SOPHIE POV "Look at you, Sophie; you’re shining like the sun. Still as beautiful as ever, if not more now."Edison remarked cheerfully after disengaging from the hug we just shared, flashing his extra-white teeth pleasantly.I smiled and looked away. "Enough with the sweet talk, Eddie. You're not looking bad yourself." I complimented him.He put a hand on his chest to signal his appreciation, and then I added inquisitively, "Is it up to two years now since we last met?""Yeah," he affirmed, raising his voice exuberantly."It's actually about two years and four months now. I remember we saw you last precisely at Professor Nicholas's book presentation at that Los Angeles conference where I bumped into you with your kids.""Oh my God, you're right." I agreed, nodding."Such a long time indeed."The last statement he made appeared to trigger his curiosity, so he started to look around."What is it?” I inquired, watching him.“Your kids, I just remembered. Where are they? You didn’t come
ELLIOT POVAfter my one-of-a-kind visit to Dad and my spontaneous encounter with Hannah, my sister, which again doubled to become another spontaneous encounter with Amanda, the atmosphere had become a thousand times more coercive than I had predicted it to be. Dad must have noticed my fitful gestures during the dinner the three of us had together, which is why after we said goodbye to Amanda and after I saw her off, he beckoned on me for another private talk."Son, this is not me trying to push Amanda down your throat or anything. This is just me saying, Hey, take a look at what's right under your nose, buddy. You and Amanda have been close friends since kindergarten. You are highly schooled and educated; she is too.You are a superclass CEO; she is a lawyer extraordinaire. I think you're a perfect fit. But hey, I'm only coming this way because time is running out, and you know how Harrington works; I don't want you replaced. So this is me doing my best as the founder and, more still,
ELLIOT POVAfter Sophie went off with the bald guy, I strained my ears while sitting up on the couch, listening and checking out for the sound of their footsteps outside the door. And even when I could no longer hear anything, I waited for an extra two minutes to reassure myself that they were completely gone."There is no way I can sit all alone here," I whispered to myself.The statement was half true. Sitting all alone in the suite was not exactly my problem; what was really eating me out from the inside was the way she had left happily in the arms of that strange guy, the way they had both looked and smiled at each other and Sophie's weak defenses to the guy's intimate and over-the-board assertions.I was feeling like a theft victim here, and not just any theft, but the kind where the thief had carried out the act right under my nose. I gasped, rising at the same time."I need to follow them," I whispered, clenching my fist."I need to protect her," I mumbled, trying to convince m
Joseph's car pulled up in front of the estate gate, and the door of the car slid open as all three kids hopped out."Alright guys, be good, okay?" Joseph said in his usual jolly good manner."We will!" They responded in unison, running past the gates as they made their way into the house.Aunt Susan was sitting casually on their balcony, going over something on her phone, by the time they came in."Aunty!" Isabella screamed, running over to hug her, and the boys raced right after her."My angels." Aunt Susan cheered, getting up, picking them up one by one, and pecking them on the cheek. Starting with Isabella."Welcome guys! Did you have a great time?" She asked."Sure!" they chorused.After a quick silence, Owen cleared his throat to ask a question, his face going sullen.“So Aunty, about Mummy, is she gone already?" Owen asked.“Yeah, already off to New Zealand. She's going to call us once she's fully settled."“I don't know what I'm feeling like; I think I'm missing her already,” N
SOPHIE POVThe tension between Elliot and I filled the car from where we were perched and spaced apart awkwardly in the backseat.The tension had even engulfed Mr. Manuel because even his driving was in a fidgety and anxious manner. I was a bit scared by his overspeeding and reckless driving but I didn't have a choice; I had to bear with it because, according to Elliot, we needed to get to the New Zealand branch as soon as possible, even if it meant flying past the road traffic in a Hyundai.Burrows had called Elliot some six minutes ago, informing him that we needed to get to the office within the space of 10 minutes, emphasizing that "it was very urgent."Elliot had immediately run over to the kitchenette, telling me to abandon the delicious bagels I was heating and get myself dressed for work promptly to beat the short time frame given.So here I was, on my way to resume at my new place of duty, on an empty stomach. I let out a sigh. When Elliot heard my sigh, he gave me a knowing
Sophie's POVI woke up to the sound of my phone vibrating for an incoming call. I jerked up with red, half-sleepy eyes.I thought it was Elliot because he had not returned to the hotel yesterday night after his behavior at the office in the morning, and I had not wanted to call so I wouldn't come off as being the eager one."Maybe he was calling to apologize," I thought.But when I grabbed my phone from under the nearby pillow to check on the caller, the name on the screen was Aunty Susan.I gasped, hesitating at first due to the firsthand surprise, but quickly picked it up, happy about the call all the same."Aunty Suzi," I called, smiling."Aunchi Suzhia." She mimicked me with a weird, mocking voice."So you still remember you had an aunt back home? After your first call saying you had arrived and would call us back when settled, we’ve heard nothing from you?"Aunty continued in her playful yet sardonic voice."I'm so sorry; you wouldn't believe me if I told you a lot came up. Like
SOPHIE POVIt was Monday morning, and it was also my first proper resumption to work at the New Zealand branch of Harrington Inc.We were on our way to the office. Elliot and I were both dressed in corporate suits, sitting spaced apart behind Manuel in the back seat as usual. But, unlike Friday morning, the atmosphere in the car was totally different. It was so much more serene and quiet. And even when Manuel had tried driving a bit faster on the freeway, Elliot had waved calmly from the back, saying,"Hey, you're too fast, man. Take it gently."Manuel immediately heeded, reducing the car's pace while muttering an apologetic "Sorry, sir."I stole quick, careful glances at Elliot from the corner of my eyes. He has been like this since Sunday morning, wearing that same sober, introspective look on his face.After that unusual drama on Saturday night, we still had not talked about what he confessed to me that night, and I knew I wasn't going to bring it up because I felt it wasn't in my
Elliot POVI sat in my new office, running my hand over my head, multiple thoughts pummeling through my mind. Sophie had just accepted my apology and, at the same time, rejected my offer for a date, which left me hanging in my thoughts."Is she still angry with me?”“Should I go back and apologize again?”I felt like going out of the office to have a drink at the previous bar I went to on Saturday. This downing of so many bottles whenever I'm losing concentration was becoming a habit, but I did not really care anymore. It felt like I could handle anything else, but once it was something that involved Sophie, this craving for alcohol just arose because there was no natural way I knew of right now that could take her out of my mind.I jerked up and walked hurriedly towards the door, holding on to the handle, and then stopped midway."Elliot, are you really becoming a drunk?”I took a deep breath and turned hesitantly before walking slowly back to my seat. Maybe I should call somebody? M