CHAPTER 30

Alexa's POV

I barely have time to finish my breakfast and skip out of the patio when one of the maids comes to tell me that Sofia is waiting for me in the living room. I hesitated, clinging to my cup of iced coffee while silently debating whether to go up to my room and change or just go see Sofia like that.

Sofia and I haven't been friendly. She was there to help me when I was getting married but that was just it. Besides, she made me slightly uncomfortable with her numerous questions.

After a quick deliberation, I decided to just go see her while still wearing my pajamas. After all, it will be very nothing she hasn't seen before. With a cup of melted coffee in hand, I proceed to the living room where Sofia is seared, waiting for me.

The petite woman with wavy curly brown hair rises to her feet when she sees me approaching. There is a small friendly or polite smile on her face. I stop in front of her, not quite sure how to go about things. I still do not understand why Xander felt the need to call her but it warms my heart to see that he thought of me.

“Hi,” I mumble.

Sofia's smile broadens. “Hi, Alexa.”

I nod. “Uhm, sit down.” I point to the couch where the petite woman takes her seat.

“You seem surprised to see me,” she points out. I guess I am still an open book if she can see it on my face that easily.

“Yes. Xander only informed me that you were coming a few minutes ago.” I explain. “And now, I'm left feeling confused on what to do.” I chuckle nervously.

Sofia regards me silently for a few seconds while I gesture to one of the maids around to come over. “Would you like breakfast?” I ask.

She sits up, shaking her head while her curls bounce. “Oh, no. Dave made sure I ate before leaving the house this morning. Thank you though,” she smiles at the maid.

I watch the maid leave before looking at Sofia again. “So…” I drawl,  still not quite sure what to say.

Sofia chuckles quietly for a few seconds before moving to the edge of her seat, leaning in. “Okay, so I know that we started off on the wrong foot. You were getting married and my curious ass was being nosey and trying to understand what was clear. It's just…I've known my husband for as long as I've known Xander and from the past circumstances, he didn't strike me as someone who would want to get married again.” She explains while I nod.

“And it just all came out of the blue. When the media started talking about you and Xander, I didn't think much of it, yunno? But then one evening he comes to inform us that he is getting married and all that and I just couldn't wrap my head around it. The point is, I was an asshole to you on your wedding day and I shouldn't have. It was your wedding day and I let my nosey self disrupt your happiness. I will forever be sorry about that.” She continues, her eyes holding a genuine apology.

I stare at her for a few seconds, awed by the articulate and sincere woman in front of me who isn't afraid to own up to her mistake. It makes me respect her a little more.

“It's okay. You didn't ruin my big day.” I clear my throat.

“Oh, I'm definitely too inconsequential to count. But it doesn't mean that I'm not sorry. I was going to come to you anyway, whether your husband asked me or not. My husband and I have been out of the country since your wedding, took a little vacation ourselves.”

“That's alright. I can see you enjoyed yourselves,” I mutter, pointing to her tanned skin which only makes her giggle.

“You haven't gone on your honeymoon, have you?” She asks.

“No. Not yet. Xander wants to put some things in place and then we will leave.” I say. “I prefer it that way too.” I rush to add.

“Sure. You are married now. It's not just your decision. I will be here to support you, whatever decisions you make. As a friend, if you will have me as one, of course.” She rambles.

My lips tilt up into a wider smile. “Of course,” I nod. “I don't have any friends. I guess that's why my husband called you. He doesn't want me to feel lonely.”  As I say those words, it strikes me then that that must have been Xander's reasoning behind calling Sofia to the house.

It just makes my heart fuller.

“So, what will we be doing today? I've lived in NY all my life but I am mostly working and all that. Any ideas?” I ask.

“Is there anything you would like to do?”

“Xander mentioned dress shopping but I'm guessing he wants to take me himself. I'm going to leave him to that. But we can go to the salon. I'm thinking of getting a nice trim and dying my hair. I haven't told Xander of course.” I mutter, leaning in. “It's going to be a surprise.”

“Well, that works.” Sofia laughs.

“And I might be needing your help with something else. Xander and I are hosting members of his inner circle which includes you guys. I'm guessing you must have hosted them at least once. So, I'm hoping you could help.”

“Thrice. I've hosted them thrice now and it was beautiful although they are a little hard to impress. But of course, I will be happy to help. Put me to work. I've got no better use of my time for now.” She tells me.

“Delightful,” I clap with relief. “I'm just going to go up to my room to take my bath and change into something. And then we can leave.” I tell her.

“I will be here. Take your time,” Sofia smiles and leans back into her seat.

