I Want You Back

Five: The Woman You Deserve

Sofia Andrew

When I arrived in the office, Sara was there with a worried look on her face. It was the first time I'd seen her like that aside from when I was angry at her.

"Good afternoon, Sara."

I walk my way to my office while she's behind me.

"Good afternoon, ma'am. Miss Sandra already informed me, and I hope the meeting went well."

"It was great, but I still haven't really connected the systems to know what I'm doing. Anyway, why does it look like you just saw a ghost?"

"Ma'am, it's just that." She paused and looked at me while wringing her hands nervously. "Well..."

"Stop beating around the bush and tell me because you know it bothers me. Say it once and for all."

"Mr. Leffman arrived earlier this morning and asked about you, but I didn't know what to tell him. It seems like he's in a bad mood."

"Angel is here. Why is he looking for me?"

"I don't know as well, ma'am. Ever since he arrived, he locked himself in his office, and every time he comes out, he asks for you."

"What did you tell me?"

"That you were with Miss Amelia and you were resolving some issues and you were meeting some clients. I did not mention who the clients are."

"I know you, so I trust you. Okay, Sara, better bring me something to drink and contact the design department and the factory, please."

"Right away, ma'am. By the way, what would I do with Sir Angel?"

"Nothing. Let him be busy with his business, and if he asks again, tell him I'm here."

Sara nodded and left my office, leaving me to wonder about Angel. Did he find out that I am the owner of Let-Tech, so he's looking for me?

I shook my head and patted my cheeks. "Stop overthinking, Sofia. It's impossible for him to find out because you did a good job hiding."

The phone rang, and it was from the design department. I asked if Angel gave them a new design, and they answered no. I gathered all our automotive designers to create a new model, and I need to talk to Angel to look for a new automotive engineer because he's no longer an option.

Not only am I thinking of the well-being of the company, but I'm also thinking about the dinner with my family and how I should tell them about the divorce. It did not help that Elisa and her comments kept repeating in my mind. Just thinking about it makes me upset.

"This is a nice office," I heard someone say from the door. What is that woman doing here? "If you think about it, it's like you. So boring."

"In case you forgot about this thing called manners, you knock first before you enter someone's office. Your boyfriend's office is on the other side of the hallway."

I turned my attention back to the documents I was reading without giving them importance.

"Thanks for the information, but I'm in the right office."

"Elisa, what part of the truth don't you understand?" I asked with a deep breath.

"Always the all-high and mighty one," she said sarcastically. I looked at her, and she laughed mockingly. "I came here to thank you."

"What for?" I asked with a raised brow.

"Yes, because you signed the divorce and we thought you'd make a scene or act as the victim or whatever. Angel thought you wouldn't sign because of the business and assets related to you. Even when I know it won't happen."

"Oh, why don't you share your brilliant, unsolicited idea?"

"Sofia, you and I both know you've always been in love with Angel ever since we were in college. He ignored you because he met me and he fell for me," she proudly said and flipped her hair.

"What I see is someone who talks nonsense and has the ability to manipulate things according to what she wants."

"No, my dear. That's what love is. Look how crazy he is for me after all these years. I'm just thankful that you took care of him and no woman was able to be near him."

"Did I take care of him for you?" I asked, my patience running out. This woman knows how to annoy me. "Are you not worried that he fell for me while we were married?"

Elisa laughed so loudly that I swear I saw her tonsils. "No, dear. If I know Angel, I know he never forgives someone who causes him pain and suffering. And he hates you so much to feel something for you other than hatred. In other words, I knew he would never even before the marriage." There was too much confidence in her voice.

"Right. Whatever you invented must have been too good for him to hate me after all these years."

"Of course. I admit that with a little help, I succeeded." With her words, I just know this witch knows the reason.

"I still can't believe how Angel can't see the real you," I said, barking out a laugh.

"Love is blind, and Angel is naive. He's always been like that."

What she said about Angel annoyed me to no end. Angel isn't naive—well, maybe when it comes to her.

"Elisa, get out of my office."

"Aren't you curious to know why he hates you?" I sent a glare her way and wanted nothing but for her to drop dead. "I will tell you anyway. Angel wanted to leave his family and be independent. In short, he wants nothing to do with his family and live a normal life. We both know his name isn't as influential as yours, even when they are a prestigious company. But Angel will leave it all behind, and he wants to take me with him."

"That's what a good lover should do. Support your partner and follow him wherever he goes."

"That is only for stupid people, Sofia. You are a smart woman. I can't leave the life of comfort I have for a guy, so I needed to leave him, but just for a while, while we both get what we want."

"There's nothing that I didn't know about this conversation."

"What you don't know is that he will always defend and love his pure, innocent, and defenseless girlfriend, and he won't be interested in you aside from breaking your heart."

"Ha! Pure and innocent. If you were those, I am a saint."

"But you're not, and Angel didn't know. Let's be honest, you're beautiful, smart, charismatic, and you had everyone backing you up when we were in college, but I had no one."

"You were easy," I corrected her, and she threw me a glare. "I was respected because not everyone can be with me."

