The Reckoning of Love ( Sophia Yancey )

hapter 33 I’m Not Mr Lynch’s Secretary Anymore

“I just read an online guide on a restaurant that seems to make toothsome local dishes. It’s just that the place is a bit far away. If we’re late, we’re gonna have to wait in line.”

All the people whom Sophia had met these years while following Joseph around were either rich dandies or very deep and shrewd ones. For so many years, she hadn’t seen anyone as simple and innocent as Howard, who sometimes reminded her for a moment of her lively and unconditionally sincere self before that turning point in her life.

“All right. I’m treating you to lunch, anyway, so it’s up to you to decide what we’re going to eat.” She patiently nodded as if pleasing a child, which did please Howard very much. With that, she grabbed her purse and went out with him.

The streets of Edgeminster were covered in yellow fall leaves, creating a scenic atmosphere. Sitting in the passenger seat, Sophia listened to Howard’s animated introduction of the local attractions as they passed by. The man seemed to have done a lot of preparations beforehand.

She looked quite lazy, and her replies were lukewarm, but her languid demeanor happened to catch Howard’s fancy. The traffic’s gonna be congested again after this intersection,” he said while slowly parking his car in an empty spot he saw on the roadside. “Let’s get out of the car for a short walk, shall we?”

“Okay” Sophia also felt uncomfortable staying in the car; the stuffy air made her feel nauseous. Opening the car door, she drew in a breath of the fresh and slightly chilly autumn air, and her nausea disappeared at once. This baby of mine really takes good care of me. I don’t feel much most of the time, except when I get too emotional, upon which I easily get nauseous.

Howard strode to her side before walking side by side with her toward the restaurant. Unbeknownst to them, someone was following them at a distance the whole time.

Howard had made a reservation at the restaurant in advance. Upon arriving there, he waited for a table before entering with Sophia.

The local dishes at the restaurant were mostly beef and mutton, which were very heaty. Not having much of an appetite, Sophia ate little of the food, whereas Howard happily ate a lot like a silly son of an upstart family.

After finishing their lunch in a fairly pleasant mood, they walked to the spot where their car was parked, during which time Sophia answered two phone calls from work. The second one was ridiculous; it was from the general manager of one of Shell Capital’s subsidiary companies. As soon as Sophia answered the phone, the general manager asked, “Miss Yancey, we can’t reach Mr. Lynch-

Sophia interrupted coldly, “Sorry, but please call the president’s office right away. I’m not Mr. Lynch’s

secretary anymore.”

The caller was startled for a moment. Then, he hurriedly replied, “Okay, sorry for calling, and hung up.

Howard looked at Sophia. Finally, he couldn’t help but say, “Sophia, I met a strange woman at the pier the other day who said a lot of bad stuff about you.”

Sophia darted a glance at him. Then, she turned to look ahead, where an autumn breeze swept up a clump of deciduous leaves on the ground. “What did she say?” she asked.

“Forget it. It doesn’t matter, anyway” Howard wished he could slap himself across the face. All I heard was Mr. Lynch’s name, no? Why did I have to speak out of turn out of nowhere?

I’m Not Mr Lynch’s Secretary Anymore

“You’re wondering what my relationship with Joseph Lynch was, aren’t you?”

Howard was stunned. “Sophia, I- He panicked somewhat. After all, this was prying into someone’s privacy.

“I did have a sexual relationship with him for five years. Sophia looked at him with frankness in her bright and clear eyes.

Howard froze for a moment.

Sophia wasn’t at all surprised by this. After all, she wasn’t some naive and stupid innocent girl.