I Want You Back

Angel Leffman

I haven't stopped vomiting since earlier. Sofia really wants to poison me. I could barely taste the food and tolerate the smell, but the coconut dessert was the finishing touch. Not to mention that I had to put up with that idiot's insolence.

I am usually cynical; however, this one went too far. How dare he flirt with my wife right under my nose and challenge me that he is going to take her away from me? Maybe he wanted to die, and it didn't help that the flirtatious woman responded to him. I don't know if she did it to annoy me "Angel, are you feeling well now?" Carmen asked as she entered the bathroom.

or because she actually likes the German.

I wiped my mouth before answering her. "Your boss wants to kill me; what did she even put in the food?"

"I didn't give you anything, even though you deserve it," Sofia answered instead when she joined us.

"I thought you had gone with your German to enjoy the night after so much flirting and exchanging glances," I sarcastically told her as I left the bathroom.

"Now, don't give me too much idea because it's easy for me to pick up the phone to call him." She taunted me, and I looked at her. If I didn't love her or felt so bad, I would make her pay for that.

"Who's stopping you? Go and have fun, but when I do the same, don't complain."

"Is that a threat?" She asked with a straight face, and I analyzed the situation because, knowing her, she was capable of challenging me.

I was surprised to feel water cascading down my head. "Are you crazy?! Why did you do that?"

"You said you are not feeling well, right? Nothing that a good cold bath can't fix, and because you're a moron."

"So cold water removes evils? Does that include a bad mood?" I gave her a pointed look, and she tried to run, but I caught her.

"Angel Leffman, don't you dare!" I took her to the shower and turned on the cold water tap.

Sofia screamed, her voice echoing around the bathroom. "I'll kill you, Angel!"

"You were the one who said that cold water removes all evils, so here we are, so that I can get rid of the poisoning that your food has given me and for your bad mood to disappear." She turns around and starts hitting me. "You're an idiot and a moron; look what you did to me!" I looked at her, and she looked exquisite, provocative, and desirable in my eyes, so I hugged her close to me. "Let go!"

"Sofia Andrew Leffman, you have made me angry. First, you told me that you don't have time for me, that you are busy resolving company issues, then I found out that you have been walking with a German all over the country. Second, you invited him to dinner and even flirted with him. Third, you cooked him his favorite dinner and his favorite dessert, and finally, you tried to poison me. So tell me, how are we going to resolve this matter?"

"I didn't invite him to dinner; it was you! And if dinner was for him, obviously, I'm going to make food that he enjoys! Did you expect me to cook the food we like?!" She snapped at me and continued fighting to get away.

"Is that so? Does that include flirting and making eyes at him? Or even making me angry?" I squeezed her body closer to mine even more.

"I didn't make eyes at him; I only responded to his flattery. What woman in her right mind doesn't respond to a charming man?"

"She's a married woman, and she shouldn't dance with strangers either."

"And that is coming from you? That's ironic because you went on a trip for five years without saying anything to me. I had no idea what you've done or who you've been with. I didn't even complain to you when you went with Elisa to London, and God knows what you did together. So you have no right to tell me anything about what I did in Germany or in France!"

"Would you look at that? It seems like the cold water has brought out the bad temper that she has inside her." I teased her, and she thrashed against my hold even more.

"Look what you did! I'm all wet!"

"Ah, well, if you're wet, then I'll have to check it another way because I wouldn't know." I mischievously looked at her before running one of my hands along her thighs and under her dress.

"Angel! Stop it! You know I'm not talking about that!" She kept fighting and pushing my hand away.

"Well, now! Either you stay still or I will kiss you." I warned her, and I was serious because she could get hurt, but she continued. "I warned you."

I bent my head to kiss her like I'd been dying to do for days. It felt like I had not tasted those lips for years. Sofia struggled for a few seconds until she responded to my kiss and calmed down. I tasted her like I wanted to do weeks ago. When we were both out of breath, I pulled her away and released her.

"Now, I think you're wet," I mockingly said, and she angrily pushed me away.

"You're annoying!" She stormed out of the shower, and I followed her while laughing.

"Can I know why you're so angry these days? I'm the one who should be angry. I understand that you want to punish me for how I treated you all these years, but from there to putting up with an idiot coming and flirting with you right under my nose and you responding to him, I've reached my limit, Sofia. You even gave him the time you cannot give me just to see him."

"I'm not seeing him, Angel! I promised to take him to see the country when he came here, and that's what I did."

"You have poisoned me."

"I didn't do such a thing, and the food was exquisite. It's you who's acting strange!" I can't argue with that because I've been feeling this discomfort for days, but it's worse today.

"You gave me a coconut dessert."

Sofia rolled her eyes. "It's Dominik's favorite. It's not my fault that you don't like it. I didn't even tell you to eat."

