Sophia sat on her couch, scrolling through her phone absentmindedly when she noticed the notification she had missed earlier. A message from Robert, timestamped at about 5 PM. Her heart did a little flip, she was not sure if it was out of excitement or more out of curiosity. She clicked on it, and the words blinked back at her.
“Got to work to make up for the time I’ll be spending on a blind date tonight, yh a blind date momma arranged . Can’t call back as promised, but we’ll talk as soon as I’m done. Talk later.” And, of course, a purple heart to end it. Sophia raised an eyebrow, letting out a soft, cynical laugh. A blind date, huh? She shook her head and placed the phone down on the armrest. She wasn’t even sure why she was slightly amused, or why she expected anything different. Typical Robert, she thought. Always busy, always juggling a million things at once. That millionaire playboy aura was something he wore like a badge of honor, and it didn’t surprise her in the least that he had somehow managed to squeeze in a blind date arranged by his mother of all people. The man was probably juggling more things than he let on—business deals, meetings, and now, apparently, high-class matchmaking. Her mind wandered, picturing Robert getting ready for the date. She could imagine him standing in front of a mirror, adjusting his suit and tie, exuding that polished, effortlessly cool persona that everyone seemed to fall for. It wasn’t hard to picture him walking into some upscale restaurant, flashing that charming smile that could disarm anyone. He had that whole package down to a science—smooth, confident, and always in control. But the thought of him going on a blind date arranged by his mother? That part made her laugh. Who even still does that? It sounded like something out of an old-fashioned romance novel. She bet his mom had probably picked out some high-class girl for him, one of those daughters of her rich socialite friends. Perfectly groomed, perfectly poised, perfectly boring. Sophia let her head fall back against the couch, sighing. And let’s be real. If things went well tonight, Robert probably wouldn’t be calling back at all. She doubted he’d even think about it. If this girl was what his mom wanted for him, she wouldn’t be surprised if they ended up fucking their heads out by the end of the night. And Robert? He wouldn’t exactly stop her. She bit her lip, eyes narrowing as she stared at the ceiling. The thought irritated her more than she wanted to admit. Why the hell should I care, though? It wasn’t like she and Robert had any kind of serious thing going on. They were... well, what were they? Friends? Maybe less? Or maybe just two weird people, trying to bond again. But still, something about the idea of him being with another woman tonight made her stomach turn. She could already imagine the scene playing out—Robert and this mystery girl sitting across from each other in some candlelit, overpriced restaurant, the conversation flowing easily, both of them laughing at each other’s dumb jokes. He’d probably flash that damn smirk of his, the one that always made people feel special, like they were the only person in the room. Sophia clenched her jaw. It’s not like I’m jealous or anything, she told herself, trying to shove the thought aside. But deep down, she knew she wasn’t exactly thrilled about it either. Her phone buzzed again, pulling her from her spiraling thoughts. It wasn’t Robert. Just a random notification from an app she didn’t care about. She tossed the phone onto the coffee table in front of her, crossing her arms. He’s probably out there right now, smooth-talking his way through this date. Sophia ran a hand through her hair, pulling her knees up to her chest. Shit, maybe I shouldn’t even expect him to call back tonight. If his mom’s behind this date, then she probably set him up with someone perfect, someone who fits into his world better than anyone ever could. Some trust-fund princess or one of those overly-polished socialites who knows how to charm old money out of their wallets. The kind of girl who wouldn’t question Robert’s busy lifestyle or demand more of his time. The kind of girl who would just slip seamlessly into his life, while he kept on living exactly the way he always had. She chuckled darkly to herself. Hell, she’s probably everything his mom’s been nagging him to find—a well-bred, picture-perfect trophy wife. Someone who won’t get in the way of his precious business schedule. And if Robert was even half the guy she knew, he’d probably go along with it, at least for the night. Maybe he’d charm the hell out of this girl, make her feel special. Maybe he’d go book an over-priced hotel with her, just to keep up appearances. Not like it would be the first time. Maybe they'd fuck till dawn. The thought lingered in her mind, twisting her mood a little further south. Sophia grabbed her phone again, her thumb hovering over Robert’s name. Maybe I should text him? Ask him how it’s going? But then she realized how utterly stupid that idea sounded. She wasn’t going to be that girl—the one who sat around wondering what some guy was doing while he was out on a date with someone else. That was pathetic, and it sure as hell wasn’t her. But still, that purple heart