"Aside from Angel, that is. the only man you want and can't get. Even when your stupid marriage ended, you did not get him to love you. I did a good job making him hate you."

"What did you do?" I asked with my patience running thin.

"Do you remember the graduation party?" How can I forget that when it was the first time Angel kissed me? "Of course you did because I drugged Angel." I looked at her in disbelief. "When it started to take effect, you helped him like a good samaritan to rest because he was 'drunk'." As she said this, an evil grin appeared on her face.

.

I remember the day when I was on the balcony and he almost fell because he could barely walk.

"You're so nice that you brought him to the room, but since he's heavier than you, you fell on top of him." Every word she said was replayed in my mind as if it were just yesterday.

"If that wasn't enough, you then removed his shirt." It was because it was wet with liquor, or so I thought. "And a perfect ingredient to it is a kiss. I admit that I was bothered by that, but it was needed in the script. The scene was compromising."

"You made him believe that something happened for him to marry me," I gritted out, and the witch proudly nodded. "It's not because of that. He won't hate me because of that."

I know Angel will get angry, but not to the point where he'll hate me and look at me with so much hatred.

"Does it sound too little to you that he thought he cheated on me? He lost me because of you." I am close to stabbing her fake boobs with my pen, and she knows it. "Angel can forgive someone who orchestrated it all, but he won't ever forgive the woman who caused the death of his child."

"What?" I asked incredulously and stood up.

She did not just say that with that sick smile of hers!

"What he did was too much for me; I lost the child," he dramatically said while wiping fake tears.

"You are the worst! How can you invent those things and sleep at night?!"

She raised her hand and waved like she just won. "As you can see, Angel won't ever forgive the woman who killed his child."

"Were you really there? And is he even the father?"

Elisa shrugged nonchalantly. "Is that even important? Who knows? The point is, he believed me that you're the reason why I left him."

"I knew you were horrible, but I didn't know you'd stoop this low. You did this to him and not to me. You made him think he lost a child, which probably never existed or not even his." I am so angry that my blood is boiling!

"Lies become truths over time. I won, and now he has everything, and I'm tired of being single. I came back for him with just a few words, and he asked you for divorce," she proudly said with triumph on her face.

"And why are you saying this to me now? Are you not afraid that I'll tell you about your lies?"

"Sofia, I am the love of his life. In his eyes, I am the most innocent and perfect woman, while you are a liar and the killer of his child. Do you really think he'll believe anything you say?"

"Elisa, you better leave my office before I forget who I am or where we are."

If she does not leave now, I might kill her for real.

"Do you know why I'm saying this to you? For you to know what I'm capable of doing just to get what I want. You know, if you think about it, you are not even the woman that I thought. It's been five years and you did not get to seduce him?" She asked with a mocking laugh.

"I do not give myself to anyone like you, and I don't need a man to be a woman. I am leaving that role to you, who don't know anything but to live off of other people's money."

"And now I'll live with Angel's money. So don't you dare ruin it or he'll hate you more, and you know how ruthless he can be."

"You don't know me, and you don't want to, Elisa. If you think Angel is ruthless, you haven't seen the worst of me. Now, leave!"

"You know, it wasn't hard for me to convince him to marry you."

"Did you convince him?"

"Of course. I told him that the best way for me to forgive him was to make our baby's killer's life a living hell, and so I asked him to take everything from you and make you suffer. You'll see, I'll get to remove you from your seat. Your name isn't as big as his, and now that you're divorced, you are nothing," she said with a sneer.

"Are you saying that he made me suffer? You don't know what you're saying."

"Maybe your horrible attitude and arrogance are the reason why your father doesn't love you. It's a good thing you don't have a mom to see your failure."

The anger I felt got the best of me, and before I could stop myself, my hand was already stinging from slapping her face.

"What do you think you're doing?!" I heard Angel shout, and I didn't know when he entered my office. All I know is that if I see Elisa for another minute, I might just kill her.

"She hurt me, Angel. She insulted me and hurt me," Elisa told Angel in a shaking voice, and I saw how angry he was in his eyes.

"Get her out of my office now," I angrily told Angel because I know myself and I only have little to no patience left.

"I told you not to touch or even look at her because you'll know what I'm capable of doing," Angel said coldly and yanked my arm, making me wince in pain.

"She's the one who came to my office."

"I just got confused; I thought this was his," Elisa said, using her victim voice while crying. "She told me to stop, and she blamed me for the divorce. She even told me that she'd make our lives a living hell, and we'd never be happy."

At every word she says, Angel tightens his hold on me. I fought, but he's stronger than me. I looked at Elisa with hatred. She doesn't know who she's messing with. Angel glared at me before releasing me in a non-gentle way, causing me to bump into my own chair, and I almost moaned in pain.

"Sofia! What are you doing, Angel?! I heard Diether exclaim and help me.

Does anyone know how to knock?!

"She hurt Elisa."

"And does that give you the right to hurt her? If she hurt her for something, then there must be a reason. Besides, what are you doing in her office?"

"Are you defending her?" Angel asked in an annoyed tone.

"How dare you put a hand on her?"

"How dare you lay your hand on me?!" I exclaimed at Angel as Diether helped me. "Get out of my office this instant and take your girlfriend with you if you don't want to see what I'm capable of."

