I Want You Back

Angel Leffman

Why did I have to kiss her? What the hell was I thinking? Now I can't get it out of my head, and the memory of my dream bothers me. "Angel."

I blinked and realized that Harry had arrived. "It's good that you're here."

"So, where do you want me to start? You gave me so much work that it's driving me insane."

I clapped his shoulder, and he gave me a blank look. "Come on, man. I know you can do that and more. Start where you want."

"Let's start with Alexis. I found out that Sofia came to see him because he called her."

A frown appeared on my face. "For what reason?"

"You need to ask her that, man. They talked in his room for about half an hour." At that, my fists automatically clenched. "Calm down; we don't know the reason yet."

"I don't like her associating herself with that bastard. I'm worried about Sofia. She can be too arrogant for herself, and she doesn't see the danger she's in."

"Maybe, but we both know she knew how to take care of herself."

"We can never be too sure. What did that a*****e want from her?"

"What do you think a pervert like him wants from a beautiful woman?" he asked with a raised brow.

I cursed and gritted my teeth. "I'll kill him and feed him his d**k."

"There's more. According to my source, Alexis threatened her that he would sue you. And looking at him, it won't be too hard for him, Angel."

"So you're telling me that he wants to sue me for breaking his ugly face when he tried to drug and abuse my wife? He should be thankful that he's still alive. Why isn't he doing it yet?" "He's waiting for something, and that's what you wouldn't want to hear." My blood boiled at the suspense. "Sofia. She's what he's waiting for."

"Sofia? I don't understand."

"I only know what they told me. He was planning on suing you the day he called Sofia, and then he told her he was waiting. I have a pretty good guess on what that is."

I almost broke the armrest of my couch. "Sofia, I want you to keep your eyes on that idiot. Is there anything else?"

"His last secretary just resigned because he tried to r**e her. If it weren't for a guard finding them, she wouldn't have escaped, and the next day, she sent her resignation."

"He's a waste of space, and I should have killed him. If he tried to abuse her and Sofia, I don't want to think about what he did to the others."

"Once we find out, I'll give you the information as soon as possible."

"I will destroy that maniac because he laid his eyes on the wrong person." I stopped when I saw how he gave me a teasing smile. "What's so funny?"

"You are defending Sofia, and the last time I saw that was when we were in college when a guy tried to approach her."

"She's been a magnet for idiots since then."

"Starting from you."

I sent a glare his way, and he laughed.

"I want you to move fast. What happened to his business?" I asked to change the topic.

"He's closing a deal in France regarding fashion, and he urgently needed it because it looks like his fortune is falling."

"Fashion?" I asked in wonder. "Why can't he close the contract?"

"It looks like the company he wants has another company in mind."

"Let me guess, Lee Andrew's?"

"Yes, how did you know?" Is that why he's pestering Sofia? Does he know that she's the owner? "What does the company want with Lee Andrew"

"Because they made a name in a short time. They have original designs, and in France, it already reached some people, but it is clear that they still need to establish their name in the market, men, and women, and all ages are interested in their products, so they order their products online."

"Are you saying that Alexis wants to do business with this company to improve his finances, and he can't afford to let anyone take it from him?"

"Yes, but the company in France is very interested in Lee Andrew's. According to my source, they will have a meeting as soon as possible to finalize it."

"Do not take your eyes off him. I know he will do everything to get that contract."

"He definitely will, but we still don't know who the owner of Lee Andrew's is. Their lawyers and staff are very secretive."

"Like, they don't know that I'm the owner of Autos-Let, but if Alexis finds out, it means someone told him."

"Do you think there is a spy in that company?"

"Possible, and if that's the case, then it's dangerous for..." I trailed off and bit my tongue. I almost slipped. "Just be careful, Harry."

"I will. On the other hand, about Let-Tech."

Tell me we have the contract," I said in anticipation.

"I met the owner. He's around our age. A smart guy who knows his business. He liked the proposal." He trailed off and irked me. ""But..."

"He told me that he's not interested in it now, but he will think about it."

"Bullshit. What we offer will give them a great profit in a minute."

