"Sunshine sleeps on the willow trees…where no light creeps. Encontra la verdad… FIND ME SOPHIA!"
She woke in a shudder. Her eyes wildly shifted from side to side trying to figure out where she was. Finally, she calmed herself at the sight of the window and curtains. She sat up and began to breathe deeply. After the calm inhaling and exhaling, she stood up and fell to the bed again.
"Puta"
Sophia put her hand to her head. And remembered her assignment.
"Wesley" she whispered
"What time is it?" She looked over at the clock. It was 2:55 PM.
Then she remembered what had happened before she took a nap. She had gone upstairs to change for the job she and Wesley had to do at 4. She wanted to get a head start. The worst thing she could do at his point, in her mind, was be late for her first assignment.
She was still in her dark blue jeans and warm red wine sweater with her hair air dried wavy. By that time Cordelia had dropped off Connor at Uncle Lorne's for babysitting duties, while she worked on her cases. Sophia thought it best to ask her for advice on her case since she was in Angel's office. She got up from the comfort of the couch and walked over to the nice chestnut door. She knocked politely.
"Hey it's Sophia"
She saw the door open and a happy Cordy.
"Hey honey did you need something?"
"Are you busy?"
"Umm no. Freebird. Come in" Cordelia showed her in
"Thanks Cord" she said while sitting down in a chair. She crossed her legs and rested her head on her shoulder
"What's wrong missy?"
"What? Oh nothing" she swept her hair behind her ear, sighed and pressed her lips.
"Liar. Buffy told me to look out for that" Cordelia narrowed her eyes
Sophia looked at her baffled
"What do you mean?"
"That hair thing, sigh/pout" Cordy acted it out for Soph.
"What? I do….not"
Cordelia looked at her skeptically
"I do that occasionally. But it's not a warning sign of stormy weather"
"Right and my windshield wipers have gone off for no reason"
"You think something's wrong with me?"
"Damn skippy. And I bet it has to do with Wesley" she said so convinced of her self while sitting herself in Angel's swirly chair.
"How does she know?"
"He told you about it? Did you get a vision?" she said uneasily
"How does she know?"
"No…well not about this and no he didn't tell me. Although he really seems to care about it" she sat up perfectly straight
"This case is really important" she told herself
"I'm just worried about how this is going to work out."
"If he's gonna make it out alive"
"No reason to honey. You two are perfect for each other" she said a big grin
"I would know. I am the greatest matchmaker ever. Miss Match has nothing on me. She really doesn't considering she got canceled "
"What is she talking about?" she thought befuddled
"Cordelia, you are speaking out the Wood/Olivetti case and how Wesley's being extremely rash about the whole thing?"
"What?"
"What?" Cordelia then saw Sophia's expression turn ticked
"Setting me up with my boss"
"Cordy, too early. " She said sternly
"I like Wesley. Yes, but way too early"
"But Sophia--"
"Cordelia. No. Not now."
"In a year?" she asked innocently
"And sooner if you're a good a girl" she promised her
'I'll take it. Crappy deal to want to see your friends married" she said softly
"I heard that Mrs. Chase-Liam" she told her smiling
"Oh like you don't want that hunk of Britishness" she told Sophia teasingly
"Can't say I haven't thought about it"
"God Cord" she said laughing
"Well now that you two are undercover buddies. Maybe--"
"Finish that sentence and I swear I will-- Wait, what time is it?" she suddenly asked
Cordelia looked over her shoulder to Angel's self clock to see the time
"It's 1:45"
"I should go and prepare."
"For--?" she said questionably with a raised eyebrow
"Cord…mind out of gutter. For the assignment"
"Or right I have to finish the cases. Grr …Work." she said looking angrily at the folders
"Ok, thanks for the chat Cordelia. I'll see you after the meeting" Sophia got up out of the chair
"Hey girly." Cordy got out the chair and walked over to her friend
"Hmm?" Sophia said looking at her
"Think about I asked of you" The two sets of deep brown connected.
