Brandon " Don’t run away, Sofia! " his tone is incisive. " You know we need to talk.I stop myself. Then I lower my head and sigh. He’s right. This moment can’t be put off any longer. Defeated, I start to climb the steps that lead to my apartment, leaving the gate open. Just as I leave the door open, I walk into the middle of the living room and cross my arms, waiting for him. Expectation takes hold of me. I’m afraid that I won’t resist and that I’ll give in. And I’m still not sure that I should, even though I want to. Brandon enters and closes the door behind him. He looks around briefly and then faces me." You said you’d give me a break. " I begin, a little unsure of how to act. " And I meant it. But it’s been two fucking weeks! It’s not possible that you haven’t decided meanwhile! I sigh and reply softly." You have no idea… Brandon then comes closer, holds my arms, his breath coming to my face, while I avoid facing him." I’m going crazy, Sofia. " his voice is deep, his br
BrandonI sigh, and this time it’s me who lowers my head.“There hasn’t been a single day when I haven’t regretted saying that shit, Sofia. I’m sorry, angel… “I take her hands between mine and bring them to my lips, kissing them. “I wasn’t thinking straight when I did that. And I hope you can forget all the stupid things I said.She doesn’t answer, and I don’t know if that’s good or bad. I feel like crap for having hurt her because of my stupid jealousy.I run my eyes over her face for a few seconds. To think that I could never be like this again, so close to her… My breathing becomes agitated and, grabbing her by the back of the neck, I pull her in for another kiss. Sofia responds, clinging to me automatically. I love how she reacts to my advances. At first, she was almost inexperienced, shy and let herself be led. Over time, she became more impetuous, investigative about what she liked best for herself and for me. And a strange possession comes over me when I think she’s blossoming w
Sofia I add a smiley face emoji on the side, and it sounds like I can hear her laughing on the other side of the screen. I throw the device back on the table and, barefoot, go searching for it. I find him in the kitchen, leaning against the sink. A mug in one hand, his eyes fixed on his cell phone. He must be working. Of course, he’s working. He’s a workaholic.I stop in the doorway and wait for him to notice me. Which doesn’t take long. Before he even looks at me, he drops the device on the counter behind him and raises his eyes to look at me. His eyes, a lighter shade of green now that it’s morning, roam lazily over my body. An appreciative smile appears on his lips.“ Hello, stranger. “ I say hello and respond to his beckoning gesture.He’s got his jeans on and, like me, he’s barefoot, his legs crossed at the ankles. His hair is combed back with his fingers. I lean against him, my hands on his narrow waist. Brandon gently holds my chin and kisses me tenderly.“ Good morning, ange
Sofia“ I understand. I hope everything works out. “ I stroke his beard, and he turns his face to kiss the back of my hand. “ As I said before,” the debauched smile returned to his lips and his lazy eyes now slid down my body. “ I really liked your apartment… “ Really?“ But I especially liked that island…” he points, and I’m confused. “ Why, specifically, it?“ Because… “ he steps back and walks over to it, resting his hands on the small white tiles. “ She’s the perfect height for something I have in mind.I bite my lip, trying to follow his train of thought.“ And what would that be, exactly? The crooked smile and sinful look are there, as he takes a firm hold of my wrist and starts to pull me towards him.“ I’ll show you… “ when I’m back in front of him, Brandon kisses me ardently. It’s a quick kiss, though. Then he slips his arms under my knees, lifting me off the floor and placing me on the counter. I let out an exclamation as my bare bottom comes into contact with the cold
Sofia Sighing, he rests his hand on mine on the table.“I know that everything is gorgeous between you and your CEO right now. “ her shoulders, exposed by her scrappy blouse, tensed up. “ And I would rather not be the one who throws cold water on other people’s moves, but based on my own bad experience and the fact that we’re friends now, I need to warn you. Be careful. Men…” she corrects herself. “ In fact, human beings in general are never completely trustworthy. And I would rather not see you as heartbroken as I am.“Was it that bad? “ I intertwine my fingers with hers, trying to comfort her because I can see the pain in her eyes. “You have no idea. He treated me like I was unique. Special… He showered me with affection, cuddles… I frown. Brandon makes me feel exactly like that. Unique and special.“And then, “ Laura bites her lip and I know she’s holding back tears. “ You betrayed me in the worst way. It was hard to absorb the impact. I think I’ll keep trying. “ she finishes in
Sofia The new nickname surprises me and I have to look over my shoulder to find him in his chair, legs crossed, staring at me while sipping from a mug. It must be his black coffee. I kiss the rose gently and hope he understands that this kiss is for him. I leave my cell phone on the table and reach for my mug, which I usually drink coffee from. I take some water from my disposable bottle and dip the stem in it to keep it looking beautiful for longer. At the end of the day, Laura, I and a few other colleagues are already in the elevator when Brandon, closely followed by Jessica, arrives. She, as usual, ignores us. He, always very polite, nods and says hello.“Gentlemen. Ladies… “ the green eyes pass me by. Very brief, but intense. The doors close and the lawyer wraps an arm around him, making a point of getting very close. I almost rolled my eyes. Laura nudges me, less discreetly, with whom she says she won’t do anything? I shrug my shoulders in response, helpless. What could I do,
