Chapter 4

Sofia's POV

Today, Gabriel advised me to visit the legal department at Romano University. He had already spoken to his father, and my contract was ready to be signed. I arrived in the morning, feeling a quiet sense of purpose as I entered the office.

"Hi, I’m here to sign my contract," I said to the clerk, who greeted me with a smile. She seemed to be expecting me, which made the process feel a little smoother.

"Alright, Miss Sofia. Please have a seat while I get your contract," she said, stepping away to retrieve the documents.

I sat down, and as I glanced over, I noticed a man sitting nearby with a contract in his hands. He was looking at me, and for some reason, I felt a strange sense of familiarity, like I had seen him somewhere before, but I couldn’t quite place it. I offered him a brief smile, unsure if I should say something, but I chose to sit next to him.

A few minutes later, the clerk returned, handing me the contract. I signed the papers quickly, not bothering to scrutinize every detail. Once finished, I turned to the man beside me, who was still focused on his contract, reading through the pages with careful attention.

"Are you really going to read all those pages before signing it?" I asked, my tone polite but more out of curiosity than anything else. I don’t usually strike up conversations with strangers, but there was something about him that made me do it.

"I’m a lawyer. It’s my duty to read contracts," he replied, his voice steady and professional. I raised an eyebrow. A lawyer? That I hadn’t expected.

"Oh, I’m sorry," I said, a little surprised by my own response. "So, you’re part of the Legal Department?"

"Yes, and I’ll also be a faculty member of the Law School," he answered, still formal, though his response wasn’t cold.

"Congratulations," I said with a nod. "By the way, I’m Sofia Romano. I guess I’ll be seeing you around the office a lot. I’m the Vice President for Administration." I extended my hand for a handshake. It seemed appropriate, given that we would likely cross paths often in the future.

After signing the contract, I made my way to the office assigned to me, not feeling excited at all. I sat down and dropped myself into the swivel chair, letting out a deep sigh. This is it—my new life starts here, and I have to accept that dancing is no longer my focus. As heavy as my heart felt, I knew I still had to do my best to fulfill this new role the right way.

I was busy settling into my office when there was a soft knock on the door. Before I could even call out, Gabriel stepped in, holding a bouquet of flowers and offering me a warm, almost too-perfect smile. I forced a smile in return, caught off guard by his unexpected appearance. I didn’t anticipate him showing up here.

"Hi, hon, I got something for you," he said, extending the bouquet toward me with a look that seemed both gentle and proud.

"Thank you, hon. What’s this for?" I asked, standing up to accept the flowers, trying to keep my voice steady.

"Just a small gesture to congratulate you on your first day," he replied, his smile spreading wider. He leaned in and kissed my forehead, a simple, familiar gesture that should have brought me comfort. But instead, it felt heavy, like the weight of all the unspoken things between us.

The truth was, we both knew this wasn’t the life I wanted. I hadn’t asked for this. I hadn’t asked for this career, for this path that seemed so far removed from the dreams I once held for myself. But I was here, trying to make the best of it, hoping that in doing so, the tension between us would fade. I wanted to make him happy, to stop the hurt he had caused, and in a way, to convince myself that I could accept this new reality. I just hoped that by doing what he wanted, we might both find some peace.

But deep down, I couldn’t shake the nagging feeling that no matter how hard I tried, the life I was leading wasn’t the one I was meant to live.

As lunchtime approached, I made my way to the cafeteria, hoping to grab something to eat. It wasn’t until I stepped inside that I realized just how much Romano University had changed. My memories of this place were mostly from after my accident, when I lost so much of my past. After everything, the cafeteria became my favorite spot on campus—a place I would go to kill time, a place I would linger in, half-hoping to see someone, anyone. It was where I found a small sense of comfort during the days I spent searching for pieces of myself.

But now, everything was different. The cafeteria had been completely renovated—bigger, sleeker, more upscale than before. It didn’t have the same feeling it once did, the familiarity that made it my go-to spot. I couldn’t help but feel that while I was stuck in the past, this place had grown and moved on without me.

I was sitting at one of the tables, sipping my iced coffee, gazing out the glass window, watching the students scattered across the field. The quiet hum of campus life outside felt like a stark contrast to the whirlwind of thoughts racing through my mind.

Suddenly, a familiar face appeared at the table in front of me. He sat down facing me—the lawyer from the legal department earlier. He had a tray of food in front of him, the faint smell of his sandwich mixing with the air.

I couldn’t help but glance at him as he unwrapped his sandwich, fully absorbed in his actions. He opened the thick book he was carrying, effortlessly switching between reading and eating. Watching him, I found myself smiling quietly, a small and unexpected warmth spreading inside me. There was something about him, something that, for reasons I couldn’t quite explain, made me feel like a part of me was beginning to heal.