"I told him that, but he was firm in his decision, but..." He stared at me and looked hesitant.

"Why are you stalling? You know it irritates me."

"Angel, everything irritates you lately. I mean, he liked the proposal; I saw it in him, but he still said no. And then, in the end, he told me he'd think about it." My mind automatically gave me an idea. "Are you sure he's the owner?"

"What are you saying?"

"What if he isn't the owner?"

"The secretary told me that the owner himself would meet me."

"That is what we said as well, but it's you. Maybe that's why he's hesitant. Did he introduce himself as the owner?"

"Now that I think about it, no, but his actions and words made me think so."

"He receives an order, and the order is to reject the proposal. The question is why? Damn, we need that partnership." "It's not that we need it because we have new designs, Angel."

"But another company might get the same idea and get ahead of us, Harry. It'll be such a big waste."

"So? Because if they are adamant about rejecting a million-dollar project like this, what can possibly change their mind?" "Persuasion. That's what I'm good at. Maybe they found out you are not the owner."

"Maybe, even though you haven't really shown yourself."

"Well, we will fix that. What is his name?"

"Isaac Gomez."

"Alright. I will make sure that we do business with that company."

"Finally. And oh, I was about to tell you something, but with a lot of things happening, I forgot it. It's about Elisa."

""What is it?"

"In the clinic where she told you she aborted the baby, her name is registered." That means she's pregnant. "But the date doesn't add up."

"What are you saying?"

"Don't get the wrong idea, Angel. We're still investigating. I'm just saying that she had an abortion in the clinic, but the date was before the graduation party."

"Are you telling me that it happened before the party? That's impossible. Elisa told me she lost the baby because Sofia showed her the photos. It happened after the party."

"I'm just telling you what we found out; however, we will continue investigating. If we have another piece of information, I'll let you know."

"What has she done the last five years?"

"Travelling." I gave him a flat look, and he just chuckled. "We are working on that, Angel, but if you need them done, do not ask too much from me, man."

"I need to know, Harry. If she lied to me, she'll know what I'm capable of."

"Well, you hated Sofia for five years, thinking that she killed your child," he reminded me, and I sighed. "You wanted to know if she's really pregnant, and she was. Now, we need to know if you're the father of the kid." "What are you pointing at, Harry? She's pregnant. That is enough proof."

"Yes, but that doesn't mean it's yours or she lost it the way she told you how. You said you want to know, so let me do my job, and don't glare at me."

"Harry, I stole her virginity. I am the only man in her life, so I am the father," I insisted with confidence.

"Angel, don't be offended, but you can't even remember what happened that night. You only believed what she said."

""And what I saw."

"That doesn't mean you took her virginity. I'm sorry, but her reputation isn't exactly saintly."

"Nothing was ever proven, and we never saw anything. She didn't act like they say, Harry. And you know this isn't the first time they spread a rumor to make her look bad."

"I know, but now you are starting to question everything."

"I know, but I just didn't think that..." I trailed off with a frown.

"That you looked like a fool for so many years? That you lost the woman you loved because of them?"

"Do you want to end up like Alexis?"

He chuckled and held up his hands. "You don't want to hear the truth, but that is my job.

"By the way, do you know about the rumor they spread about Sofia before?"

"That? Are you adding another work to the pile you put in my head?"

"Have you heard rumors about Kevin and Sofia? Think, man." I pressed him.

"No, I can't remember. I just heard that Sofia was expelled because Kevin ended up in the infirmary, but then I saw her in the university, so I thought it wasn't true." ""No, what I meant is what happened before that."

"And why are you interested in that?"

"Nothing. Just remembered it."

י

"You can ask Amelia because she's Sofia's best friend; she probably told her. They were in the same university."

"You are too, Harry. You are both lawyers."

"Yes, but they shared the same class and not me, and I thank God for that."

"She's Sofia's best friend; she'll only tell me what I want to hear."

"And what do you want to hear? Angel, you're a smart man, and you'll know how to get information from Amelia."

"Don't you have work to do?" I stood up from the couch and went back to my desk.

