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 was his fault made me boil. I couldn’t stand that prick. But I didn’t say a word. I just kept my hands on the wheel, my eyes on the road, and stayed quiet. The tension was thick in the air, and I didn’t want to make it worse for her by bringing it up. Still, in the back of my mind, I made a silent promise to myself. Charles was going to regret ever messing with Sophia. During that boat cruise, I’d make sure that asshole licked his own shit. We got home not long after, and the sun was already starting to set. Sophia had been quiet ever since she saw that damn billboard with Charles on it, so I figured it was time to cheer her up. As soon as we got inside, she practically collapsed on the sofa, looking wiped out. The shopping spree must've drained her. The staff was already grabbing the designer bags from the car, taking them into the dressing room I had set up for guests. Yeah, not her bedroom, but a room where all the fancy stuff went, until she was ready to leave. "Hungry?" I asked, hoping to get her talking again. “Yeah, a bit. But I’m too tired from that shopping spree to fix anything for us to eat,” she sighed, sinking deeper into the cushions. Her saying that warmed me up a bit. The fact she thought of fixing something for "US". I grinned, "No need for that, I’m sure my chef already whipped up something." I saw the ' Oh I forgot you had a Chef' look on her face, then a smile. I waved over one of the staff members and told him to let the chef know we were ready for supper and to set the table for two. Told him to keep me updated as to when it would be ready, but I figured it wouldn’t take more than five minutes, to get the table served. In no time, we were invited to the table, and damn, my chef didn’t disappoint. Supper was on point—grilled salmon with lemon butter sauce, roasted veggies, and some fancy truffle mashed potatoes. The kind of shit that makes you feel like you’re eating in a five-star restaurant. For dessert, he put out a vanilla panna cotta with fresh berries, which Sophia seemed to really enjoy. She looked a little more brighter after the meal. After supper, it was just past five, and Sophia went back to the living room, and leaned back in the chair, looking a bit restless. “I’m kinda bored,” she said, almost like she didn’t know what to do next. “Well, how about we N*****x and chill before you head back?” I suggested, keeping things casual. I wasn’t going to push anything too much—we weren’t that close yet. Sure, we were friends, but there was still that gap from all the years we hadn’t been in each other’s lives. She nodded, so I led her upstairs to the mini cinema room upstairs. When I got that space, I thought I would be the only one who would be making use of it, cause I didn't just picture me and a Lady there watching movies. But well I'm happy it came in handy, and Sophia is the one here with me. I had already told the chef to prep some snacks for us, knowing we’d want something while watching. When we walked in, the room was ready—plush recliners, a massive screen, and a tray of snacks on the side: popcorn, chocolate-dipped strawberries, and some sliders. Yeah, I like to go all out when I’m hosting. Soph seemed impressed by the setup, which made me feel good. I pulled up N*****x and scrolled through the options. We eventually settled on The Irishman—not too light, not too heavy. Perfect for chilling, with plenty of moments to keep her mind off shit like that billboard. We settled into the recliners, and I handed Sophia the remote so she could play around with the volume. The mini cinema room was dimly lit, just enough to make it feel cozy without being too dark. The plush chairs were damn near like beds with the way they reclined, and the surround sound made you feel like you were in an actual movie theater. I looked over at Sophia, and she seemed to relax a little, the tension from earlier. I grabbed a handful of popcorn, more focused on her than the opening scenes of The Irishman. She didn’t say much, but every now and then, I’d catch her glancing over, probably just trying to feel things out. It was weird, you know? We used to be tighter, but now there was this space between us. Not like we couldn’t close it, but it was there, and I didn’t want to push too hard.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
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
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,
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 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
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 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
I sat at my cluttered work desk, the bright glare of my computer screen adding to the tension that was causing my eye to twitch. As a marketing executive, my days were packed with back-to-back meetings, campaign planning, and endless emails. Today was no different, and I silently begged the clock to move faster. I couldn't wait for the lunch break to finally check the message from my high school friend, Robert.My office space was a mixture of organized chaos: colorful post-it notes stuck to the edges of my monitor, a half-empty coffee cup, and stacks of marketing reports awaiting my attention. My boss, Ms. Marlene Thatcher, had been particularly irritable lately, scrutinizing every minor detail with an unforgiving eye. Ms. Thatcher was an older woman with sharp features and a stern expression that seemed permanently etched into her face. Her salt-and-pepper hair was always pulled back into a severe bun, and her eyes, a cold steel gray, missed nothing. She had a reputation for being s