Beautiful Pain (5 page)

“
You don’t stop, do you?” he asked, arching his eyebrow. “I want to know why you are so far away from home.”

“
Harry, my patience is going to run out soon, so please let’s just try to communicate here. I am not Susan, but I can try to help you. However, you need to start working with me here ...”

“
Please skip this sentimental crap. I don’t need your help, I just need to come here every week, do my community service, and then I will be off on my way. I don’t do drugs and I hardly ever drink. I will find a job, whatever it may be, and I will sort out my other problems.”

Sophia was just about to tell him what she really thought about him when Susan barged back to the office, looking flushed and out of breath.

“
So, how we are doing?”

“
Great, I was just going through employment questions with Harry,” Sophia said quickly, moving away so Susan could sit.

“
That’s fantastic! Let me print you another appointment, Harry. It will be next week, Thursday at two o’clock with Sophia. Just bring her five vacancies that you have applied for, other than that stay out of trouble,” Susan said firmly, obviously ending the review. Sophia was surprised because she didn’t expect her to wrap this meeting up so quickly. Besides she was just about to tell Harry that he needed to change the way he was speaking to her. Harry nodded, glanced at Sophia looking irritated, and walked away. Sophia started breathing again once she was sure that he out of the office.

“
So, how did you find that?” asked Susan taking a sip of water.

“
Fine, but he doesn’t seem to like me.”

“
Oh don’t worry, he was just marking his territory. Harry is a decent bloke, but his family hasn’t got a good reputation. He has two brothers and they are all in prison. Now let me show you how to complete a report.”

Sophia thought about what Susan had said. Harry presumably wasn’t ready for work. Was he really only playing the system? Or was he telling her the truth? She wasn’t sure what to make of him yet apart from the fact that he wasn’t going to be easy to work with and he acted like an arrogant arse. She was pretending that she understood when Susan was going through the internal systems, but she couldn’t concentrate. She didn’t know why, but there was something about Harry that made her uneasy and tense. He was definitely older than her and he seemed overconfident. Sophia knew that she was still young and for some of her offenders it would be difficult to accept that, but she was ready to show everyone that she wasn’t weak.

The rest of the day passed without surprises. By the time she had to go home, she had learnt everyone’s names. For the next few days she was going to continue to shadow Susan, then next week she was supposed to be ready to go through reviews with her own clients. She was happy with this arrangement.

When the clock struck five, Susan said that it was time to go home. Sophia exhaled with relief. After seeing the last offender Susan briefed Sophia how to complete reports. Sophia wasn’t taking much in today. She believed that Harry corrupted her memories and she couldn’t concentrate. Maybe because he challenged her so much. He definitely made an impression on her, but she couldn’t fool herself, he was trying to work out how far he could push her.

“
Have a good evening and remember to take it easy later,” said Susan when Sophia was leaving. Her day went better than she expected, although the encounter with Harry O’Donaghue was still on her mind.

After fifteen minutes she was home. The apartment was empty, and when Sophia checked her phone she noticed a text message from Vanessa.

I had to leave early. The boss called because it was really busy for a Monday night. The address is below. Come and I will make you one of my best cocktails!

Sophia thought about Vanessa’s proposition for a moment. Back in London she never used to go out. She didn’t have any friends, and Ramona was often busy with her own business, plus she had her own circle of friends.

I need to be at work tomorrow. I think I will skip it tonight.

After ten minutes Vanessa texted her back.

Get your ass to 24 Charles Street by eight o’clock. You can have one drink and I am not taking any shitty excuses.

Sophia thought that she might as well enjoy herself on her first day, one cheeky cocktail wouldn’t harm her. She glanced at her phone, thinking about calling her mum, but she changed her mind instantly. She didn’t want to spoil her day.

She watched TV until six o’clock and then she had a quick shower. After loosening up her hair she put make up on. She unpacked her best top and jeans and left the apartment just before seven. The streets in the centre of Belfast were much quieter than London and the air carried a light musky scent. Not many people were out in the evening but she didn’t mind.

She used her Google maps to find the bar where Vanessa worked. It was a good half an hour walk before she finally found it. It was small, quirky, and stylish, and she felt good about tonight.

Vanessa was just pouring a pint, and when she noticed Sophia she smiled. There were a few Irish men who noticed her by the entrance. One of the broad guys poked his friend in the ribs, pointing at Sophia. She ignored them and walked straight to the bar to find Vanessa.

“
I am a bit early,” she said, glancing around. “I thought that you were busy.”

“
Well, I was up to an hour ago, but the crowd died down a little. Now I can ask you about your first day at work!”

