Sophie . . I walked into the fifth artisan store. At 10 a.m., yet my body was weak and tired from moving about, hoping to find this piece. I had no idea why Mr. Beckham was so persistent about this particular item, and I wasn’t bold enough to tell him I couldn’t get it. I just can’t afford to look incompetent. "Excuse me," I said, showing the man behind the counter the design—a black wooden moon with curved lines carved in it. "Do you have anything like this?" He glanced at it briefly before shaking his head. "No, we don't." Disappointment pierced my heart. I asked, "Do you know any other store that might?" He sighed and shook his head again. "Sorry, I don't. This design isn’t a popular one." “Thank you.” I smiled and left the shop. Slipping into my car, my phone rang—it was Luca. “Hey,” I said immediately after I picked up, trying to brighten my voice. “How’s your search going?” Luca questioned. Exhaling heavily, I responded, “Not great.” I massaged my forehead. “They sai
Sophie . . My phone ringtone played an alarm, waking me up from the sweet arms of sleep. My hand blindly fumbled the bed for my phone, and when it found it, it brought it to my face. “Hey, Romi.” I yawned soon after picking up the call. “Mia has started again. She just set a meeting by 7:30,” she uttered, frustration pinching her voice. “What?” I jolted up. I glanced at my phone—7 a.m. “Why would she do that? And Mr.Beckham?” A little grunt escaped Romi. "Mr. Beckham doesn’t give a fuck what she does as long as she brings the fashion show to his hotel.” She added. “I’ll be on my way.” I ended the call and sprang up. A sudden wave of dizziness forced me back onto the bed. I shut my eyes and massaged my head for a few seconds before springing up and heading to the bathroom. Sitting here and dealing with morning sickness wouldn't help. I had fallen asleep in my clothes last night after getting home very late—probably around 11. I was so tired, I hadn't even bothered to change.
ALEX . . I popped the detoxifying pills into my mouth, gulped down water from the plastic bottle, and placed it back on my office desk before settling on the sofa across from Benjamin. “Still thinking about Sophie?” Benjamin asked. I snorted with a smile. “Is it that obvious?” It had been three days since she spent the night in our room, and I still couldn’t shake the memory. It was engraved in my mind. But I still couldn’t reach her, and that created a speck of uneasiness in my happiness. “I’m no savior, but,” Benjamin said, reaching into his suit pocket and drawing out a piece of paper, “I was able to get her new number.” He handed it over. My eyes glinted with joy as I leaned in and took the paper from him. “How did you get it?” “I’m not running a cybersecurity company for nothing,” he replied. I dialed the number, and my heart rate hiked as it began to ring. When she didn’t pick up, I decided to send her a message. Unlike the other number I had, the tick doubled. With
Sophie . . The sun had begun its descent, its orange hue casting shades on the art pieces in the studio through the big windows. After work, I decided to focus on a personal project.but took a break because I was tired. I brought out a medium-sized pack of chips and began to munch on it. I was advised to stay away from junk food, but with my strong cravings, I just couldn’t resist it. The door opened, and as I turned, my eyes fell on Alex. His tall frame walked in, clad in army green short-sleeve knitwear and black trousers. His presence filled the room with a warmth that always made my heart flutter. Hiding my admiration beneath a frown, I dropped the pack of chips and rose to my feet. “What are you doing here?” He dipped his hands in his pockets and began to pace around the studio. He picked up a small white ceramic vase from the top of the cabinet, close to the windows. “Do you remember this vase?” I rolled my eyes at his question. He obviously knew that I remembered the v
Sophie . . In one corner of my room, I sat, the light of the laptop illuminating my face as I worked on it, making a few changes in some designs as requested by Mr. Beckham. Alex’s words suddenly broke into my mind. "I'll never forget you, Sophie. You're stuck with me." They brought both a pang of bittersweet nostalgia and a sharp twist of confusion to my heart. I sighed. Why was he so stubborn? Why couldn’t he just let me be? A knock on the door captured my attention. “Ms. Sophie, are you ready to eat now?” Paula, Luca’s chef, questioned from the other side of the door. “No, thank you,” I replied, although my stomach protested a little. Luca had notified me he would be late, advising me to eat without him, but the tightness in my chest had swallowed any appetite I could have. Rising to my feet, I headed to bed with my phone clutched in my hand. After Alex had left me this evening, I thought that would be it. I was surprised to still get a message from him checking up on m
Alex . . In my office, I sat with my eyes fixed on my phone screen. Two days had passed, and the tick hadn’t doubled—let alone turned blue. I had attempted to call, but the call wasn’t going through. “Do you think she has a new number?” I questioned, my gaze shifting back to Benjamin. “If she did, I can get it,” Benjamin reassured, casually toying with the strands of his beard. "Now, can we concentrate?” He quickly added. I dropped my phone on the table between me and Benjamin. Benjamin had been occupied with work, so we hadn’t had a chance to meet, and some conversations are just better had in person. I recounted my confrontation with Mia to him. Benjamin nodded his head attentively. “So she reacted but denied it,” he reiterated. “Now the question is, why?” I spread on the sofa. “I can’t just seem to wrap my head around it.” With a quick motion, I swirled my fingers in the air. Confronting her would do no good; she would also deny it. I pinched my nasal bridge as
