Blurred Lines 1: CHASE novel Chapter 3

The sun is not up yet. I glanced left to right on the empty street, shifting from one foot to another. This is the last place I’d see myself after breaking my engagement off.

Drawing in a deep breath, I pressed the doorbell to Georgia’s place. The silence of this neighborhood was sullen, and her footsteps as she approached the door were like a drum roll to the plot twist of my story.

“This better be a life and death-“ her sleep-laced voice halted as she took in my appearance. “What the hell happened to you, Sofia?”

“Oh.” I glanced down at Kyle’s shirt and joggers. They swallow my small frame like a blanket. My hair was a tangled mess, no less, and my face was no better. “Can I come in?”

Without missing a beat, she stepped aside and allowed me in.

She led me to the kitchen. I sat on the stool by the breakfast bar while Georgia busied herself on the coffee machine. As the machine purred gently, she faced me and crossed her arms. “You are here for a reason.”

I sighed. Georgia is the last person I’d confide in about my problems. We are not friends. She doesn’t like me for a reason I still can’t figure out, but she holds my ticket out of this town. “I want the client in Rio.”

Her perfectly shaped brows twitched. It was so small I barely missed it. The coffee machine beeped. Each second, as she filled two cups of coffee, dragged slowly.

She offered me a cup, taking the chair across from mine. She sipped her coffee slowly, peering at me over her cup. “Convince me to give it to you.”

On the way here, I had already perfected the story I would give her, but I didn’t think lying to Georgia would get me anywhere, so I told her the truth.

“I know you hate me, but I really need to get away from here,” I added when she kept silent. I’d like to give myself a pat on the shoulder to not cry in front of my boss.

“I don’t ‘hate’ you,” she said, her voice gentle and careful.

“You don’t like me,” I pressed.

“Yes, I don’t,” she chuckled, tucking her fiery red hair behind her ears.

I let out a breath, ready to make my case, but she surprised me again by saying, “you got the job.”

“Yeah?” I asked, bewildered. “Uhm, thank you.” I kept my composure when deep inside, I was celebrating this small victory.

Georgia nodded, sipping her coffee.

“One question,” I said, hoping this won’t affect her decision. “Why?”

“Because I see myself in you, Sofia.”

~~

I had never been a light traveler. Packing my necessities in two hours was a record-breaking success in my lifetime.

Throughout the drive to the airport, Georgia’s words played like a song out of tune in my head. I didn’t press on what she meant by it. She volunteered to cover for me in the office and why the sudden change of plans. I didn’t ask why she was so willing to help me. She had her reasons, and I had mine. As long as I get to get away from here, I don’t mind what hidden agenda Georgia has.

The sun was already up when I reached the airport. Georgia promised our company driver, Efraim, would meet me there with my plane ticket and client files. I have no idea how she’ll get me a flight on short notice, but I have to trust her.

With his bald head and beer belly, Efraim wasn’t hard to spot in the crowd, even though he was three inches shorter than me. Holding a manila envelope in one hand, he waved and offered a huge grin.

“Ms. G said you’re leaving?” he asked, passing the envelope.

“For business,” I said, avoiding a longer conversation with Efraim. “Georgia got me a flight?” I asked, looking for a plane ticket inside the envelope, brows furrowing when I found none.

“She didn’t,” Efraim answered, chuckling.

“What?” panic rose from the pit of my belly.