I Want You Back

Sofia Andrew

After a few hours in the office, Sandra called me again to say that Autos-Let was insisting on having an appointment with us. What does that man want?

"Tell them that your boss isn't there. I don't know. Invent something, but don't give them an appointment."

"Okay, ma'am."

I ended the call and went home to have dinner with my dad. Tonight, I will tell them about the divorce, and I hope he won't make a scandal.

When I arrived, Bella, my three-year-old niece, greeted me. She's the most beautiful thing in this house. Bella is blonde with a pair of adorable blue eyes. She's smarter than kids her age. She's also Angel's goddaughter, and the idea came from my cousin, even when I told her he wouldn't accept it. However, when my cousin asked him, Angel surprisingly accepted without thinking twice.

"Sofia!" She beamed and ran into my arms. "Look at my new dress. It's beautiful, isn't it? I wore it, especially for you and Angel!"

"You look so beautiful, baby. You look like a princess, but I'm sorry because your godfather won't be able to make it tonight," I told her regretfully while stroking her cheek.

"But mommy said he might be on the way," Bella said sadly with a pout, and she looked so cute.

I don't know how Angel managed to steal the little girl's heart with his stoic attitude.

"How about this? We'll take pictures of you, and we will send them to him for him to see how beautiful you are," I offered while gently pinching her cheeks. "Yes!" She screamed and jumped around.

Vanessa, my cousin, came out of the house to greet me. She has a three-year-old daughter, but she can still be mistaken for a college student.

"She looks more beautiful every day," I told her as we embraced each other.

"And I hope she will inherit your intelligence because I unfortunately don't have that. Where is he, by the way? I heard he's back home."

"He won't come now or ever," I said with a blank face, and she stared at me in wonder before we saw my dad coming down the stairs. "Sofia, darling, you're early," he greeted me, and I kissed his cheek.

He may be sexist and all, but I love him, and he's the only parent I have left.

"I have a meeting later, actually, but I wanted to drop by. Plus, I need to talk to you."

"Yes, let's talk in my office, but for now, won't you hug your old man?"

"No need for that, Dad. Why don't you tell me about your trip to Europe?"

He was in Europe last month and only arrived last week, but we didn't get the chance to catch up.

"Oh, it was good, darling. It's such a beautiful place. I brought you gifts, but your crazy aunt wanted to bring you the whole store," he said with a laugh while shaking his head. I imagine her doing just that, and I couldn't help but laugh. "I don't doubt it."

"It was not the whole store, but there are so many things that will suit you perfectly." My aunt refuted as she arrived, and I embraced her with a kiss.

"I'm glad to see that you enjoyed the trip."

"My daughter, what have you been doing while we're gone?"

I work, manage my companies, create a security system and a communication platform, attend an upcoming fashion show, and I just got divorced. Instead of saying those things, I just shrugged. "Nothing much; work as always."

"You should travel more. You're too young to be tied down by business," Dad said because maybe he likes me to do anything but business.

"I like working, Dad," I said while rolling my eyes.

"And I don't doubt that. Where's Angel? Where did he go?" he asked, and my eyes connected with Vanessa.

"I don't know, dad. Maybe he's in the house, in a meeting, or maybe with..." Elisa, I finish in my head. "I don't know."

"But will he come, or do you have something to tell us?" My aunt asked and sat down before asking the maid for some appetizers.

"I think you heard about it at the club," I said with a sigh because my former mother and sister-in-law, who love to gossip, frequent there.

"Sofia," my dad called me, and I looked at him. "Do you have something to say?"

I was planning on telling them after lunch, but I think that plan is now invalid.

"The truth is... yes, I have something to tell you. Angel and I decided to separate, and before you make a scene, he's still part of the company, but he gave me his position." Dad, aunt, and Vanessa looked at each other without saying anything at first as if they were still processing the news.

""And the assets?" Dad asked.

"His house is his, and the beach property is mine. I left him the cars, and our shares remained the same."

"Hm, what about the new assets?"

I remained silent because I was not sure if he was referring to my new companies or whatnot.

"What are you saying, dad?" I asked, hiding my anxiousness.

"I am talking about his company, 'Autos-Let'. His own company." My eyes widened in shock. I didn't know he knew about it. "Don't tell me that you didn't know because I won't believe you." "I just had no idea you knew."

"It's a newly built car company with great ideas, and it was an instant hit in the market both here and internationally. Plus, he has contacts like us. You just need to ask the right people and you'll know. Like how you did." I shook my head softly. "No, Dad. I don't want to claim anything from this company. I am not interested, so don't push it."

"Why didn't he give you the company? He's not needed there anymore."

"You're not bothered that he has another company?"

"And why would I be? Angel is an extraordinary man with good ideas and projects. He has a good vision, and I knew he would build his own company one day. I'm glad he didn't turn out like his father." "Or even worse, like his mom," my aunt interrupted.

"So he gave you the presidency?" Dad asked, and I prepared myself for his rant that women can't handle a company like ours. When I nodded, he continued. "Well, it's about time. You've been married for too long." I frowned at that. "Wait, you're not mad?"

He's not shouting. He's not ranting that only a man is... and women are not...

"Sofia, this is our company. This has been passed down from generation to generation, so sooner or later, it will end up in your hands. The only thing that bothers me is that this should have been made long ago.