Sophie . . The meeting had been going on for probably two hours. My concentration faltered as a nauseous feeling brewed in my stomach—the dizziness that constantly struck me. Romi leaned in. “Are you okay?” She whispered. “You look sick,” she stated. “I am alright; I just didn’t get enough sleep,” I responded. Although I had had more than ten hours of sleep, I still couldn’t help but feel tired. “What did you do that kept you up all night on a Monday night?” Romi whispered her question. “Were you being naughty with Alex?” She teased. My heart skipped. I hadn’t told her about the divorce or anything. While Romi was away, she was dealing with her own issues, and I didn’t want to bother her. Mr. Beckham cleared his throat, drawing our attention back to the projection screen. We adjusted and leaned back. Mia’s strong cologne entered the office, intensifying my nausea. Mr. Beckham narrowed his eyes. “You are late.” With a gentle voice, she responded, “I’m so sorry
ALEX . . As I settled in next to her, a frown walked up onto her face. “What are you doing here?” Romi shot me a nasty stare, but that didn’t bother me. I was more focused on why I hadn't been able to reach Sophie. “I think I’ll give you guys some space,” Romi stated, rising to her feet and moving to another table. “I thought I told you to leave me alone.” Sophie narrowed her eyes and folded her arms. “And I never agreed to that,” I shot back, raising my brows. “And I’m only here because you changed your line,” I added, my gaze locked onto hers. “How many lines are you going to change because of me?” “I didn’t change it. I just blocked you,” Sophie remarked. She picked up her buffalo wing and took a bite out of it. I froze at her words. But I became distracted; my gaze lingered on her as she ate. I loved the way her eyes lightened up when she savored anything delicious. It was one of her favorite dishes. There was a nice spot in Brooklyn that made the best one, and I always
Sophie..The sun hung in the sky as the trees and canopy filtered its sun rays. The chatter of the guests finally ceased as the orchestra began to play, and I walked down the aisle. My pristine white gown glowed as much as the smile on my face. My eyes were fixed on Alex, who stood beneath the arbour decorated with white and yellow lilies.My steps were in harmony with the music, and a flower was caught between my hands. It was a small wedding, as I didn’t want anything big. Since we never divorced, I didn’t really need anything big. Previously Alex and I had only done a secret court wedding, but now he said he wanted the world to know I was his and he was mine. The warmth in my chest intensified as I drew closer to the arbor. The eyes of the guest were staring at me in awe. Getting to the Arbour, Alex turned, and we both faced the officiant. Our gazes were locked on each other, and a smile teased our lips as those beautiful vows rolled off our tongues. Each beautiful word stir
Sophie ..Alex and I sauntered through the hallways of the museum, checking out the artwork. From the little time I had spent with him, he wasn’t really into paintings, but he was into craftwork. “Do you want to see something more beautiful?” Alex turned to me. Curiosity arched my brows. A beautiful smile burnt on his lips as he stretched out his hand. “Trust me.” Without hesitating, I slid my fingers into his, and he led me out of the museum into a beautiful garden. The scent of flowers traced the air. The cool breeze wrapped us as we moved deeper into the garden.“I never expected a garden to be here,” I said, my hand still caught in his. His teasing warmth sank through my palm. Without turning back, he said, “I found out the third time we came here.”I swung my gaze to him, and it fell on his broad back that looked alluring beneath the suit. “We’ve been here before?” I questioned. “Yes.” I resisted the urge to smack my head. All those beautiful memories are lost in the ab
Sophie..Two weeks had slipped by after Liam’s surgery, but he was still at the hospital for monitoring. I had returned to my hotel room.Locking the door, I sank to the floor. My muscles were weak from all the nights I had pulled. My heart was heavy as the doctor said Liam was healing slowly—much slower than usual.I couldn’t wait for my boy to be well, so he ran around and asked for ice cream. To return to school and play with his friends. An ache shot through me anytime I remembered his voice and how lively they were. After a while of consoling myself, I rose to my feet and headed towards the shower. Turning the shower on, the hot water poured down. The heat enveloped my skin, offering a sense of relief as it loosened my muscles. The vanilla scent of my shampoo filled the bathroom and steam fogged the glass partitions of the bathroom.After the shower, I wrapped my towel around my body and strode out of the bathroom. Alex’s words echoed in my head, haunting my mind. My lips pre
