Chapter 15: The Mask of Sofía
The soft clink of the coffee cup echoed in the otherwise silent room as Alejandro stirred his drink absentmindedly. His thoughts were miles away, lost in a spiral of uncertainty and suspicion that had been growing ever since Lía had left. His gaze wandered to the window, the city sprawling beneath the setting sun, its lights flickering on like a reflection of his own fragmented mind. He had been going through the motions—work, meetings, and even the occasional dinner with Sofía—but something had shifted within him. The easy, almost comfortable numbness he had once felt now seemed hollow, as if his life was a puzzle missing crucial pieces.
Sofía sat across from him, her eyes bright as she adjusted her blouse, always aware of the impression she needed to make. Her smile, though charming, had begun to feel calculated to him. The way she laughed at his jokes, the way she leaned in a little too close when they spoke—there was something off, something he couldn't place but couldn't ignore either.
She set her cup down, looking at him with that familiar sweetness that used to make his heart skip a beat. But now, her words tasted bitter, laced with an undercurrent he couldn't quite decipher.
"Alejandro," Sofía said, her tone softer than usual, almost coaxing. "I've been thinking… things have been a little tight lately, and I've got this issue I can't quite shake off. I don't want to bother you with the details, but I need a little help."
Alejandro raised an eyebrow, his attention snapping back to her. "Help?" His voice held a note of concern, though his gut twisted uneasily.
Sofía hesitated for just a second, and it was enough for Alejandro to feel that something wasn't right. She was always careful, always poised, never one to let her guard slip. But now, her gaze was slightly downcast, as if she were struggling with her own words.
"I've got a… a personal debt I need to clear," she continued, her voice tight. "I've been doing my best to manage it on my own, but I'm running out of time. If I don't take care of it soon, the consequences could be… well, unpleasant."
Alejandro blinked, his hand still resting on the rim of his cup. The words, though casual, hit him like a punch. Sofía, the woman who had always exuded confidence, now sounded vulnerable, and that vulnerability felt… forced.
"A debt?" he asked, his voice flat. He felt the edge of suspicion creeping into his mind. "What kind of debt?"
Sofía sighed, her shoulders slumping just slightly. She folded her hands neatly in front of her, avoiding his gaze. "It's nothing major," she said quickly. "It's just something I… took care of for a friend. They've been struggling, and I thought I could handle it, but now I need help."
Her words didn't sit right with him. He had always known Sofía to be independent, even a little prideful about how well she could manage on her own. The fact that she was asking him for money now felt too out of character, too convenient. He leaned forward slightly, his gaze sharp.
"How much are we talking about, Sofía?"
She hesitated, and for the first time since she had reappeared in his life, Alejandro saw a flicker of something dark in her eyes—a glint of something that wasn't quite right. She quickly masked it with a smile, but it was too late. The damage was done.
"A hundred thousand," she said, her voice a little too quick.
Alejandro's stomach sank. The number wasn't small by any means, and for Sofía, who had always been so meticulous with her finances, it seemed out of place. He'd never known her to get into such a situation.
"A hundred thousand?" he repeated, almost incredulously. "What could possibly have happened to put you in that kind of debt?"
Sofía gave him a small, rueful smile. "I told you, it's just a personal thing. Nothing you need to worry about." Her hand reached across the table, lightly touching his, but he didn't feel comforted. Instead, his mind raced with questions he couldn't answer.
For the first time since Sofía had come back into his life, Alejandro felt a pang of doubt. He had trusted her once, so easily. But now? There was something about this situation that felt wrong, something he couldn't shake off. The sudden vulnerability, the way she skirted around the details, it all felt too calculated.
He pulled his hand back and stood up, pacing the length of the room. "You're asking me for this much money, and you won't even tell me where it came from?" His voice was steady, but there was a sharp edge to it now.
Sofía stood up too, her expression tightening. "Alejandro, please," she said, her voice soft but pleading. "I'm not asking for you to judge me. I just need this one thing, and then everything will be fine. I'll take care of it all, I swear."
Alejandro stopped pacing and turned to face her. His mind raced, his instincts screaming that something wasn't right. Sofía had always been good at hiding things, at playing the part of the perfect, supportive girlfriend. But now, her cracks were starting to show.
"I don't want to be involved in your problems, Sofía," he said, his voice low and firm. "I'm not sure what you think you're asking of me, but I can't just hand over money without knowing what it's for. I need more than just your word."
Her eyes flashed, the calmness in her expression faltering for just a moment before she regained control. "You're really going to turn your back on me for this?" she asked, her voice hardening. "After everything?"
The question stung, but Alejandro stood his ground. "I'm not turning my back on you. I just need the truth."
Sofía's face contorted for a split second, and Alejandro saw something dark pass across her features—anger, or frustration, maybe even fear. But it was gone before he could make sense of it. She exhaled slowly and tried to force a smile.
"I'm sorry," she said, her voice sweet once again, though it didn't reach her eyes. "I didn't mean to upset you."
Alejandro was quiet for a long moment, his eyes narrowing slightly as he considered her words. Something didn't add up, and he couldn't ignore it. He had trusted her, had welcomed her back into his life with open arms, but now he was questioning everything.
"I'll think about it," he said finally, his voice guarded. "But I need to know more, Sofía. I need to understand what's really going on here."
Sofía nodded, but Alejandro didn't miss the flash of frustration that crossed her face. She stood there for a moment longer, staring at him with a mixture of pleading and irritation, before turning to leave.
As she exited the room, Alejandro let out a slow breath, running a hand through his hair. He had always trusted Sofía, always believed in her. But now, as the weight of her request lingered in the air, he couldn't ignore the feeling that something was wrong.
Later that evening, as he was sorting through some papers, Alejandro's eyes fell upon something unusual—a receipt tucked between two documents on his desk. It was dated a few days ago and bore the name of a high-end, exclusive boutique he knew Sofía frequented. But it wasn't the receipt itself that caught his attention. It was the total amount: fifty thousand dollars.
His heart skipped a beat. Sofía had said she only needed a hundred thousand to cover her debt. But if this receipt was for something else—something recent—then where was the other half of the money going?
Alejandro stared at the receipt, a chill crawling up his spine. He didn't know what Sofía was hiding, but he knew enough to understand that she wasn't being honest with him.
For now, he decided not to confront her—not yet. But the seed of doubt had been planted, and there would be no going back.