Sophia's POV.
How could he even think of taking me to a restaurant?
A public place?
After what we went through with the media? I don't want to be the object of any senseless rumors right now. I stared back at him blankly.
It was surreal though.
I didn't think it was a good idea to continue working for him.
But at this point, my only choice is to continue wallowing in a job that I honestly didn't like, with bitchy people and few tips.
Colin and I turned out to be really good friends after he apologized for the incident at the frat party and the only highlight of my current job was when he or Stephanie came to see me in the guise of grabbing a quick coffee.
And now my old boss was offering me my job back?
With more than double the pay?
I was beginning to consider it. My feelings for him aside, I needed the money.
***
Alex's POV.
I noticed the worry on her face when I mentioned that I was taking her to a restaurant and I didn't need a seer to tell me why.
She was silent for the rest of the ride. I probably scared her, dammit!
I finally parked the car in the parking space and stepped outside.
Sophia had already stepped out of the car and was looking all around the place probably trying to avoid my gaze. She seemed nervous.
“Come on,” I urged and walked towards the building.
“This…This isn't a restaurant.” She stuttered.
“Nope, it isn't” I responded.
“Where are we?” She eyed the delicious sweet items behind the glass counter.
And then, as unexpected as it was, a laugh escaped her lips. “I know you like sweets but coming this far in the morning just for some cake and pastries? Seriously?” She looked up at me. “What are we doing here?”
“We're here for a cake tasting.”
Her smile slowly dropped. “What?”
“Yeah. The big occasion is coming up.” I nodded.
“Oh! I didn't know you were getting married.” She frowned.
“Because I'm not. It's for my birthday.”
If I wasn't looking for it already, I might have missed the look of relief that crossed her face. “Oh. But why bring me along?”
“Because you're my secretary. Why wouldn't I bring you along?” I answered, testing the waters.
She nodded, looking around the decorated place and I sighed in relief at her silent acceptance. “Alex!” Two voices, one of a girl and one of a boy, spoke in sync.
I turned around to find my eight-year-old cousins, Amelia and Jayden, running in my direction.
“You guys.” I laughed as they climbed up my body together, one from each side, and hugged me.
“What are you doing here?” I asked in confusion while setting them down. “Didn't you have school?”
“We did.” They both spoke in unison and then stared at each other, rolled their eyes, and turned to me.
“But Dad brought us along,” Amelia added.
Their dad, my uncle, who owned this place, was my Mum's younger brother.
Uncle Robert's family were the only close relatives I knew from my Mum's side. As for my dad, he had no one else besides us, no relatives, just his friend Walter Jackson, whom he considered more than a brother. The Jacksons were good family friends.
“Alex?” I looked up from the twins at my uncle.
“Uncle Robert.” I went forward and hugged him.
“How are you, Alex?”
“I'm good.” I smiled and my uncle looked somewhere behind me.
I followed his gaze to find Sophia smiling down at the twins as they talked to her.
“That's Sophia O'Brien, my secretary,” I told him and Sophia walked up to us at the mention of her name.
“My uncle, Mr Robert Price,” I told her.
They shook hands.
“Pleasure to meet you, Mr Price.” She smiled.
“Likewise, Ms O'Brien.” He nodded with a smile, then frowned a bit as if trying to remember something.
“Have we met before?” He asked her.
I could see her nervous demeanor but she quickly concealed it with a smile. “I don't think so.” He nodded and then turned to his kids. “Come on, let's go.”
The moment they were out of our sight, I turned to her.
“Sophia?” She looked up at me “Yes?”
“Are you okay?”
“Yeah,” she nodded “why wouldn't I be?”
Her gaze broke away from mine and once again, she was looking around the place, in a bid to avoid my eyes I suspected.
“Okay.” I directed her towards the table and a few slices of cake were brought to us.
Whatever it was that she was worried about, she was now over it as she looked down at the slices in thought, tasting each one carefully.
I was on the third slice when I looked up to find her staring at me in amusement.
“I know what you're thinking,” I said. “That tasting isn't tasting when you're gobbling down all the slices.
That's okay.” I chuckled. “It's what my mum says to me and my dad.”
“I'm sorry.” She let out a laugh. “I didn't mean to stare like that.” “I don't mind if you do.” I smiled.
I could tell that for a moment, she couldn't take her eyes away from mine, and honestly, I liked it that way.
What I wanted was to reach forward and pull her in my direction—
Stop! Strictly professional, remember?
Clearing my throat, I looked away and went back to eating the cake. “So,” I asked once I was finished “Which one do you like the most?”
“The fudge cake.” She replied.
I didn't know why but I expected her to choose that particular one.
“What about you, which one is going to be your birthday cake?”
“I like them all.” Placing the fork on the plate, I leaned back. “Honestly, I knew I would have a hard time choosing, that's why I needed a second opinion. So for my birthday cake, the fudge it is. Thank you, Sophia.”
“You're Welcome, Mr Hayes.”
I raised a brow but remained silent. Once I had gotten a few pastries packed, since I was running out of them at my apartment, we were ready to leave.