at the end of his message... that part threw her off. Was he trying to be cute? Trying to make me feel better about the whole situation? Sophia sighed, dropping her phone back onto the couch beside her. It doesn’t matter. Whether he meant it or not, whether he called back tonight or not, none of it mattered. Robert was going to do what he always did—charm the pants off someone, literally or figuratively. The thought made her scoff again. If she’s anything like what I’m picturing, he’ll probably have her in bed by midnight. That wasn’t fair, she knew, but it didn’t stop the cynical part of her brain from thinking it. Still, despite everything, Sophia couldn’t help but picture him as he was now, doing exactly what he did best—being Robert. That annoyingly charming, impossibly frustrating millionaire playboy who somehow managed to keep her guessing. And as much as she wanted to write him off as just another cocky guy who never took anything seriously, there was always that little part of her that wondered... What if there’s more to him than that? But tonight wasn’t going to be the night she figured that out. Tonight, he’s probably busy making someone else feel like the center of the world, driving this 'special person' to cloud nine with his dick. Then, out of nowhere, a thought crossed Sophia’s mind, tugging at the edges of her cynicism. What if Robert wasn’t as she remembered? What if he had actually changed? People changed all the time, right? What if he had started taking life more seriously? What if he wasn’t just that playboy who fucks with any girl he found remotely attractive?What if the life he had lived outside San Francisco had taught him little and mild lessons? She frowned, biting her lip. Nah, that’s ridiculous. Robert, settling down? Yeah, right. That image felt almost laughable from the impression she already had about him. Still, the thought lingered, nagging at her. What if there was more to him than she had given him credit for? What if he was finally over the whole casual fling thing and was actually looking for something real? For a split second, she could almost see it—Robert sitting across from some girl, listening intently, maybe even talking about his future plans in a way that didn’t sound like his usual nonchalant attitude. A more serious Robert... one who wasn’t just living for the next thrill but was actually thinking about his life, his future, the type of woman he wanted by his side. Sophia shook her head, letting out a sharp breath. No way. Not Robert. She brushed it off quickly, sinking deeper into the couch. He’ll never change.ROBERT'S POV I sat at the table, trying my best to ignore Evelina’s constant flirting. God, she was doing the most. Every other sentence out of her mouth was some over-the-top compliment about how I “shouldn’t be this handsome and single.” I tried to keep my face neutral, but inside, I was getting more and more annoyed. "I mean, I’m single too, Robert," she said, batting her lashes like I hadn't heard that line a hundred times. "Maybe we could bond?" Bond? What the hell is that supposed to mean? I forced a polite smile and nodded, hoping she’d get the hint that I wasn’t interested. I didn’t want to be rude, but this was getting ridiculous. I was just trying to enjoy a quiet evening, and she had turned it into some weird game I didn’t sign up for. And then, out of nowhere, she pulled that stupid stunt with her ring. She giggled—an actual giggle—like we were in some bad romantic comedy, and let her ring “accidentally” fall to the floor. "Oops," she said, in this high-pitched, f
ROBERT'S POV As soon as I picked up my mum’s call, I braced myself for the usual. I figured she’d be all smiles, asking how the "date" was going and offering some annoying advice like she always does. Hell, I thought she’d still assume I was stuck with Evelina, probably trying to figure out how to get through the rest of the night. But nope. What I got was the complete opposite. Mum was pissed. “Robert, what is this I just heard?” she snapped through the phone, her voice already at that tone where I knew I was screwed. “You have to go back right now and apologize to Evelina! What the hell were you thinking, leaving the restaurant without even an excuse? She’s crying, Robert. Crying and in a really bad state. You hurt the poor soul!” What the fuck!! Evelina, Crying? Seriously? “When did you become so heartless?” she continued, her words hitting me like a hammer. “No son of mine would treat women like this! You’re going to go back and make things right.” Oh, for fuck’s sake. I
Robert leaned back in his chair, holding the phone in one hand while running the other through his hair. "Yes, Sophia, you were talking about something earlier today. Something about your ex?"Sophia shifted slightly on the screen, her voice coming through the phone with a tinge of hesitation. "Oh, that. My ex-boyfriend is going to be attending the cruise."Robert frowned. "And you don’t want him to?""It’s not exactly that I don’t want him to," she sighed, "but it’s complicated.""Wait a minute, what’s his name?" Robert asked, curiosity piqued. "Do I know him? Was he a classmate of ours back in high school?""His name’s Charles Brown," Sophia replied, almost like she was bracing herself.Robert’s brows shot up. Charles Brown? The name tugged at something familiar in the back of his mind. "Hold up. Charles Brown? That sounds way too familiar." Without wasting a second, Robert grabbed his MacBook off a nearby table, still on FaceTime with Sophia. "Give me a minute."He quickly typed th