Sofia I sniffle and swallow my urge to cry. I shake my head and do as he suggests. Brandon puts his arm around my waist, possessively and protectively, and we leave his office. He warns Shane that he won’t be back that day as we pass the boy. Like the good employee he is, and absolutely discreet, he just nods.I avoid looking around as we walk to the elevator. But the buzz still continues. I can hear the whispering, imagine that it’s aimed at both of us. It seems to take forever for the device to arrive. Once we’re inside, I collapse again. Brandon hugs me, running his hands down my back, saying words of comfort. In the car, I’m a little more in control. We’re on our way to his apartment when his cell phone starts ringing. After glancing at the display, Brandon slams his fist on the steering wheel. I’m immediately alarmed. “What’s wrong?He runs a hand down the back of his neck, looking uncomfortable. Then he twists his head sideways and starts.“Angel… stay calm, but… “ But? “ I
Sofia On the way to my apartment, I think about how my life has changed in just a few hours. It was supposed to be a normal day, but here I am. Afraid to go out in the street and be recognized by an erotic video and… apparently, I’m engaged to one of the richest CEOs in New York. I’m a bit dizzy from it all. I never thought my peaceful life would turn out like this. As soon as we turn the corner onto my street, we see a small group in front of my building. Brandon parks his car on the curb some distance away and mutters through his teeth.“Damn. They’re fast. Nervously, I play with my hands.“What have you decided? Do you want to go there anyway and pick up your things, or shall we come back another time?I sigh and decide.“Better to face it. If it’s a small crowd now, it’ll be even bigger later. He agrees, twisting his head sideways.“Yeah. Something like that. “ He takes my hand and brings it to his lips. “ Remember. Keep your head up. We didn’t do anything wrong. And you don’t
Isabella Aaron's expression turns serious as he absorbs the impact of my words. The tension between us escalates, fueled by our mutual stubbornness. "You know, Isabella," he retorts, frustration tinting his voice, "you're quick to judge without really knowing me. But I won't waste my time trying to prove something to you." I scoff, feeling a wave of anger. "Prove something? Why should I care? You're just another arrogant, spoiled man who thinks he can have whatever he wants." His eyes narrow, a flash of pain crossing his face. "You think you have me all figured out, don't you? Well, let me tell you something. There's more to me than meets the eye. And maybe, just maybe, if you took the time to look beyond your preconceived notions, you'd see that." I shake my head, unable to let go of my resentment. "I highly doubt that, Aaron. Actions speak louder than words, and so far, all I've seen is a man who thrives on power and manipulation." He takes a step closer, his voice low and inten
Meeting Aaron Reeves and Isabella FerraraIn this vibrant city, where the diverse aroma of kitchens fills the air, I, heir to the prestigious "Sabor de Sofia" restaurant chain, am constantly searching for new inspirations to maintain the exceptional culinary standard set by my mother. And then comes Isabella Ferrara, a talented and passionate chef known for her authentic and innovative restaurant called "Enchanted Gastronomy." I had heard of her before, but... damn! I had no idea she was so beautiful! Big, blue, speculative eyes. A mouth... I would pray to taste. Well-shaped, full, and in a heart shape. And the body. Oh, that body! She's not very tall, but she has curves that left me dizzy. Yes, she definitely shocked me with her appearance.Our paths crossed unexpectedly during a local culinary event, where we were invited to showcase our specialties. However, from the start, there was an antipathy between us, coming from her side. My familiarity with running a culinary empire clashe
Sofia"Good, but I have another reason for being here.""Tell me, because I'm dying to change the subject!" Laura declares, putting Aaron, still asleep, in the car seat and heading to the kitchen to get two glasses of iced tea. I follow her, leaning on the counter, as she serves us."I have a proposal for you."The girl furrows her brow and peeks at me."Proposal?""Yes. After everything that happened, I realized that my priorities were a mess! Especially after everything that happened at the restaurant. I owe a lot to my husband and son, and that needs to change.""And where do I fit into this story?"I smile, teasing, knowing that it annoys her because she's very anxious."Sofia!" she scolds, stomping her foot. "Spit it out, woman!"I laugh and speak up before the other person has a crisis in front of me."I would like you to be the manager of the restaurant.""Me?""Yes. You. My beautiful friend, whom I trust the most in this world and know will handle the job well.""But I know no