"Sofia, Sofia, Sofia. Trying to kill me, that's on another level."

"Angel, if I wanted to kill you right now, I would be burying your body, and I am not going to do it by poisoning your food; that is old-fashioned and unfunny."

"Sofia, only you can think that killing someone must have some kind of fun." I smelled her hair, and it was so delicious.

"I don't think killing someone should be funny, but if I were to commit murder, it wouldn't be by poisoning. Imagine the headlines? 'Sofia Andrew is accused of murder for poisoning her husband.' Duh. That sounds like Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs, too cliché! It would be something that would surprise people, something unique, something worthy of someone like me." "Okay, how would you murder me, then?"

"I don't know; you would have to suffer first, maybe. I would ******e you, something that you will remember even when you go to the other world."

"Wow, should I be scared that my wife could be a potential serial killer?"

"You asked; I just answered you."

"Do you really think that German is handsome and nice? Do you fancy him?"

"Yes," she answered without hesitation. "I'm not blind to not see that he is a good guy. He knows how to make a lady feel happy and pleasant."

"And do you think he deserves you more than me?" I don't know where that question came from, but she was so friendly and so calm with him-something different when she was with me.

"Perhaps, but I don't know him well enough to say if he is better or worse than you."

"Mm." I looked at her, and she looked super cute all wet, but the only thing missing was for her to get sick and say it's my fault. "You better go change; don't get sick," I suggested, and she looked at herself.

"I don't have any more clothes here except the ones I brought, and they have the smell of food."

Just remembering the smell made me nauseous. I definitely look like a woman; how horrible.

"Put on one of my pajamas or clothes while I dry your clothes, and I'll take you home after." After I said that, she looked at me in surprise.

"You'll take me home?"

"There's no way I'm letting you go alone at this time of the night. Something might happen to you on the way. Now go change." I grabbed some casual clothes and left her in the room.

I need to earn her appreciation little by little, not in a rough way nor in a macho way, but if that idiot dares to say that he wants to take her away from me, he is going to return to Germany without a head.

Harry called as soon as I finished changing. "What a time for you to call me."

"Well, you usually bother my life every minute; it's only fair that I do the same."

"Let's see, what's important that the great Harry called me?"

Harry chuckled at the other line. "At least you know. Well, I met a nice secretary who told me that the doctor is arriving tomorrow."

"Are you talking about Denice?"

"Are you looking for another one? Of course, it's her, and I have more for you. Guess who is going to see her tomorrow since she made an appointment as soon as possible?" "Elisa."

"The one and only."

"I'm sure she wants to go cover her tracks; if she denies that she saw her a year ago, she is hiding something; maybe the dates don't match or the baby is not mine."

"She has an appointment at nine in the morning."

"It means that we need to be there at eight."

"We? Why should I go again?" Harry whined.

"Because you are my best friend and my lawyer. If I decided to kill someone, you would help me or you would save me, either one of the two, that's why."

"Sometimes, I think I shouldn't tell you anything."

"But you did it, so let's see what Miss Elisa invents now."

I hung up and started thinking about the thousand-and-one reasons for Elisa to lie to me about her doctor. If the dates don't match, if she isn't pregnant, or if she doesn't know who the father is, she has a miscarriage, and she knows how it happened. I don't know... There are so many things, but whatever it is, I'll find out tomorrow.

"Angel."

"Sofi." I saw her with one of my joggers and a shirt. "That looks good on you."

She looked down on herself and shrugged. "Yes, it's a bit big, but it was the most decent thing I found in your closet for me."

"I think you could find something sexier than that." I teased her, and she rolled her eyes.

"I couldn't go out on the street wearing something sexy from your closet."

"No, it would be something sinful," I joked, and we both laughed. "Then let's go so that you can rest."

"You were the one who's not feeling well; you are the one who should rest."

"When I get home, I'll rest; now what matters to me is that you arrive safely." I smiled at her, and he looked at me as if I were crazy. "At least the shower calmed your bad temper."

"It won't last long. You can irritate me in an instant lately."

"Ah, I am not the cause of your laughter or smile, but I am the cause of your irritability; I continue adding points to the blacklist."

We were both quiet when getting into the car. I thought about things like tonight's dinner with that idiot, how happy she looked, and the business. What business could they have done? It's obviously not fashion, and even less so about cars. There is also Elisa, and finally, I will know the truth tomorrow, and this anxiety will end.

"Angel!" I was snapped out of my thoughts when she yelled my name.

"What?"

"You crossed the street," she told me blankly, and I realized i I was true. "What are you thinking?"

""You, Elisa..."

"Elisa, really? Nice to know, Angel."

I cursed when I realized how that sounded. "It is not what you are thinking, Sofia."

"What am I thinking, according to you?"

"I was thinking that I cared."