Alex ..My eyes fluttered open, and a sharp throb coursed through my head, inciting a wince from my throat. A deep ache swathed my lower back and pelvis region. “Alex.” My mother leaned in and cradled my face. “How are you feeling? Can you tell your legs?” Her hands hovered around me as she checked me.“I’m fine. How’s Liam? My voice came out coarse. I attempted to lift my body up, but it was unresponsive, like my nerves had been disconnected from my brain.My mother sprang up and placed her hands on my shoulders; she pushed me back into the bed. “You need to rest. I doubt your legs are working.”“What?” My eyes bulged at our as I craned my neck, her hands still pinning me down by my shoulders. My mother’s lips curled upward. “Because of the anaesthesia and soreness. It might be hard for you to walk for some time.” letting me go, she dropped back into her seat. “Liam and Sophie?” I pressed “Liam is fine. The surgery was successful, and Sophie is by her son’s side.”A soft smile
Sophie . . The drive from his office to his hospital was heavy with silence, and awkward glances. It was very obvious Alex was having a hard time digesting the news. Shock was boldly written on his face like a billboard. I still remember how his eyes widened and his mouth gaped. My cheeks turned red as embarrassment crept in. Alex parked the car in the car park of the hospital. We both stepped out and scurried towards the Doctor’s office. After He explained everything to Alex, Alex was led to the laboratory to run the compatibility test. I sank onto the long seat in the hallways outside the laboratory room. I buried my head into my bed palms and another wave of tears began to well up again. I was so confused and I had no idea what to do. Should I return to Liam or should I wait here till the result comes out? Sitting here wouldn’t change the outcome of the result. I rose to my feet and trudged down the hallway. With three turns to the left and a turn to the right, I a
Sophie ..My eyes widened, and I inched back, like I was trying to create space between me and the news. “What do you mean you’re not his father?” My voice quivered before darkening. “It’s Liam, we are talking about. Our son, not some random kid.” My heart thundered against my chest, shooting panic into me and filling my veins with dread. What the hell was he saying?”“This is not the time for pranks, Luca,” I said, my brain refusing to accept those words he just spat out. “Our son’s life is at stake here.” My voice rose.Luca sagged deeper into the wall, and his hands tightened by his side. But no word left his lips; not even a breath left his lips.My eyes fell to the floor as his words started to sink in. This wasn't a game. This was real. Luca wasn’t the father of Liam. My gaze swung to him. “If you are not the father, then who is?” The words burnt my tongue, and a raw shot through my chest.Luca’s lips tightened and his eyes rounded. But he stood still. Silence stretched betwe
Sophie..I drew a little breath as I placed the thermometer on his forehead. It beeped as it read forty degrees Celsius. “His temperature hasn’t dropped." Luca questioned, leaning on the doorframe of Liam’s room. I shook my head. “I have given him his medications, and I have done everything the doctor said. He doesn’t seem to get anything better.” I turned back on the wooden chair to face Luca. My brows lowered and my lips curled downward. “Or is it because of the big bowl of ice cream?” Luca chuckled lightly and he moved closer. He placed his left hand on the backrest of the chair, while his right hand tucked my hair behind my ears. “It’s been over a month. There’s no way an ice cream can make someone sick for that long.” I returned my gaze to Liam. “The doctor said if his fever doesn’t get better by tomorrow, We would have to take him for more checkups.” I exhaled. Luca’s eyes hovered over my features—my puffy eyes and droopy eyelids, the black circles. “Try and get some rest
Alex . . The darkness wrapped its blanket across the sky, and the lights of the city were glowing. The breeze whispered its cool tune into the atmosphere. Stepping into the five-star restaurant, one of the waiters led me to the private dining room. Soon I stood before the door. I arranged the collars of my black dress shirt. I adjusted the bouquet of red roses. My chest tightened as it had been a long while since I went on a date with a lady. Heaving in a puff, I stepped into the private dining room. My gaze settled on the dining setup positioned beneath the geometric chandelier. The yellow light bouncing off the white walls adorned with some art pictures, I didn't appreciate. “Should I get you a bottle of red wine as you await your date?” The waiter asked. “Yes, thank you,” I responded. The waiter turned around and closed the door behind him while I strode and settled in the beige upholstered seat close to the expansive windows that gave a view of the city from a h
Alex . . It’s been a week, and I was back in Manhattan. Back in the house that crumpled my happiness and made my future so bleak. Despite the quietness that filled every corner of the house except the kitchen, the aroma of my favourite dish that lined the air, and the nagging of Uncle Niall from the other end of the phone, the only thing I could think of was not getting a chance to hang out with Sophie again. Myles had returned to Manhattan three days earlier, and there went my perfect excuse for hanging out thrown into the mud. “You need to spend more time with your mother. She isn’t getting any younger.” Uncle Niall’s chide continued as I ascended the stairs. I didn’t know what all the yapping was about, but his nagging about spending time with my mother had started getting on my nerves. Running the company wasn’t a child’s play. Mr. Watson’s nephew was a puppet, only good for shows. I was still running the operations in Manhattan and Amsterdam. The building in San Fra