Robert's eyes twinkled. They were both clearly thinking the same thing, and the realization hit him with a rush of excitement.“Is it what I think it is?” he asked, his voice filled with curiosity.Sophia shifted a little, her nerves apparent as she tried hard to convince her Inner self, that thi wasn't stupid. There was a look on her face, one that seemed to say, Look, I know this might be stupid, but I’m kinda desperate here.Robert shifted, his brows raised, waiting for her to spill whatever crazy idea she had in mind. The silence stretched for a moment, thick with anticipation.Sophia finally took a deep breath, her fingers fidgeting with the edge of her sleevess she spoke with Robert over the phone. “Okay, don’t laugh, alright? But... what if you pretended to be my boyfriend on the cruise?”Robert smiled, then a grin tugged at the corner of his mouth, one that quickly spread across his face. He didn't try to hide it cause, it was just him in the room at the moment. “You want me
I was finishing up my makeup, just adding the final touches to my eyeliner, when I decided to text Robert. “I’m ready,” I typed quickly, still trying to keep my hands steady as I applied mascara. Almost immediately, my phone buzzed with his reply.“Ok, text me your exact address.”I sent it to him, still getting excited about seeing him. It was just a chill weekend, but it was also three days before the boat cruise—our boat cruise—and I couldn’t help but feel a little giddy. I checked myself in the mirror one last time. I had on a pastel-colored sweater, soft and cozy, but still cute enough for whatever the day might throw at me. My black leggings hugged me just right, showing off my legs, and my ankle boots gave the outfit that little extra edge. I added a simple necklace and left my hair loose. Casual, but still good enough to turn heads, I hoped.Right as I was finishing up, I heard the faint urrung of a car engine outside. I frowned, pausing mid-brush stroke.Ge was here so soon? I
ROBERT'S POV Sophia stood up with a little smirk on her face and said, “Guess it’s time I whooped your ass.”I couldn’t help but laugh, leaning back against the couch, shaking my head. “We’ll see about that,” I said, getting up. I was already planning on winning this, and I wasn’t going easy on her just because she was Sophia.I led her down the hallway to my gaming room. As soon as we stepped in, you could see the whole place was set up to impress. Dark walls, LED lights running under the shelves, the kind that changed colors based on your mood. There was this sleek, matte-black gaming setup with dual monitors, high-end gaming chairs, and a sound system that could probably wake up the entire estate if I cranked it up. Posters of classic games lined the walls, framed like artwork, and the controllers were all neatly organized on a rack like weapons ready for battle.Sophia glanced around, taking it all in, but I could tell she wasn’t gonna back down. I liked that about her. She had t
SOPHIA'S POV I was sitting on the couch, kind of zoning out while watching this cooking show on TV, some chef making a fancy pasta dish that looked way too complicated for a casual dinner. My phone was in my lap, but I wasn’t really paying attention to it. The weekend vibe had completely taken over, and I was feeling relaxed. Plus, the desserts I’d had earlier were making me feel a little too comfortable.And then, out of nowhere, Robert’s voice broke through the TV noise. I glanced up, but honestly, the words didn’t really register. What did register, though, was how damn hot he looked. I mean, for a second, I just froze. Robert was standing at the bottom of the stairs, one hand in his pocket, looking like he stepped right out of some luxury magazine. He was wearing this Tom Ford denim shirt that was perfectly fitted, highlighting his broad shoulders and chest, and charcoal grey pants that looked both casual and expensive at the same time. And, of course, he had on these black Chri
ROBERT'S POV We were done shopping, and as soon as we made our way out of the boutique and back into the car, I felt pretty damn good. Sophia had picked out some killer stuff, and I could tell she was buzzing, too. The drive back home was going smoothly, but I decided to switch things up and take a different route that’d cut some time off the trip.As we cruised along, a huge-ass billboard caught my eye. It said something about investing in real estate — all flashy and shit — but that wasn’t what pissed me off. It was the guy in the picture. Charles. That smug bastard, standing there with his arms crossed . The sight of his stupid face and that arrogant smile made my stomach churn. I could feel the anger bubbling up inside me, but I kept it locked down for now.I glanced over at Sophia, and yeah, she’d seen it too. Her expression gave it all away. There was this painful mix of sadness, anger, and guilt written all over her face. Fuck, I never want to see her like this,and knowing it