"You know what? I don't want to know; I don't care. Just keep thinking about your beloved," she said coldly, and I knew I had messed up once again.

"Can you let me talk? I'll explain to you what I meant."

"I don't care what you meant." She cuts me off as I park the car in front of her building. "You know what? Yes! Dominik deserves me more than you!" She says furiously before getting out of the car and slamming the door behind her.

It looks like she's already got her bad temper back. "Sofia!" I called her as I followed her. "Let's talk and stop running away from me!"

"No! I don't want to see you! Don't bother me!" She closes the door on my face yet again.

Seriously, this woman with these mood swings will drive me crazy, and she says that I'm the one who needs a psychiatrist.

Why did I open my mouth when I knew that Elisa's topic made her angry? I just sighed and let her be. It's better that she calms down, and tomorrow, when I find out the truth, I'll talk to her.

I woke up early the next day, and I went to see the doctor at the clinic. When Harry arrived with the secretary, I could already guess where he spent the night.

"Good morning, partner," he said, greeting me with a bright mood. "Are you ready for today?"

"As I'll ever be, I want to get rid of Elisa once and for all. I won't leave here without any information," I replied to him, and I saw the secretary batting her eyelashes at him. "I think I know how you got the information," I whispered to him.

"I didn't get anything; she's the one who told me. I invited her out, and everything went as it should."

"Of course, as if I didn't know you," I told him while shaking my head.

A few minutes later, the doctor arrived.

"Good morning." I greeted her with all the kindness I had in me, knowing I needed something from her.

"Good morning, Mr. Leffman; it's nice to see you here."

"I planned on visiting you earlier, but I was traveling. I need to talk with you."

"Sure, let's go to my office."

Harry reluctantly came with me. The kind doctor asked about Sofia and our decision, but I didn't want to prolong the conversation.

"Sofia is fine, but I didn't come to talk about her, but about another patient, a patient of yours five years ago, to be exact. Elisa Dalton, do you remember her?"

"I can't talk about my patients, Mr. Leffman, except for Sofia because she is his wife, but..."

"So I heard, but this is important to me. Just tell me if you remember her and if she was your patient." I already know the answer, but I want to confirm it. Denice sighed before nodding. "Yes, I remember her; she was my patient. That's the only thing I'll tell you. If you want to know more, you should ask her." "That's not an option," Harry intervened.

"Listen carefully. Elisa came to you because she was pregnant five years ago, right? And you were her doctor at the time, weren't you?"

"Mr. Leffman, I don't understand what Elisa's pregnancy and your wife's pregnancy have to do with it, if it is because of the procedure."

"Forget the procedure," I interrupted her, and she pursed her lips. "I want to know how long Elisa was pregnant five years ago. I need to know the answer."Content property of NôvelDra/ma.Org.

"Mr. Leffman, I cannot give you that information; it is highly confidential, and I must comply with my medical ethics." She firmly told me, and I almost groaned in frustration.

"Doctor, that information is important for my friend; it would change his life." Harry tried to convince her on my behalf.

Denice looked at us before shaking her head. "I'm sorry, but I can't say anything."

"Look, I need to know if I was the father of that baby," I blurted out, and she looked stunned. "I just want to know how long she was pregnant, just that, and I'll do the rest. I promise you that it will be as if you had never told me anything." "Wow, I didn't expect that," she exclaimed with a surprise look on her face.

"It was before my marriage, so don't misunderstand and think that I was unfaithful to my wife. It is affecting my marriage, so I need you to help me."

"I understand what you're saying, but I'm afraid I can't do it; my ethics won't allow it." She insisted, and I almost lost my patience.

"Your ethics?" Harry intervenes with a scoff. "The same ethics that you apply when you perform abortions that are not allowed by law." The doctor paled, and I almost kicked my friend.

"Harry!" I silenced him and turned to Denice. "Don't mind my friend, doctor; we know that you are responsible, professional, and know how to do your job. We are not here to judge you or anything like that, but please understand that it is my life and my marriage that are at risk." "We sign a confidentiality document with all my patients. I cannot break it without her consent unless she allows it."

"Something that will never happen because Elisa will never tell us the truth," Harry stated with a snort.

"Okay, how about this? I'll tell you how long Elisa was pregnant and you tell me yes or no. That way you wouldn't be breaking any rules, and I'd be guessing. If it turns out that it's mine, nothing has happened here, but if not, I swear that you won't be harmed." "That would be exactly the same," Denice argued, Harry's phone rang, and he left the office.

"Doctor, I would do anything for my wife. I need to know if it was mine or not, and I can only know that by knowing if Elisa was really as pregnant as she told me." "Angel!" Harry rushed back inside. "Elisa is outside."

"Oh, God!" Denice exclaimed in panic. "Sir, I take good care of things; I'm a professional, and I don't want to lose my job because of this."