"I will. Now go and show those phones who's boss" Sophia winked and walked out the door.
"Good Luck!" she said to her friend
"Lord knows are job needs that leprechaun luck" That being thought. She went back to work
Sophia made her way up the stairs and walked into her room. She opened her suitcases and stared to put away her clothes. Fred had put in plastic hangers in the empty closet for Sophia's connivance. A unique style of everything. Classic, Glamorous, and trendy, Sophia had it all. Back from her days as a curator when she was making the big bucks. Although she wasn't living the lavish lifestyle as before, she was happier now. She had friends that would risk their lives for her, and they had, and a father that adored her. She knew something was missing, but she didn't look through her mind to bother to find it. And for now, she didn't want to know.
She shook the thoughts out of her head and went back to the most important decision of the moment.
"What to wear?"
"Dun dun dun" she said dramatically
She picked up an outfit
"Good thing I still have clothes from my curator days" she said happily as she laid out the clothes for that afternoon.
A nice business suit that she had adored. It hugged her curves and lengthened her legs, a must for a petite girl. It was a subtle black jacket and skirt with a clean slick white shirt. She had curled her hair and pulled in back with a beautiful comb her Aunt Lottie gave her. The design of a white flower in front of a sparkling black background seem to call to her and her outfit.
"Wish me luck Tia Lottie"
She sighed
"Seems like a lifetime ago"
She was completely presentable. Her outfit, her hair, her make-up, her shoes - Jimmy Choo pumps that were 75 off.
"Thank God for Buffy's good eye" She smiled.
Her smell?
"Yep, I smell like Eden"
Actually, she smelled like roses and violets. Her signature smell. So, basically her appearance was perfect. But there was one more item on the checklist.
"Anastasia Regina Olivetti was born in New Hampshire on November 20, Graduated high school at the age of 16, she obtained her degree in business communications in 1999, she became the co-CEO of Enlighten---"
The girl was a walking encyclopedia on Anastasia and Enlighten Industries.
"Enlighten specializes in computer electronics for the Western Hemisphere and Japan. Founded in 2002, CEO's Dimitri Alexander Wood and Anastasia Regina Olivetti. First stock appeared-"
She had read the files while she was relaxing in the lobby of the Hyperion. After she had a conversation with Cordy, She went upstairs to unpack and get ready.
"Odd that the clothing decision is more difficult than the memorizing"
She rehearsed the data while preparing her appearance. No doubt she was nervous about her staring role as the all amazing Ana, but what worried her more was what Pearson was capable of.
"What is Wesley getting into?"
She worried about that fact when she felt a wave of serenity and sleepiness. Sophia decided that she should rest for a minute before she headed out. She laid on the bed and put her head in the soft pillow. That's when she had woken up in a fit. Like her dreams had been for a while, she couldn't recall anything about it at all. Those 20 minutes were lost to her. She brushed it off as bad memory, or more like memory overload.
"All right. I'll just fix my hair and go downstairs. I'm ok…but what was in that dream? Forget it, you have to go back to work"
She rearranged her hair with the comb and retouched her make-up.
"2:58"
She straighten her room and got her purse. She headed down the stairs to find a sharply dressed Wesley waiting for her.
"NO dorky suits here Buff" Sophia thought playfully
He had a sleek black business suit with a dark blue shirt underneath and a dark blue satin tie. His hair was gelled back to seem older. His glasses were off and he was clean shaven. His shoes shined like never before.
She walked down and met him. She smelled his cologne and wanted to just hug him for the scent, not to mention his James Bondy look.
"Perfect guy so far. Extremely bright and pleasant, polite. Maaa! Stop it now. Don't let it get to you"
"You look very--" Wesley couldn't quite get the words out.
"Tell her how wonderful she looks"
"Very professional"
"Ah Yes what every woman wants to hear. Thatta Boy Pryce" He thought sarcastically
"Just what I was going for" Sophia 's esteem dropped
"Thank You Wesley. So you do. "
"Thank you" He saw her eyes fall to the floor.