Excited about having her as a new friend in my adult life, I skip up the stairs to go do the needful.

******

“Oh, look at this,” Sofia says excitedly as she hands me her phone. “This will look elegant on you.”

I stare at the nice piece of jewelry on the screen, not sure how to feel about it. The diamond emblem certainly looks nice but the price sends me reeling back. We have been looking at jewelry for the last few hours. Sofia wants us to get new ones for the inner circle dinner and while I am thrilled at the prospect of doing that, I don't know how I feel about spending Xander's money on something like that.

“It’s beautiful,” I say softly, admiring the beautiful jewelry.

“It is. You should totally get it.” She prompts.

I shrug casually. “Maybe some other time.” I tell her.

“Sure,” she says, still smiling.

In the last few hours since we have been in the salon, I have learnt a ton of things about Sofia. She and Dave are high school sweethearts and Dave is obsessed with her. Even if she doesn't tell me, I can see from how frequently he calls and texts her. Sofia doesn't work although she is thinking of opening a boutique. She says she is yet to tell Dave though. They haven't started trying for children but they are about to. And Sofia has a beautiful dog which she adores.

She is just a big ball of sunshine, a contrast to me but I'm not complaining because I like her. She is very nice, warm and accommodating. And she's quite funny too since I've been smiling and laughing for a while now.

“All done,” the hairdresser say, grabbing our attention.

Sofia looks at my hair and the way her eyes double at it makes me excited. She spins my chair toward the mirror quickly and I am left astounded by her strength before I'm staring at myself in the mirror.

No, not myself.

The woman I have now become.

The woman with stunning platinum blonde hair that curls down her back, lays over her shoulders beautifully. I have never looked so beautiful and it just has my mouth thrown open wide.

Before now, I have never cared about my hair. Hell, you didn't make enough to go to a salon to have my hair treated. I barely managed to scrape by but I made the decision to come to this salon recommended by Sofia to treat and dye my hair and I just look very beautiful.

“Wow,” I gasp, openly.

“You look so beautiful, Alexa.” Sofia looks like she is ready to cry which makes me laugh a little, still shocked. Before I can blink, Sofia is already taking multiple snaps of me.

“Don't worry. I'm not going to post them on my social media if you don't want me to but you are stunning Alexa and the world should get to look at the beautiful art that is you.”

“Oh, Sofia.” I chuckle, wiping tears off my eyes.

If only my family could see me like this.

Despite my insistence on paying for my own hair, Sofia refuses to let me. She pays for my hair and we walk out of the salon and go to her car. When we settle in, Sofia turns to look at me as if to ask where next?

“I'm hungry. Should we go grab something to eat?” I ask her.

“Yep. I was hoping you would say that. I can eat a horse right now.” She says which makes me laugh.

After giving directions to her driver, we settle into comfortable silence. That is until Sofia's phone pings. She grabs her phone to check it out.

“So, have you decided what you want to do after you come back from your honeymoon?” She asks me.

“Uhm, I'm hoping to work. I'm a chef.” I tell her.

Her eyes widens. “Really?”

“Yep.” I say, popping the ‘p’ sound.

“Oh my goodness!” She screams, lunging herself at me while I'm left to wonder about her craziness. “I've always wondered what it would feel like to have a chef as a friend. I promise, you can be my best friend if you promise to feed me all the time.”

“Deal,” I laugh.

“Great! Great! Dave has to hear this. I have a best friend already.” She is still screaming which makes me laugh even more.

We arrive at the restaurant and her craziness dwindles. We both order from the menu and dig in as soon as our food is brought to us. We chit chat, pointing out some things going on around us and talking about how life is growing up as though we have known each other for a very long time.

“After my parents went bankrupt, I thought we had lost it all. Like all my dreams, everything would be dashed but Dave stepped in. He never made me feel less of myself. He—” her phone pings, interrupting her again.

She reaches for it inside her purse while I sip from my glass of white wine.

“Alexa,” she calls.

“Yeah?” I ask, looking at her. She has this mischievous look on her face. Like she is up to trouble. And somehow, that excites me.

“How about we pay your husband and mine a visit at his office? It's not far from here and they are together now. What better time?” she asks.

I down the rest of my wine just as Sofia takes out a lipstick from her purse and hands it to me, her smile even more mischievous. She definitely keeps her husband on his toes.

I grin, catching on to her unspoken words. “Sounds like a plan.”

So, we finish our lunch, pay for it and head to the bathroom where we quickly fix our face using Sofia's products in her stack up purse. And when we walk out of the bathroom moments later, I come alive with a flourish.

Certainly, having a friend isn't so bad.