Chapter 12

• Sophia rhythmically taps her nails on her desk, her eyes fixated on the clock as the hands seem to move in slow motion. The morning feels as if it's dragging on longer than a month-long jail sentence, and neither Johnny nor Leon has shown up for work yet. She's restless, unable to concentrate or focus, and nothing she does seems to alleviate the stress knotting up in her abdomen. By ten, she's irked at both of them for their unexpected absence, especially when they have a multitude of tasks to complete before lunch.
• They each manage their own departments, and it's crucial for them to keep each other updated regularly. She has a stack of documents, six inches thick, that need both of their signatures alongside hers. They're also supposed to have a strategy meeting with the senior staff in less than an hour. They never miss these meetings, and it's more important than ever to stay on top of things with all the new investments coming in over the past few months.
• She's refrained from calling Leon to find out his whereabouts because, after last night, she doesn't feel ready for another emotional confrontation. She doesn't trust herself not to snap at him when she's still emotionally vulnerable. Her mind is in turmoil, and despite taking one of her mother's Xanax pills at five in the morning to calm herself, it hasn't had any effect.