I have my lips pressed together as I observe Laura's reaction. I've just told her what we've been through in the past few days. She's motionless, her breath held, her restless eyes scanning my face as if processing the information she just received. Then she gives me a brief but tight hug and goes to the baby carrier where Aaron is peacefully asleep, picking him up and cradling him lovingly against her chest. Her eyes are now closed, and I notice a shiver running through her. "By God, Sofia! Why didn't you call me?" Her voice is deep and trembling. "I had no idea what you were going through!""I was already so scared, knowing I was at risk, with my house taken over by a battalion of police. I was terrified at the thought that David might find out somehow, and then I would never see my son again!" I run my hand over Aaron's back, who remains asleep, oblivious to everything that has happened to him. "And, to be honest, I didn't even have the mental capacity to think about anything else,
Sofia"We have to be careful. He might be armed," one of the officers cautioned the others, reminding everyone of the seriousness of the situation.Unaware of the shadow trailing him, David seemed to be searching for something in that abandoned place. Out of sight, we followed every move with bated breath, eager for any sign that Aaron and Laureen were nearby.Then, a murmur came over the police radio, indicating they had found something. The suspense heightened as we watched the team stealthily approach a rusty door. David, still lost in his thoughts, remained oblivious to the presence of the police.The door creaked open as the agents carefully opened it. The darkness inside swallowed their outlines, but their silhouettes moved with determination. A beam of light from a flashlight cut through the darkness, revealing a dirty and abandoned space."It looks like the scene of a kidnapping," one of the officers informed me."It does?" I asked, confused.Then the man's body camera reveale
SofiaThe police show us real-time images of what's happening at the location where I left the bag with the money. Hours have passed; David hasn't called again, but he hasn't gone after the money either. Both Brandon and I can't eat anything. Anguish takes over us. The worry about how our son is doing. Our little, fragile baby. I've decided that when I have him in my arms again, I'll dedicate more time to him, even if I have to hire someone to help me with the restaurant. I love what I do, but I love my family even more. It took being in this current situation for me to realize that these are my priorities. Aaron and Brandon. The two men in my life."Look!" One of the police officers calls our attention to the laptop on the kitchen counter. We approached quickly, realizing that a man, covered from head to toe, gets out of a car near the trash can where that fortune I took was. I recognize him, even if I can't see his face. The way he walks is unmistakable. It's David. He walks slowly
Brandon The minutes after that calmer moment felt somewhat suspended, as if we needed to recover from the strong wave that passed. We stayed there, embracing, my fingers tracing her back as she rested on my chest. The world outside returning to normal."Why did you mention David? Do you think they could be involved in this together?"She places her hands stacked on my chest and stares at me."Because I think it makes a lot of sense. I don't think all of this would come from her little mind.""Could they have been together from the beginning?""We'll find out. Tomorrow we're going to the police station to tell the detective in charge of our case about what we found.""Yes, we need to do that anyway. We can't let those two get away with this. - I hug her tightly once again. - We just can't let this shake our relationship.""Never, love! I trust you with my eyes closed.""I know I haven't set a good example in the past, but I trust you too. Completely." Sofia We go to the police statio
Brandon Still enveloped in the fog of sleep, I feel a gentle touch on my lips. A light kiss. Automatically, I smile, convinced it's Sofia because I catch a whiff of her perfume, finally back from her shift at the restaurant. Nights are long when she's away, and this kiss is like a relief, a temporary seal of connection broken by distance. Then, as if a fog is lifting, I realize something is off. The texture of the lips isn't quite Sofia's. And I know that mouth too well to be mistaken. Confusion takes over, and my mind, still half-asleep, tries to process this unsettling information. I open my eyes fully, and the sight that unfolds is entirely unexpected. Laureen is there, her silhouette softly illuminated by the moonlight streaming through the window. My eyes widen in surprise and confusion as I reach for the bedside lamp, shocked to find the girl completely nude. My mind tries to comprehend what's happening. "Laureen?" I murmur, more to myself than to her. Her expression is a mix
BrandonSitting in the living room, I gaze at Sofia as she flips through a photo album. My wife seems engrossed in the memories captured in the images, perhaps seeking a temporary escape."Did you find any funny pictures of him?" I ask, trying to dispel the cloud of worry surrounding her.She smiles, finding a photo where Aaron is holding a stuffed toy almost his size."Look at this. It looks like he's challenging the bear to an epic battle."We laugh together, and for a moment, we feel lighter. Aaron wiggles his tiny fingers, and I feel an irresistible urge to get closer."Can I hold him for a while?" I asked, reaching out my arms.Sofia gently hands me our precious bundle, and I feel a wave of warmth and responsibility as I hold my son in my arms. It's a reminder that, despite everything, we have something valuable to protect and celebrate.SofiaI watch Brandon cradle Aaron with a tenderness that melts my heart. He's the anchor that keeps me balanced, even when waves of fear threat