Sophia sat down behind the bar. A group of men that were sitting on the table by the window were staring at her with obvious interest. She felt tense, like she wanted to hide somewhere that no one could see her.

“
It was interesting. I was introduced to a few offenders. Everyone seems friendly, the work will be intense,” explained Sophia. Vanessa put her hands on her hips and arched her eyebrow.

“
Offenders, hun? I really don’t understand how you can even enjoy talking to them. Have you thought about what would happen if any of them attacked you?”

Sophia grinned.

“
There are buzzers under the desks so they wouldn’t get away with anything. I don’t know, I like helping people. I understand what they are going through.”

“
What about the others that are working with you? Are there any hot Irish men there?” asked Vanessa, smiling.

“
Love, can I have a pint of Strongbow?” shouted someone from the other side of the bar. Vanessa sighed and rolled her eyes.

“
I will be back in a minute. Stay here.”

Chapter Five

“
So where were we?” asked Vanessa after serving a beer to a large Irish man. “Oh yes, I was asking about cute guys at work.”

“
Everyone at the office is much older than me, plus I don’t mix pleasure with work. I don’t want to complicate anything.”

Her friend laughed and passed Sophia the drinks menu.

“
That’s too bad, but don’t worry we will find you a romantic date in no time.”

“
I am not—”

“
Shut up and choose your cocktail, you need to relax a little,” Vanessa interrupted her.

“
Seriously, Vanessa, I don’t want to get involved with anyone at the moment,” muttered Sophia, but Vanessa wasn’t listening anymore. She’d run to another customer who approached the bar. Sophia sighed and looked through the list of drinks. The bar was getting busy and soon Vanessa was too preoccupied with work to focus on Sophia.

“
Here you go, darling,” said another bartender, placing a funky cocktail in front of her.

“
I didn’t order that.”

“
Your friend asked me to prepare one for you. She said that you have to loosen up a little,” smiled the short bartender before disappearing to serve others. Sophia smiled to Vanessa who only sent her a quick wink.

Sophia sat back and tasted the drink. It was delicious, so she decided to enjoy herself today. After a long moment Vanessa shot Sophia an apologetic look, pointing at the queue that had started to mount up at the bar. Sophia waved her hand telling her not to worry about her, she was happy to observe people around her. She couldn’t understand why she never wanted to go out with Ramona. Since she finished the therapy she felt much stronger and she was ready to take the next step. During that night she decided that she was going to stop dwelling on the past. No one was watching her here, so she didn’t have to worry if she was going to be seen by anyone that she knew.

“
Can I buy you a drink?” asked a voice behind her. She turned around, staring at a dark haired man in his mid-twenties.

“
I am fine, thank you,” she replied. She was sure that he wasn’t Irish, but it didn’t matter because she didn’t need company for tonight. The man in front of her had a narrow nose and bright amber eyes. Sophia thought that he was attractively dressed in a white shirt and jeans. He looked disappointed when Sophia declined his offer.

“
I promise I am not a stalker. You have been sitting here for a while alone, so I thought I would be useful and give you some company,” he sang, smiling lightly. Sophia thought that he had good manners and he was definitely handsome. She glanced back at Vanessa, who looked busy chatting to the customers. It was still early and Sophia didn’t want to go home yet.

“
You can if you wish, but I am very boring. I don’t know anyone here.”

He ran his hand through his hair and took a seat next to Sophia.

“
You can’t be more boring than me. I have been here a couple of months, but I still haven’t made any friends. My name is Mason,” he introduced himself.

“
I am Sophia.”

“
So what are you drinking, Sophia? I am sure that you can’t be sticking to this one cocktail that you’ve nearly finished,” he chuckled and waved towards the other barman. Vanessa winked at Sophia from the other side of the bar seeing that she had company.

“
I am working tomorrow and it was my first day today so I have to stick to one. I really need to keep this job,” she said.

“
So what do you do if you don’t mind me asking? I am not a stalker at all, I am just curious to know why a beautiful girl like you decided to move to this miserable city.”

Sophia thought that Mason was charming. She liked the smell of his cologne and she didn’t see any harm in telling him more about herself. After all, she was only having a quiet drink at the bar.

“
I am a student and I am doing my diploma in Probation Practice, so when this short contract came up I decided to take it.”

He raised his eyebrow, looking surprised.

“
Probation? So you are working with prison leavers?”

“
Yes I am. As I said, today was my first day.”

“
This sounds much more interesting than what I do,” he muttered.

“
And what is that?”

“
I am a business analyst. I look at numbers all day, so there is nothing exciting about that,” he chuckled and took a generous sip of his beer. Sophia grinned and agreed to have another drink; she felt good and she didn’t want to worry about tomorrow.