Chapter 15: Adam
Adam watched Sophia return to her apartment from the doorway. He had decided. He would merely be a friend to her. He had initially been reluctant to discuss his job loss with Sophia.
It was because he was attracted to her. He feared her opinion of him.
However, that emotion was now repressed. He had buried it deep within himself. Therefore, Sophia’s opinion of him was no longer important. He was merely a companion.
When Sophia had asked if he was going back to the office tomorrow he initially gave a vague answer. But now he felt different. He could be honest with her.
He smiled a strange kind of smile. It was a mix of amusement and something else. "Actually I won’t be going to the office anymore," he said.
Sophia’s face filled with concern. She took a step closer to him. "Why?" she asked. "What happened?"
Adam let out a short laugh. He told her the truth. "They kicked me out," he said. The words sounded absurd even to him.
Sophia was shocked. She stared at him with wide eyes. "They fired you?" she asked. But the most surprising thing was Adam’s reaction. He was saying this terrible news as if it were a joke. He was smiling. He was even laughing a little.
"Why are you taking this so lightly?" Sophia asked. Her concern deepened. She thought he had lost his mind.
Adam’s smile widened. "Because I got a better job," he said. "I don’t have to give it much time. And they are paying me very well."