Put Me in Jail and He Came Begging

Chapter 7: The Final Straw

The city was bathed in the soft glow of twilight as I stood across the street from Leonardo's office building. The air was cool, a gentle breeze rustling the leaves of the trees lining the boulevard. I clutched my coat tightly around me, trying to ward off the chill that seemed to seep from my very bones. This was supposed to be the night I would finally gather the courage to confront Leonardo, to tell him how I felt. Instead, I found myself once again a silent observer, a shadow on the periphery of his life.

I had been standing there for what felt like hours, my eyes fixed on the revolving doors of the glass tower. The waiting was agony, each passing minute an eternity. My mind raced with scenarios, each one more desperate than the last. Would he finally see me? Would he even care? Or would he simply brush me aside, as he had done so many times before?

My phone buzzed in my pocket, jolting me from my thoughts. With trembling hands, I pulled it out and glanced at the screen. Another message from Sophia. My heart sank as I opened it, knowing all too well what it would contain. Another picture, another taunt. But nothing could have prepared me for what I saw.

The image was of Leonardo and Sophia in his office. He was sitting on the edge of his desk, his arms wrapped around her waist, pulling her close. She was laughing, her head thrown back in delight, while he gazed at her with an expression of pure adoration. The caption read, "Guess who he's thinking about tonight?"

A sharp pain pierced my chest, and I doubled over, gasping for breath. Tears streamed down my face as I stared at the picture, unable to look away. It was as if the universe itself was conspiring to crush whatever remnants of hope I had left. Sophia knew exactly what she was doing, and she reveled in my misery.

Desperation gave way to a surge of anger. My vision blurred with tears, but I wiped them away, my resolve hardening. I couldn't let her win. Not like this. I needed to see him, to make him understand what he was doing to me. Fueled by a mix of heartbreak and fury, I crossed the street, my steps quick and determined.

Inside the building, the lobby was quiet, almost deserted. The receptionist barely glanced at me as I made my way to the elevators. My heart pounded in my chest as I pressed the button for the top floor, Leonardo's floor. The ride up was agonizingly slow, each second stretching into an eternity. By the time the doors opened, my nerves were frayed, but I forced myself to step out and walk down the hallway to his office.

The door was slightly ajar, and I could hear their voices inside. Sophia's laughter rang out, a cruel reminder of the picture she had sent. Taking a deep breath, I pushed the door open and stepped inside. They both turned to look at me, surprise flickering across their faces.

"What are you doing here, Alina?" Leonardo's voice was cold, his eyes narrowing as he regarded me.

"I... I needed to talk to you," I stammered, my voice trembling. "It's important."

Sophia smirked, her hand resting possessively on Leonardo's arm. "Oh, I think we all know why you're here."

Leonardo's gaze hardened, and he stepped away from Sophia, crossing his arms over his chest. "Alina, this isn't the time. I'm busy."

His words were like a slap to the face, but I refused to back down. "Please, Leonardo, just listen to me. I need to tell you something."

He sighed, rubbing his temples. "Fine. Make it quick."

I took a deep breath, gathering every ounce of courage I had left. "I love you, Leonardo. I've loved you for so long, and it's been tearing me apart. I can't stand seeing you with her, knowing that I'll never have a chance."

For a moment, there was silence. Then Sophia burst into laughter, her eyes gleaming with malicious delight. "Oh, this is rich! You thought you had a chance with him?"