Sophie . . The archery range was tucked away in the serene corner of Manhattan. American elm trees encircled the area. Their leaves rustled in the cool breeze that eased off the warmth of the sun. The wooden targets stood on the ground carpeted with striking green grasses. “Is this tight enough?” Luca adjusted the straps of the black guard before tightening the fasteners. I nodded. My heart thudded in my chest as I rocked on my feet. The excitement slowly burning off the anger. I haven’t seen a bow or arrow, let alone shot one. Alex was always busy with work, so we barely did stuff like this. Luca chuckled at my excitement as he handed me a black metallic bow. My fingers ran across its smooth surface before I gripped it. “Let’s start with your stance.” His voice was airy and soothing as he moved behind me. “Stand with your feet shoulder-apart.” He used his legs to guide mine as they glided on the grass. “Your toes should be pointing outward.” “Mmhmm.” I did exactly as I
Alex . . Every movement, every turn, shot pain through me. My body was still sore from yesterday’s exercise. It would have been justified if I actually did much—but I didn't. The black ink on the paper before me faded into a blur. I shook my head, shaking off the tiredness that blindfolded me, and the writings became vivid. I trailed the paper with my pen, reading word for word, yet it was hard to focus. A minute had passed by, and I was still stuck on a sentence. I dropped the pen and rubbed my face with a palm. My phone buzzed, and I picked it up. “Have you asked your secretary?” Benjamin asked “About the file, Been busy. I even forgot about it.” I spun the pen between my fingers. “You forgot, that’s new,” Benjamin remarked. For some reason, his words pricked at me, and a frown formed on my face. “What do you mean? I’m not allowed to forget things,” I said with a clipped tone. “Someone woke up on the wrong side of the bed this morning.” Benjamin chuckled, and
Alex..52..I didn't want to be here. I could be anywhere but not in his office, staring at his cunny smile, devious intents painting his eyes. But curiosity had pulled me; the quest for answers had lured me. So here I was, drumming my fingers against my crossed leg, my back against the black office visitor chair.“This is the first time in years you are stepping into my office.” The cunny smile still dominated Mr. Watson’s lips as he leaned in, his hands crossed on the desk.“I have never had a reason to be here.” I wiggled a brow as I leaned further into the chair, shifting and adjusting, yet it offered no comfort.He chuckled longer than one should last. “You and I know you have had plenty of reasons to be here; you just rather send people.” His tone conveyed there was a hidden meaning in his words.My mind couldn’t help but race to search for that meaning. “What did you have that was so important that you had to pull me here?” Drawing a long breath, he rose to his feet. He st
Sophie ..The morning was cold, but it couldn’t compete with the chillness in Alex’s tone. “So let me get this straight. You are saying Sophie is accusing Timmy of stealing her design.” Alex’s eyes jumped between Mrs. Moore and Timmy. He turned to me. “Why didn’t you tell me about this?” Warmth broke into his tone.I sat without uttering a word, leaving silence to swallow the meeting room, not because I was terrified but because I was struggling with my pregnancy symptoms. Each time I opened my mouth, the nausea threatened to escape. Each inhale infused me with more fatigue. Mrs. Moore scoffed and leaned back into the chair. “I don’t care whether you get it straight or not, but it is what it is. I was disappointed too. Since you spoke so highly of her. Like she was special.”Alex cut her off. “Let Sophie speak first.” He glared at Mrs. Moore. He turned back to me. “Explain what happened to me.” His tone was like a chameleon—cold to Mrs. Moore and warm to me.Mrs. Moore glowered, an
Alex ..She was not okay, and she was hiding it from me. My eyes roamed over her face. Her eyes were weak, and her tongue ran over dry lips, moisturizing them. It distracted me for a second.“You don’t look good.” I pressed.Sophie’s hands flew to her mouth, and her eyes widened for a fleeting moment. “I am just stressed and tired.” She averted her gaze to the floor. I arched my brows. I had lived with her for three years, and I had never seen her this tired. I had noticed how she’d look alive, full of energy one day, the next day like the life had been drained out of her. Sophie tended to overwork herself, but her work was her fuel; no matter how tired she was or how heavy her eyes were, they would still have life in them. I couldn’t think of only one thing; it was that bloody man. A soft frown was carved on my face, and I gripped her hand.“Alex, I am fine. I am just tired.” The rhythm of her speech was even, and she drew out my name.Although there was a hint of annoyance in he
Sophie..I stared at my face in the mirror; it did look pale, no wonder Alex said all those two days ago. I tilted my face, wondering if I needed to add more makeup.A knock on the door came, and I snapped towards it. “Palma?” “It’s Luca.” His deep voice came from the other side of the door.Opening the door, my eyes fell on Luca, dressed in black silky pajamas. Two buttons down, exposing a sliver of his broad chest.“Good morning.” A soft smile pulled the corner of his lips.“Good morning,” I responded, my fingers playing with the flare of my red skirt.Luca grazed my face with the back of his fingers. “Are you feeling alright?” His tone was low but tight.His touch felt like a gentle breeze brushing against my skin. "Yeah, I am.”Withdrawing his hand from my face, he dipped it in his pocket. “I want to ask you something.”“Okay.”“There’s a dinner party tonight, and I would love it if you could accompany me.” A soft pull tightened my chest as I recalled what happened at the last
Alex..Sophie’s eyes darkened, yet they still outshined the stars hung in the dark sky. My heart hammered as I awaited her response.She pulled away. “I can’t.” She walked out, disappearing into the building, taking my heart along with her.I stood still, the cold air filling my lungs with its chill—if only it could cool off the pain.Benjamin patted me on the shoulders. “Let’s go inside.”I puffed out and walked back into the building. Arriving at the auction hall, Benjamin checked in. After providing his credit card details. He was given a paddle with the number fifty on it. The registration staff turned to me. "Please, sir, your credit card.”Benjamin chipped in. “He’s not participating in the auction, but he has a reserved seat.” “You must be Mr. Dawson.” The registration staff cleared his throat. I flashed a forced smile at him before strutting towards the rows of seats. My eyes darted around the hall, searching for Sophie. The muted conversation faded into the background
Sophie..I remembered the medications on his table when he called in sick, and that’s how I found myself bouncing my foot on the floor of the cab, the thud muffled by the car mat. Once I arrived outside of the bar, I pulled out some cash and handed it to the taxi driver before stepping out. I pulled my beige coat tighter around myself as the breeze wrapped me, squeezing chills into my body.Stepping into the bar, I scanned around. My eyes fell on Alex, sitting in the dimly lit corner of the bar. His appearance was disheveled but undeniably compelling. His hair fell over his head, brushing against his brooding eyes. His shirt, once neat, now opened at the collar, his tie hanging loose. His sleeves rolled up, his long fingers holding a glass of alcohol. He looked good for a dying man.I settled in the seat next to him. “What’s the meaning of the text?” A wide grin—a beautiful one—crawled up his lips. He swirled the glass before taking a gulp. Seeing him in this state was surprisin