Sophia's POV.
I felt my legs begin to wobble, my high heels hurt from him dragging me, and my arms were a bit sweaty.
The way he stomped towards the door of the restaurant did not make him seem as if he was in his most friendly mood at the moment.
Just what's wrong with him?
By the time we were outside the restaurant, my breath was heavy and my face felt a bit flushed.
Just then, Jack stopped and turned towards me, meeting my eyes directly.
“Jack?” I questioned, my breath unsteady.
He went silent and I couldn't see his complete facial expression from the faint light of the street lamp. His not-so-manly jaw clenched and his lips thinned into a straight line as if he was fighting some battles within himself.
“I-I don't get it. Why would we get out without waiting for them? Stephanie needs me!” I scolded softly. “Is something the matter?”
His mouth opened and then closed, uttering nothing.
Things were getting weirder by the minute and I was beginning to get more and more worried.
“You're scaring me. Please say something. I don't get it!” This time, it was half pleading as my nerves didn't need any stress at this point.
Jack glanced at me, his eyes shivering with a hint of fear mixed with shyness and nervousness and.....anticipation?
I was getting impatient and the tension was too much for me.
“I don't get it either.” Jack finally said. “I just came to this silly date to have fun and get a one-night fling as a maximum. But...” He paused.
He looked away, his face sweating a bit and his expression uncomfortable.
“I know it's sudden and awkward especially as we didn't have a proper start but...” His voice was gentle as if he was a different person.
“What are you saying?” My voice came out as a whisper.
He held my shoulders, pulling me slightly closer to him. “I mean us. Do you wanna give this a try, Sophia? Do you wanna go out with me?
His words echoed through my head.
Huh?
Did he just say what I think he said?
He damn well did!
I gawked at him and he looked at me hopefully. Well, you're a bit too late buddy.
To start with, I've made a vow to myself to never fall in love, not after everything I've been through, and more importantly, I don't see any potential in ever feeling anything for him, not gonna lie.
I sighed.
At the same time, I feel so bad about shooting down a person.
I lowered my head a bit, as I chewed my cheeks from inside stressfully. “I'm sorry.” He stiffened before me.
I just knew this double date was going to end up bad.
“I-I can wait! You don't have to answer now.” His voice seemed a bit hurt and desperate.
I shook my head. “No, it's not about that.” I removed his hands from my shoulders and continued. “Look here, Jack. Every person deserves to love and be loved. And that means you too deserve a woman to love you as much as you would love her.”
I fixed my eyes on his. “But that woman is not me. Please understand.” I spoke softly, almost in a whisper.
Jack did not handle the rejection well as he said nothing further.
Just then, Harvey came out with Stephanie holding onto his shoulders.
“We'll drive you home, Sophia. Please get in the car.” Harvey said with a friendly smile.
Shooting one last glance at Jack, I saw he was still trying to avoid my eyes.
I sat in the backseat with a drunken Steph sleeping on my lap, as Harvey drove through the streets to our home.
The silence in the car was disrupted when a phone rang. My phone, to be specific.
Frowning at the private ID, I picked it up. “Hello?”
“Ms O'Brien.”
The phone almost slipped off my hand and would've smashed Stephanie's cute sleeping face had I not held onto it tightly at the last second.
Why did he have to hide his caller ID?
“M–Mr Hayes. Good evening.”
I felt a shift from the front seat and I looked into the mirror before the driver, only to have Harvey looking at me intensely, wordlessly.
Immediately our eyes met, he quickly reverted his gaze smoothly. I frowned as I turned my focus to the phone again.
“Send me the data of our latest bid as well as the contract documents.”
Wetting my lips, I replied. “Noted, sir. Anything else?”
I looked at the mirror and caught Jack staring at me this time around but contrary to Harvey, he did not try to avert his gaze as he kept eyeing me oddly.
“Show up to work early on Monday. I need to complete several documents before traveling.” He said, referring to his birthday vacation.
He casually cut the line without waiting for my reply just in time as the car stopped before our apartment.
Rude.
“Thank you so much for the ride,” I said as I pulled Stephanie out of the car.
“Sophie?” Steph mumbled. “Where are you....taking me? Human...”
I sighed, smiling gently at her. “Home. To where we live so you can sleep in a proper bed!”
Steph smiled at me, half asleep as she clutched onto me. “wah, okay. I'll let you.”
“Oh, thank you very much for the permission!” I rolled my eyes as I began dragging her towards the door.
“Sophia!”
I stopped and turned as I heard Jack's voice ring through the silent neighborhood. I smiled at him and raised an eyebrow.
“I think I understand now.” He grinned. “Good luck with your work at Hayes Industries. I blinked.
Does he understand?
What exactly does he understand?
“Th—thank you.” I smiled back cautiously. “Good luck to you too.” Just as I turned to head to the door, I heard another voice.
“Good luck, Sophia.” A smooth yet devious voice stopped me in my tracks. “Enjoy your work under Alexander Hayes as much as possible. We shall meet again.”
I turned to Harvey, noticing that his smile did not exactly reach his eyes.
What a weirdo!
I nodded at him with an uneasy smile, Stephanie still leaning on my shoulder as I turned to unlock the door to our apartment.
After helping a drunken Stephanie change into her pajamas and lay on her bed, I finally could rest on mine. I laid my head on the pillow, slowly and softly, feeling its fluffiness take my head into its arms.
My eyes soon started to close as I drifted off to sleep.