"Just tell her now. Not too late"
"I--" Her eyes jumped to him hopefully. He was about to finish his thoughts on her beauty
when the rest of the team came.
"Wes, You called?" Angel interrupted.
"Great timing" Wesley suddenly hated the fact that ,for once, they were on time.
"Yes I want you all to head out and start work on the Wood/Olivetti case. Cordy stay by the phones and call Lorne to stay alert. Fred keep researching. Gunn, Faith contact the sources and the search the crime scenes. Angel call our demon contacts for information on a Leigh Pearson and Cabrel."
They all nodded their heads understandingly and walked away, except for Fred.
"I know this goes without saying but be careful you two" Fred looked at Sophia and Wesley.
"We will Fred don't worry"
Sophia glanced at Wesley who, in turn looked at her.
"I comprehend Sophia. I'll be extra careful" he said with a sight annoyance
Fred smiled and walked away.
"Married already, those two"
"All ready to leave?" Wesley got the keys to his SUV.
"Yes, do you have new information for the case?"
"Not at this moment"
"Ok then. Let's go"
They walked out together. Sophia smelled the garden again and smiled.
Wesley headed for the car. His beautiful silver Lincoln Navigator was 5 years in the making. After saving for all his life and an extra bonus from Angel, for getting shot, he successfully was financially stable to buy a luxury car. It wasn't all a boy toy for Wesley, he did indeed buy for works sake, but had occasionally used it for show.
"Very nice Pryce" Sophia had thought
"Your car Wesley?" She had said with astonishment
"You don't believe I could own a car like this"
"No, it's just you seem like more of a BMW boy"
"I don't know how to take that"
"It doesn't determine penis size Wes. Oh GOD! What's wrong with me?" She couldn't believe her thoughts. Never had she been so infatuated with someone. The same went for Wesley.
"Take it well" she couldn't look at him.
They entered the car and rode to 55 Easton Avenue.
"So Dimitri, how do we run this?'
"Dimitri?"
"Well I could say Wesley, but I think that would give us away. Don't you think?"
"This is her strategy. I should try it."
"Well, Anastasia"
"No" she shook her head
"What do you mean no?" he said laughing a bit
"Dimitri would never call her by her full name. They were known to be affectionate"
"And did that come out wrong" She squirmed
"What I meant was that he was not only her business partner but her close friend. That constitutes a "Ana", his name for her" She should know, she studied it all day
" She's right"
"That wasn't in the files. How did you come to that conclusion?"
"Well think about it. Her name's longer than most, and men tend to shorten everything, no offence"
He shrugged
"Ok, example. Cordelia. She has a nickname created by?"
"Xander" Cordelia had told them one day at dinner and Xander told Sophia during a long conversation between the two
"Right. And who uses it most?"
"Gunn and I"
"Thank you for proving my theory"
"I see your point"
"So it's Ana. Call her Ana" She slumped in her chair and looked at the view. She suddenly became very angry with Dimitri and what he's done to Anastasia
He looked away from the road and looked to Sophia
"Are you alright?"
Sophia turned her head towards him and smiled a weak little smile.
"I'm fine. Just thinking about the case"
She was thinking that there was something missing from the relationship. A connection long lost with the suicide or murder and the abandonment.
"What did they do to each other?"
She held the file in her hand and suddenly became very sleepy.
"What bullshit" she said softly
Wes was surprised by her choice of words
"What's bullshit?"
"You heard me!"
"Sophia?"
Her head violently flew back and her voice automatically changed.
"Fuck you Dimitri. You're the reason that-"
"Don't even try to blame that on me! She's dead because of both of us.. Us and our--"
"YOU LEFT HER ALONE! Well knowing that she was vulnerable. I will never forgive you. My God what were you thinking!"
