before she could say another word, I hung up. My fingers were trembling slightly as I held my phone. My mind instantly spiraled into action, planning my next move.
Leaving the safety of the factory, I made my way into town. The café she spoke of was luckily closer to this side of town.
Finally, I made my way to the café feeling breathless. My legs burned, and my back was scorched from the sun's heat.Knots had formed in my stomach due to the anticipation. The streets were bustling. The usual chaos of city life, which always comforted me, wasn’t doing a thing.
I took slow, deliberate steps, scanning each and every face I passed. I had to know if there were any threats I might have missed. When I finally pushed open the door, the warm scent of freshly baked goods hit me. This was comforting, almost making me feel normal. A stark contrast to the chaos that had consumed the last couple of months of my life.
A man suddenly touched my shoulder, making me jump. I had to cover my mouth to prevent the scream from escaping. “This way,” he breathed out. He turned and walked through some tables. I followed close behind.
The man led me to a private room in the back. He knocked, then opened the door and waved me inside. Stepping in, I heard the door close behind me with a soft click. I took a deep breath to steady my nerves. Melody was already there. Her posture was impeccable, like always. Her expression portrayed her impatience.
But somehow, it made me feel welcome. I had become accustomed to this woman’s way and her moods. It felt like I was on solid ground, but was it going to shake and swallow me today? Was this a mistake?
“Sophia,” she said. She rose briefly and gave me a nod. “Sit, let’s not waste time,” she added politely as she fell back into the big recliner. Before her was a small table with two glasses and a pitcher of water. She was waiting for me.
I lowered myself into the chair across from her. She looked eagerly at me as I clasped my hands tightly in my lap.
“Melody… It’s been… difficult,” I began saying. My voice trembled slightly. I had to focus on selling the destroyed woman act. “Kolya, he is… well, he’s…”
“You think he’s evil?” Melody interrupted. The smile on her face and the spark in her brown eyes made her look like the boogie man. Those eyes bored into me as she spoke. “Yes, we know. Now tell me exactly what happened. Don’t waste words. I want the dirt, the truth, every little detail you have.”
My pulse quickened, and my throat felt thick as if filled with an invisible sludge. The words caught in my throat, making me cough. How much could I reveal without compromising my position?
