Sofia woke up with a loud shriek.  Mrs. Clarke was immediately by her side. Mrs. Clarke lived in the room adjacent to her room. Jeremy came running into her room. He was awake working on some new partnership deal. Bella was sleeping soundly.

"Princess, what happened?" He asked as he sat beside her and enveloped her in his arms. Sofia kept crying and crying. Jeremy smoothed her hair and drew circles on her arm which he knew always worked on her whenever she had trouble sleeping at nights.

"Okay. Now stop crying and tell me. What is not letting my princess sleep?" He asked her as he wiped her tears.

"Tim....he is coming after me. He was scaring me today in the library. Simon saved me. Help me, dad." She said as she started sobbing again. He asked Mrs. Clarke to bring her a glass of water. Sofia calmed down a bit after drinking water.

"Okay. You don't worry. I will talk to your principal tomorrow. Okay? Now sleep like my good girl. " He said as he tucked her into bed and pulled her comforter up.

"Dad, can you sleep with me? I'm afraid. Please?" She pleaded. Jeremy didn't have the courage in him to leave his princess in such a bad state. So he got under the covers and held her until she fell asleep. Then he quietly slipped out of her room.

The next morning, Jeremy came to Sofia's room all dressed up for work. He woke her up as he kissed her forehead.
"Rise and shine princess!" He said as he pulled the curtains apart letting the bright sunshine inside the room.

"Good morning, father." She said as she threw the comforter away and stood up on the bed.

"How are you feeling now?" Jeremy asked as he hugged his princess who was now standing on her bed and considerably taller than him.

"Oh look, my princess has grown taller than me," Jeremy said as he hugged her and tickled her lightly. She squealed and giggled. It was the best sound to start his day. He wished he had fewer responsibilities so that he could spend more time with his daughter.

"I'm fine, father." She said as she kissed his cheek. His phone rang. He fished his phone out of his pocket and frowned to see his secretary calling.

"Get ready princess. I'll take you to school today. "He said as he took her off the bed and set her down. Then answered his phone as he left her room talking to his stupid secretary.

Mrs. Clarke set breakfast on the table. After breakfast, Jeremy went to drop Sofia off to school. He went to the principal's office to talk to him about the incident in the library.

"Good morning, Mr. Taylor. I was just informed that you wanted to see me. Please take a seat." She said as she welcomed him rather too sweetly for her looks. The principal Mrs. Woodson was a woman with a sharp look on her face and Jeremy didn't quite like her.

"Mrs. Woodson, I don't have time to waste. I will cut it short. My daughter was harassed by a boy named Tim in the library. I am a trustee of this school which means that if I take my daughter out of this school, I won't give a penny to this institution. I want you to take strict action against students who act like this. This is my daughter's safety I'm talking about. I don't want anyone to bully her. No child deserves to be bullied. I won't tolerate ignorance or you know the consequences.The only reason why I'm not handling this matter myself is that it's my daughter's wish." He stated his point in a business-like tone.

"Yes, Mr. Taylor. I got your point. I assure you that Miss Taylor will be safe." She said with a forced smile. The woman was shocked to the core as to how he stated his point.

"Good. I expect immediate action. Have a nice day. Bye." He said as he got up shook her hand and left for his workplace.

It was lunch. Simon was sitting on a bench under the shade of a large tree eating his lunch. Sofia spotted him and went to him.

"Hi. How are you,  Simon? I was looking for you. Where were you?" She asked as she sat beside him.

"Hi, Sofia. I'm fine. Thank you. Why were you looking for me? " He asked her.

"Because I have something for you!" Sofia said excitedly.

"What is it?" He asked as his eyes went to the cookie tin in her hand.

"Cookies for you!" She said with a smile and extended the box towards him.

"No Sofia. I'm sorry I cannot take it." He said. Sofia's smile disappeared.

"Why? Don't you like them?" She asked.

"I'm not allowed to take gifts from anyone except the people I know. Please don't be sad." He said.

"We are friends. You know me but not too well. It's okay. Just take one. My nanny made these cookies for me but I want to share them with you because you're my friend and sharing is caring." She said as she opened the lid of the box.

"Okay let's taste." He flashed her a grin as he picked a cookie and started nibbling. Sofia did the same.

"It's yummy, right?" She asked.

"Yes, it is. Can I have one more?" He asked her.