"I don't know. But I know you weren't thinking about her. Really Ana, you're one to talk. Screwing that asshole Groban while she was alone too"
"Well you were never there now were you? All about work, our company"
"Right Anastasia. OUR company"
"We don't have anything anymore. You inner sins relived with her death"
Wesley turned the car into an abandoned alley and parked it.
"Sophia! Sophia!" He was worried about her. Her eyes were closed shut and she was shaking like she was in the middle of a seizure. Her voice shifted from anger to frustration. He put her in the back seat and cradled her. He tried to calm her down to get her to recover.
"Sophia. Come back to me. It's Wesley, calm and breathe" His crystal blue eyes were wide open and fixed on Sophia. His hand was on her cheek.
With those words her body jolted and she cried
"Stop! Stop!" she said weakly
"Sophia! It's Wesley. Listen to me, don't speak. Rest for a bit"
She listened to him. She let him hold her while she caught her breath. She slowly came back into normalness. She sat up, with Wesley's arms still around her, and stopped shaking
"Who did you two loose? What caused the divorce?" She thought while she escaped the images.
"It's ok…your all right now"
"Wesley, the pain, the confusion they felt. The hate for each other and the--" Oddly enough, she pulled away from him fearing that she would fall into his arms even further if she held on. They both sat in the seats next to each other.
"I know, but it's ok"
"They lost someone close to them"
"You told me just now"
"Wesley, your files. They were wrong" she said aggravated
"Wrong how?" he sounded puzzled
"Anastasia wasn't Anastasia Olivetti, she was Anastasia Wood."
"They were married?" Wesley was shocked. Usually his files were perfect and would not miss a detail like the fact they were husband and wife.
"And unhappy at the end. This death killed their marriage"
Her head hurt. All the emotions that Ana and Dimitri had during that last fight drained her, but she lied to Wesley.
"I can go through with the meeting"
"No…Sophia. No"
"She can't. She's not able to"
She grabbed his eyes with hers.
"Wesley. I'm your only true connect to these two. You need me there"
"Her point is valid. Let her Pryce, she knows what she's doing."
Wesley was already so protective of her
"Are you positive?"
"I've made up my mind"
"Fine"
"There's one thing. I don't understand why I got this flashback. I'm not Cordy, I don't get visions."
"But you can sense, and that must have triggered a connection between you and Ana. You felt her emotions when you researched her. You know so much about her without even knowing her"
"In some states I would be considered a stalker"
He smiled at her
'See, all is good. I'm back to joking mode"
"Sophia…"
"No I won't let you do this yet. Not the 'I'll protect you' macho man thing "
"Wesley what time is it? The meeting" she tried to set her eyes on the clock but it was blurry.
He looked at the front of the car and saw 3:45.
"We have 15 minutes. Now save you strength. I don't want to bother you, but can you recall what I asked of you?"
"You shouldn't push her"
"To copy Pearson's files on his employees and anything that seems out if the ordinary. Wesley, stop fretting I can go through with the mission"
"I wasn't fretting I was ju--"
"Wesley…what else?"
"Just go with your instinct. More today considering that Ana is a part of you"
"Half way into the meeting you'll take him away?"
"Yes that is the plan"
"I'm ready"
"The minute I get in there, I have to --"
"Sophia?"
"What?"
He pointed to her head. Her comb had been hanging by a strand. Her shoes had flown off, her shirt was untucked, and her lipstick was all over Wesley's hand. They both got of the car.
She looked in the rear view mirror and laughed
"See this is what you get for caring about your looks. All superficial karma"
And this was the moment Wesley chose to tell her
"You look beautiful"
"Now is the time you choose?" Wes was so confused as to why he said it then
She looked at him with glossed eyes.
"You can't honestly mean that. I look like I was at the running of the Bulls" she motioned grandly.
"Well your not at your best but…" He squirmed
She looked at him baffled
"Wesley Alfred! Stop it now!" He shook his head
"What I mean to say is that you look like Ana anyway so it'll work"
"What the bloody hell did that mean?"
"Thanks Wesley. "
"I think"
Sophia got out of the uncomfortable situation with work talk.