"Well, I married him because you said that a man should handle the company. You forced me to marry him because of the agreement between you and his dad. And now you're telling me that you don't care if I am the president now," I pointed out, feeling breathless all of a sudden. "Sofia, you've been leading the company ever since we merged. If I don't believe that you can do it, I wouldn't have added a clause that you must have the same rights and duties as Angel. Furthermore, you are a genius, daughter. Who's more suitable to lead the company than you?" Every word he said sounded so surreal to me that I found myself speechless. "And just to be clear, I didn't force you to marry."

"But you did," I insisted, my voice cracking a little.

"No. I only told you that for our family business to merge, his father made a condition for Angel to marry you. I asked you if you wanted to, and you asked me what I thought. I told you that I didn't agree to it, and a month later, I told you that I changed my mind and you agreed." He explained slowly and carefully.

"But you named him the president because he's more capable than me."

He took a deep breath. "No. I named him the president because it was the only condition Angel asked for. And I decided that you should have the same condition as him in order for you not to feel lower than him. But you only wanted to marry him, while he wanted to be the president." "Are you telling me that I spent my whole life thinking that you wanted a man because I thought you thought women couldn't lead the company? While you're actually thinking that I can manage it?" I asked emotionally, and my eyes felt hot.

Dad sighed deeply and stared at me with a soft look on his face. "Sofia, where did you get that idea?"

Dad held me by my shoulders. "Darling, you are my one and only child. The most important part of my life. I may not be the best father who spoils you, but I love you the most. The most important treasure your mother left me, my heir. I gave you the best education because I knew you were a hundred times more talented than the others. How could I not entrust the company to you?"

I sniffed a little and blinked the tears away. "If that's the case, why did I marry Angel?"

"Because you were in love with that man. Your eyes shine whenever he's on the topic. I thought he could make you happy, but he clearly didn't, and even the opposite. If it were up to me, the marriage would have ended after a month."

"I don't understand you, dad. You made me marry because I'm in love."

"I want to give you everything you asked for and even did not ask for. Because I raised you to be independent. To do everything yourself and not depend on others, but my duty is also to make you happy. I realized that you love him so I had him investigated. I saw a future for him and his family so I wanted to help them. What I didn't expect is for his father to accept it."

"You mean, his dad is the one who asked for the marriage and not you?"

"I will never put you in that position. That's why I asked you if you want to marry him, but if not, we will suspend it."

"I know I wanted it," I admitted, and now everything is becoming clear. "All this time, I thought wrong."

"I see, well, thank goodness that the marriage is over," my aunt exclaimed. "So you can go on with your life and hopefully be married to someone who will love and cherish you."

"Yes, it's about time. By the way, if Angel is the competitor, how will that work? I am not comfortable having him in our company."

"Don't worry about that, dad. I already took care of that. Even though I think he won't do anything that will ruin us, it is still his company after all."

"Yes, but one can never be too sure. Angel married you with a purpose and he benefited a lot from it. I thought he loved you too and he was just feeling inferior to your family, but I was wrong because now that he has everything, he left you. He was the one who asked for divorce, right?" "Yes, but I signed on my own because I think it's time we end that nonsense."

"Now that he got everything, won't he ruin the company? He and his family hate us. He still married you for his own interest."

"His father forced him, Dad. I thought all of this was your idea. He had a girlfriend that time, and I'm sure if it was just him, he wouldn't have married me."

"You're still defending him after all these years," Aunt Mary said with a knowing look on her face. "You still love him."

"Auntie, that has nothing to do with this. I'm just being a realist. I know he married me to get everything he has now, but I also know that his father probably forced him to. Maybe he was offered things to accept it. Dad, I will protect our family business."

Even if I have my own company and businesses, the car company has been passed down for so many years, and I won't lose it.

"And I trust you, darling," Dad said with a smile. "Sofia, I don't want to see Angel here again. If the marriage is over, stay away from him and his family."

I already know that, but it still hurts me to think about it.

"That's the idea, Dad. I'm sure he'll leave the country soon, and we won't see him again. Well, maybe in meetings. Can I ask you something?" "Of course, princess."

"Who else knows that Angel owns Autos-Let?"

"I am not sure because he was really careful. Even I had a hard time finding it out, but I am as old as an owl. In this world, I know some people."

"Please do not tell anyone about it," I asked them while looking at them one by one. "I don't want him to think that our family goes around with his secret."

"I have no problem with that, but I'm sure it'll be known sooner or later," Dad said, and I looked at Aunt Mary.

"You don't have to worry about me. Who would I even tell? I listen to gossip, but I don't spread it." She joked, and we laughed.

"I won't say anything, but I could say that I think your marriage is a waste. I thought you two would learn to love each other," Vanessa said with a sad look on her face.

"It is time we accept that it is what it is, and Angel is just part of a chapter in my life."

"Okay, let's go eat before your drama depresses me." Dad joked and went inside, followed by his aunt.

I was left thinking about everything I learned. About how I was totally a fool for beating myself over something that was not real. And I wonder what Angel's father offered him to marry me or if he has another reason.

Angel, how did I come to love you? Why did I have to love you when you hated me for something I never did? And how can you not see how much of a witch that woman beside you is?