"I know what you are capable of." Angel challenged me with an arrogant smile.

"No. You don't, and neither does she." My eyes shifted to Elisa, and I don't know what kind of expression she saw, but I saw fear crossing her face. "Make her stay away from me if you don't want us together."

"She's my girlfriend. She is the future Mrs. Leffman, and you will respect her."

I smirked at him. "Respect is earned and not asked. for, but I bet she doesn't know that because she does not respect herself."

It was Angel's turn to turn red in anger. "Apologize!" He shouted and held my arm again.

"Angel!" Diether stopped him, and he let me go.

I stepped closer to him and stared into his eyes. "Don't you dare think of laying your hand on me again, or you'll pay."

We are so close to each other that I can feel his breath hitting my face, and I can even feel his heart beating loudly and fast in anger, hoping he can feel the same way about me.

"I'm saying the same to you. Do this again and you'll regret it."

"Get out of my office, my company, and my life! You two are perfect for each other, so leave me alone!"

"You—"

"Goodbye, Angel!"

I can see hatred in his eyes and how he's so angry at me, but this time, I'm sure his emotions mirror mine.

"Angel, it's better if you go and take Elisa with you." Diether intervened, and the two left together.

Diether walked up to me with a worried look on his face. "Sofia, breathe; you look like you're having a heart attack."

I took a deep breath, but I felt like a tiger in captivity inside me.

"They deserve each other," I repeated, my emotions overflowing.

"Calm down and have a seat. Let me check you over."

"No need, Diether. Thank you."

Diego is one of my automotive engineers. We graduated together, and he's a good friend. He's been Angel's former best friend since college, but their friendship was ruined because of Elisa. They still talk, but it is never the same again. He started working here with Angel, and most of the time, Diether is the one who handles and designs everything.

"Did you hit her hard?"

"My pride hurts more, really."

"Don't give her importance, Sofia. You know that woman, and I didn't know she was back."

"That's nothing new. They've been back together for months, and we are divorced."

"I didn't know."

"You don't need to know."

It's only been two days, and they are already flaunting their relationship, but it's okay. He's the one who should explain, not me.

"I never thought that woman would come back into our lives. I don't know why Angel can't see who she is," Diether said while shaking his head.

"He did not do it in the university; he won't do it now. We are all villains in his eyes except her. It's ridiculous."

"I don't doubt it because I know what she's capable of."

"Okay, I did not call you here to talk about Angel." I finally changed the topic to change my mood.

"I arrived in time, or better yet, I should have come earlier."

"Diether, Angel, and I are divorced. I assumed the presidency of the company because he has other priorities; therefore, he is not one hundred percent in this company. And because of that, I want you to be the main automotive engineer of the company."

"What?!" he exclaimed, his eyes widening in surprise. "But Angel did not tell me anything."

"Angel doesn't care about the company, and you know that. You are one of the few people who knows about the truth."

"Yes, but..."

"But nothing. I don't trust him, and even more so now. His priority isn't this company, and he has other obligations. As you know, our competitors launched new material, and we haven't really created anything in a year."

"But that's because we did a great job with our last launch—maybe not as successful as Autos-Let, but we are in second place."

"That is the point. For the last two years, we've only been in second or third place, and our sales are declining. I want something new, something shocking that will leave everyone in awe.

"Do you have ideas?"

"I have them, but you will be the one to design them. That's why I want to see yours first."

"But Angel is the one who handles the design."

"With your help," I quickly added.

"But this is like betraying him."

"Diether, stop being Angel's shadow. I know your ideas are good. Angel just travels and attends meetings, and you are the one who designs."

"But to replace him, one should be the main engineer."

"And now you are it. Tell me, do you want the job or should I look for someone else?"

I know I cornered him and did not get him enough time, but I need to take care of my company.

"It's not that. Angel will get mad."

"If he gets angry, I'll face him. Just accept the job that the president is giving you," I told him with an encouraging smile.

"As the main engineer, will I be able to do what I want?"

"You can design everything you can think of, and if I like it, I'll approve it. Of course, with conditions."

"I know it's not that easy."

"Is it easy to be the main engineer?"

"You know what I mean. What is the condition?"

"Angel must not see the designs. No one can see your creation but me."

"But what if he forces me to show it to him?"

"He won't do that because he doesn't know that we are creating new designs. I also have my own ideas, but it'll be better to work as a team. Don't you think so?"

"Okay, I accept the offer. Thank you for the trust, Sofia," he said wholeheartedly.

"This has nothing to do with our friendship. You are good at your job, and I don't even know why you haven't built your own company."

"I'm good here. Everything I need is here."

"Well then, congratulations on your new position."

We smiled at each other, and he left me to think about what happened, what Elisa revealed, Angel, and this whole mess I was in.

"Ma'am..."

"Sara, please do me a favor. Give me the latest record of every employee's annual income."

"Yes, ma'am."

.

I will inspect everything because, even if I own a huge part of the company, Angel is still present. He hates me and my family, so it doesn't matter if that crazy woman is right.

Because it doesn't change the fact that we are each other's competitors.