Blurred Lines 1: CHASE
Chapter 62

~Chase-

Nightmares filled my nights since Letty's accident. I got used to it. The fire, the smell of burning gasoline. The blood and Letty's face... It haunted me for years. It only stopped when Sofia came back into my life. Her light filled my dark nights. Her smile, her touch... But tonight, the nightmares came back.

It was the same scenario, like an agonizing scene from a movie on repeat. I was driving through the streets of Boston, chasing car taillights, when a blue mustang suddenly appeared out of nowhere, hitting the passenger side.

The crushing of metals, the screeching of tires against the concrete, and the crash as we hit the corner of a building after rolling over a few times were still fresh in my head, as if the accident had just happened yesterday.

My world had been turned upside down, literally and figuratively. The stench of leaking gasoline and the pungent scent of blood mingled with the smoke coming from the engine.

The panic I felt that night, remembering I've got a passenger, had my heart knocking on my chest. I fell head first on the roof when I unbuckled my belt. The car landed upside down. Letty had blonde hair, but the woman on the passenger side had brunette curls. It covered her face. Blood dripped onto the car roof.

I moved the hair from her face, and my blood went cold. It was Sofia. Her rosy cheeks were covered in blood. I called her name repeatedly as I cradled her in my arms... and as I woke, covered in sweat and heaving, I realized it was a nightmare.

Going back to sleep was useless. I had been out of the cabin since four a.m., running through the forest tracks just to get my body moving.

Carlota's car was gone when I came back. I sighed. Finally, I could get my peace.

My relationship with Carlota was a unique one. We fucked, but with no expectation of any romantic connection. She doesn't want more, and I know I can't give her more. Eros was aware of what was going on between his sister and me. If he had any objection to it, he kept it to himself.

It's fucked up, but sometimes I think to myself and ask what I would do if I didn't have Carlota. Quenching my thirst, I drank OJ straight from the carton when I noticed a silver cloche on the counter. Some sentences are incomplete if you are not reading this novel on FindNovel.net. Visit FindNovel.net to read the complete chapters for free. It covered two sunny side up eggs - the edges burnt just how I liked it - bacon, tomatoes, and pancakes on a plate. There was folded paper on the side. 'Eat up, you poor baby. Heartbreak doesn't look good on you. Get your shit together and get your girl back!

'Your girl. Somehow, it made me smile. Only Carlota would push me to be with another woman.

After wolfing Carlota's breakfast, I took a shower and ignored my reflection as I got dressed for the office. It was inevitable that I would go back to work. And I couldn't do much about my face, anyway.

"Had a fun night, Sir?" Emanuel, the elderly basement parking security, asked as I walked past him. "Something like that," I said, pressing the elevator buttons.

"I miss those days," he said, reminiscing a memory.

"I hope I can say that one day," I murmured, stepped inside the lift, and pressed my floor number. Emanuel chuckled. "Have a nice day, Sir," he voiced as the door closed.

"You too."

I was used to the curious stare thrown at me every time entered Montiero Holdings. A few employees greeted me 'happy birthday' as the lift stopped at the lower floors. Some stared longer than others, probably wondering what kind of trouble I got myself into. I patched my face as best as possible but couldn't hide the fading black eye and fresh cut on my lip.

As the elevator ascended, the thudding in my chest quickened. There was a considerable chance that Sofia might not even be here. She had every right to take a break; besides, she's not an employee of my company. The lift reached my floor. Michelle threw at me the same questioning stare.

"What happened to you?" she asked, brows crinkling with worry as she stood from her seat.

I waved at her to stay at her desk. "Bar fight," I murmured and accepted the documents she handed me. She seemed unconvinced, but said nothing. "Should we proceed with your schedule for today?"

I glanced at Sofia's office. The blinds were rolled up.

My heart stuttered. She's here.

I shook my head 'no." "Let's start on Monday."

Michelle nodded. "There are gifts in your office. From business associates and a few from your avid supporters. I sent them a thank-you message on your behalf."

"Thank you, Michelle." Michelle was by far the best secretary I had ever worked with. She has initiative; I'd be walking in this business blind without her. But my mind was already working on how I would approach Sofia without looking like a fucking idiot. 'What ifs' were hitting me in all directions.

'What if Derek had already told her? What if she believed him and hated me even more? Is it already too late for us?'

"... she wanted to have a word with you," Michelle's voice brought me out of my inner monologue. "Who?"

"Sofia," she sank back into her seat. Michelle didn't seem to notice that I hadn't been listening to her. "She said it was urgent."

I glanced at her office and back at Michelle again, brows furrowing. "Did she tell you what she wanted to talk

about?"

I hope Michelle doesn't notice the edge in my voice. Sofia goes through Michelle in all her business-related concerns with me. 'It's the standard operating procedure, Sofia once explained when I asked her why she couldn't talk directly to me about work. 'We might be fooling around, but work is work.

It added to the list of things I admired about her. Her dedication and respect for the people she was working with.

"She didn't say," Michele murmured, standing up from her seat and grabbing her white mug with 'Don't Ask Me. I Just Work Here" written on it. "Coffee?"

"Sure. Thanks," I murmured.

Somehow, Sofia wanting to talk to me didn't relieve my worry. In fact, I was bothered by it.

It was fucking stupid, but I told Michelle I didn't want to see anyone the whole day. Not even Sofia. I waited until the office hours were over before coming to her office.

She glanced up from her computer. Fatigue and lack of sleep dulled her usual bright blue eyes. "Hey," I closed the door.

"Hi," she smiled, but it never reached her eyes. "I'm glad you're okay."

"Are you?" my voice came out strained. I didn't mean to, but I remember how she blew me off last night. Sofia chuckled and shook her head. "Believe it or not, I am." She leaned back in her seat.

I walked around her desk and stared at the sunset view. The sky wasn't as beautiful as it should be. The pastel colors were bland as if done by a lazy artist.

"Derek told you about Letty?" I rarely talked about Letty. Just the sound of her name brings back the nightmares of the past.

"He did, but that's not why I wanted to speak with you." I don't know how I would feel about that. It's either she doesn't care about the past, which was highly unlikely, or she already judged me from what she heard. People's judgment didn't bother me anymore, not one fucking bit. I'm used to it, but for once, I wanted to tell my side of the story. I want to clear my name.

"Then what is it?" I asked instead.

"I'm going back to Boston. Georgia will replace me as your publicist."