Robert cleared his throat, the sound cutting through the quiet hum of the restaurant. The lady in front of him, as if waiting for that very cue, suddenly leaped up from her seat. Her loud giggle echoed in the air, and before he could react, she flung herself at him, wrapping her arms around him in a too-eager hug."Robert! Finally!" she exclaimed, her voice sugary sweet but over the top.Robert stiffened, his arms staying at his sides as his mind quickly pieced together the situation. This wasn’t the reaction he expected, and definitely not one he welcomed. Her perfume was overwhelming, the kind that screamed 'look at me.' He caught the faint smell of something too floral, too manufactured.When she finally pulled back, he got a full view of her. She was pretty, sure. Tall, with long, glossy hair, styled to perfection. Her makeup was expertly done, but it was too much—caked on as if she was trying hard to look flawless. The way her red lips curled up in a practiced smile made him feel
Robert leaned back in his chair, watching Evelina carefully as she recounted her story—though it was more about herself than any actual substance. “Van Buren,” she had said, in a somewhat proud tone, “I just came back from abroad, you know. Had to deal with some family matters. My stepfather’s funeral in San Francisco and all that.”That name struck him immediately. He knew the Van Burens, or more precisely, her stepfather—a late wealthy merchant who had made his fortune in shipping and real estate. The man had built a small empire, but Robert had heard the rumors. When he passed, only a measly 2% of his assets were left to his step daughter and her mother, the rest going to other family members or locked up in trusts. It was no secret in his circle that her mother had a reputation for being difficult and extravagant, and Evelina wasn’t far behind.Robert's eyes narrowed subtly. She hadn't given him much detail, but her hints were enough. He knew more than she thought. He could practi
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 tha
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
Sophia sat at the outdoor dinner table, feeling the gentle breeze of the evening against her skin. The dinner, a grand affair hosted for all the cruisers, had been a pleasant experience so far. The food was exquisite, the atmosphere vibrant, and the night sky slowly transitioned into a canvas of stars. She and Robert had spent most of the evening chatting lightly, sipping champagne and enjoying the ambiance. But as she took another sip, Robert’s phone buzzed on the table.He glanced at the screen, muttered something about needing to take the call, and stood up, excusing himself with a polite nod. Sophia watched him stroll a few feet away, his figure highlighted by the soft glow of the outdoor lights.Now alone, she scrolled through her phone absentmindedly, her champagne glass dangling delicately from her other hand. The gentle hum of conversations surrounded her until a pair of voices drifted into her ears, clear enough to catch her attention.“I don’t think they’re in a relationship
Sophia stepped out onto the balcony, hoping for a breath of fresh air and maybe a view of the ocean. The scene before her was more stunning than she had anticipated. The soft glow of the setting sun cast a warm, golden light over everything, making the water sparkle, and the sheer elegance of the balcony layout took her breath away. But what really caught her eye was the surprise waiting right there—an exclusive, small pool nestled in one corner of the balcony. It was a luxurious touch she hadn’t expected.Her excitement bubbled up immediately. She’d thought their suite was impressive enough already, but this was on another level. She turned, a wide grin spreading across her face, and rushed back into the room. “Robert!” she called, her voice full of the thrill that had taken hold of her. “There’s a pool out here! Can you believe it?” She glanced over at him, practically bouncing as she waited for his reaction.Robert looked up from his iPad, an amused smile tugging at the corner of h
SOPHIA'S POV The hostess led us down a polished corridor, her heels clicking against the marble floors as we followed in awe. Everything around us screamed opulence—from the crystal chandeliers to the plush carpets lining the hallway. It was like we’d stepped into a world that only existed in glossy magazines and movies. And yet, here we were, soaking it all in like it was made for us. I stole a glance at Robert, who seemed unbothered, his expression cool and composed. Just another day for him, I guess. For me? I couldn’t help but feel like I was getting away with something here.The hostess turned back to us with a smile and gestured down another corridor. "Right this way, please. You’re in the VVIP section," she said, her voice carrying an unmistakable note of respect. I couldn't hide my shock. VVIP? I knew Robert was well-off, but this was next level.I kept quiet, not wanting to seem like a total newbie, but my mind was racing. Most people would’ve been thrilled just to be on the
As we stepped off the yacht and onto the dock where the larger boat was anchored, I took a quick survey of the setup. The boat—a luxurious vessel with sleek lines and a shining exterior—towered over the yachts that had started to gather around. Some other guests were already disembarking their own yachts and making their way up the ramp, mingling, exchanging greetings, laughing. It was a decent crowd, a mix of wealth and status, judging by the designer suits and glamorous dresses. I noted it all, but none of really intrigued me. Boats, parties, all this was pretty standard at this point.Sophia looked around, wide-eyed, her excitement practically radiating off her. It was a look I’d seen before on her—the curiosity, the fascination with the world of luxury, although she still has her elegant touch. I watched as her gaze swept over the dock, from the polished rails of the boat to the crew members in their crisp uniforms. It was amusing seeing her like this, clearly enjoying herself.
SOPHIA'S POV As Robert and I arrived at the boarding area, I took a moment to take it all in. There was a small crowd gathered, all dressed impeccably, their conversations weaving together in a hum of polished accents and subtle laughter. It felt like the kind of scene where the rich and powerful came to unwind, but still with a sense of formality clinging to them. No one looked too relaxed—everyone here was a bit on display.My eyes scanned the faces, catching glimpses of people I’d only ever seen on magazine covers or social media. To my right, a woman in a sleek black dress adjusted her sunglasses as she took photos by the water’s edge. Definitely a social media influencer. Beside her stood a man whose face I recognized from a viral tech article about his latest app that made millions overnight. He was talking animatedly to a well-dressed older couple, his hands moving in exaggerated gestures, like he was pitching a story rather than just making small talk. And then there was us,
SOPHIA'S POV The weekend had been… honestly, just so good. I’d be lying if I said it wasn't nice having someone like Robert around. We’d spent hours walking through the garden, and even though the place was way too fancy for what I was used to, it somehow felt natural. Trying new dishes the chef whipped up had turned into a little game, too—some stuff was amazing, and other things… let’s just say I was glad Robert didn’t make fun of me too much when I nearly spat out that one dish. Then there were the movie nights, hours just sinking into the couch, and the light competition of board games. I didn’t even mind that Robert kept winning because it was fun watching him get competitive about things so small. And, okay, we definitely took a few whiskey shots here and there. Not like, drunk, but just enough to feel loose and laugh harder at things that weren’t even that funny. It was the kind of weekend I hadn’t realized I’d needed. Now, though, it was cruise day. The morning had flown
As soon as Robert and I pulled up to my house, I felt a sense of relief. The day had been long, but in a good way—catching up with Robert, shopping, and just spending time together had made it fly by. We’d laughed about the dumb stuff we did back in high school and talked about how much had changed since then. It felt nice. Familiar. But now, I was ready to crash.Robert helped me unload the designer clothes from the trunk, carrying the bags to my front door. I was grateful for his help, especially since my arms felt like jelly after carrying everything around earlier. Once we got to the door, I hugged him. It was a quick, friendly gesture, but I hoped he knew how much I appreciated everything."Thanks for today," I said, stepping back from the hug."No problem. It was fun. Let me know when you’re settled in, okay?" He gave me a small smile before heading back to his car.I nodded, waving as he drove off. Once inside, I immediately dropped everything near the entryway, kicking off my
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
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