"Mobbed by Matrimony" (wlw)

Chapter 10: The Clan in Action

The water gushed uncontrollably from the faucet, causing the container of potatoes to overflow in a steady cascade. Meanwhile, Sophia remained transfixed, her gaze distant as she replayed the earlier clash between Alex and Brad in her mind. Suddenly, the oven beeped, signaling that the timer had ended, jolting Sophia back to reality. She quickly turned off the faucet and checked the buns, finding them perfectly golden brown and emitting a mouthwatering aroma.

Due to the situation in their department, everyone was instructed to leave early. When Sophia returned to the penthouse, she discovered a note from Lisa, who had been called away for an emergency and needed to go home. Since Sophia had arrived back sooner than expected, she decided to take the opportunity to prepare dinner herself.

It was 6 PM, and the dinner table was beautifully set with freshly made soft buns, baked potatoes, roasted chicken, Spaghetti Bolognese, and mixed vegetables. Sophia glanced at the clock, anxiously wondering where Alex was. She took a seat at the table and waited, her mind unable to shake the earlier incident. Alex's outraged confrontation with Brad and the subsequent humiliation replayed in her thoughts. The echo of her last words to Brad lingered vividly:

"Does it feel good to be interrupted, Mr. Welton? Does it feel good to be humiliated?"

Sophia couldn't shake the thought that her words were meant as a direct retaliation against Brad for interrupting and humiliating her in front of everyone.

"No, it wasn't about that. She was angry because the deal was critical, and we all messed up. Brad, being in charge of the document, became the focal point for her frustration and anger."

Her thoughts whispered in her head.

7:32 PM – Alex stepped out of the elevator, exhausted, starving, and dizzy. As she made her way to the dinner table, she saw Sophia slumped over, her head resting on her hands on the table as she slept. Passing by the kitchen counter, she noticed Lisa's note explaining that the housekeeper had left early. It dawned on her that Sophia had prepared the entire dinner herself.

Alex leaned against the kitchen counter, her gaze fixed on the sleeping woman. She observed her serene face—eyes closed, lips curved into a pink blush, and cheeks gently flushed. As Sophia's eyes began to flutter open, Alex remained rooted in place, her eyes never leaving her. She waited patiently for her to fully awaken.

Sophia's eyes met Alex's, and they shared a prolonged, unspoken moment before Alex sighed and spoke.

"You should've eaten dinner first."

Sophia replied softly, "It's fine. I wasn't hungry earlier. I didn't realize I had fallen asleep."

It had been a while since Alex and Sophia had shared a calm conversation. Alex took a seat across from her, nodding for her to start dinner. As usual, their meal was consumed in silence. After finishing, Sophia noticed the exhaustion etched into Alex's face.

"I'll clean up the table. You should get some rest," Sophia said, trying to break the silence.

Alex made no objection. She stood up and slowly approached the stairs. Before ascending, she paused, looked back at Sophia, who was already at the kitchen counter, and said in a calm, serious tone, "Thanks for the dinner. It was delicious."

Sophia glanced back and gave a simple nod in response.

4 AM – Sophia woke to the sound of Alex's door closing. She heard footsteps descending the stairs and the elevator doors opening, indicating that Alex had left the penthouse unusually early. Checking her phone, Sophia realized she still had a few hours before she needed to get ready for work. She closed her eyes once more and drifted back to sleep.

At lunchtime in the 2nd-floor cafeteria of the PC Building, Sophia and Christina were joined by their colleague, Michelle. The three enjoyed their meal and engaged in light conversation. As they ate, Christina noticed a group from the security and weaponry department briskly leaving the building, their expressions serious and their pace quick.

"Looks like they're heading to another cleanup party."

Christina remarked.

"Seems like a serious one," Michelle added. "They must need a lot of people just for that."

Sophia remained silent, her gaze fixed on the departing group. Her attention was drawn when she noticed Alfonzo's four grandchildren leaving with the rest of the group.

Despite the heavy rain drenching downtown, the Phantom Circle members pressed on, their assault on the Urban Rebels unrelenting. Elliott took pleasure in overpowering the rival group's members, reveling in the chaos. Meanwhile, Julia and Gabriel observed from a distance, Julia peering through her sniper's telescope to keep track of the action. Alex, immersed in the fray, wielded two knives with precision, enjoying the thrill of the battle.

Alex's knife skills were remarkable; she favored the precision of blades over heavy punches or firearms. Her fascination with knives was deeply rooted in her upbringing. Her mother, Yuri, an expert swordswoman, had instilled this passion in her. Yuri, the daughter of a Japanese yakuza, had met Damon during a family visit to Japan. The families agreed to arrange their marriage, and Yuri, in turn, taught Alex the art of handling blades. This shared skill became a significant bond between them, reflecting their deep connection.

"Well, I really hope this goes on for a while."

Elliott bragged, his fists relentlessly pummeling an enemy's face.

"Let the guys handle the cleanup. Let's go grab some drinks."

Alex suggested, wiping the blood from her knives with practiced ease.

As Alex and Elliott turned to leave, a figure lurking in the shadows stepped out and fired a shot aimed directly at Alex. The bullet struck her arm. A split second later, another shot rang out from a distance. Julia, with her sniper rifle, had taken down the attacker.

Alex downed another gulp of liquor from the bottle, wincing slightly as Elliott prepared to remove the bullet from her arm. The four of them were seated at a bar, heavily drinking while dealing with the wound Alex sustained earlier.

"Alright, here we go!"

Elliott announced, his finger probing the wound to extract the bullet.

"Could you be any slower, Elliott?" Alex snapped, her patience wearing thin.

"This is my second bottle, and you're still nowhere near getting that bullet out!"

"My goal is to get you drunk so you can sleep well tonight, Alex. So, order another bottle; this might take a while."

Elliott teased.

"Do you miss getting stabbed, Elliott?"

Alex shot back, her gaze turning serious and intense.

"Ta-da! Got it!"

Elliott cheered, holding up the extracted bullet with a triumphant grin.

As the night wore on, the four of them continued to drink heavily, their laughter and conversation growing louder. The earlier tension gave way to a sense of camaraderie, and they enjoyed the freedom of their evening, letting the weight of the day's events slip away with each drink.