C25 Early Break Up

It felt like a storm on the verge of erupting, the tension between Sophia and Lucas in the dusty room.

Sophia demanded answers from Lucas, who appeared hesitant to provide them.

Standing with her arms crossed in front of her and her piercing gaze set on him, she retorted, her tone tinged with annoyance. "Difficult to explain, isn't it? I mean, that's all you ever say. You only ever say that. But I've walked in on you having a suspicious conversation with Shirley about me, seen you dig up information about me, gotten cryptic warnings about you, and now, this?” She held up the items from the box in the air.

She continued when Lucas didn't speak, her voice rising, “Lucas, please tell me what you're not saying. You need to start talking. Now!”

Lucas's normally composed demeanor wavered as he combed through his hair. “Okay, I will…just calm down.”

When Sophia didn't answer but kept glaring at him, he continued talking, “Listen, I didn't want you to find out this way, Sophia. But, I've concealed some things from you regarding Shirley and my past. However, it doesn't change my feelings for you. I meant it when I said I loved you.”

As though putting some distance between them might help her think, Sophia stepped back and shook her head. "What do you take me for? Whenever I ask for the truth, Lucas, you push me away or divert my attention with whatever is going on between us, so how can I trust your feelings, too? How can I be sure it isn't just you using it to manipulate me? That Shirley wasn't right about you all along ?”

"Sofia, this isn't a distraction," Lucas said firmly. “My feelings for you are true. I just don't want to expose you to danger by giving you information that is not safe for you to know of.”

"What or who are you keeping me safe from? Shirley, reporters, or your secrets? And why am I not supposed to know that you had a hand in denting my career six years ago?" She demanded, still raising her voice.

Lucas's jaw tensed, and his lack of response was sufficient for Sophia to make up her mind about being with him.

She raised her hands in the air. "Lucas, I can't do this. I have to stop questioning what's genuine and what's just a fancy game. You claim to be defending me, yet all I sense is manipulation.

Lucas's face became stern. "You don't know what you're talking about. And you don't know me at all if you feel like I'm manipulating you."

Sophia shot back, her voice shaking, "Maybe I don't. And perhaps I should discover my identity in all of this without you interfering with my judgment." Sharp and uncompromising, her remarks hung in the air.

Lucas nodded curtly, as though he wanted to say more, but he stopped himself. "I won't get in your way if that's what you need."

“I'll continue to work on your piece; you were my client first, after all. But privately, you and I….are done.”

She turned and walked out of the room, her heart racing.

She was experiencing a flurry of feelings, including uncertainty, rage, and a slight sense of remorse.

***********************************************

Sophia sat across from Shirley in a quiet café later that afternoon. She had gotten a call from her earlier and decided that getting a bit of fresh air while she listened to whatever the woman had to say wasn't a bad idea.

The elder woman's eyes retained the same acerbic quality that had always worried Sophia, but she appeared more controlled than she had in weeks.

"You were hoping to see me?" Sophia inquired in a cautious tone.

Shirley spoke in a low, agitated voice as she leaned forward. "Sophia, you must resign from this commission. You only have half the tale, regardless of what Lucas has told you.”

Sophia leaned back in her chair and sighed. "This again? I'm sick of half-truths and vague warnings, Shirley. Tell me if you know something.”

Shirley paused, gripping the table's edge tightly. “I don't have all the information or any evidence, just my gut feeling. But I assure you, it's pretty accurate. You have the news, right? There is more to the scandal Lucas was a part of than just rumors. It's real, and by association, it might destroy you.”

Sophia's brows creased as her thoughts quickly returned to the articles she had seen on the news: rumors of unethical business practices and financial irregularities about Lucas's empire. However, there had never been any hard evidence, and Lucas had consistently been unconcerned by the reports.

None of it mattered to her anymore though. Now, he was just a stranger to her, wasn't he? Her stomach hurt at the recollection of her telling him off just a few hours ago. Could she handle being apart from him? How was she going to handle her emotional attachment to him?

Sophia firmly stated, "That scandal has nothing to do with me."

"But it has!" Shirley's voice rose a little as she snapped. “Sophia, it's not a coincidence that he showed interest in you. He is attaching you to his disaster, and you will be collateral damage when it all falls apart.”

Sophia gazed at Shirley, attempting to determine how earnest she was. Although she wanted to think it was simply another effort at manipulation, she couldn't help but feel uneasy as it began to creep into her chest.

Sophia said softly, "I don’t care about Lucas's private life. Not anymore. My job is all I'm doing now and I have to…if I want to remain an artist.”

Shirley's tone softened as she reached over and grabbed Sophia's hand across the table, patting it gently. "Believe me when I say this. “You cannot resist Lucas as long as you two keep contact. Leave while it's still possible."

Heaving a sigh, Sophia removed her hand from Shirley's and stood up quietly. “Goodbye, Shirley.” She stated simply and headed out, her face, expressionless.

***********************************************

Sophia came back to her apartment that night with a flurry of negative emotions coursing through her mind and body.

She walked around the living room, reliving her talks with Shirley and Lucas, trying to find a glimmer of understanding.

She was about to slump into the couch and relax her nerves when she noticed an envelope on the coffee table that hadn't been there before she left the house that morning.

On the front was her name in strong, strange lettering. She grabbed it up and ripped it open, frowning, wondering what game is brewing now.

There was a pile of papers and pictures within. On the first page was a printed email chain that connected Lucas to the scandal—more precisely, to a shell corporation engaged in shady art transactions.

Financial activities that appeared to indicate Lucas had financed some projects using illicit methods were described on another page.

But what got her attention were the pictures. One of them depicted Shirley in a poorly lit room meeting with an unidentified man. Another displayed Lucas standing close by with an inscrutable look.

As Sophia gazed at them, her hands shook involuntarily.

She kept thinking about the words from the intimidating phone call: "You're in over your head."

Her heart thumping, she slumped back into the couch. Now what was she meant to do?