Chapter 3

CHAPTER THREE

*** THREE YEARS LATER***

SOPHIA'S POV

I kept my head up as I sashayed to my packed vehicle in the parking lot.

My security personnel were working to keep away the paparazzi who tried to get to me but not all could be stopped as they were always as stubborn and determined like flies.

"Sophia! Sophia!"

My name kept flying around in different directions as the paparazzi kept taking photos of me almost blinding me but since I was already into the business, I knew how to pad through.

The hungry paparazzi kept begging me to answer their many ridiculous questions, but I kept my head up and continued to ignore them.

My chief bodyguard opened the car for me to get in and sighed at the sign of some peace and calmness when I finally got in.

"To the airport, Carlos" I instructed the driver. "I have a flight to catch in ten minutes and i do not want to miss it"

"Yes, ma'am" Carlos replied and he drove away as quickly as he could.

The car zooms past the crowd of gossip-hungry paparazzi while I watch them through the tinted glass we left them behind.

Beside me is Thomas. My thirty-six-year-old lawyer who seemed to be older than his age. He is incredibly good at his job and that is why I made my lawyer.

We both stayed in silence making use of what the silence would provide.

The drive had gone for some time before I turned to him.

"So, Thomas," I called, bringing his attention to me. "How do you feel about this trip? And my decision?" I asked.

"It's going to be a good one. I am very sure that we will be able to win custody of your kids. Don't worry Sophia, I would do everything within my power to make sure you win this case" he said, strongly, bringing me confidence that I was already beginning to lack.

I would do everything possible for me to win this case, I would not leave until my kids are with me.

"Did you do as I said though? I want you to keep it from him till the last minute"

"Yes," Thomas replied. "I just sent him the email some minutes ago, just before you got into the car" I nodded, everything was going as planned.

"Good. " A sinister smile crept the corner of my lips

I feel very happy right now asI imagined the look of confusion on the face of my Lucas when he gets the email from my lawyer. Lucas won't see this one coming.

I was going to show him I wasn't that naive, gullible young lady he married years ago. I am now an independent, strong, and motivated young lady. I wouldn't take his shits anymore.

I thought of my kids and how happy I'd be with the reunion as I stared out of the window.

I was returning to Los Angeles and I was hellbent on getting my kids.

*****

Riccardo's pov

I stood by the window, looking at the busy landscape from my office. God, how much I love the view, but right now, that's not what I am bothered about.

That email I got from the said lawyer of Sophia. She has just come straight out of the blues and she is determined to take the kids with her after all those years that she left.

It has been three years and it has been a long time. I didn't even think she would return and now this.

I can't fully explain what had happened that night, I could only remember some things like me being drunk and my wife annoying the hell out of me and me saying some stuff to her even though I didn't mean to.

She had left and I wasn't ready to beg her to stay even though I knew in my heart that I didn't mean to hurt her, I was not going to say sorry to her because she hurt me first.

When she told me she was going to leave, I told her to leave if she wanted to, but the kids are going to be staying with me and I thought that would make her change her mind, but I woke up that morning to find she was gone.

She has changed so much. Whenever I was alone, I would surf the internet for photos and videos of her and I must say that she has changed very much.

She now wears exposed clothes, she is no longer the good girl I had married when she was eighteen, she now shows a lot of skin and I sometimes get mad about how she displays herself.

What can I do? Does she still consider herself to be his? Very unlikely.

I looked at my desk, the screen of my laptop still contains the email. She is going to be here in a matter of hours and I was feeling all nervous already, something that I haven't felt in a long while.

I knew that she had come to rain brimstones on me because I kept the kids away from her, but it's a good thing that I was ready for her as well, I would never let my kids away from my sight.

"Excuse me, Mr. Anderson" My secretary knocked and walked into the office. She smiled at me and nodded, which made my heart beat rapidly. She is not already here, is she?

"Don't tell me that she is here already," I sighed.

"No, sir. She isn't here yet." She shakes her head "I was only going to ask if it's okay for me to bring you some tea"

"Tea? No, please" I waved my hand.

"Send the file from Texas instead to me. Let me bury myself in that for the meantime"

"Okay, sir. I will do that right away" she said, ready to leave.

"And also inform me before you let her in" I reminded her and she nodded.

"I will, sir" she replied.

"Good," I said, dismissing her.

She left and I settled myself in my seat. Usually, I was a very busy person, but Sophia's unexpected return had me all tense up.

*****

I looked into the mirror of my hotel room. My long army green gown has holes on both sides, from under my arms down to the rim of the dress and the result is that the sides of my breasts and my hips are all on display.

The old Sophia wouldn't be comfortable in this, neither would the new Sophia but I want to incite some reactions from Lucas.

A very confident look for a very confident woman, I was going to show Lucas just how much I had changed.

I retouched my makeup, ran some mascara over my lashes, and reapplied powder and the end product amazed me.

I heard a knock on the door and I picked up my bag. I and Thomas would be on their way to Lucas's office in a few minutes.

As soon as I turned the knob and the door opened, Thomas's eyes widened and he took a step back. I knew his behavior was due to what I was putting on so I smiled and turned around for him to have a better look.

"Tell me that you like this" I winked. "It looks good, doesn't it?"

"Yes… but" He stammered and his eyes were blinking rapidly. "Don't you have something else? I mean put on some other dress you know"

"Something else?" I frowned.

"What's wrong with what I am putting on?" Thomas isn't just my lawyer but he is also my friend, ever since I left LA to San Francisco he and Robert had taught me the ropes.

Robert Gonzales, the owner of a remarkable fashion line in San Francisco who I had run into the night I left Lucas. He had flown me out to San Francisco where his company was suited and had taught me the ropes.

Rob was aware about everything in my life when he had employed me, he had informed Thomas about me and that was the beginning of a new friendship.

"This is a great look, Sophia but there is too much skin on display. I know what your intentions are but this isn't the right way," Thomas said.

"Okay. I get that's your opinion Thomas" I shut my eyes trying to swallow the anger that is bubbling inside of me.

"First of all, I can wear whatever the hell I want and secondly, what's the right way? What are my intentions?" I asked.

"It's alright Soph, I just think that you are going to give your husband the wrong impression of you?" He says.

"What impression?" I frowned. "The only impression he is going to get from me is the fact that he can't push me around the way he used to".

Thomas gave a stiff nod, I know he was not happy with my decision but I had to do what I had to do.

"Of course," he said.

"Hope you brought your A-game, Thomas? You and I are going to take him by the storm" I said and a wicked smile graced my face.

Oh poor Lucas! He doesn't know what's coming for him.

"Yes, I am ready just as you are, besides we are going to negotiate a term" Thomas flipped through a file in his hands. "This is something that can be settled amicably"

"Amicably or not, he will have no other choice than to give my children to me." I said with a tinge of anger in my voice.

I stepped out of the room and we both headed to the elevator.