"You are stretching me thin, man, and now I still have matters to solve in the company," Harry said, running his hands down his face and saying goodbye.

I read some documents and signed some before going to the workshop, where you can see the new projects I'm working on. Working for two automotive companies isn't easy, but knowing Diether and Sofia, I knew their designs weren't lacking. "Son." I almost lost my soul when Grandpa appeared out of nowhere, and I paled. "Pops, what are you doing here?"

"I came to see my grandson." He answered like it was the most basic thing to do. How did he know about my company? "Remove that look on your face because I'm not a ghost."

"Pops, I'm glad to see you, but this is..."

"You didn't think you'd see me here? By the way, it looks more beautiful on the inside than on the outside. Is this where you create your masterpieces?"

"But how...?" I trailed off, still processing the idea that he was here in my secret company.

"Angel, I'm your grandfather. I am as clever as you are, and I have been in this world since your father learned his first walk."

"But dad..."

He cuts me off with a wave of his hand. "Don't worry. He doesn't know anything. This is a secret between you and me. Now, won't you show me your art?"

"What are you doing here?"

"I came to talk to you about what happened last time we had dinner."

"I am not going to apologize for the things said, pops," I said firmly, and we started to walk around the workshop to show him the designs and watch as my employees worked.

"I am not here for that because everything you said was right. What I want to know is, since when did you defend Sofia?"

"She's my wife, so she doesn't deserve to be treated like that. What they have is all thanks to her."

"And that is true. Do you want to finally admit that you are in love with your wife?"

"I am not in love with her, pops; I'm just being fair." I quickly defended myself.

"You did, since college, right?" I turned to look at him. How did he know that? "You cannot deny that to me."

"It's Elisa that I love, Pops, and no one else."

"Right. I remember you telling me that you are in love with a smart, cunning lady from a nice family who has the aura of an angel. What is it that your girlfriend studied?" "Accountancy."

"But she's not an accountant, is she? Isn't that what Sofia studied before?"

"That doesn't mean that it's Sofia," I insisted.

Pops gripped my shoulder. "Said a man who will never let anyone decide for him, let alone let someone force him to marry a woman he doesn't love." "Pops, our marriage was made for a lot of reasons and risks. I wasn't given the right to say no."

"You always tell yourself that, but is it the truth? What I'm saying is that you are too prideful and too egoistic to admit to yourself about how you feel." "And do you think she feels something for me?"

Sofia doesn't love me, and if she did, she must have hated me now for the way I treated her. She didn't even say anything to me about the divorce.

"A woman like her won't last five years with a man who doesn't see her or ignores her-someone who treats her like a business partner rather than a wife." "She doesn't feel anything for me, pops. Besides, our divorce is already in process."

"Really now?" he asked in amusement. "But the court told me there is no ongoing process of divorce with the name of Angel and Sofia Leffman. Isn't that strange?"

I groaned in disbelief. "Pops, did you have someone follow me?"

"Like I told you, I am a bright man who likes to observe and think first. If you want to leave what you believe is holding you down or fight for your marriage, then I will support you either way, but it won't be easy." "Sofia will give me a hard time, right?" I asked, and we both laughed. "I wouldn't blame her, but pops, we are separated."

I don't know why his comment irritated me. Just thinking that some men will approach and possibly make a move on her is unsettling.

"Sofia knows how to keep her distance because we are still married."

"Yes, but how about you? And how sure are you that she has no one in her life?"

"Are you saying that someone is courting her?" I asked in an affected tone.

"I didn't say that. All I'm saying is Sofia is almost perfect, a rare gem who can have men at her feet once you're divorced. Do you know how many men are just waiting for you to let her go?"

"Many of them." I took a deep breath to control myself before glancing at my watch. "Pops, I have a meeting, so I need to go."

"And where will you go? Can't that meeting wait? You haven't shown me around."

I looked around and spotted Harry, and I waved him over. "Here comes Harry, pops. I'll leave you to him so you can walk around, and please do not tell anyone about this."