"All are yours. You can go home with me today, Simon. I can drop you." She said as she gave him the box.

"Um... okay." He said.

"Great! I'll wait for you here after school." She said as the bell rang to mark the lunch break's end. The children hurried off to classrooms.

After school, Sofia dropped Simon home. She was amazed to see how small and beautiful his house was. She met his mother and his siblings. Simon had a brother and sister. Both of them were twins. Sofia liked them. His mother invited her to come over for lunch on the weekend. Sofia agreed.

She went home and surprisingly, she saw her parents sitting in the garden under the shade talking something serious but their faces changed as they saw her.

"Mum! You're home!" Sofia exclaimed as she hugged her mother's waist. Her mother nodded and told her to change her clothes.

"How was your day, princess?" Jeremy asked as they had snacks.
"It was good, father. I gave Simon some cookies today. Then I dropped him to his house because he walks every day. I met his family also. They're very sweet." She said.

"Mum, can I go to spend the day at his house on the weekend? His mother invited me. He has a brother and a sister and they're twins!" She said as her mother kept processing her words.

"Can I also go with you? I can meet his mother." Bella asked.

"Yes, mum! I love you!" Sofia said as she came round the table and hugged her mother tightly.

"Ughh... Sofia Taylor! How many times have I told you not to hug me like that? Darling, it ruins my clothes." Her mother said irritated.

"Its okay Belle. Let it go."Jeremy calmed her down as he sensed things getting heated up. Sofia slumped her shoulders and ran off to her room.

"Belle, why do you always have to do that?"Jeremy asked. He loved calling her Belle. Firstly, because she was his love, the queen of his heart and secondly, she was the mother of his princess.

"I'm sorry, honey. I just got dressed and she always ruins my dresses. You know I have to attend a meeting. Now I'll have to change. I hope this boy is not one of her bad choices of friends. " She said as she stood up and went to her room leaving Jeremy alone.

The week passed by. Saturday came. Sofia woke up excited about her visit to Simon's house. They were getting along quite well in school. Jeremy drove Sofia and Bella to Simon's house. As soon as they reached the place, Bella made a displeasing face.

"I had a feeling it was going to be something like this." She muttered. Jeremy looked at her and held her hand.

"It's okay, Belle. We'll leave as soon as we look around the place. "He said reassuring her with a smile.

"Hey, Sofia! "Simon's sister, Hazel came running out the door as she saw her in their driveway.

"Hi, Hazel." Sofia greeted her as she hugged her back.

 "Hello, sir. Hello ma'am. "Hazel greeted them.

"Hello, Hazel." Bella and Jeremy greeted back.

"Where's your mother, Hazel?" Bella asked.

"Oh.. hello. Welcome. Please come inside. You must be Sofia's parents." Said Simon's mother as she ushered them inside. Bella looked around the place. Everything around was so ordinary probably old. Bella made a sour face but quickly straightened it as she sat on the sofa.

"My name is Camilla Evans. I'm Simon's mother. Would you like to have something? Tea or coffee perhaps." She asked.

"No, thank you, Mrs. Evans," Bella answered.

"I am Jeremy Taylor and this is my wife, Bella Taylor." He said introducing themselves.

"What does your husband do?" Jeremy asked.

"My husband works in a clothing factory. He works there as an assistant to the manager." Camilla replied as she sat straight crossing her legs at the ankles. Bella eyed her up and down. Camilla was a beauty hidden behind simple clothes.

"Where do you work?" Bella asked Camilla.

"I used to work in a library but I stopped after my kids were born. They need my attention. If I work I won't be able to give them proper attention." She replied with a sweet smile. Bella felt something. Maybe it was envy that Camilla got more time to spend with her kids then Bella ever had with her daughter. Her body tensed up. Jeremy sensed the change in her posture and looked at his watch.

"I'm afraid Mrs Evans but we must go now. We're getting late. Sofia's bodyguard will come to pick her up. This is my card. Give me a call when the kids are done playing." Jeremy said extending his card towards her.

"It was so nice to meet you, Mrs. Evans. We're now satisfied that our daughter is safe with you." Jeremy said as he shook Camilla's hand and gave her a smile.

The Taylors never met Evans after that. The children became friends with each other. Even though Bella didn't like for her daughter to be friends with so ordinary people but she had to keep a smiling face for her daughter.

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