"You're not going to lose anything because you haven't said anything," I told her in an annoyed tone, and an idea occurred to me: "You said that I can only know the answer if she tells me or allows it, isn't that right?" I asked, and she confirmed. "If she came to see you, it means that you must check her file. Well, then, we are going to make her give us that authorization, but you must humor me."

"Angel, what are you planning to do?" Harry asked in curiosity and worry.

"First, you haven't seen me, you don't know me, and I haven't been here. Act like it's the first time you met me, act like usual, and I'll be in charge of handling Elisa. You're just going to ignore what she tries to tell you, and as soon as she walks through that door, you'll greet her, mention her file, and take it out without excuse."

"But..."

"Just humor me, and you won't get into trouble, but keep that file in your hand."

I walked out, and Harry followed me. "Angel, what are you going to do?"

"Stay close so I don't kill that woman if I lose my mind, okay?"

"Through thick and thin, my man." He turned away from me, and I saw Elisa.

Now it's time for me to act. I approached her and acted surprised. "Hello, sweet Eli." That's what I used to call her when she acted like a good girl and I stupidly believed her. She paled and looked visibly nervous. "I see that you decided to change your mind about the doctor. Come on, I'll accompany you."

"No, wait, Angel!" I ignored her, took her arm, and dragged her to the office. "I came because..."

"Shut up. Let's see what the doctor says, and if you open that little mouth without my permission, you're going to regret it." I snapped at her, and she whimpered.

"Angel, no!" She tried to escape me, but we reached the office.

It's showtime.

"Shut up." I glared at her, and she shut up. "Good morning, doctor." I gave her a sign, and she understood.

"Good morning. Elisa, how nice to see you after so many years." Denice approaches her and greets her warmly.

"Doctor, no." I squeezed her arm to keep her quiet and looked at her with all the anger I had in me, and she shook like a leaf.

"Please, sit down."

"Thank you, doctor," I replied, placing Elisa in the chair while I stood next to her while holding her arm. "So you were already her doctor, about how long ago?"

Elisa was about to answer, but I squeezed her arm, and I knew it hurt her.

"About five years. Tell me, Elisa, how are you?" Denice asked her, and she looked up at me.

"Answer her, Eli; don't be so rude."

"Well, I'm fine; in fact, I came here because..." I didn't let her finish and squeezed her thigh in warning, so she stopped.

"We came because Eli wants to get back in contact with you. We were traveling, and we both knew it was time to get serious. After last time, we thought you're the one we should consult with since you know her background." "Wonderful, it's good to have my old patients back," Denice replied, although she looked skeptical. I looked at Elisa, and she was in a trance. "Well, for starters, let me look for your file. It's been five years, you see."

"No!" Elisa was quick to refuse, and I squeezed her so hard that she literally shut up from the pain. The doctor looked at me and understood that she should continue as if she hadn't heard anything.

Denice searched for her file in the last folder while I looked at Elisa, and she knew I was not playing.

"Here it is," she says, sitting down and opening her file. There is everything I need to know the truth about. She turned to see Elisa, and her face had no color by now.

The doctor begins the normal interrogation about her current age, where she is living, and all the other questions that Elisa answers briefly until she gets to where I want her diagnosis.

"Personal history..."

"Previous pregnancy," I interrupted her. "How many months was it? I don't remember well, and neither do you, right?" I asked Elisa. "But the file should say how many months old you were, right, doctor? Remind us just to be sure." The doctor looked at me because she knew I needed that answer. "Ah, yes, of course; let me check."

Elisa tried to speak, and I bent down. "You say one word and I'll break your arm," I whispered, and I made sure she knew I wasn't kidding.

"Here you go." She paused and glanced at me. "You were eleven weeks old."

I did the math, and that would be three and a half months when it was supposed to be four and a half months old. That's one month less, damn it! It is not mine! I squeezed her harder, and I heard her moan in pain.

"Are you sure about what you're saying, doctor?"

By now, Denice can probably feel the tension. "Yes, I'm positive. This is what the medical history says; shall we continue with the history?"

"That's not necessary." Elisa managed to talk, and I glared at her because I didn't allow her to talk.

"Of course it's necessary. We must know everything."

""No."

When Elisa said no, the doctor looked at me because she had to stop the interrogation. Before she could put it away, however, I let go of her leg and took the file from the doctor.

I start skimming through the pages while looking for important details. My anger rises like a pressure thermometer, and so does my confusion. I remember everything I experienced and what I felt when she told me that Sofia had murdered our child, a child that I now know was not mine. And what's even worse, a loss that didn't even happen because it was an abortion-a f*****g abortion! I glared at Elisa with all the hate and anger I had in me, and I felt like I was about to lose what little sanity I had left.