"But, son, where will you go? Are you running from me because you don't like what I'm saying?" Pops asked in a teasing manner.

"None of the above. I have a meeting."

"Hello, Mr. Leffman, I didn't think I'd see you here." Harry greeted Pops with an awkward laugh, and he widened his eyes at me.

"Me too, but as you see, you can't hide anything from my pops."

"I can see that. How are you, sir?"

"I came for him, but this ungrateful brat wants to leave."

"Pops, it's not like that. I have a business deal I need to close. Harry, please, take care of my pops and show him around."

"Of course," Harry agreed while looking at my grandpa. "Sir, you can count on me, as I know the company better than him," he joked, and I slapped the back of his head.

"Where are you going in such a hurry, Angel?"

"At Let-technology."

"Where?!" Pops exclaimed, and I stared at him in surprise. "What will you do there?"Please check at N/ôvel(D)rama.Org.

"I told you, pops, I'll do business with them."

"No, no, no, you shouldn't. Or, I mean, the business.!" He blabbed and kept on cutting himself off.

I stared at him weirdly before glancing at my watch again. "Let's talk later, pops."

I kissed his head and jogged my way out of the workshop.

"Angel, no!" I heard him shouting behind me, but I didn't look back.

That's weird. I thought as I climbed in my car and drove to Let-Tech. I need to sign with them, and if they want to meet the owner, then they will. I won't leave that company without a signed contract.

As soon as I arrived, I saw a fancy-looking company where there are technologies at every corner, and I couldn't help but be amazed."

"Miss," I greeted the receptionist, and I was greeted by a pretty face.

"Good afternoon, sir, how may I help you?" She politely asked me.

"I want to meet the owner. We need to talk about something important."

"Of course. Please state your name."

"Autos-Let." I introduced myself, and she weirdly looked at me. "The company I'm representing."

"Okay. Please place your here." She pointed at a device, and I just looked at it. "To five for access."

I placed my fingerprint as she instructed, and I heard a robotic voice after five seconds.

"Angel Leffman, the owner of Andrew and Leffman," the robot announced. How did it know that? "There are no criminal records; the identity number is..."

"That thing is scary." I pointed at the device.

"That's what most people say, sir, please, wait a minute," she picked up the phone and gave me an electronic pass when she was done. "With this card, you can have access inside. You just need to use the scanner, and it will guide you to where you want to be." "Deputy management." I read what's written on it, but I am not here to talk to the deputy but to the direct owner.

I took it nonetheless and did as instructed. I looked around and couldn't help but admire the interior. When I reached the floor, I saw two elegant hallways.

"Good afternoon, sir." A woman with a pleasing personality greeted me.

"Good afternoon. I have an appointment with the owner, and I am from Autos-Let."

"With the owner?" The woman said with a frown and looked at the tablet she was holding.

"Angel Leffman, right?" She checked, and I nodded in confirmation. "But here in our record, you are to meet the managing director, sir."

I acted confused. "There must be a mistake; I have an appointment with the owner."

"That's impossible, sir."

I groaned inwardly. Hell, their security is heavier than that of the president of the country! Angel, it's time to use your charm.

"Miss, I have a rather tight schedule, and I won't mess it up just because of one of your employees's mistakes. Aside from that, I'm already here, so you can just guide me."

"I'm sorry, sir, but without the permission of our boss, I cannot let you in."

"Miss, you don't want to see me angry; trust me. My patience is the size of a baby's toe. I can leave, but you might lose your job."

"I understand your frustration, sir, but if I allow you, I could be killed. Meeting the owner is only allowed with the permission of the director. Please allow me to make a call."

I took a deep breath, and when I saw her leave the hallway and enter a door where you can use the card Before the door could close, I ran in.

"Wait, you can't!" The woman shouted after me, but the door closed.

"Good afternoon!" Another woman greeted me while talking to a guy, and they both looked at me strangely. "Sir, you shouldn't be here," the woman said in fear.

"Is your boss there?" I asked, and I did not wait for her to answer before going straight to the closed door and opening it.

And nothing prepared me for what I saw next.

"Sofia!"