"I'm going to fix myself in the car. Do you mind staying out here?"
"Of course not" He said rapidly
"Maybe I can salvage what's ever left of my dignity"
"Thank You"
She walked inside the car and closed the door. In the fastest five minutes known to man, she re-did her make-up, applied all day lip color, just in case, rearranged her hair, fixed her clothing, and put on her shoes.
She popped out of the car.
"Ta-da! Mess no more. Well...kinda"
He smiled that shining smile.
"Since we're all ready to go. Let's"
He got back in the driver's seat while she got seated herself in the passengers and they left for Cabrel.
They arrived at 3:55 and rushed to get out of the car. Both gathered their materials and put them inside the suitcases. They walked together to the entrance while Sophia reviewed in her head, trying to dig up clues out of the flashback.
The building was beautiful. Built in the age of architecture, the Cabrel building was pure glass and metal. Blinding and awe inspiring with 78 floors and 22 elevators and more than 1000 windows.
Before they headed inside, Wesley looked at Sophia for any breaks in her spirit. He found none. She was calm and seem to personify Ana's calm demeanor. As Dimitri, Wesley had to be overly charming and honestly sincere.
Once he saw her attitude, Wesley whispered to her that they should go.
They walked in the most casual way. Another meeting, another day for the jet setting couple.
They were greeted by a beautiful young woman.
"Welcome to Cabrel industries. Mr. Wood, Ms. Olivetti. Mr. Pearson will be meeting with you shortly. Please, follow me into his office.
"How does she know who we are?" Sophia didn't show her bewilderment as she followed the woman.
The inside of the building was just as elaborate as the outside. Glass ceilings with crystal chandeliers and ornate paintings decorating the walls. Picasso, Rembrandt, basically any renowned artist of the past was decking the halls. Sophia peeked at the offices and saw the busy little bees hard at work.
"Seems normal enough. Don't feel anything"
Wesley seemed just as surprised by the beauty and normalcy of the company.
"But Wolfram and Hart seemed normal too, from the outside" He kept himself alert for anything he felt was supernatural.
The woman stopped at the largest office. She turned swiftly and looked into their eyes.
"Wow she's creepy" thought Sophia
"Mr. Pearson will meet you now"
They nodded and entered the office.
Leigh Pearson was a man of 65 who looked 45. He was tall, fit, and still had all of his hair. A few strands of gray were mixed in with the blonde. His hazel eyes buried into you with one look. His voice was deep and husky. Had Sophia not known, in her mind, he was a psychopath, she would have found him attractive.
"Thank You for meeting with me today. Mr. Wood , Ms. Olivetti. Your company means a great deal to us here at Cabrel. Please sit down" He said it with a smile
Just looking at him made Sophia's skin crawl. She was convinced that he was involved in the "suicide" of Wood and the death of the mystery person
Wesley also found him repulsive
"The only people that are that charming and complimentary have something to hide"
As Pearson went on and on about how impressed he was with the two and how valuable Enlighten was to him, Wesley seemed to capture a feeling of familiarity with Pearson.
"If I had seen him before I would have known. He'd be--"
"Don't you agree Mr. Wood?"
"Bullocks" Wesley thought one thing was best for him to do at the time.
"Yes of course"
He nodded and smiled
"This guy's good. I can't sense one feeling of evil or revenge, or plotting"
Sophia was annoyed at the fact that she couldn't pinpoint his emotions. She had tuned out Wesley's feelings of uncertainty and concentrated on Pearson. All she got was feelings of sexual lust for her.
"Great he's a pervert. Wow big shocker there"
Now that Sophia was disgusted and disturbed ,she was even more determined.
"I know he did something"
"Well now that you agree should we sign the contracts for the transfer of the company?"
"Shit, I need more time to read him" Sophia found only one way to keep him busy.
