Love in a Circle

Sophia's Pov

"Mum I'm leaving" I yelled, banging the door behind me.

"What about breakfast? You haven't had it yet."

"Nah, I'll eat when I get to the office."

"Don't worry about me. I'm fine."

The sun was dazzling in the sky as I stepped out of the house feeling the warmth of its rays on my skin.

I was thrilled and I felt a sense of happiness going through my veins as I thought of my colleagues.

I could not wait to see them, not because they promised me anything, but because they would ease the burdens of my workload.

I walked to the garage when my stomach made a loud noise.

Groaning inwardly, I was far from home already and I wondered if I had time to grab a quick meal before work because my colleagues would be waiting for me.

Without a second thought, I branched at a restaurant owned by my mum's friend.

God morning ma'am, I need to grab a quick bite before leaving for work?" I whispered, chuckling as Mrs Smith looked at me with a raised eyebrow.

"Why didn't you eat before leaving home?" She spat as I rolled my eyes.

"Well...I guess I was in a hurry. Can I have something to eat please?" I begged as she chuckled,shaking her head.

"Sure thing." she said, as she handed a plate of food.

I quickly grabbed a piece of toast and some fruits while giving Mrs Smith money and running out of the door.

"Don't come home with a broken leg", she teased.

I chuckled as I walked towards my car,every step seemed to fill me with joy and happiness.

I was discouraged when I remembered my boss who is an apathetic billionaire CEO, George Roberts.

The thoughts of spending the whole day working with a boss that has overlooked me and has an exterior layer of toughness that keeps others at a distance unnerved me.

I got into the car and stared the engine,as I became anxious.

This was going to be a long day and I couldn't wait to meet my colleagues and conquer the day with them.

I finally arrived at the office, and I walked towards my desk.

"Good morning Sophia," Jessica said, jumping on me, making me roll my eyes.

"Have you seen the boss?" I asked, ignoring her greetings.

"Come on, must it always be the boss?" She pouted rolling her eyes.

"It's not like that, I just wanted to be sure if he didn't arrive before me"

"Well..he didn't." she said as I turned to look at her.

"Good, what's Olivia up to?" I asked suspiciously.

She is my rival and the boss's favorite.

"Nothing. She is not yet in the office which is strange and you know." Jessica spat, as my mind drifted to the boss, I couldn't wait for the workload he was going to assign to me when he came to the office.

I walked to my desk as I turned on the lights, cleaned the chair and sat comfortably. As I flipped my hair putting on a sexy look.

I arranged my table, I then attended to the tasks that I left undone, doing my clerical duties.

I heard the sound of a car horn,I knew that my enigmatic boss was around. I stood up to greet him.

"Good morning sir". I said, while forcing a smile.

"Morning Sophia,how are you today?" He said walking towards his desk.

"I'm fine sir". I replied thinking of what his next response would be.

Jessica and my other colleagues came out to greet him as they exchanged pleasantries and everyone went back to work.

I was still ruminating on why Olivia had not resumed to the office, when I heard her voice.

"Good morning Jessica." Olivia said making her way towards Jessica.

"Why are you late? The boss is already in his office and you know he hates tardiness." Jessica responded.

"I had some urgent things to sort out, I will explain to the boss." she said ignoring my presence.

"She is too full of herself,who does she think she is?" I whispered when my boss's voice echoed around the office.

"Jessica!, Jessica!" As he called her into his office.

I was wondering what happened to make the boss shout in that manner.

After a few minutes, Jessica came out and said the boss requires the presence of every staff member in the office.

"What's going on?" I asked myself as we walked to the boss's office.

"Do we now have thieves amongst us?" My boss asked with a furious look.

I became confused and scared by his countenance.

"No sir." We all replied.

"Olivia, Jessica, Jasmine, Sophia. Apart from the four of you, do we have any other person that works close to me?" He asked.

Jasmine was a new staff member who resumed not quite long, she is hardworking, but we don't really know who she is due to the way she secluded herself from others.

"No sir." We replied again in unionism.

"I kept $5,000in my drawer before going home yesterday and I can't find it this morning. Did it walk out by itself?"

At this point I was more scared that the boss would fire us.

"Where will I start from? How will I explain to my mum?" I whispered to myself.

"Sir, yesterday I left the office a few minutes after you left, I have no idea about the missing money" Olivia said.

"I don't have access to your office sir, I don't know how the money left the drawer sir." Jasmine said, trembling as sweat dropped from her face.

Jessica and I remained silent as we were processing our thoughts.

"So everyone is innocent right? Maybe I should deduct it from individual salaries."

"Sir, it is only your secretary Sophia that has a spare key to your office, she should have an answer to your question." Olivia said while looking at my face.

I knew Olivia was looking for ways to get under my skin, but not in this kind of crucial matter.

And before I could respond, the boss asked me a direct question.

"Sophia, since you are the only one who has a spare key to my office, what happened to the $5,000 kept in my drawer?"

I was terrified because I had no idea what they were talking about.

Jessica looked at me with solicitude knowing fully well that I couldn't have done such a thing.

"Olivia you can't judge her just because she has a spare key to the boss's office, Sophia is not a thief." Jessica responded on my behalf.

"Are you Sophia? Why are you speaking on her behalf?" The boss replied to Jessica sharply.

"Sir, I..ehmm... I wasn't even aware that you kept money in your office, I don't know about it sir." I said, stammering in fear.

"Sophia, you are the prime suspect here and if you don't provide that money or give me evidence that you didn't steal my money, I will have you fired and then get you arrested."

At this moment, I was devastated. My heartbeat increased, my nervous system automatically triggered the sweat glands and I started sweating.

"What have I gotten myself into? How will I solve this puzzle?" I pondered over these thoughts as tears rolled down my cheeks.