"Dimitri, I can't. I won't allow it" She said calmly
"What is it Ana? The transfer?" Wesley looked at her quizzically
"I need Mr. Pearson to persuade me further or I won't sign"
Sophia hit Wesley a 'go along with me' look.
"Well Ana, if Mr. Pearson wouldn't mind…"
"Ok Sophia go ahead" Wes let his partner go.
"I'd be much obliged" He shot her the sleazy 'I'm undressing you with my eyes' smile.
"Wesley you owe me an expensive dinner"
"Well Ms. Olivetti." He got out of his seat and walked towards her and leaned in.
"And a pretty shinny anything" She thought while she was fake smiling.
"I'm so sorry Sophia. Why is he so damn near her?" Wesley was immensely pissed at Pearson.
"We will keep you on the board for our electronics division. You will be able to make decisions when it comes to your former company."
He said "former" like a child who just stole candy from another and was taunting the poor innocent one.
"You will not be forgotten and will be kept informed. We'll just…take care of your baby"
That generated a feeling of hurt and fury.
"How dare he!" But this wasn't Sophia, this was Ana. She looked towards Wesley and stared in rage.
"How can he sit there and not kill Pearson for what he did to us? To Ekaterina?"
"Who is Ekaterina, Ana tell me" Sophia tried to reason with the lost memories in her mind. Unfortunately, she didn't get an answer from her.
"I'm sure. Mr. Pearson I'll need to consult with My associate…alone if we may?" She said with a false sparkle and warmth in her voice. She scared and nervous. She wanted to cry for this lost person, this lost soul that was so important to Anastasia.
"Of course. Please follow me to the conference room." His smirk irked her and caused Wesley to look at him in even more heinous hate. They both arose from their seats and started to walk out of the room. Wesley grabbed Sophia's arm gently, he squeezed it as to tell her it was ok to be worried.
She returned his gesture with a sweet smile and a mouthed 'thank you'.
They arrived at the conference room.
"You two consult here and come to the office when your ready. All righty?"
"Yech, please just leave before I kill you" Sophia wanted to violently harm him
"Thank You greatly" She held herself back.
"Thank You Mr. Pearson" Wesley wanted him gone, Sophia could feel.
Sophia turned off her radar to talk to Wesley. She didn't want to invade his private emotions.
Sophia quickly closed the door and ran to the windows.
Wesley took out a detector he had in his pocket. It was a small back device to search for bugs
"We're clear. We can talk freely." He turned to her and her eyes were watering
"Wesley---She tried to tell me. He killed--" She was out of breath from keeping calm in the office. It took all her strength to not collapse when Ana was speaking to her.
Wesley put his arms around her. A surge went through him. An unknown other life force. He mutedly yelped and returned to himself. Sophia cried out in helplessness while she trembled in Wesley's arms.
"It's all going to be ok Ana" Wesley looked at his "wife" lovingly
"Dimitri , they can't know we're married. They'll kill us and when they find out that--"
"They won't darling, I won't let them harm you."
"You know what we are. They know who we are. Oh Dimitri. I love you so much If you leave me. If they murder us" Sophia buried herself in Wesley's chest and sobbed. The tears never came, but the pain was real.
"Your mine Anastasia. Your both mine. I'll murder them in cold blood before they touch you"
Wesley pulled from her. His hand touched her cheek and landed on her chin. He raised it and pecked her lips. She fell in his arms and kissed him so softly at first. Baby kisses turned into passionate kisses.
"I love you" She breathed
Wesley picked her up and laid her on the conference table. He got on top of her and smiled. He caressed her neck with nibbles as she moaned in pleasure. She ran her finger through his hair and laced her fingers with his.
"I want you, let's start the--"
Before he could finish, Sophia had pushed herself into him as he groaned in delight.
Both sighed in ecstasy while they kissed.
"Only You" he whispered in her ear, she was about to take off his jacket when something in both of them screamed. A whisper that told them to stop.
"It isn't time yet. The destiny shall not be fulfilled until the last moon. Both blood needs to flow together"
They pulled apart and both fell to the floor.